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Erin Maxwell

June in bloom: Reviews of ‘House of the Dragon,’ ‘The Boys’ and ‘Presumed Innocent’

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This month, every streaming service is bringing out the big guns with massive series starring A-listers, apathetic antiheroes and aerial lizards. Here are but a few new and returning series that are bringing the heat for the summer season. Parents, take note that the shows reviewed here contain adult themes and images, and are all rated TV-MA (mature audience only). 

“House of the Dragon” (Season 2, HBO MAX)
War is hell. But add a few fire-breathing, flying basilisks into the mix, and war is transformed from hell into entertainment or, in the case of “House of the Dragon,” prestige TV. The first season of the “Game of Thrones” prequel meticulously set up internal strife within Westeros’s royal family, the Targaryens, as it introduced all the main players in the war of succession known as “The Dance of the Dragon.” But will Season 2 fulfill its promise of hot and scorching dragon-on-dragon action?

(Courtesy of HBO)

Last season, House Targaryen was divided after Queen Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) throne was usurped by the Greens, a faction of Targaryens led by her stepmother, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), in support of her son Prince Aegon II’s (Tom Glynn-Carney) claim on the throne. And before either side had a moment to think of the repercussions of their actions, Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) lost control of his dragon Vhagar, which made a meal out of Rhaenyra’s son.

This season, the seeds of drama planted in the first season have begun to take root. Ser Cole continues to blossom in his villain arc while Aegon flourishes into an inept leader and Aemond steadily becomes an apathetic sociopath. Each actor, particularly D’Arcy, Cooke, and Matt Smith as the haunted Daemon Targaryen, has more to chew on in the new season, as their characters develop due to personal tragedies and a growing sense of doom. 

Observant fans might know the outcome of “A Dance of the Dragons,” either from books, online wikis, or when a distorted version of it was once shouted in glee by Joffrey Baratheon during a blink-and-miss-it scene in “Game of Thrones.” But this time around, the showrunners are cashing in on the journey, and not just the ending. Fueled by vengeance and fury, this particular fight for the Iron Throne is less about the victor and more about the brawl. The show slowly takes its time and builds to full-scale dragon carnage, which this season will delay as much as possible. Or at least for a few episodes.  

An eye for an eye and a son for a son seems to be the mantra of this “Dance.” And though a house divided against itself will fall, the fall is what we are here to see. The slow and inevitable destruction of House Targaryen is what makes “House of the Dragon” so captivating. And in that, Season 2 is successful, as it continues on the fiery path toward dragon-filled warfare that will become a special effects spectacle to behold. Even with the knowledge of how it will end, watching the gruesome vengeance should be satisfying, thanks to polished performances from the players and the eye-popping, high-end production values we’ve come to expect from HBO.

“The Boys” (Season 4, Amazon Prime)
In an alternate timeline where corporations can manufacture superheroes and many of those heroes are psychotic, “The Boys” are the best defense against Übermensch megalomaniacs, corrupt corporations, and blood-bending government officials.

“The Boys” is back in town, kids. And it has something to say about the state of society on the brink of madness.

(Courtesy of Prime Video)

When we last left off, Homelander found himself in a powerful position as a supe who can do no wrong in the eyes of his followers, even when it comes to murder. And as America gears up for an election year, evil enterprise Vought International has its eye on the prize: The Oval Office. Never a show to shy away from any hot-button issue (or anything else), the fourth season of “The Boys” parodies political issues dividing Americans during a volatile political year.

Once again, Antony Starr is absolutely phenomenal as the ghastly Homelander, the hellish hero who looks like a caped crusader but has the demeanor of a psychopath. Starr continues to shade his performance with moments of vulnerability as the audience learns more about his twisted backstory that led to the creation of the all-powerful enfant terrible. 

In addition to Starr’s contributions, Jessie T. Usher as A-Train continues to have the best character growth of the group, evolving into a truly remorseful metahuman whose mistakes led to the crippling of his own brother. Chace Crawford as The Deep and Laz Alonso as Mother’s Milk also get storylines worthy of their caliber, while new additions Susan Heyward as Sister Sage and Valorie Curry as Firecracker add significantly to the story, particularly Heyward whose character grows beyond her comic book counterpart. 

The fourth outing of “The Boys” is the darkest season yet, as it makes as strong a statement on American government, politics and voters as it does on comic book culture. The series maintains the levels of crazy that fans have come to expect thanks to heaps of visceral violence and the odd rubber duck hallucination. Those looking for an escape from horrors of reality might not enjoy this brand of crazy, but those in need of biting satire and stellar performances, “The Boys” delivers. And to make it worth your while, there is a left field “Mrs. Maisel” crossover that absolutely nobody was expecting. 

