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

Associated PressOctober 13, 2017

The Helsinki airport says Flight 666 has arrived safely in HEL — the airport code for the Finnish capital — for the last time. The Finnair flight took off from Copenhagen, Denmark, in the 13th hour of Friday the 13th, headed for Helsinki Vantaa airport. Finavia, which operates Finland’s 21 airports, says the flight landed […]

Associated PressOctober 13, 2017

MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough has made his departure from the GOP official. The “Morning Joe” anchor said on Twitter on Thursday that he became an independent and he added a picture of himself with an elections official in New Canaan, Connecticut, smiling while holding a form. Scarborough announced that he would […]

Associated PressOctober 12, 2017

Florida health officials are reporting the state’s first case this year of the Zika virus transmitted by a local mosquito. Florida’s Department of Health said Thursday a Manatee County couple traveled to Cuba, and one of them contracted Zika while on the Caribbean island and was bitten by a mosquito after returning home. That mosquito […]

Associated PressOctober 12, 2017

A Republican Florida businessman isn’t waiting for Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis to make up his mind about his political future before running for his seat. John Ward announced Thursday he’s running for DeSantis’ seat as the incumbent decides whether to run for governor or seek a fourth term. Ward, a business investor and Navy […]

Associated PressOctober 11, 2017

Mark Zuckerberg has apologized for showcasing Facebook’s virtual reality capability with a tour of hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. The Facebook founder and another executive discussed the platform’s virtual reality project through avatars in a video recorded live Monday. The video begins with the avatars pictured on the roof of Facebook’s Mountain View, California, headquarters before heading to […]

Associated PressOctober 9, 2017

Two women who lived at a Florida nursing home that lost air conditioning during Hurricane Irma have died, becoming the 13th and 14th fatalities linked to the home. Hollywood police spokeswoman Miranda Grossman told The Associated Press on Monday that Cecilia Franco, 90, and Francesca Andrade, 95, died from ailments suffered when the Rehabilitation Center […]

Associated PressOctober 9, 2017

Is it time to say arrivederci to Christopher Columbus? A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has gained momentum in some parts of the U.S., with Los Angeles in August becoming the biggest city yet to decide to stop honoring the Italian explorer and instead recognize victims of colonialism. […]

Associated PressOctober 8, 2017

Officials in Key West have a mystery on their hands. They want to know who took the sign that welcomed visitors to “Paradise U.S.A.” Residents say they last saw the “Welcome to Key West” sign on the ground after it was presumably knocked down by Hurricane Irma on Sept. 10. The sign at the island’s […]

Associated PressOctober 6, 2017

Criminal-investigation-of-the-Rehabilitation-Center-at-Hollywood-Hills.jpg

A Florida nursing home that had 12 patients die after Hurricane Irma has laid off 245 workers. The Sun Sentinel reported the layoffs Friday for the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills. The facility was evacuated last month, several days after the storm damaged the electric transformer that powered the facility’s air conditioning. State officials later suspended […]

Associated PressOctober 6, 2017

Sean Baker‘s “The Florida Project” takes place in a blindingly purple low-budget motel named the Magic Castle, just down Route 192 from Disney’s Magic Kingdom. For the children of single parents who live there, the Kissimmee, Fla., motel is a playground — even if they’re living in poverty. “The Florida Project,” which opens in theaters […]

Associated Press
Image via city of St. Petersburg

Friday the 13th: Flight 666 makes it safely to HEL

‘Morning Joe’ host Joe Scarborough officially leaves GOP

Florida confirms 1st local Zika infection for 2017

John Ward announces run for Ron DeSantis’ seat

Mark Zuckerberg sorry for virtual tour of devastated Puerto Rico

2 more dead from Florida nursing home that lost AC in Irma

Indigenous Peoples Day? Italians say stick with Columbus

Mystery: Where’s the sign that welcomes visitors to Key West

Nursing home that had 12 people die lays off all workers

‘Florida Project’ shines a bright light on hidden homeless