Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerrySeptember 18, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum believes Rick Scott did a relatively good job leading Florida through the impact of Hurricane Irma, but he didn’t think much of the Governor’s verbal shot at him last week. “Up until the time when he took a swipe at me, he was doing well,” Gillum said Saturday […]

Associated PressSeptember 18, 2017

Florida’s economy has long thrived on one import above all: People. Until Irma struck this month, the state was adding nearly 1,000 residents a day — 333,471 in the past year, akin to absorbing a city the size of St. Louis or Pittsburgh. Every jobseeker, retiree or new birth, along with billions spent by tourists, […]

Tamara LushSeptember 17, 2017

Across Florida, people spent Sunday trying to get back to normal after one of the worst storms to hit the state since Hurricane Andrew. Keys residents were allowed to visit Monroe County for the first time since Hurricane Irma struck a week ago. Elsewhere, residents are waiting for electricity, cleaning up from floods or just […]

Associated PressSeptember 17, 2017

As the devastated Florida Keys began reopening to residents who fled Hurricane Irma, officials warned the returning islanders to bring enough supplies to sustain them for a while, because no one yet knows when water and power will be fully restored. “The Keys are not what you left several days ago when you evacuated. Electricity, […]

Associated PressSeptember 17, 2017

The first 911 call from the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills didn’t sound ominous: A nursing home patient had an abnormal heartbeat. An hour later, came a second call: a patient had trouble breathing. Then came the third call. A patient had gone into cardiac arrest – and died. Over the next few hours of […]

Associated PressSeptember 17, 2017

Standing tall in a NAVY cap, Florida Gov. Rick Scott will be an enduring image from Hurricane Irma. Seemingly everywhere but the eye of the storm, he was there on social media urging millions to evacuate, calmly taking charge at emergency briefings, even delivering early word of devastation in the Keys after a much-publicized flyover. […]

Associated PressSeptember 17, 2017

Tim Stanton emerged from his ruined workshop off Highway 1 on Big Pine Key and collapsed to the ground, his sunburned, tear-covered face contorted in anguish. The skeleton-thin 58-year-old with long, stringy gray hair sat under an old gas station awning, overcome by his personal loss in this idyllic place that was one of the […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 16, 2017

After meeting with those involved in emergency response efforts underway in the Florida Keys and assessing damage, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Friday morning joined Walmart associates and members of the National Guard to unload a truckload of water that the company donated to individuals affected by Hurricane Irma. “Walmart made a commitment to support relief […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 16, 2017

Here’s some good news for AT&T customers in Florida. The telecommunications giant’s wireless service in Florida is performing at 97% of normal. Wireless services in Puerto Rico and Georgia are nearly restored. In Florida and Georgia, some wireline customers may be experiencing issues with their service caused by flooding and storm damage. While wireless service […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott—who’s no fan of government regulations—wants to make it easier for Floridians to rebuild their lives after Hurricane Irma. On Friday night, Scott said he had directed the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation(DBPR) “to suspend certain regulations and fees that may prevent, hinder or delay necessary response and recovery efforts.” “Right now, […]

Headlines
Bail bondsmen Image via Daniel Schwen/Wiki Commons. License here.

Andrew Gillum didn’t appreciate Rick Scott’s taking a ‘swipe’ at him last week

Irma’s damage a reminder of Florida economy’s vulnerability

Florida recovers, rests, reflects in wake of Hurricane Irma

Officials: Returning Keys residents must be self-sustaining

‘Red flag’ calls signaled post-Irma deaths at nursing home

Rick Scott could get political boost for leadership in Irma

Irma wipes out dreams across independent-minded Florida Keys

Adam Putnam rolls up his sleeves in Monroe County, passes out water, thanks Walmart

AT&T says its wireless service is performing at 97% of normal after Irma

State suspends certain regulations hindering response to Irma