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

Associated PressMay 7, 2017

Unease and uncertainty are settling over Americans with serious illnesses as Republicans move closer to dismantling Democratic former President Barack Obama‘s health care system. A New Orleans attorney with multiple sclerosis fears he’ll be forced to close his practice if he loses coverage, while a Philadelphia woman with asthma is looking at stockpiling inhalers. The […]

Associated PressMay 7, 2017

Lockheed Martin Corp. plans to move about 300 ballistic missile program jobs from California to Florida’s Space Coast over the next two years. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. spokesman Matt Kramer told Florida Today that the employees moving to Brevard County will work on testing and maintenance for the Navy’s Trident II D-5 Fleet Ballistic Missile. […]

Associated PressMay 7, 2017

Officials say voluntary evacuations are no longer needed in subdivisions near a wildfire burning in a Tampa Bay-area nature preserve. Pasco County Government spokesman Doug Tobin said Sunday that the cause of the fire in Starkey Wilderness Park has not been determined. The preserve remained closed Sunday, but the sheriff’s office and Florida Highway Patrol […]

Associated PressMay 5, 2017

Florida could make it easier for parents and residents to challenge school textbooks and school library books under a bill passed by the state Legislature. The Senate on Friday narrowly approved the measure by a 19-17 vote. It now heads to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott. The legislation (HB 989) would allow parents and […]

Associated PressMay 5, 2017

Florida police officers may soon be required to undergo training to better deal with autistic individuals under a bill that has passed the state Legislature. The measure was sent to Gov. Rick Scott on Friday. It comes after a North Miami shooting that left an unarmed black therapist shot and injured while he tried to […]

Associated PressMay 5, 2017

The Florida Legislature has voted to rebury the bodies of children whose remains were found on the site of a now-shuttered reform school. The Florida Senate voted unanimously for a bill Friday that would also set aside money to build two memorials regarding the boys who lived and died at the Arthur G. Dozier School […]

Associated PressMay 5, 2017

A bill that would create new criminal offenses to combat terrorism is heading to Florida Gov. Rick Scott. The Senate unanimously passed the bill Friday that would create five new criminal offenses for people who work with terrorist groups or commit acts of terrorism. The House passed it unanimously last week. Acts of terrorism themselves […]

Associated PressMay 5, 2017

The Florida House has rejected a Senate proposal to loosen mandatory-minimum-sentence requirements in a bill that cracks down on synthetic drug traffickers, putting the legislation in jeopardy with only one day left for it to pass. The bill’s primary sponsor, Republican Rep. Jim Boyd, said the purpose of the bill would be defeated without the […]

Associated PressMay 5, 2017

The most biologically diverse waterway in America is seriously ill. The Indian River Lagoon is repeatedly being choked with oxygen-robbing algae, its surface increasingly dotted with thousands of dead fish, manatees, birds and other creatures. The culprits: farm runoff and a huge influx of people that has sent lawn fertilizer and other pollutants into the […]

Associated PressMay 4, 2017

State officials revoked a racing greyhound trainer’s license after five dogs tested positive for cocaine after a race in January. According to records from the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Malcolm McAllister’s racing license was permanently revoked April 24. Urine samples for the dogs were taken by state employees following races at the St. […]

Associated Press
Image via Tiger Bay.

Anxiety over GOP health plan for those with severe illnesses

Lockheed Martin is moving ballistic missile jobs to Florida

Evacuations no longer needed near fire in nature preserve

Florida parents may get a bigger say over school textbooks

Rick Scott gets bill requiring autism training for police

Bill to rebury Dozier victims, create memorial, on way to Rick Scott

Legislature passes anti-terrorism bill

House puts fate of fentanyl trafficking bill at risk

Florida’s building boom threatens wildlife-rich lagoon

Busted: Cocaine found in 5 greyhounds at Derby Lane