Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannNovember 16, 2015

Funeral services for former Florida First Lady Rhea Chiles will begin Monday 11 a.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee. She will then be buried next to her husband, the late former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles. The Chiles family has made arrangements for The Florida Channel to provide live streaming of the services to accommodate […]

Phil AmmannNovember 15, 2015

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium “hauled in” a $25,000 contribution this week to help underserviced local students. The donation from telecommunications giant AT&T will go toward afterschool programs that give 11- to 14-year-old students hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). A presentation ceremony Friday included a boat ride in Clearwater Bay pulling a net […]

Phil AmmannNovember 15, 2015

Uber is taking the next big step in trying to break Miami-Dade’s growing traffic congestion. On Thursday, the San Francisco-based ride-sharing tech company launches uberPOOL, a next-generation carpool service that matches passengers going in the same direction, while allowing them to split the cost of the ride. Ryan Graves, Uber’s Senior Vice President and Head of […]

Phil AmmannNovember 15, 2015

A round-up of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers: Tampa Bay Times – Florida cannot afford Scott’s corporate welfare Gov. Rick Scott is campaigning to make Florida the king of corporate welfare. He toured the state last week to promote his $1 billion tax cut that would primarily benefit big business. On top of that, […]

Phil AmmannNovember 13, 2015

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has selected Steve Dwinell to be director of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy. Dwinell is a 20-year veteran of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as environmental administrator and has been assistant director of the Division of Agricultural Environmental Services since 2000. He makes $101,391.16 annually, according the […]

Phil AmmannNovember 13, 2015

A coalition of Florida retailers and business owners are reaffirming “unwavering support” for the effort to repeal the state’s Prohibition-era alcohol separation law. In an announcement Friday, Floridians for Fair Business Practices (FFBP) doubled down on its support for “free market and pro-business values” while blasting opponents, who they claim are using “false arguments on […]

Phil AmmannNovember 12, 2015

Pasco County legislators and officials join to help needy families prepare fresh, nutritious meals this holiday at the 2015 Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano joins state Sen. John Legg and state Reps. Richard Corcoran and Amanda Murphy and Sheriff Chris Nocco to host the 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 11 giveaway. […]

Phil AmmannNovember 11, 2015

Marco-Rubio-Good-Morning-America-GOP-Debate-1024x1024.jpg

Relations between presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush are “fine,” even as footage from the Milwaukee Republican Party debate show some tension between the two Floridians. As reported by Corrine Cathcart of ABC News, Bush appeared to brush off Rubio’s attempt to speak with him during a commercial break at the debate Tuesday night. […]

Phil AmmannNovember 10, 2015

Jack Latvala is saying “no way” to hunting at Honeymoon Island State Park. On Tuesday, the Clearwater Republican state senator sent a letter to Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jon Steverson asking him to remove Pinellas County’s Honeymoon Island State Park from a list of potential locations for hunting. This week, Craig Pittman […]

Phil AmmannNovember 10, 2015

Florida is the most veteran-friendly state in the U.S., offering some of the most generous tax benefits for former and current service members, according to a new report by independent government watchdogs Florida TaxWatch. To coincide with Veterans Day, TaxWatch released the study about the 1.6 million veterans living in the Sunshine State, a number […]

Phil Ammann
Kathleen King and Joe Gruters. Image via Max Goodman.

Rhea Chiles memorial to be streamed on Florida Channel

Clearwater Marine Aquarium “hauls in” big AT&T check for afterschool STEM programs

Miami-Dade to get #uberPOOL, new Uber carpool service

A round-up of Sunday editorials from Florida’s leading newspapers

Personnel note: Steve Dwinell promoted to Ag Dept.’s director of water policy

Retailers, business owners reaffirm call to repeal Florida “wall of alcohol separation”

Pasco leaders announce Farm Share Giveaway, so families can prepare fresh holiday meals

Despite apparent tension, Marco Rubio says things are “fine” with Jeb Bush

Jack Latvala says “no way” to Honeymoon Island hunting

Florida most veteran-friendly state, new report shows