Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressJanuary 12, 2017

The Obama administration is ending the “wet foot, dry foot” policy that granted residency to Cubans who arrived in the United States without visas. That’s according to a senior administration official, who said the policy change was effective immediately. The official said the U.S. and Cuba have spent several months negotiating the change, including an […]

Scott PowersJanuary 12, 2017

Leah Carius said she knows something about being in a medium- or small county and feeling largely ignored by Democratic Party leaders Tallahassee, yet she also knows more than a little about strengthening a Democratic powerhouse. Carius, the chair of the Osceola County Democratic Party, is one of the dark horses seeking election as chair […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 12, 2017

The latest estimates show “a slight decrease” in Florida orange production to 71 million boxes for the 2016-17 season, according to the Florida Department of Citrus. The department on Thursday shared the results of the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast, the first in 2017. The state’s citrus industry has been hurt by the citrus greening epidemic. The so-far incurable disease […]

Michael MolineJanuary 12, 2017

State regulators and an organization that proposes workers’ compensation coverage rates in Florida defended themselves in pleadings to a state appeals court this week, seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that they had violated open-government laws. Attorneys for the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, submitted their arguments in a brief filed Wednesday with […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 12, 2017

This weekend, Congressman Charlie Crist will be back on home turf for one of his first Florida fundraisers of 2017. The afternoon reception, scheduled for Saturday from 5:30 – 7 p.m., will be at the home of Crist’s sister, Dr. Elizabeth Crist Hyden, at Casa Las Brisas, 515 Brightwaters Blvd, NE in St. Petersburg. Supporters […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 12, 2017

Philip Levine will not be seeking another term as mayor of Miami Beach. In a video “state of the city” address released Thursday, Levine talked about how he “rolled up his sleeves and got to work” on such issues as sea level rise, traffic congestion, the Zika virus and lower property taxes. With that, Levine […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 12, 2017

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A Tallahassee judge has tossed out a lawsuit over the use of “Wite Out” on state Rep. Dan Raulerson‘s re-election filing paperwork. In an order issued Wednesday, Circuit Judge Charles W. Dodson dismissed the case brought by Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa, the Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Raulerson last year for the House District 58 seat. Dodson ruled he did not have jurisdiction to decide the matter […]

Associated PressJanuary 12, 2017

The outgoing president somberly ruminated about the fragility of democracy and earnestly implored Americans to reject corrosive political dialogue. Fourteen hours later, the incoming president staged a defiant and frenetic news conference at his gilded New York City tower, dismissing critics, insulting reporters and likening the country’s intelligence officers to Nazis. President Barack Obama‘s farewell […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2017

A large protest is being planned this weekend at the Suwannee River State Park against the construction of the Sabal Trail Pipeline. Activists fear that the $3.2 billion, 515-mile natural gas pipeline that is intended to run through North Florida into Central Florida will create a huge environmental calamity and contaminate the state’s drink water supply. Construction […]

Associated PressJanuary 11, 2017

A defiant President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday adamantly denied reports that Russia had obtained compromising personal and financial information about him, calling it a “tremendous blot” on the record of the intelligence community if such material had been released. The incoming president, in his first news conference since late July, firmly chided news organizations for […]

Headlines

Obama scrapping ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy for Cubans

Leah Carius seeking to be the local-control candidate for state Democrats

Citrus crop production trending down again ‘slightly’

Ratings agency warns in brief against ‘dramatic expansion’ of Sunshine Law

Charlie Crist to hold first St. Petersburg fundraiser of 2017 Saturday

Philip Levine announces final term as Miami Beach mayor, to launch statewide listening tour

Case dismissed: Dan Raulerson to remain in House

A farewell address, a news conference and White House change

Nearly 90,000 people have signed Tim Canova’s petition to stop Sabal Trail Pipeline

Donald Trump denounces ‘disgrace’ of reports of Russian ties to him