Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2016

As expected, state insurance regulators have issued a final order jacking up the price of worker’s compensation insurance by nearly 15 percent. The order was published Thursday. The decision approves the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) request “for an overall combined statewide average rate increase of 14.5 percent,” the Office of Insurance Regulation said in a […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court says it will “issue retroactive orders extending filing deadlines” because of courthouse closures as Hurricane Matthew approaches the state. Those orders will appear on the court’s website. As of Thursday morning, courts were closed in 29 of the state’s 67 counties, with more expected to shut down. A full list is here. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2016

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As he has all week, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday continued to stress the potential for peril brought by Hurricane Matthew. “If you think someone is making a bad decision (by not evacuating), call them,” he said during an early morning briefing at the state’s Emergency Operations Center. “Don’t let people try to (stay) in an […]

Jim RosicaOctober 5, 2016

A federal judge shellacked an attorney for the state of Florida during closing arguments Friday in a trial over whether the Seminole Tribe gets to continue offering blackjack to its casino customers. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle peppered the state’s counsel with questions about whether gambling regulators basically allowed the state’s non-tribal cardrooms to offer games that broke the exclusive […]

Jim RosicaOctober 5, 2016

The possible arrival of Hurricane Matthew along the state’s east coast is causing a variety of court closures. As of 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, courts in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia counties announced shutdowns for Thursday and Friday. That makes a total of 12 counties where courts are closed or will close this week because of the storm, according […]

Jim RosicaOctober 5, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott in a Wednesday news briefing on Hurricane Matthew told Floridians that “protecting life is our No. 1 priority.” “If Matthew directly impacts Florida, there will be massive destruction, the likes of which we have not seen in years,” he said at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. “This is a deadly storm […]

Jim RosicaOctober 4, 2016

Attorney General Pam Bondi has declined to weigh in on whether local police chiefs can “direct or permit firefighters in emergency situations to openly carry firearms.” Crestview Police Chief Tony R. Taylor had asked for a legal opinion from Bondi’s office. In an Aug. 9 informal opinion, a copy of which was released Tuesday, Senior Assistant […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2016

The head of the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s gambling operations Monday testified the Florida House’s Republican Leader disengaged in 2015 during blackjack renewal talks. The next thing Jim Allen knew, state Rep. Dana Young of Tampa was announcing her own legislative package, an overhaul of state gambling law that cut out the tribe. Based on […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2016

Questions of “good faith” were the nub of the first day of trial between the state and the Seminole Tribe over its ability to keep offering blackjack to casino customers across Florida. Lawyers for both sides Monday focused on the elemental question of who was right and who was wrong in the beginning of this […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has consolidated its control over the “Hard Rock” hotel and casino brand, buying out remaining rights from the owner-operator of Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The deal was announced Friday in a news release. The terms were not made public. The acquisition means “the Hard Rock brand has now […]

Jim Rosica
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

State issues final order for workers’ comp cost increase

Supreme Court extending filing deadlines because of storm

Rick Scott on hurricane: ‘This is going to kill people’

Blackjack trial comes to close as judge questions state’s case

Hurricane Matthew causes court closures

Rick Scott: ‘Hope for the best, prepare for the worst’

Pam Bondi won’t opine on firefighter open carry question

Dana Young backed out of blackjack talks, Seminole Gaming CEO says

‘Good faith’ at issue in Seminole Tribe blackjack trial

Seminole Tribe now fully controls Hard Rock brand