Former Florida State University President John Thrasher, who served in both chambers of the state legislature and was a prominent political figure in Florida, has died. He was 81.

The city of Jacksonville will honor veterans Monday with its annual Veterans Day Parade downtown.

The city of Jacksonville is hosting a Veterans Day Parade on Monday at 11:01 a.m. in Downtown Jacksonville.

Florida State University is getting a new president with Richard McCullough replacing the retiring John Thrasher.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called Bobby Bowden a “model” that other college coaches should follow saying he never lost sight of being a man of faith, a great husband and father.

Florida State president John Thrasher on Tuesday denied a report that the Seminoles were looking to make a move to the Southeastern Conference.

Legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden says he has been diagnosed with a terminal medical condition.

The governing board of the Florida’s university system has confirmed Richard McCullough as the 16th president of Florida State University.

The Florida State University Board of Trustees on Monday selected Harvard University Vice Provost for Research Richard McCullough to succeed retiring FSU President John Thrasher.

Florida State University’s hunt for a new president has been narrowed to three outside candidates who are currently top administrators at their current schools.

As Florida State University seeks a successor to retiring President John Thrasher, a committee Friday started interviewing nine finalists for the job --- as questions swirled about a potential conflict of interest for one high-profile candidate and as a student campaign emerged for another.

In another indicator of the push to restore pre-pandemic higher education norms, FSU and the University of Florida will hold in-person graduation ceremonies for spring-semester graduates. Both institutions have announced a series of upcoming reduced-capacity commencements that will mark the universities’ first in-person graduation ceremonies since December 2019. The “condensed” graduation programs will make social distancing possible, university officials said in a press release issued Thursday. As with the plan to reintroduce in-person instruction, FSU is leaving open the possibility that the face-to-face graduation ceremonies could change. “There will be no processional, nor recessional, no platform party, and college deans will not be shaking hands with students,” the university wrote in a news release outlining changes from previous in-person graduation ceremonies.

At Florida State in Tallahassee, concerned students recorded videos of dozens of classmates in bikinis and board shorts partying around the pool at the Catalyst apartments just blocks from campus. Both Florida and Florida State have already canceled the upcoming spring break. Students at Florida State have forwarded to school authorities screenshots showing off-campus party invitations, Snapchat-captioned photos of women dancing in bikinis, and group texts in which students discuss the best parties and debate the seriousness of the pandemic. Florida students are urged to report violations using the GatorSafe phone app, the same digital system that can alert students to violent crimes or fires on campus. Dancing and drinking in close proximity.”“Big party full of UF students going on currently, mass text was sent out to many students,” said another report the following night about an address east of campus.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After testing positive for COVID-19 this month, Florida State University President John Thrasher and his wife, Jean, have been cleared by the state Department of Health. “I am happy to share that Jean and I were cleared Friday by the Florida DOH after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, and we are resuming many of our regular activities,” the university president posted Monday on Twitter. “We are feeling good and appreciate all the prayers and well wishes!”The university announced Oct. 6 that the Thrashers had tested positive. At the time, John Thrasher, 76, said he was working at home while the couple isolated.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this reportTALLAHASEE, Fla. – Florida State University President John Thrasher and his wife, Jean, have both tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to a statement Tuesday from FSU. The statement from the university said the president learned of his positive result at 3:45 p.m. after taking a test earlier in the day. It said members of President Thrasher’s staff were tested Tuesday and received negative test results. From Aug. 2 through Saturday, Florida State had 1,500 students and 32 employees test positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, according to statistics posted on the university website. From Sept. 27 through Saturday, the most recent weekly data available, 52 students and one employee tested positive --- with a positivity rate of 2.02 percent of the overall number of people tested.

Burr said while the board will begin the search process earlier than anticipated and he has no plans to name an interim president. While his contract this year, Thrasher will remain in office until a new president can take the helm. Thrasher also posed a heartfelt message to “the FSU Family,” recounting his long history with the university and career. A special board meeting will be scheduled in the coming weeks to discuss the establishment of a presidential search committee as well as the search process, Burr said. “I assure you that I will continue to work tirelessly with our leadership team to continue FSU’s positive momentum.”

Pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida State University Alumni Association announced Friday that it is postponing annual homecoming festivities until spring. The festivities had been scheduled for the week of Nov. 9 to Nov. 14. The association did not immediately announce a spring date. “Homecoming is one of Florida State’s most cherished traditions,” university President John Thrasher said in a prepared statement. “Although we won’t be able to gather this fall, we hope to welcome friends and alumni back to campus and celebrate everything we love about FSU with students, faculty and staff this spring --- one of the most beautiful times of year in Tallahassee.”

Police at Florida State University arrested seven students Sunday for hosting an open house party at which very few people were wearing face coverings or social distancing, FSU President John Thrasher announced in a letter to students Tuesday. We will not tolerate any behavior that puts the health and safety of the campus or the Tallahassee community at risk. FSU officials reported Monday that 62 students and six employees had tested positive for the virus since Aug. 2. A couple of hundred miles south of Tallahassee, Florida Gulf Coast University suspended two fraternities for hosting large parties that appear to have violated the schools coronavirus-related guidelines. Martin said the fraternities were suspended after university officials received reports of large parties on Friday night.

Ron DeSantis held a roundtable discussion Tuesday at Florida State University, where he pushed for student-athletes, including college football players, being able to play this fall. Recently, there were discussions amongst different presidents and different conferences about whether they should deep-six the football season entirely, and that caused a chain reaction of football players across the county saying, We want to play, DeSantis said. Ive been playing football since I was 4 years old, and from day one of my injury, Ive been preparing myself. Thrasher said Florida State has safety protocols in place and what he believes is the right atmosphere to go out and play football. We think its in the best interest of our student-athletes for us to play football.

For the second time in three years, Florida State University plans to remove a statue of Francis Eppes from its Tallahassee campus as the school reckons with its past. News of the statues removal was part of a broader announcement Thursday from FSU President John Thrasher, which included naming 30 members to a newly formed task force on anti-racism, equality and inclusion for the 2020-2021 school year. The statue of Eppes the grandson of Thomas Jefferson, a former Tallahassee mayor and slave owner has long been the subject of controversy. The task force, created July 6, will hold its first organization session sometime in August. Im looking forward to hearing input from the task force on a range of important items connected to racial inequity, he said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A former Florida State University student was found dead outside a fraternity house Wednesday. FSU Police declined to release the victim's name, but said the 21-year-old was a former student. Its very ongoing.Two members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity told the Tallahassee Democrat the victim was a member of the Army Reserves, set to be deployed to Afghanistan in October. A couple of boxes of seemingly empty beer cans could be seen on part of the roof. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was suspended last fall for alleged alcohol violations.

Former Seminole who started petition to change stadium name says now is time for FSU to leadPublished: June 23, 2020, 11:05 pmThe petition has been signed over 26-hundred times, and it has already prompted a reaction from Florida State University president John Thrasher.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State University expects to reopen its campus this fall, but most classes will remain online and plans being presented to the Board of Trustees are subject to change. Now the university has released its draft plan for students to return in the fall. “Really important classes for people before they enter their majors for example, or that are really critical classes for them,” McRorie said. Karen Morian, president of the United Faculty of Florida, said the school’s plan appears to align with faculty recommendations, highlighting the need for flexibility. The university will finalize its reopening plan Thursday so it can be reviewed by the Board of Governors next Tuesday.

The universities presidents have been working on measures to reopen campuses for weeks. Florida State University President John Thrasher said every decision administrators make results in five more questions for them to answer. We dont want to put anybody in harms way.RELATED: Floridas State University System makes plans for campuses to reopenAt FSU, the plan is to shift as many face-to-face classes to distance learning as possible. So Im very excited to go back and experience things we may have missed.RELATED: Florida universities pivot to distance learning due to coronavirusBut space and distance in classroom settings remains a concern for Kissane, despite her enthusiasm. Each university has until June 23 to submit its plan for returning to classrooms.

