Chris Hand: News4Jax political analyst
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Chris Hand from a recent appearnce on This Week in Jacksonville with Kent Justice. (WJXT)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Chris Hand, an attorney with a long record of public, civic and legal service in Florida, is often seen on News4Jax helping analyze political and legal developments and governmental developments.
Chris served as chief of staff for Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown from 2011 to 2015. leading advancement of strategic initiatives and oversaw policy, advocacy, communications, outreach and scheduling for the mayor’s office. Chris also led efforts to achieve comprehensive retirement reform and participated in economic development and downtown revitalization initiatives.
Tier Status- Calaveras and Tuolumne remain in the Orange Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a safer economy. Mariposa shifted into the Yellow Tier last week on May 25th. The State released this week’s Blueprint update today with data for the week ending May 22nd. Tuolumne County’s Case Rate decreased slightly from 3.0 to 2.7, and the Test Positivity Rate is 1.4 from 1.6 last week. Calaveras is at a 3.9 Case Rate from 4.2 and has a Test Positivity Rate of 3.0 from a 4.2 percent, Mariposa remains at a 1.6 Case Rate and a Test Positivity Rate of 1.0 from 1.6 percent. More details on tiers are on our COVID page here.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a $100 billion state budget Wednesday in New Smyrna Beach.
He credited his policy opening up Florida during the pandemic, but gave no credit to the federal rescue funds that pay for some of the programs he emphasized.
DeSantis spoke at The Garlic, a restaurant where business has been booming in recent months.
“We will be signing a budget that responsibly supports our men and women in law enforcement, our K-12 education students and teachers, conserves and protects our great environmental and natural resources,” he said.
Some of Florida’s $10 billion in federal rescue funds goes to those priorities, like $1,000 bonuses for first responders, teachers and principals. It also boosts ports and highway improvements and environmental protection.