Associated Press, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressNovember 9, 2015

An analysis by The Tampa Bay Times showed that Tampa police wrote more tickets last year than sheriff’s offices in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties combined and more per capita than cops in Jacksonville, Miami, St. Petersburg and Orlando, the state’s four other largest cities. And no other law enforcement agency in the state arrests […]

Associated PressNovember 9, 2015

GOP presidential hopeful Ben Carson says it’s time to move on from questions about the accuracy of his life story. But Tuesday’s GOP debate makes that unlikely. The retired neurosurgeon said Sunday that questions about discrepancies in his autobiography are distractions from “much more important” matters facing the country and that he’d discuss any “real” […]

Associated PressNovember 9, 2015

While the presidential campaign commands the public’s attention, political parties and financial contributors are quietly preparing for another less glitzy yet significant set of elections a year from now — battles to determine control of dozens of state legislative chambers. National Republican and Democratic groups have set record-high fundraising goals as they try to influence […]

Associated PressNovember 8, 2015

Marco Rubio, who has been attacked by GOP rivals and others for using an American Express card issued by the Republican Party of Florida for some personal spending as a state lawmaker, released two more years of charge card statements Saturday to help quell the furor. The statements, covering January 2005-October 2006, show Rubio spent […]

Associated PressNovember 8, 2015

State officials are spending more than $5 million on a fencing project designed to keep panthers and other large animals off Alligator Alley. The Florida Department of Transportation will start construction later this year on a project that includes 18 miles of 10-foot fencing and work on three animal underpasses east of the Naples-area toll […]

Associated PressNovember 8, 2015

When the Wallack family announced plans last year to construct the world’s tallest roller coaster as the centerpiece of a $500 million entertainment complex on Orlando’s International Drive, their vision was praised by business owners hoping it would help draw tourist dollars to an aging strip between Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. More than a year […]

Associated PressNovember 8, 2015

Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows: ABC’s “This Week” — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump; Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders; Reps. Peter King, R-N.Y., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; Defense Secretary Ash Carter. ___ NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Trump, Sanders; Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina; Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. ___ CBS’ “Face the […]

Associated PressNovember 7, 2015

For months, Republican presidential candidates with dwindling bank accounts and negligible support in polls have been finding reasons to stay in the 2016 race. Now, a few must weigh whether they can keep competing after being downgraded or excluded from Tuesday’s fourth GOP debate. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee […]

Associated PressNovember 7, 2015

Donald Trump‘s unorthodox campaign for president will take another unusual step this weekend when he takes a break from typical campaigning to host “Saturday Night Live.” The appearance will put the billionaire businessman and reality TV star in rare company: Only eight politicians previously have hosted “Saturday Night Live” in its entire 40-year-old history. And […]

Associated PressNovember 7, 2015

A defiant Ben Carson on Friday rejected the idea his past descriptions of receiving a scholarship offer to attend West Point were inaccurate, and called questions about the veracity of the story irrelevant to his campaign for president. “I think what it shows, and these kinds of things show, is there is a desperation on […]

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Report: Tampa Police write more tickets than other agencies

Ben Carson tries to move on from questions but GOP debate looms

Big spending expected for nation’s state legislative races in 2016

Marco Rubio releases GOP charge card statements from 2005-06

$5M fence project to protect panthers on Alligator Alley

Future of Orlando roller coaster is in doubt

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

Unpopular GOP candidates mulling when to pack it in

Donald Trump’s unorthodox campaign takes new twist on ‘SNL’

Defiant Ben Carson: Questions about West Point story are unfair