Two years after the hazing death of a fraternity pledge, Florida State University President John Thrasher said Thursday a “major culture shift is underway” as a result of university policies and a new state anti-hazing law. People can receive immunity if they call 911 or campus security to report the need for medical assistance during hazing incidents. Thrasher, a former state House speaker and senator, said Andrew’s Law has “definitely made a big difference” on campus. The Tallahassee Democrat newspaper reported the separate suspensions of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority due to hazing-related incidents. The Democrat reported that Delta Tau Delta was suspended by its national office, while Theta Nu Xi was suspended by the university.

Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Sen. Randolph Bracy wants to expand the playing field on proposals that would allow college athletes in Florida to get paid for endorsements. Bracy wants to use revenue sharing to establish a trust fund that would pay college athletes when they are done playing. The Bracy-McGhee effort also proposes a task force to review state and federal laws and regulations by the NCAA and other organizations about compensation for college athletes. "So many of these college athletes generate astronomical revenue for the NCAA and their respective institutions," Bracy said. NCAA President Mark Emmert said that action would ensure college athletes continue to "compete against students and not professionals."

FSU President John Thrasher on the school's high ranking as a public university. Empowering young men with the Duval Chapter of 5,000 Role Models of Excellence. And Councilman Gaffney on an opprtunity for small businesses. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State Director of Athletics David Coburn announced today that Coach Willie Taggart's contract has been terminated effective immediately. "I spoke to Coach Taggart this afternoon to let him know of our decision," said Coburn. "I think very highly of Coach Taggart and wish him well, but in the interest of the university we had no choice but to make a change," said Florida State University President John Thrasher. "We deeply appreciate all that Coach Taggart has done for our program and wish him and his family nothing but the best," added Coburn. Coburn confirmed that Florida State would immediately engage in a national search to fill the position.

FSU President John Thrasher on the school's high ranking as a public university. Empowering young men with the Duval Chapter of 5,000 Role Models of Excellence. And Councilman Gaffney on an opportunity for small businesses.

FSU President John Thrasher on the school's high ranking as a public university. Empowering young men with the Duval Chapter of 5,000 Role Models of Excellence. And Councilman Gaffney on an opprtunity... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Ron DeSantis, state lawmakers and university officials on Monday bragged about Florida State University and the University of Florida moving up in the rankings of an annual report that grades the country's top public colleges and universities. Appearing at FSU in Tallahassee Monday morning, DeSantis lauded the schools remarkable ascent since 2016, when it ranked 43rd in the nation among state universities. 18 public college ranking with Pennsylvania State University -- headed by FSU President John Thrasher's predecessor, Eric Barron -- as well as Purdue University-West Lafayette and the University of Pittsburgh. Since 2014, no other institution ranked in the top 50 has jumped more spots than Florida State. 9 with the University of California, Irvine, and the University of California, San Diego.

A long-debated proposal that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry handguns on Florida college and university campuses was filed Thursday for consideration during the 2020 legislative session. Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, filed the campus carry proposal (HB 6001) after years of unsuccessful attempts by gun-rights supporters to pass such a measure. The proposals in the past have been opposed by higher-education leaders such as Florida State University President John Thrasher, a former House speaker and state senator. As of July 31, Florida had more than 2 million people with concealed-weapons licenses. The 2020 legislative session starts in January.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – The student who was critically injured in Thursday's shooting at Florida State University is paralyzed from the waist down, but still determined to realize his dream of becoming a biomedical engineer, his sister told reporters Monday. May was shot and killed by FSU and Tallahassee police who were on the scene in less than five minutes. At her side was FSU President John Thrasher, who pledged his full support to the Ahmed family. "Florida State University is 100 percent committed to ensuring that we do everything we can to fulfill Ronny's dream, as Farhana said, of achieving his goal of graduating from Florida State University," Thrasher said. Friends of the Ahmed family put up a fundraising website to help with Ronny's medical expenses, and donations are pouring in.