Local

Ryan RayJanuary 13, 2016

On his way re-election to his fourth term as Orlando Mayor, Buddy Dyer raised plenty of campaign cash from local supporters through his Moving Orlando Forward PAC. But about $215,000 of that money made a detour in Tallahassee, according to recently filed campaign finance reports. The Moving Orlando Forward committee made five major contributions to the Florida […]

Associated PressJanuary 13, 2016

BAE Systems says as many as 300 employees its shipyards in Jacksonville may be laid off. Multiple media outlets report the company made the announcement Tuesday, saying the layoffs will happen on or about March 18. BAE employs about 700 workers at its two Jacksonville facilities. The company said in September that it would lay […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has as much local political momentum for his pension tax plan as he could want. Everyone on City Council co-sponsored a resolution of support, which passed Tuesday night. However, Senate co-sponsor Rob Bradley is the first to say that getting it through both chambers in Tallahassee is a “heavy lift.” To that end, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2016

One of the big stories of last legislative session: Rick Scott was not on the “Bean Team,” with budget vetoes that shocked Aaron Bean, as Tia Mitchell wrote. Since then, Bean has attempted to mend fences. Steve Bousquet documented Bean’s awkward sounding attempt to rebuild a relationship last year. And now, Bean has kissed Scott’s ring anew, signing on in support of […]

Scott PowersJanuary 13, 2016

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has endorsed Carlos Guillermo Smith in the Orlando-based House District 49 race, Guillermo Smith’s campaign announced Wednesday. Guillermo Smith, like Dyer a Democrat, so far is running unopposed, either in his primary or headed toward the general election. He is seeking to fill the seat currently held by state Rep. Rene […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2016

Before the holidays, a great deal of talk revolved around David Santiago launching a run in CD 6. Now, we are hearing that Santiago has thrown his hat into the ring, joining four other Republicans in the race to succeed Ron DeSantis. “Our nation is at a crossroads. We need real leaders with the courage and proven […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2016

The big news coming out of Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council public comment marathon on expanding the Human Right Ordinance: Confessions of a child molester, advanced to negate the case for HRO expansion. Westsider Roy Bay, a 56-year-old Caucasian, said that when he was “10 or 12 years old,” he was “sexually assaulted by the homosexual community,” […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 12, 2016

““Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” — John Adams “If we’d had a referendum in 1965, I’d still be on the back of the bus.” — Denise Hunt A light legislative agenda on Jacksonville’s City Council was offset by dozens of […]

Scott PowersJanuary 12, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs lost a power struggle with the county’s six constitutional officers Tuesday when a panel refused her request proposing they be switched to Orange County charter posts. A working group of the Orange County Charter Review Commission turned down Jacobs’ request to recommend a charter amendment, after hearing each of the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 12, 2016

Pinellas County Commissioners Tuesday passed an ordinance furthering the work of the Florida Legislature to curb human trafficking. Last year, the legislature approved a bill ultimately signed into law that gave county commissions the authority to place signs in certain locations educating the public about the labor and sex trafficking. The state law enacted in […]

Local

Buddy Dyer-connected PAC passes $215K through Florida Democratic Party

BAE Systems to lay off up to 300 at Jacksonville shipyards

Lenny Curry again scheduled to hilt in Tallahassee

Aaron Bean courts Rick Scott, backs Enterprise Florida

Buddy Dyer endorses Carlos Guillermo Smith in HD 49

David Santiago files in CD 6

Who is Roy Bay? And why does it matter?

HRO expansion talk roils Jax City Council

Teresa Jacobs loses battle with Orange County constitutional officers

Pinellas County Commission expands state human trafficking initiative