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Staff ReportsDecember 28, 2018

Let’s not even pretend to avoid a spoiler: The post-Parkland legislation was the biggest legislative story of the last year. We’ll save that for the end, but in the meantime, here’s Florida Politics’ annual (and admittedly subjective) list of the top stories to come out of the 2018 Legislative Session. In somewhat chronological order: Sexual […]

Ryan NicolDecember 27, 2018

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio took to Twitter Thursday, lobbying President Donald Trump to block a deal between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Cuban Baseball Federation (CBF) to facilitate Cuban players’ passage to the U.S. “I am very confident that @Potus & @StateDept will bring an end to this terrible one-sided deal,” Rubio wrote in part […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 27, 2018

The Governor-elect Ron DeSantis‘ transition-based public safety panel convened Thursday with juvenile crime and incarceration the topic du jour. The 45-person panel is stacked with law enforcement professionals, as well as civilians impacted by the Parkland tragedy. The first major topic: juvenile crime. Unsurprisingly, the conclusion was the kids aren’t alright (building on contentions made […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 27, 2018

The city of Belleair Bluffs has canceled its March municipal elections. The city’s mayor and two of its city commissioners were re-elected without opposition. Chris Arbutine, Sr. has served as mayor of the coastal north Pinellas community since 2001. He was first elected as a city commissioner in 2000. Arbutine owns The Silver Queen and Belleair […]

Drew WilsonDecember 27, 2018

A second candidate has filed for the Pasco County seat state Rep. Danny Burgess is expected to leave vacant shortly after New Year’s. Wesley Chapel Democrat Kathy Lynn Lewis filed for the seat Friday, joining Dade City Republican Randy Maggard, who filed a day earlier. Lewis and Maggard have put in their paperwork to run […]

Ryan NicolDecember 27, 2018

President Donald Trump is pitching the public on the need to partially shut down the government to force funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to polling firm Morning Consult, Trump is losing that argument. The newest survey from the group has Trump with a 39 percent approval rating, tying the lowest mark […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 27, 2018

The Tallahassee City Commission will soon appoint one of nine newly-named candidates to fill in for suspended City Commissioner Scott Maddox. Mayor John Dailey and Commissioners Curtis Richardson, Dianne Williams–Cox and Jeremey Matlow recently picked three applicants each from a field of 93. The city released a list of commissioner-backed finalists on Wednesday. The City Commission […]

Jacob OglesDecember 26, 2018

Young Americans for Freedom filed a lawsuit against the University of Florida that alleges the school violates conservative students’ right to free speech. “UF officials are actively trying to stifle the University of Florida Young Americans for Freedom chapter on the basis of the students’ conservative beliefs,” said YAF spokesman Spencer Brown. UF officials did […]

Scott PowersDecember 26, 2018

Under harsh criticism from politicians and the state commission investigating the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre last February, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel released a letter to the commission Wednesday outlining policy changes in his department, including one that deputies “shall” immediately intervene. Israel’s letter to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chair of the Marjory […]

Staff ReportsDecember 25, 2018

Three Florida cities have spilled almost 1 million gallons (3.8 million liters) of wastewater in recent days. Records from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection show that Clearwater was responsible for the largest spill. Around 750,000 gallons (2.8 million liters) of wastewater was discharged last Friday. Tampa had a 38,000-gallon (140,000-liter) spill on the same […]

Headlines

Florida Politics’ review of top legislative stories of 2018

Crying foul: Marco Rubio pitches Donald Trump to nix Cuban baseball deal

‘The kids aren’t alright’ warns Ron DeSantis public safety team

No need for Belleair Bluffs vote — three elected without opposition

New candidate sets up showdown for Danny Burgess’ House seat

Morning Consult poll shows Donald Trump with lowest approval rating of presidency amid shutdown

Tallahassee City Commission names finalists to replace Scott Maddox

Conservative student group sues UF, claiming discrimination

Scott Israel outlines post-Marjory Stoneman Douglas changes

Report: 3 Florida cities responsible for wastewater spills