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

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

A man accused of being part in a murder-for-hire scheme linked to the killing of a law professor pleaded guilty on Tuesday to second-degree murder, averting an upcoming trial where he faced the death penalty. Luis Rivera, who is already serving a 12-year sentence in federal prison for an unrelated charge, was sentenced to an […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

President Barack Obama is being briefed on the federal government’s preparation for Hurricane Matthew as the Category 3 storm makes its way to the U.S. mainland. The president says now is the time to “hope for the best but we want to prepare for the worst.” Obama is at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters. […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

Several cruise ships are being rerouted from their regularly scheduled Caribbean and Bahamas ports to Key West. Key West is about 40 miles south of the portion of the Florida not currently under a tropical storm warning. As Hurricane Matthew approaches the Bahamas, officials say nine Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessels have moored at Truman […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

The National Hurricane Center has extended the hurricane warning northward in Florida as Matthew heads toward the East Coast. Meanwhile, Hurricane Matthew is heading toward the Bahamas after hitting Cuba hard. The hurricane center says the hurricane was about 105 miles (165 kilometers) south of Long Island, Bahamas. It has maximum sustained winds of 120 […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Brevard County, and voluntary evacuations have been activated in St. Lucie County, but Gov. Rick Scott urged other coastal residents potentially in harm’s way not to wait to be told to leave. The governor said during a Wednesday morning news conference that “if you’re able to go early, leave […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

Some Mexican-Americans are taking issue with Republican Mike Pence brushing off GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump‘s comments on Mexican immigrants as “that Mexican thing.” Pence chided Democrat Tim Kaine‘s repeated mention of Trump’s comments on immigrants during Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate, telling him at one point: “Senator, you’ve whipped out that Mexican thing again.” The […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

A crucial federal trial that could shape of the future of gambling in Florida is wrapping up. Attorneys for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state will give their closing arguments Wednesday. The second day of trial on Tuesday revolved primarily around the testimony of top gambling regulators. The trial could decide whether the tribe can […]

Associated PressOctober 4, 2016

The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday warned boaters to start preparing for Hurricane Matthew, and Gov. Rick Scott announced plans to visit the state’s emergency operations centers along Florida’s east coast. Scott canceled Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting to make the trip. He wants to make sure counties are prepared if the storm moves toward Florida, spokeswoman […]

Associated PressOctober 3, 2016

Just over a month ago, Miami Beach Botanical Garden was home to over 2,000 colorful, water-trapping bromeliads, some featuring red flowers that burst like fireworks from dark green spirals. Identified as breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry Zika, they’ve all been pulled out, leaving shallow depressions in flower beds and exposing irrigation lines. Walking through […]

Associated PressOctober 3, 2016

In his years as a reality TV boss on “The Apprentice,” Donald Trump repeatedly demeaned women with sexist language, according to show insiders who said he rated female contestants by the size of their breasts and talked about which ones he’d like to have sex with. The Associated Press interviewed more than 20 people — […]

Associated Press

Suspect in killing of slain FSU law professor pleads guilty

Obama briefed on federal hurricane preparations, S.C. town closes in preparation

Matthew forces rerouting of cruise, research ships to Key West

Hurricane warning extended for Florida’s coast

Evacuations underway in 2 Florida counties

Mike Pence’s ‘that Mexican thing’ comment gets online attention

Trial over Seminole casinos to wrap up

Gov. Scott cancels Cabinet meeting to monitor Matthew

Growers: Bromeliads aren’t to blame for Zika in Miami Beach

How Donald Trump’s ‘Apprentice’ moved from capitalism to sexism