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

Associated PressJuly 4, 2017

Starting Saturday, concealed guns will be permitted at college campuses in Georgia and Kansas, more public buildings and bus stations in Tennessee, and at the Iowa state Capitol as new laws take effect continuing the steady expansion of gun rights in Republican-controlled states. The firearms policies are among scores of laws scheduled to take effect […]

Associated PressJuly 4, 2017

A large stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast is open for recreational scalloping. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened an area from St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to the Pasco and Hernando County line to recreational scalloping over the weekend. A recreational salt water fishing license is required to gather bay scallops, and […]

Associated PressJuly 4, 2017

A judge ruled Monday that Florida’s lawmakers overstepped their authority in updating the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law. In ruling the law unconstitutional, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch said Monday that the changes should have been crafted by the Florida Supreme Court instead of by the Legislature. The Miami Herald reports that the 14-page order is a […]

Associated PressJuly 3, 2017

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Florida Gov. Rick Scott is set to resume executions after a hiatus of more than 18 months after the U.S. Supreme Court found Florida’s death sentencing procedure was flawed because it allowed judges to reach a different conclusion from juries. Scott rescheduled the execution of Mark Asay for Aug. 24. Asay was originally scheduled to […]

Associated PressJuly 3, 2017

Recent progress in forecasting the intensity of hurricanes — which has lagged behind storm track forecasting — could be undermined by proposed cuts in federal funding for tropical weather research, says the retiring chief of a team of U.S. hurricane specialists. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program in 2009 […]

Associated PressJuly 3, 2017

Florida officials say they are considering a request for voter information from President Donald Trump‘s commission investigating alleged voter fraud in the 2016 election. Gov. Rick Scott on Friday said he has not seen the letter that had been sent to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Wednesday. But a spokeswoman for Detzner said […]

Associated PressJuly 2, 2017

A long-time feminist activist whose campaign resume noted that she had an illegal abortion in 1968 has been elected as the new president of the National Organization for Women. Toni Van Pelt, 69, who has been active for decades in NOW’s Florida affiliates, was elected Saturday night at the organization’s national conference in Orlando, Florida. […]

Associated PressJune 29, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court is ordering new sentencing hearings for four inmates currently on the state’s death row, including one of three women residing there. The high court on Thursday threw out the sentences because a jury did not unanimously recommend the death penalty in the cases. The Court ruled last year that death sentences […]

Associated PressJune 29, 2017

It was a platform most politicians can only hope for: A captivated, 6,000-person crowd and more than an hour of live, prime-time television coverage to hype the Republican vision for a new health care system. But when President Donald Trump got around to talking about the Republican plan — about 15 minutes into his speech — he […]

Associated PressJune 28, 2017

Southwest Airlines Co. says it will drop flights to two Cuban destinations, citing its struggles to attract passengers and a tougher U.S. stance toward the island nation. Dallas-based Southwest on Wednesday announced service to Varadero and Santa Clara, Cuba, will end Sept. 4. It will continue to fly to Havana from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. […]

Associated Press

New state laws will expand concealed guns to public facilities

Florida opens large stretch of Gulf Coast for scalloping

Miami judge: New stand-your-ground law is unconstitutional

Florida set to resume executions after 18-month hiatus

Forecaster says budget cuts could hurt hurricane predictions

Florida undecided on request from voter fraud commission

Veteran activist from Florida chosen as NOW’s new leader

Florida Supreme Court throws out 4 death sentences

GOP ponders whether Donald Trump helps sell health care

Southwest drops 2 Cuban routes, citing performance, ban