“Presumed Innocent” (Apple TV+)
Chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich is in a bit of a bind. His colleague and former flame Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve) has been found brutally murdered in her own home, and now Rusty (Jake Gyllenhaal), a happily married man who is trying to put his affair with Carolyn behind him, is now in charge of the investigation, at least until he becomes part of the investigation. As newly elected State’s Attorney Nico Della Guardia (O-T Fagbenle) and his toady deputy prosecutor Tommy Molto (Gyllenhaal’s real-life brother-in-law Peter Sarsgaard) set their sights on Rusty as a possible suspect, the audience is left to ponder the question: Who killed Carolyn? And why?

(Courtesy of Apple TV+)

Created by David E. Kelley and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, “Presumed Innocent” is based on the bestselling novel by Scott Turow and is Apple TV+’s big-ticket play for accolades and audiences, as Gyllenhaal steps into the role that Harrison Ford once occupied in the 1990 big screen version. As a miniseries, the story can have pacing issues, taking its sweet time as it examines the marriage between Rusty and his long-suffering wife Barbara, as well as establishes his contemptuous relationship with the new DA who wants to strike down the attorney with the power of Mjölnir. 

But in this production, the performances are key. Gyllenhaal portrays a man on the edge, a husband and father whose world slowly collapses around him. Gyllenhaal gives a performance that can be interpreted as both remorseful and resentful, allowing the miniseries to grow beyond the “falsely-accused fugitive” trope to one in which the white knight seems like an actual psychopath at times. In addition to Gyllenhaal’s chops, Sarsgaard and Fagbenle offer creditable performances as Rusty’s foils, prosecutors powered by their convictions but unable to see past their own aspirations and prejudices.

Though the story of a family man with a dark secret is a clichéd construct, this most recent version of “Presumed Innocent” is hoisted to new heights thanks to its cast. The elevated ensemble helps put a new shine and a fresh take on a well-worn tale.

Published June 19, 2024

Report predicts Florida’s economic growth will level off in coming years

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(The Center Square) — A new report on the health of Florida’s economy was released June 6 and shows the Sunshine State will likely continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

Florida TaxWatch released the Florida Economic Forecast 2023-2028 on Thursday. The forecast examines the sustainability of Florida’s growing economy, which has reached almost $1.5 trillion — the 14th largest in the world.

Florida TaxWatch used data on Florida’s population, net migration, unemployment rate, personal income per capita, and gross domestic product to project future economic conditions, as provided by the Regional Economic Consulting Group, a research-based consulting firm.

(Chalo Garcia/Unsplash)

Florida TaxWatch president and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said in a statement that Florida’s success is directly due to state leaders and smart fiscal policies.

“Currently, Florida’s economic growth continues to outpace other states across the nation, and we also boast the 14th largest economy in the world… but the question remains: Is it sustainable over the next several years?” Calabro said. “Florida TaxWatch is proud to offer this report to help answer that question, inform additional research, and plan for the Sunshine State’s bright future.”

Data shows that Florida’s population will grow by at least 1.4 million residents by 2028, but the number of people moving to the Sunshine State will slowly decrease.

The current 1.3% growth rate will drop 1.1% by the end of 2028 as residents begin moving out of Florida, citing increased cost of living, insurance, severe weather events and heavy traffic.

The forecast noted that the number of employed Floridians is projected to increase from 9.8 million to 10.4 million by 2028. However, the unemployment rate is also forecast to increase from 2.8% in 2023 to 4.3% in 2026 before improving slightly and dropping to 4.2% in 2028.

According to the report, Florida’s GDP growth rate in 2023 was 4.6%. However, this is projected to slow to 1.6% in 2025 and increase again to 1.9% in 2027 and 2028. Inflation is also projected to decrease over the next few years.

Florida tourism is predicted to increase through 2028. It brings in around $124 billion, supports over 1.3 million jobs, and generates $73 billion in employee wages.

Published June 19, 2024

Governor signed nine bills into law, but decisions await on a few others

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(The Center Square) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine bills into law the week of June 3, while a few measures and the state’s budget still await his decision.

House Bill 1203 relates to the governance of homeowners’ associations and how community association managers manage those communities. These managers are also required to attend at least one member meeting or board meeting of the association and provide members with certain information, including contact numbers and hours of availability.

HB 1259 amends Florida statutes related to the Agency for Health Care Administration’s rules governing adult cardiovascular services provided in a hospital. The bill specifies that level one adult cardiovascular services include rotational or other atherectomy devices and electrophysiology.

