Florida Democrats to Challenge GOP Lawsuit Over Hope Florida Scandal Ad

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried will hold a virtual press conference Monday afternoon to respond to a Republican lawsuit seeking to remove a Democratic television advertisement about the Hope Florida scandal from the air.

According to the Florida Democratic Party, the GOP filing — coming weeks before Election Day — is part of a broader campaign by Republicans to prevent public discussion of how $10 million in Medicaid settlement funds were diverted through a charity connected to the governor's wife and subsequently used to fund political activities.

The press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday and will be held virtually via Zoom. Interested media can RSVP through the FDP's online form or by emailing press@floridadems.org.

ECUA Executive Director Resigns Just Three Months After Taking Job

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is undergoing another leadership change after Executive Director Jason Yarborough resigned just over three months after taking the job.

The ECUA board voted 4-0 during a special meeting Friday to accept Yarborough's resignation.

Yarborough submitted his resignation Wednesday. ECUA has not publicly announced a reason for his departure.

Former ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody is returning to the utility to serve as acting executive director and oversee daily operations during the transition.

ECUA engineer Brian Reed is handling the executive director's duties until Woody takes over.

Yarborough was selected earlier this year following a nationwide search and began serving as executive director in July.

Under a separation agreement, Yarborough will remain on paid administrative leave through Feb. 16.

The leadership change comes as ECUA continues Hurricane Isaias recovery operations and deals with a series of water-system disruptions and boil-water notices following the storm.

However, ECUA has not publicly linked those issues to Yarborough's resignation.

Woody previously led ECUA before retiring from the executive director position.

The ECUA board has not yet announced its longer-term plans for selecting the utility's next permanent executive director.

EREC Completes Power Restoration Nine Days After Hurricane Isaias

Escambia River Electric Cooperative says power restoration from Hurricane Isaias is complete after crews spent more than a week rebuilding damaged portions of the electrical system.

The cooperative completed restoration Sunday night.

Hurricane Isaias initially knocked out electricity to approximately 95 percent of EREC members in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Restoration in Escambia County was largely completed earlier in the recovery, while crews faced more extensive damage in portions of Santa Rosa County.

Hundreds of additional workers and pieces of equipment were brought into the area to help restore the system.

EREC's offices in Jay and Walnut Hill are also reopening Monday for the first time since the hurricane.

The cooperative is warning residents that damaged poles, wires and other electrical equipment may remain along roads and rights-of-way even though service has been restored. Crews will return to remove that equipment, and residents should not touch it.

Florida Power & Light was also nearing the end of its restoration effort over the weekend.

Late Sunday, FPL's outage system showed only a few dozen remaining outages across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Some remaining outages may involve homes or businesses that cannot safely be reconnected until privately owned electrical equipment damaged during the hurricane is repaired.