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RFK Jr. taps eight new members for CDC's vaccine advisory panel; CO communities to join national 'No Kings' protests Saturday; End of hospital emergency abortion care rule will affect rural KY women; LIHEAP cuts could put lives at risk in rural AL, advocates warn.

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White House says there will be more ICE raids, as protests spread across the county. California Gov. Newsom says democracy is at a crossroads, and Elon Musk says he 'regrets' social media posts about President Trump.

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EV charging stations are harder to find in rural America, improving the mental health of children and teachers is the goal of a new partnership in seven rural states, and a once segregated Mississippi movie theater is born again.

Ocklawaha River restoration hangs in balance as Florida budget stalls

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Tuesday, May 27, 2025   

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story did not capture the correct scope of economic benefits identified in the Jacksonville University study. This update more accurately represents the study's findings on job creation and annual savings. (12:20 p.m. MDT, May 28, 2025)

The Florida Legislature's failure to pass a budget before adjourning has left key environmental projects in limbo, including a Senate-approved proposal to restore the Ocklawaha River by dismantling the Rodman Dam.

For residents like Samuel Carr, president of the Bartram Trail Society who fished the river before the dam's 1971 construction, the more than $6 million project represents a chance to revive what he called a "free-running wild river" from what he said he believes turned into "a mud hole."

"Since they put that dam in, 150 million gallons of fresh water doesn't come into the St. Johns River now per day, as it did before 1971," said Carr. "So, the restoration would literally turn the faucet back on to get that cool, clear water to the St. Johns River."

Carr noted the dam blocks 20 springs and forces periodic pollution releases into the St. Johns, which he said has suffered catastrophic algae blooms and lost critical eelgrass.

Lawmakers will reconvene sometime after June 2 to resume budget talks. The Senate has already approved the funding, but House approval remains uncertain amid broader disputes over tax cuts.

A study a study commissioned by The Pew Charitable Trusts and authored by a work group of subject matter experts, estimates the project would create hundreds of jobs during construction and ultimately generate nearly $20 million annually in outdoor recreation revenue - from fishing, kayaking, and wildlife tourism.

Former Putnam County Commissioner Linda Myers frames the restoration as an economic imperative for rural Florida.

"This area of northeast Florida has so many rivers that connect to the St. Johns and this specific structure, the dam, has actually eliminated some of that connectedness," said Myers. "So, opening that up would just give the opportunities - and here in Florida, we know the tourism dollars, we know how important they are."

Ecologically, the study also shows it would reconnect over 200 miles of river habitat and bring back 20 natural springs that have been drowned under the reservoir for decades. Myers believes the project aligns with lawmakers' stated priorities of water quality, conservation and leveraging Florida's tourism industry.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.



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