Les Neuhaus, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Les NeuhausMarch 15, 2017

Two young adults were honored by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Wednesday for the lives they left behind, and were named the agency’s 2017 Youth Ambassadors, according to a statement. Secretary Christina Daly, head of the DJJ, and the Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation, along with members of the Florida Juvenile Justice Association and partners, honored […]

Les NeuhausMarch 15, 2017

The father of a 7-week-old girl told police he pinched her cheeks and squeezed her ribs to make her “tough.” Instead, the St. Petersburg infant died in September after suffering a brain hemorrhage, fractured ribs, broken clavicle and split lip, according to police documents obtained by FloridaPolitics.com. J’Lena Dillard was taken to John’s Hopkins All […]

Les NeuhausMarch 15, 2017

Legislation requiring the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to give free access to the state’s parks for foster families was passed by legislators Wednesday. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources unanimously passed bill, CS-SB 64, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, would waive, or offer discounted entry, into all state parks for […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

For a second consecutive week, the Florida Lottery broke its own record, with total sales of more than $141 million, the game’s chief announced Tuesday. This record for the Sunshine State’s 29-year-old lottery comes despite a nasty lawsuit that pitted Florida Gov. Rick Scott against the state’s headstrong House Speaker, Rep. Richard Corcoran. For the […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

A bill seeking to reduce the number of patients visiting hospital emergency rooms repetitively from drug overdoses passed Tuesday unanimously in its first hearing in the House Health Innovation Subcommittee. Rep. Larry Lee Jr., the sponsor of HB 61, drafted the measure as a means for hospitals to gain more control when dealing with the […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

The Senate Committee on Military and Veteran’s Affairs, Space and Domestic Security recommended Glenn W. Sutphin, Jr. as the executive director of Florida’s Department of Veteran’s Affairs Tuesday. Sutphin, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. and an appointee of Gov. Rick Scott and a retired, was voted to his post unanimously by the committee. He […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

A Jacksonville toddler died after being struck with a plastic coat hanger until it broke because the 2-year-old girl had an “accident” on the bed of her mother’s boyfriend. Jamarius Devonti Graham used a belt and hangers in the past to teach the girl potty training — she had already been spanked an estimated 20 […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

Despite a host of problems facing the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, it has managed to lower youth arrests for nonviolent offenses through the increased use of civil citations, according to a 2017 report on the government agency by the Florida Juvenile Justice Association. According to the FJJA report, acquired by FloridaPolitics.com before its public […]

Les NeuhausMarch 13, 2017

In a twist to a horrible tragedy in Miami in January, a foster child who committed suicide live on social media may have been watched by her mother, according to a Florida Department of Children (DCF) and Families report released to the media Monday. Naika Venant, 14, hung herself Jan. 22 with a scarf in […]

Les NeuhausMarch 13, 2017

After a lengthy question and answer session, a Senate panel unanimously recommended to confirm Jeffrey Bragg as Florida’s Secretary of Elder Affairs Monday, an office that oversees a quarter of Florida’s 20 million residents. The recommendation by the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs will next go to the full chamber for a confirmation […]

Les Neuhaus
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Two formerly troubled teens now represent Florida agency as model adults

St. Pete man accused of murdering 7-week-old; abuse was to ‘toughen’ child

Senate committee passes bill allowing free state park access to foster families

Despite lawsuit, Florida Lottery sees record sales; tops $100M for 2nd week

Bill to stop repeat ER overdose visits moves through first House committee

Senate committee recommends Glenn Sutphin for Veteran Affairs director

Man pleads guilty in beating death of 2-year-old after ‘accident’ on bed

Report: Delinquency down in Florida, despite a host of challenges

Mother of Facebook Live suicide teen may have taunted her while watching

Committee recommends Jeffrey Bragg for Secretary of Elder Affairs