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

Jim RosicaJuly 9, 2018

Can “athletes” perform at their best if they are “confined 23 hours a day in a crate”? No, says the Committee to Support Greyhounds, in a new video posted Sunday on Facebook. The group opposes a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at ending commercial dog racing in the state. Amendment 13, placed on the November statewide ballot […]

Jim RosicaJuly 6, 2018

The Protect Dogs-Yes on 13 campaign Friday announced endorsements from over 20 local animal groups. The group is promoting passage of Amendment 13, put on the November ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC). The proposal, which needs no less than 60 percent approval to be added to the state constitution, aims at ending commercial dog […]

Jim RosicaJuly 5, 2018

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A federal judge has set a hearing for this month in a case by university students seeking to overturn the state’s ban on early voting at public college campuses. Mark Walker, now chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, will consider their motion for a “preliminary injunction to prevent […]

Jim RosicaJuly 5, 2018

In a rare move in today’s media climate, a new online state-news website — “The Florida Phoenix” — launches Thursday in Florida’s capital. “We don’t pay attention to the media bashers,” the site’s prelaunch splash page said earlier this week. The nonprofit Phoenix “will cover state government and politics with a staff of four journalists located at the […]

Jim RosicaJuly 5, 2018

Downtown Miami is getting a brand-new casino. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which regulates gambling in the state, late Tuesday issued what’s known as “summer jai alai” permit for a new facility to be built on Biscayne Boulevard. The new permit was granted to West Flagler Associates, controlled by South Florida’s Havenick family. They operate Magic City […]

Jim RosicaJuly 3, 2018

An appellate court delivered the equivalent of a judicial smackdown Tuesday following its decision last month to reinstate a delay on the effect of a lower court’s ruling that medical marijuana can be smoked in Florida. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal (DCA) issued a 5-page order calling Circuit Judge Karen Gievers‘ ruling to allow patients […]

Jim RosicaJune 29, 2018

Supporters of a constitutional ban on betting on greyhound racing have fired back with their own letter after ban opponents served a cease and desist letter on the group. The upshot: The Committee to Protect Dogs on Friday said the videos – made by artist Jeff Sonksen – used in an online ad by the Protect Dogs — Yes on 13 campaign aren’t […]

Jim RosicaJune 29, 2018

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Alex Sink, “the last Democratic member of the Florida Cabinet,” has endorsed Democrat Nikki Fried to be the next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Sink, of Thonotosassa, was the state’s chief financial officer 2007-11. She ran for governor in 2010 and lost narrowly to current incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Scott. “I trust Nikki Fried to steer this […]

Jim RosicaJune 29, 2018

A group that supports a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit betting on greyhound racing won’t be allowed to enter a case against the ban, a Tallahassee judge ruled Friday. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers denied a motion to intervene from the Committee to Protect Dogs, but said it could file a friend-of-the-court brief, as can the Animal Law […]

Jim RosicaJune 28, 2018

The federal government is asking a Tallahassee judge to delay any rulings while it decides whether to get involved in a lawsuit over records on March’s pedestrian bridge collapse at Florida International University that killed six people. U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Canova of north Florida had first sent a notice on June 15 to Circuit Judge […]

Jim Rosica

Pro-greyhound racing campaign strikes back with new video

Greyhound racing-ban group releases first wave of endorsements

Challenge to early voting ban on campuses heading to court

‘Florida Phoenix’ news operation soars into Tallahassee

Jackpot: New casino permitted for downtown Miami

Appellate court calls out ‘abuse of discretion’ in medical marijuana case

Legal battle over racing-dog videos stays heated

Alex Sink endorses Nikki Fried for Ag. Commissioner

Lawsuit over dog-racing ban heads to court

Feds still deliberating entering lawsuit over FIU bridge records