HB 1363 prohibits counties and/or municipalities from contracting for camera systems used to detect traffic infractions with a government entity outside the state. Governmental entities are also prohibited from knowingly entering into or renewing a contract on or after July 1, 2025, with a contracting vendor owned in part or whole by a government in a foreign country of concern.

HB 7009 removes the scheduled repeal of exemption from public records requirements for petitions for voluntary and involuntary admission for mental health treatment, court orders, related records and personal identifying information regarding a person seeking mental health treatment and services. The bill would keep mental health records confidential and allow an exemption for certain entities and individuals.

HB 7085 establishes the Sickle Cell Disease Research and Treatment Grant Program within the Florida Department of Health. Funding will go toward projects that improve the quality and accessibility of health care for people with sickle cell disease.

Senate Bill 1350 relates to salvage motor vehicles, mobile homes and vessels, and defines the term “major component parts” for electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid motor vehicles. Its purpose is to verify the sources of these parts during the rebuilt inspection process.

SB 1456 provides changes for Areas of Critical State Concern in the Florida Keys and the city of Key West.

SB 7054 revises Florida statutes, modernizing, streamlining and updating provisions and rules related to the administration of private activity bonds.

HB 385 provides requirements for parenting plans related to the exchange of a child during parent timesharing. Sheriffs are required to designate areas as neutral, safe exchange locations.

Published June 19, 2024

County officers outline budget needs for upcoming fiscal year

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Four of Pasco County’s constitutional officers made their budget needs known to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) during a June 11 workshop in New Port Richey.

The offices of the Clerk & Comptroller, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections and Property Appraiser made the requests for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

The budgets of these four offices will be adopted on Sept. 17. They will become effective on Oct. 1 and will fund county offices and services through Sept. 30, 2025.

(Romain Dancre/Unsplash)

Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles is requesting $9,250,747, or an increase of 11% in her budget for fiscal year 2025 (FY25). The main increase of $688,396 is being requested for board services provided by her office. An additional $240,848 is needed for the highly sophisticated computer program, Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), which enables people to search records maintained by the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office.

“These increases are the result of legislatively mandated employee retirement costs, increased information technology expenses, inflationary impact on goods and services, 5% merit pay raises and adding two new positions within the Board Records (1) and Treasury Management & Capital Assets (1) divisions,” Alvarez-Sowles wrote in her budget request.

“Also represented in this request is $1,024,069, representing the BOCC’s unpaid balance to reimburse the clerk & comptroller for the BOCC’s prior years multi-agency CJIS obligation. The county’s obligation was absorbed by the clerk & comptroller in the amounts of $671,465 (FY22) and $352,604 (FY23). This remaining balance is currently the subject of settlement negotiations related to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal’s recent appellate decision (Fla. 2d DCA Case No. 2D23-0305),” her budget request said.

Sheriff Chris Nocco is requesting $164,476,541 for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) for FY25. That is an increase of 9% over the $150 million the PSO is receiving for FY24 that expires on Sept. 30. 

Most of the $14,476,541 increase Nocco is asking for is the $8.93 million that will be needed to cover the salaries and other costs of 40 new deputies he hopes to be able to hire in FY25. 

The county has been giving the PSO 40% of the new property taxes it receives due to its growth for the past few years and has been offered 10 new deputies each year. But Nocco told commissioners he needs to hire 40 additional deputies during FY25 because of the explosive growth Pasco County has been experiencing. 

Part of the remaining additional $5,546,541 Nocco is seeking is to cover salary increases for PSO’s employees, which are needed “to ensure our agency remains competitive with surrounding agencies,” Nocco’s budget request said. Money is also needed to pay for capital expenditures, including armored vehicles, which currently are not budgeted by the sheriff’s office.

Even if the 9% increase is approved, staffing of the PSO won’t be keeping up with the county’s growth, Nocco said, and should be a high priority to commissioners.

Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is requesting $6,256,432 for his office for FY25. This is a decrease of $645,922, or 9.36% from the $6,902,354 that Corley’s office receives for FY24.

This decrease is possible, Corley said, because there is only one election during FY25 for which his office requires funding. That will be the general election on Nov. 5. 

The amount of money the Supervisor of Elections’ office requires varies from year to year depending upon the number of elections that it is responsible for overseeing, according to Corley. There was a Presidential Preference Primary on March 19, and there will also be a Primary Election on Aug. 20 for candidates running for offices including sheriff, superintendent of schools and county commissioners for Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5.

The cities and/or towns in Pasco County that will hold Municipal Elections in April of 2025 are each responsible for covering the costs of those elections, according to Corley.

