Local

Scott PowersFebruary 24, 2016

As his colleague U.S. Rep. Dan Webster prepares to run against his former chief of staff to replace him in Congressional District 11, U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent wants it known his only support for Webster was tactical, not long term. On Monday, Webster, a Winter Garden Republican whose own Congressional District 10 was dramatically changed […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 24, 2016

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia has drawn a Democratic challenger for his District 35 seat in the Florida House. Ramon Gutierrez of Spring Lake filed Tuesday to run for the Hernando County seat, and is so far the only other candidate in the race. Gutierrez, who was born in Havana, Cuba, works in real estate […]

Scott PowersFebruary 24, 2016

SpaceX-Falcon-9-rocket-at-Cape-Canaveral-Air-Force-Station-1024x1024.jpg

SpaceX scrubbed its planned launch Wednesday of a Falcon 9 rocket with a communications satellite because of high wind at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Tentatively, SpaceX is expected to try again Thursday, with a 6:46 p.m. launch time, though that was not yet confirmed Wednesday evening. The launch is intended to carry a communication […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

State Attorney candidate Wes White had strong words about former Police and Fire Pension Fund executive director John Keane this week on social media. “It’s time for the City to stop bowing down to John Keane – and start standing up for Tax Payers,” White wrote. “If I were the State Attorney this highway robbery of tax dollars […]

Bill RuftyFebruary 24, 2016

In 1949, an educator applied to the University of Florida Law School and was turned down. The applicant, Virgil Hawkins, was black. The law school and the court system in Florida were white and racist. The application began a nine-year fight going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled for Hawkins. That […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

[Update: It appears that the aforementioned Scott O’Connor and Mayor Curry’s Chief of Staff, Kerri Stewart, had a meeting: “We certainly appreciate the gracious amount of time you allowed to discuss the CPAC matter. Your candor and information about CPAC and Neighborhood Services gives us some vision going forward. We are grateful that the Mayor’s office felt […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Mayor-Lenny-Curry-Florida-State-Capitol-02242016-1024x1024.jpeg

Just hours after the final Senate committee OK’d the bill Wednesday, the Florida House overwhelmingly approved the (HB 1297) Discretionary Sales Surtax bill, the key to Jacksonville defraying its unfunded pension liability. The surprising thing about the process: how smoothly the proverbial “heavy lift” went. Senior staff in the mayor’s office expected resistance from the House […]

Melissa RossFebruary 24, 2016

11201182_660481747422486_2446576573855531870_n-1024x1024.jpg

Vowing to reintroduce it “in two months,” Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri says he’ll keep bringing back HRO legislation because it’s “simple and to the point.” “We have a human rights ordinance that covers everybody but the LGBT community, and all we’re wanting to do is include them,” he told WJCT’s First Coast Connect. “It’s […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Wednesday saw the Jacksonville-centric Discretionary Sales Surtax bill clear the Senate Rules Committee (SB 1652), scheduled at the same time as the third reading in the House (HB 1297). Central to the pitch: bill sponsor Rob Bradley and Mayor Lenny Curry, whose sales job gets better with every committee stop… especially important because Curry will have to sell […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Notable about Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, in which a settlement agreement with John Keane and the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund was “indefinitely postponed,” were the comments of Councilman Matt Schellenberg. They were laden with direct address toward Keane. And they were personal, almost to the point of calling in question Council’s stance as good-faith […]

Local
Supporters celebrate the opening of a wheel-chair accessible playground at Anastasia State Park. Image via Florida State Parks Foundation.

Rich Nugent says support of Dan Webster for Speaker was merely tactical

Blaise Ingoglia draws Democratic challenger in HD 35

SpaceX scrubs Falcon 9 rocket launch

John Keane looms as wedge issue in 4th Circuit State Attorney’s race

Event to celebrate barrier broken and barrier breaker

More fallout settles on Lenny Curry from latest Lisa King snub

Florida House OKs Jax Pension Tax bill 86-23

Tommy Hazouri: will reintroduce HRO “in two months,” challenges Bill Gulliford to on-air debate

Jax Pension Tax bill clears final Senate committee

Matt Schellenberg’s evolution on John Keane worth noting