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

Associated PressSeptember 16, 2016

After five years as the chief promoter of the false idea that President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States, Donald Trump admitted on Friday that the president was — and claimed credit for putting the issue to rest. “President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period,” Trump said in brief televised […]

Associated PressSeptember 16, 2016

Donald Trump‘s signature, an unmistakable if nearly illegible series of bold vertical flourishes, was scrawled on the improper $25,000 check sent from his personal foundation to a political committee supporting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Charities are barred from engaging in political activities, and the Republican presidential nominee’s campaign has contended for weeks that the […]

Associated PressSeptember 15, 2016

The Latest on the arrest of a suspect in the arson of a Florida mosque (all times local): 10:30 a.m. Sheriff’s investigators say a man accused of setting fire to a Florida mosque confessed and said he was embarrassed. According to a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit released Thursday, 32-year-old Joseph Schreiber was […]

Associated PressSeptember 15, 2016

The tour bus features a giant photo of a waving, smiling Donald Trump, but the person who steps off it is actor Jon Voight. He’s trailed by conservative radio stars and strategists for a super political action committee. Great America PAC is rolling through battleground states, opening offices and registering voters. In a presidential race […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2016

A 32-year-old Florida man has been arrested and is facing a charge of arson with a hate crime enhancement in connection with a fire that heavily damaged the mosque that Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen occasionally attended, authorities announced Wednesday. Joseph Michael Schreiber was arrested without incident Wednesday afternoon and was being interrogated by investigators […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2016

Florida’s main teacher union is asking the state Supreme Court to keep alive a legal challenge to the state’s largest private school voucher program. The Florida Education Association on Wednesday appealed an August decision to throw out the lawsuit that the union and others had filed against a program used by more than 90,000 school […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2016

For Donald Trump, the fight for Florida begins and ends with mass appeal: signature rallies and direct social media contact with voters who believe he can “make America great again.” Add some 30 Florida Trump employees to about 80 Republican Party field workers deployed around the state, and that pretty much covers the GOP nominee’s […]

Associated PressSeptember 13, 2016

Florida taxpayers paid nearly $153,000 for renovations to the reception area outside of Gov. Rick Scott’s office. State officials say the changes, which include placing bulletproof material in the reception desk, were prompted by security concerns. But the changes also included putting in new carpet in the waiting area. And they included placing Scott’s Office […]

Associated PressSeptember 12, 2016

An assistance center for victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre should remain open for several more years, according to city officials. The Orlando Sentinel reports the city council voted Aug. 29 to pay the Heart of Florida United Way over $123,000 to staff the Orlando United Assistance Center through early November. City officials said they’ll […]

Associated PressSeptember 12, 2016

HermineVeterans of Florida’s historic hurricane seasons say Gov. Rick Scott did well handling the state’s first hurricane landfall in 11 years, but familiar problems with communications and coordinating resources resurfaced. Hurricane Hermine made landfall Sept. 2 in Florida’s Big Bend with 80-mph winds. Coastal communities were forced to evacuate, and two deaths have been attributed […]

Associated Press

Donald Trump finally says President Obama was born in the U.S.

Donald Trump signed improper charity check supporting Pam Bondi

Detectives say mosque fire suspect confessed

Pro-Trump super PAC acts as candidate stand-in on bus tour

Authorities: Arrest made in arson fire at Florida mosque

Legal battle over vouchers headed to Florida Supreme Court

In Florida, Donald Trump faces a Hillary Clinton campaign behemoth

Florida Governor’s Office makeover: New rug, new desk, no access

Orlando officials want to keep Pulse assistance center open

Hermine debris pickup begins Monday in Tallahassee