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

Les NeuhausFebruary 28, 2017

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A woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 17-month-old toddler in Riverview, according to court records and media reports Tuesday. In addition to the murder charge, Latamara Stackhouse Flythe was also charged with aggravated child abuse against Aedyn Agminalis, who died Dec. 11 after he was rushed to St. Joseph’s Children’s […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 24, 2017

A total of 931 combined child deaths were reported in Florida in both 2015 and 2016, according to the state’s Child Abuse Death Review Committee (CADR), which met in Tampa Friday to discuss the issue. Broken down, 474 of those reviewable fatalities were in 2015, with another 457 reviewable notifications made in 2016. More than […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 23, 2017

Rep. Randy Fine introduced HB 17 simply as a measure to keep commerce moving on an upward trajectory under the leadership of local governments, flourishing enough to bring prosperity to their respective communities. “Its intent is to help businesses thrive and grow – that’s its purpose,” Fine told FloridaPolitics.com by telephone on Thursday from Tallahassee. […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 23, 2017

Standing before the members of the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee Thursday, Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll admitted Naika Venant had been in out of foster care since 2009. Since April alone, she had been in 10 foster homes alone that included a hotel and a child welfare office building, according […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 23, 2017

Late Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning, the most popular night spots in St. Petersburg were slow, but one topic was making the rounds: Donald Trump’s policy reversal decision on transgender students and what it means in a broader context. Michael Jones, a well-known entertainer and drag whose stage name is “Meagan Towers,” was in […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 22, 2017

It’s another interesting day in the Florida child welfare business and not a bit has anything to do with a Department of Children and Families (DCF) child protection investigator being arrested. That’s good news. Starting with the positive, the Tallahassee Democrat reported Tony Dungy was in the state capital to speak at a DCF Black History Month Celebration, […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 22, 2017

Members of the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice passed a highly-contested bill Tuesday, potentially changing the state’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws. If passed, it would place the burden of proof on the prosecution (or state) in cases of those who claim self-defense immunity in acts of violence when brought before judiciary proceedings. HB 245 […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 21, 2017

A recently-fired employee of the Florida Department of Children and Families, who had worked as a child protection investigator since 2015, was taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies on drug trafficking charges after a warrant was issued for her arrest, a spokesperson with the agency said Tuesday. According to the Lakeland Ledger, Laymeshia Hicks, 25, […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 21, 2017

Lawmakers passed two measures on Tuesday in a conference held by the Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs. The meeting was chaired by the vice chair of the committee, State Sen. Victor Torres. CS/SB 154, introduced by state Sen. Perry Thurston requires training for law enforcement on Autism awareness Training throughout the state, including with the […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 21, 2017

Three bills were passed unanimously Tuesday by members of the Senate Military and Veteran’s Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee as legislators shuffled back into the state capital following a long holiday weekend. Gulf Breeze Republican Doug Broxson, the committee’s vice-chair, led the 45-minute meeting. SB 370, introduced by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel, requires certain public […]

Les Neuhaus

Florida foster parent charged in death of toddler weeks away from adoption

Child Abuse Death Review Committee to examine fatality emergency calls

Randy Fine: Bill bolsters local businesses, not victimize LGBT community; detractors aren’t buying it

Dismayed, DCF head Mike Carroll explains fragments of Facebook Live suicide case

As Donald Trump revokes transgender student protection, Florida LGBTQ community wonders what’s next?

DCF files: Tony Dungy, adoption, false reports and a new trend – falling asleep in cars, high and with kids

House committee passes controversial change to ‘Stand Your Ground’

Child welfare investigator, mother arrested for cocaine, heroin in home

Legislators pass two bills on law enforcement training and exemptions to public records

Senate committee OK’s 3 bills: job protection, veteran IDs, emergency management