Staff Reports, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott is telling counties affected by Hurricane Irma to get their act together, asking them “to submit detailed debris clean-up plans” by Tuesday. The plans need to go to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) by noon, the governor said in a statement. “Let me be clear – debris removal is a function […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2017

Yvonne Fry’s Florida House campaign received a major boost Monday with the endorsement of Dan Raulerson, the former lawmaker she is hoping to succeed in House District 58.

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2017

Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican set to be the next Senate President, is expected to be officially designated on Oct. 24. Senate Republican Leader Wilton Simpson, who’s in line to be President after Galvano, made the announcement Monday. Galvano will succeed Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican, as head of the chamber for 2018-20. The designation will […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2017

Students who go to school in counties that were hit hard by Hurricane Irma will be getting meals on the federal government’s tab. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Monday announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture accepted his request to allow students in 48 counties subject to a FEMA Major Disaster Declaration to receive free school meals […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2017

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. had fielded 15,900 Irma-related storm damage claims at last count — a fraction of the more than 100,000 claims the company expects in the weeks ahead. The tally was good as of 9 a.m. Thursday, company spokesman Michael Peltier said. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has yet to say how […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2017

The Florida Health Care Association on Thursday called the deaths of eight South Florida nursing home residents who died after Hurricane Irma knocked out their power an “isolated incident” and “not representative of the larger long term care profession in Florida.” The association advocates for “long term care providers and the elderly they serve,” according […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2017

It should go without saying, but state officials are asking residents not to use water during a “boil water” alert without boiling it first. “If you are under a boil water notice and have no electricity and no way to boil water, use bottled water,” the state’s Department of Health said Thursday. Here’s the rest […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2017

640px-Santa_Fe_River_near_river_rise_in_Oleno_State_Park_Florida.jpg

Happy news for hurricane evacuees trying to come home and other motorists: Interstate 75 will remain open, the Florida Department of Transportation said Thursday. State officials had warned earlier this week that the engorged Santa Fe River was rising dangerously high under an I-75 bridge in Alachua County. “Flood waters have been receding,” and “FDOT engineers […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott announced late Wednesday that the Federal Highway Administration approved a $25 million Emergency Relief Quick Release Grant to support response and recovery efforts for Florida’s roadways and transportation system. This federal funding will be used to conduct emergency repairs on roads, embankments, bridges or other infrastructure and help restore traffic on major roadways […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 13, 2017

If Irma flooded your car, don’t try to start it. You could do even more damage than the storm did. That advice Wednesday from the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, or PCI, a trade association representing a broad swath of the auto, homeowners, and commercial markets. Comprehensive auto policies typically cover water damage to […]

Staff Reports
John Thune, John Barasso and Mike Crapo. Image via AP.

Rick Scott to counties: Prioritize your clean-ups

Dan Raulerson endorses Yvonne Fry as his successor in House District 58

Bill Galvano’s designation ceremony set

Free meals for Irma kids

Irma-related damage claims continue to trickle in to Citizens Insurance

Florida Health Care Association issues statement on nursing home deaths

Don’t drink the (contaminated) water

Interstate 75 to stay open, state says

Federal funding OK’d for road repairs

Auto insurance likely covers flood damage to cars; FEMA also can help