Property Appraiser Mike Wells is requesting $7,761,214 for FY25. This is an increase of $501,370, or 6.9%, from the $7,259,844 his office is currently receiving. Part of the reasons for the requested increase is due to employee salary increases and two new employee hires, Brendan Fitterer told commissioners. He is the chief administrative officer for the Property Appraiser’s office and attended the workshop because Wells was unavailable.

It also was announced that the current budget for the Pasco County Tax Collector’s office is $13,459,190 — but the budget for FY25 needs to be determined later this year after information is received from Florida’s Department of Revenue.

Published June 19, 2024

Florida officials track effects of new laws on state revenues

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(The Center Square) — Florida officials have examined several bills signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis to determine how they’ll affect the state’s revenues. 

Officials analyzed several bills during a revenue estimating conference that are tied to House Bill 5001, the state’s fiscal 2024-2025 budget, and HB 5003, which is the measure that implements it.

(Florida Senate Majority Office/Facebook )

HB 1301 will authorize the Florida Department of Transportation to retain interest earnings on funds appropriated to implement the Moving Florida Forward Plan. The funds will be held in reserve; any interest earned on transferred funds must be used by the department to implement the plan. Analysts found that the change will have no impact on the General Revenue or State Trust funds.

HB 1285 will amend Florida statutes to allow Miami Dade College, Polk State College and Tallahassee Community College to charge an amount of $290 per credit hour for nonresident tuition and fees for distance learning. The institutions will be able to phase in this fee by degree program.

Analysts stated that if the three colleges immediately implemented the maximum fee, the total fiscal impact for FY 2024-25 would have been a loss of over $4.6 million. However, institutions plan on phasing in the program. If 5% of non-Florida residents participate, the total impact will be reduced by $234,897.18.

HB 7073 has a proposed change that specifies if a discretionary sales tax has been collected but not expended by a county, municipality, school board or other entity that those proceeds must be transferred to the Florida Department of Revenue within 60 days from the date of final adjudication. These funds must then be held in the Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing House Trust Fund in reserve for appropriation.

Senate Bill 994 will change how school traffic zone violations are collected and disbursed. If a violation is enforced by a school bus infraction detection system, the $25 fine would go to the participating school district, rather than into the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund of the Florida Department of Health. Analysts stated that the change will have an indeterminate impact on the state budget.

HB 1425 would eliminate the minimum-risk nonresidential commitment level for youth. Previously, the court would order a parent to pay a cost of care fee of $1 per day. The Department of Juvenile Justice stated that courts will likely order probation instead, also at $1 per day. Analysts anticipate no impact on the budget.

Published June 19, 2024

Kennedy on Florida presidential ballot as Reform Party candidate

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(The Center Square) – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear on Florida ballots as the Reform Party candidate after the Florida Division of Elections recertified its party status on June 7.

“We’re thrilled to give Floridians an independent option this November,” said Reform Party of Florida Chairwoman Jenniffer Desatoff in a news release. “We’ve been eagerly waiting to collaborate with the Kennedy campaign here in Florida and make history together.”

The party’s national committee nominated Kennedy and his running mate Nicole Shanahan two weeks ago to be their candidates.

More importantly, the move allows the third-party candidate to raise more money.

Now that he has a party nomination, the party can raise an additional $41,300 from donors previously limited to $6,600 each.

Ross Perot supporters founded the party in 1996. The party said in the release it has spent $15 million on a ballot access operation to ensure Kennedy and Shanahan will appear on ballots in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

The ticket is officially on the ballot in nine states – Utah, Michigan, California, Delaware, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Texas, South Carolina and Florida — and has collected enough signatures for ballot access in nine other states.

Published June 19, 2024

Florida to host invasive python hunting competition in August

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(The Center Square) — Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez announced on May 30 the Sunshine State again will welcome professionals and novices for the upcoming 2024 Florida Python Challenge.

Nunez said registration for the Florida Python Challenge is open. Participants must complete online training to participate in the 10-day competition planned for Aug. 9 through Aug. 19.

In 2023, over 1,000 participants from 35 different states participated in the challenge with more than $25,000 in prizes.

(Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain)

“Back in 2019, Governor DeSantis prioritized making sure that the conservation of Florida’s natural resources was something that our administration was going to champion, and I would say that he has delivered,” Nunez said.

On DeSantis’ second day in office, Nunez said he called for $2.5 billion to be invested during his first term to protect Florida’s water resources and other unique ecosystems like the Everglades.

The Legislature has appropriated a further $3.5 billion to conservation efforts over the next four years, and Nunez added that this reaffirms DeSantis’ commitment to protecting Florida’s natural beauty.

