Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJune 9, 2017

Former Yahoo executive and state Sen. Jeremy Ring capped off a week on the campaign trail Friday with a big get. Immediately following a speech at the annual convention of the Florida Professional Firefighters, the group moved to unanimously endorse Ring in the Democratic primary. In his speech, Ring reaffirmed his support for the state’s […]

Scott PowersJune 9, 2017

Andrew Gillum is staking claim to the broadest base of campaign donors. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s campaign is reporting Friday it has topped the 7,000 donor mark for $1.2 million in total contributions. The Tallahassee mayor is running against two other major candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. That means Gillum’s official […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2017

Florida orange production went up a bit and grapefruit production leveled off, according to the latest forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The Florida Department of Citrus announced the estimates Friday. “The June report projects the state’s orange crop to increase by 500,000 boxes to 68.5 million for the 2016-17 season,” its press […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 9, 2017

One doesn’t have to go back much farther than a few days to find the latest historical example of mass shootings in Florida: an Orlando workplace shooting that took multiple casualties. It wasn’t the first mass shooting in Florida. It likely won’t be the last. As Orlando and the state of Florida deal with that […]

Peter SchorschJune 9, 2017

President Donald Trump is asserting that fired FBI Director James Comey’s testimony to Congress represents “total and complete vindication” in the Russia case. Trump, who did not post on his Twitter account as Comey appeared before the Senate intelligence committee Thursday, sent a tweet at daybreak Friday. In the post, the president said: “Despite so […]

Peter SchorschJune 9, 2017

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature, which has been wracked by feuds among its top leaders for the last several years, is in danger of ending a three-day special session without restoring billions in money that public schools use to pay for day-to-day operations. The session is scheduled to end Friday, but after two days there remained a […]

Staff ReportsJune 9, 2017

A bipartisan bill to reform the Department of Veterans of Affairs by allowing the secretary to dismiss bad employees is headed to the U.S. House, after clearing the Senate on a voice vote this week. Sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act gives the VA secretary […]

Associated PressJune 9, 2017

An Alaska man charged with killing five people and wounding six in a Florida airport shooting spree is due in court as a judge closely monitors his mental health. Lawyers for 27-year-old Esteban Santiago of Anchorage, Alaska, have said he’s fit to stand trial despite a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The hearing Friday is one of […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2017

Lodging alternative marketing service Airbnb released figures Thursday that shows families and friends of college graduates piled into vacation rental homes from Pensacola to Miami Guests booking rooms in Airbnb-marketed vacation rental homes more than doubled in Gainesville and Tallahassee during the University of Florida and Florida A&M University commencement weeks in April. Tallahassee also […]

Phil AmmannJune 8, 2017

Facebook announced three new features Wednesday aimed at boosting civic engagement in the U.S., allowing users to better connect with elected officials, candidates and staff. The new offerings help users sort through a mountain of content on the social network and help politicians find comments and news stories that connect directly to their home districts. […]

Headlines

Big, early get: State’s firefighters endorse Jeremy Ring in Democratic primary of CFO race

Andrew Gillum’s campaign touting more than 7,000 donors

Latest forecast: Oranges up, grapefruit steady

On eve of Pulse massacre anniversary, Gwen Graham pushes gun safety plan

Day after Comey hearing, Donald Trump claims ‘total and complete vindication’

Session on verge of collapse as Florida GOP leaders feud

Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson backed VA reform bill clears the Senate

Airport shooting suspect due back in court

College graduates’ families, friends pump up Airbnb bookings

Facebook rolls out new features to help users connect with elected officials