Jax

Phil AmmannMay 5, 2017

This week, our Northeast Florida correspondent has been ensconced in the Corrine Brown trial. The trial is finally moving into defense testimony after a blistering week of witnesses for the prosecution saying that Brown knew “One Door for Education” was one big scam. However, here’s the rub: Donors didn’t care. They didn’t really vet the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 4, 2017

Below, an archive of prosecution arguments in the Corrine Brown trial. For the most current coverage, please check out the master post linked here: Corrine Brown Trial Coverage. Thurs. 5/4 Dummy donations, dubious deposits: Prosecution testimony concluded Thursday morning in the trial of Corrine Brown, continuing the theme of dummy donations and dubious cash deposits into […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2017

In the first major shakeup of the Lenny Curry administration, Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart resigned Tuesday. “For nearly two years, Ms. Stewart served as chief of staff in the Curry administration, supporting and working for successful implementation of many of the mayor’s priorities for Jacksonville,” said Marsha Oliver, spokeswoman for the mayor, to the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2017

For those in Jacksonville looking for constituent services from Sen. Marco Rubio, the nightmare is over. Rubio had to close his office on Jacksonville’s Southbank this year, but now has permanent digs in a zone as secure as anywhere in the city: the federal courthouse downtown. The precise location: Suite 8-111. “I am happy to announce […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 1, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry failed to say “no” to the expansion of the local HRO, or Human Rights Ordinance, to include LGBT people. So Florida Family Action, which agitated against the ordinance being expanded, urged Gov. Rick Scott to just say no to Curry as CFO on Monday. They’ll take almost anyone else: Sen. Aaron Bean, Sen. Tom Lee, […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 1, 2017

Below: the closing arguments in the trial of Corrine Brown. Defense: Simmons controlled the scheme, duped Corrine Brown Corrine Brown’s attorney, James Smith, laid it out to the jurors, striking a garrulous tone with a reassuring voice, before showing a rare picture of Ronnie Simmons’ sister, Corrine Brown, and the One Door president to set […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 1, 2017

Highlights from the jury deliberation in the trial of Corrine Brown include procedural questions, and questions about jurors themselves. Mail fraud question from jury: Does the government have to prove all elements of the jury instruction on the six counts of mail fraud for Corrine Brown to found guilty? That was a question from the […]

Phil AmmannApril 28, 2017

Readers have likely noticed our deep-dive coverage of the Corrine Brown trial this week. As the trial moves into its evidentiary phase, it would be easy to forget Wednesday’s opening statements. That would be ill-advised, as those statements represent the crux of the disagreement between the government and Brown. The Feds maintain Brown orchestrated the […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2017

The real work was done over the past weeks and months. But the ceremony, the cameras, the victory lap were all reserved for Monday afternoon, when the Jacksonville City Council officially passed 14 bills that equate to pension reform. The “committee of the whole” vote – held Wednesday – was the dispositive one. In that meeting, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2017

For decades, Corrine Brown (Jacksonville’s longtime Democratic Congresswoman) served many functions. And the witness list at her trial, which starts Monday, reflects that. This may be the trial of a generation. It certainly has generational resonance for political types: of donors and behind-the-scenes types, of glad handers and hangers on, and of real-deal active politicians … past […]

Jax

Jacksonville Bold for 5.5.17 — No one left to lie to

The prosecution case against Corrine Brown

Shakeup in Jax City Hall: Kerri Stewart resigns for JEA gig

New Jacksonville office for Marco Rubio

Florida Family Action: No to ‘Charlie Crist Republican’ Lenny Curry as CFO

Closing arguments in Corrine Brown trial

Corrine Brown trial: jury deliberation highlights

Jacksonville Bold for 4.28.17 — Lyin’, Cheatin’, Stealin’

Jacksonville City Council passes pension reform legislation

In Corrine Brown’s trial, a chapter of Jacksonville history will be written