“So we’re well on our way to not only meeting that goal but surpassing it,” Nunez said. “We’re investing $3.1 billion this term, bringing our total investment since 2019 to a record-breaking $6.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality improvement.” 

Part of the funding goes toward protecting Florida’s native animals, which are currently threatened by the Burmese python, an invasive species from Asia whose population is growing in the Everglades.

“The Burmese python, as many of you know, is an invasive species that has wreaked havoc on our Everglades ecosystem and is a threat to native wildlife,” Nunez said. “They prey upon native species, they compete with native wildlife for food and habitat, and they can also spread non-native diseases.”

Nunez said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is committed to working with partners to preserve natural resources and wants to continue this for years to come.

“For us, the Florida Everglades is a valuable ecosystem that we will always strive to protect and preserve,” Nunez said. “It contains an abundance of habitats and species and they are home to many of Florida’s landmark species such as the Florida panther, the alligator, wading birds and many other native species.”

For more information, visit https://flpythonchallenge.org/.

Published June 19, 2024

U.S. Navy sailor to compete in Warrior Games

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Navy Information Technician 2nd Class Ainesey “Iggy” Inguanzo (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)

Navy Information Technician 2nd Class Ainesey “Iggy” Inguanzo, of Spring Hill, will compete in the Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games Challenge, June 21 to June 30, at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, according to a news release. More than 250 seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans will take part in the 10 days of competition that highlights “the exceptional physical skills and mental toughness” of its competitors, according to the release. Inguanzo, who suffered a serious foot injury, will compete in archery, indoor rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball and swimming. For more information, visit DoDWarriorGames.com.

Local tennis players to attend military academies, play in Olympics

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Two local high school seniors from the Saddlebook Preparatory tennis academy have received appointments to military academies, according to a news release. Ji Soo Oh will attend the US Naval Academy and Maya Michalski will attend the Air Force Academy, and both will play tennis for their respective academies.

Three additional players from Saddlebrook will compete in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games — Gaby Dabrowski will represent Canada in women’s doubles, Luisa Stefani will represent Brazil in women’s doubles, and Hubi Hurkacz will represent Poland in men’s singles, according to the release.

Ji Soo Oh will attend the US Naval Academy (Courtesy of Saddelbrook Preparatory School)
Maya Michalski will attend the Air Force Academy.

Business Digest 06/19/2024

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Belmar Pharmacy ribbon-cutting (Courtesy of Pasco EDC)

Belmar Pharmacy opens
The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) has welcomed Belmar Pharmacy to Pasco County, according to a news release.

The company has invested $15 million in a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art compounding facility within Asturia Corporate Center in Odessa, where it expects to add 150 new professional positions over the next three years.

Belmar is the largest national compounding pharmacy organization focused on hormone health and wellness, the release says.

NTBC Lunch and Learn
The North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) will host a “Lunch N Learn” session on “Navigating Advertising Trends in Today’s Market,” presented by Jessica Petroski, on June 20 at 11:30 a.m., at the NTBC Suncoast Office, 16703 Early Riser Ave., Land O’ Lakes. Attendance costs $15 and seating is limited. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Women-n-Charge meeting
Women-n-Charge will meet on June 26, at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Doors open for registration, early networking and vendor shopping at 11:15 a.m., followed by the meeting at noon. The cost for members is $21; guests are $25. Payment should be made by May 20. Register online at Women-n-Charge.com/meetings/. For more information and to RSVP (required), email .

NTBC Member Orientation
The North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) also will host a new member orientation with chamber president/CEO Hope Kennedy, on June 26 at 9 a.m., at the NTBC Suncoast Office, 16703 Early Riser Ave., Land O’ Lakes. Attendance is free and registration is required. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

City of Zephyrhills Career Fair
The City of Zephyrhills will host a Career Fair on June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. Call 813-780-0064 for information.

SunLake High School bands seeks sponsors
The Bands of Sunlake High School, known as the “Soaring Sound,” are seeking sponsors for the 2024-2025 season, according to a news release. The Marching Band will be competing in the Bands of America in Orlando and Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard will compete in the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. There are four levels of sponsorship packages ranging from $250 to $1,000 offering various promotion opportunities. Interested businesses should contact Band Director Alan Bonko at .

Pasco County Farm Bureau visits Congress
Members of the Pasco County Farm Bureau visited with Florida’s Congressional delegation in Washington D.C., May 14 to May 16 to discuss various federal policies that affect farmers and ranchers, including priorities for the 2024 Farm Bill and agricultural labor reform, according to a news release.

The Pasco County Farm Bureau is headquartered in Dade City and serves over 3,000 member-families, the release says.