Local

Frank TorresSeptember 22, 2015

Randy Osborne is questioning the wisdom of the Republican Party of Florida, which is thinking of using an invite to exclude presidential candidates from the Florida primary. Osborne, chair of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee, sent out an email Tuesday to membership slamming an idea from the ROPF to keep candidates who will not attend […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 22, 2015

Early next week, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is scheduling one on one meetings with JEA Board members, in the wake of some serious issues he and his administration has with scripted comments made by board members related to a pay increase for the JEA CEO. In the wake of the scheduling of those meetings, he […]

Frank TorresSeptember 22, 2015

Government affairs representatives for Osceola County told the Board of Commissioners on Monday night that they plans to try again on state dollars for the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center in the 2016 legislative session. The center will focus on the research and production of sensors found in cell phones, computers, and other high tech […]

Frank TorresSeptember 22, 2015

Osceola County Commissioners turned away a living wage increase from $8.05 to $11.66 Monday night, citing the repercussions in an uncertain local economy that would come with such an abrupt increase. A living wage would be the minimum amount the county or contractors that do business with the county, could pay their workers. The full […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council officially approved the FY 16 budget and related bills on Monday evening. Leading off the meeting, Council President Greg Anderson quipped, regarding the jampacked Chambers, “I wonder why you’re all here tonight.” The Capital Improvement Plan was approved without discussion or exception (though a floor amendment at the end changed that), as […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

A much-discussed bill to increase penalties for snipe signs has cleared committees and was expected to pass the full Jacksonville City Council on Monday, which could end, at least for now, one of the most interminable debate topics this council has faced. Councilman John Crescimbeni explained the bill, which would increase fines while allowing protection for […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

A resolution of council support for the local J-1 bill, which would relax requirements for restaurants to serve liquor in the Riverside and Avondale areas, is expected to pass. A potential sticking point: A sponsor for the bill must be named before City Council. That sponsor was Reggie Fullwood, which is notable because it’ss Jay […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

During Monday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, a resolution authorizing an inquiry into the legality and the validity of the Police and Fire Pension Fund Senior Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan was up for a vote. This measure got through Finance and Rules Committees last week on a 6-to-1 vote after it was pushed back to committees at the […]

Frank TorresSeptember 21, 2015

Activist and talk show host Randy Ross wants the community to know that his 25 years of advertising, public relations, and marketing experience, as well as longtime involvement in local politics, gave him the experience needed to be the next City Commissioner for District 4. Since moving to Orlando in 1994, Ross has worked for former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

Much of the noise made about Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s board moves has come from the left. But with less than an hour before the City Council agenda meeting, support for these moves comes from the right, courtesy of Jon McGowan, who wrote a letter to Council President Greg Anderson distilling the case for the […]

Local

Marion County GOP questions wisdom of excluding Sunshine Summit candidate no-shows from primary

JEA Board member accuses Lenny Curry of paranoia-induced purge

Osceola County will try again for sensor research center money

Living wage increase fails in Osceola County

Jax City Council approves FY16 budget

After extended discussion, Jax Council increases snipe sign fines

Jax Council backs J-1 Bill; more Riverside and Avondale diners will be able to drink up

Jax City Council OKs probe of pension fund senior staff retirement fund

Randy Ross says Patty Sheehan’s complacency keeps District 4 from moving forward

Jon McGowan writes Jax Council President in support of Lenny Curry board moves