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

Associated PressJuly 19, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott is asking the state’s top court to throw out a lawsuit that aims to stop the Republican governor from appointing three Supreme Court justices on his last day in office. Attorneys for Scott on Wednesday filed a response to a lawsuit filed last month by the League of Women Voters of Florida […]

Associated PressJuly 19, 2017

A 10-year-old boy from a drug-ridden Miami neighborhood apparently died of a fentanyl overdose last month, becoming one of Florida’s littlest victims of the opioid crisis, authorities say. But how he came into contact with the powerful painkiller is a mystery. Fifth-grader Alton Banks died June 23 after a visit to the pool in the […]

Associated PressJuly 19, 2017

It was a far cry from “The buck stops here.” President Donald Trump, dealt a stinging defeat with the failure of the Republican health care bill in the Senate, flipped the script from Harry Truman’s famous declaration of presidential responsibility and declared Tuesday, “I am not going to own it.” He had tweeted earlier, “We […]

Associated PressJuly 18, 2017

President Donald Trump had a second, previously undisclosed conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Germany earlier this month. White House spokesman Sean Spicer says Trump and Putin spoke during a world leaders’ dinner at the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg. The two had a formal meeting that lasted more than […]

Associated PressJuly 18, 2017

Florida schools can comply with the state’s new recess mandate without having to take children outside. The Florida Department of Education on Friday told school superintendents that there’s nothing in a new state law that dictates where recess must take place. State legislators earlier this year passed a law that requires elementary schools to set […]

Associated PressJuly 18, 2017

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Prosecutors in Florida believe a 10-year-old boy who died with the painkiller fentanyl in his system is among the state’s youngest victims of the opioid crisis. Preliminary toxicology tests show Alton Banks had fentanyl in his system when he collapsed and died at his home on June 23, the Miami Herald reported. Health officials say […]

Associated PressJuly 18, 2017

Frank Brogan, Florida’s former lieutenant governor and the head of Pennsylvania’s state-owned university system, announced he is leaving after four years on the job. Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education said Monday that Brogan, the system’s chancellor, will retire Sept. 1 from the position that pays him $346,000 a year. Brogan, who is 63 years […]

Associated PressJuly 18, 2017

The implosion of the Senate Republican health care bill leaves a divided GOP with its flagship legislative priority in tatters and confronts a wounded President Donald Trump and congressional leaders with dicey decisions about addressing their perhaps unattainable seven-year-old promise of repealing President Barack Obama’s law. Two GOP senators — Utah’s Mike Lee and Jerry […]

Associated PressJuly 17, 2017

The Federal Election Commission has sued a former Florida Republican congressman over allegations he secretly funneled thousands of dollars to a little-known Democratic candidate in 2012. The lawsuit claims ex-Rep. David Rivera secretly and illegally contributed $69,400 to Justin Sternad in an attempt to weaken the rival Democratic campaign of Joe Garcia, who eventually won […]

Associated PressJuly 17, 2017

Florida’s governor says no Zika transmission zones have been identified in the state so far this year. But Gov. Rick Scott also warns that people visiting and living in Florida must help prevent another outbreak of the virus by wearing mosquito repellent and draining containers that collect rainwater. Scott was in Miami on Monday to […]

Associated Press

Rick Scott asks Supreme Court to toss out lawsuit over justices

Miami boy’s death shows powerful opioid’s chilling potential

Analysis: Donald Trump unlikely to avoid blame for health care loss

Donald Trump had second, previously undisclosed conversation with Vladimir Putin at G-20 Summit

State: Schools can hold recess inside classrooms

Officials: Boy, 10, among youngest victims of opioid crisis

Frank Brogan to retire from Pennsylvania’s public university system

Health care bill collapse leaves divided GOP at crossroads

FEC sues ex-Rep. David Rivera over 2012 campaign financing

Gov. Scott: No active Zika zones in Florida so far this year