Local

Bill RuftyMarch 30, 2016

David Charles Poulin, a Lakeland Democrat, recently opened a campaign account for Florida House District 56, occupied by Wauchula Republican Ben Albritton, who is seeking his fourth two-year term to the seat. Poulin’s entry means all five House seats in or including parts of Polk County now have Democrats running in them. That hasn’t happened […]

Ryan RayMarch 30, 2016

Heated exchanges between Mary Thomas and Neal Dunn punctuated a Republican Veterans of Florida event Tuesday night, as GOP primary foes seeking to succeed Democrat U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham in the 2nd Congressional District squared off in Panama City. Thomas went after Dunn directly and repeatedly, even as the solidly Republican crowd booed her first attempt to pin a supposedly “liberal” record on […]

Scott PowersMarch 30, 2016

In her quest for the Democratic nomination to run in Congressional District 9, Susannah Randolph has received another endorsement from a progressive Democratic member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee of California. Lee called Randolph a “true progressive” in a news release issued by Randolph’s campaign. “Susannah has been a strong voice for those who […]

Associated PressMarch 29, 2016

Brevard County commissioners approved a measure Tuesday asking Gov. Rick Scott and lawmakers to take steps to address a massive fish kill at Indian River Lagoon, but fell short of a resolution asking Scott to declare a state of emergency along Florida’s Space Coast. The approved measure asks officials in Tallahassee to require that septic […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2016

State Sen. Wilton Simpson is proud of what the Florida Legislature accomplished during its recently completed 2016 Session. However, he says the public wouldn’t be aware of that if they relied solely on the news media during the past two months. The GOP legislator spoke to about 40 (mostly senior) citizens at a town hall meeting […]

Ryan RayMarch 29, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Tuesday afternoon suspending Eatonville Mayor Anthony Grant over alleged violation of state election laws. In Executive Order 16-88, Scott cited Grant’s recent indictment by an Orange County grand jury over allegations the mayor conspired to commit election fraud by intimidating voters and fraudulently handling six absentee ballots. Grant, the chief municipal figure […]

Staff ReportsMarch 29, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has picked Lt. Col. William “Buck” Burney for the Clay County Board of County Commissioners. Burney will serve during the leave of absence of Commissioner Gavin Rollins for National Guard service, which begins April 7. “I am confident that Lt. Col. Burney will do a great job for Clay County families while […]

Melissa RossMarch 29, 2016

Placing the blame on everything from “media misinformation” to the tortured legacy of the Jim Crow era, a high-powered panel of Jacksonville officials held forth on racial tensions in the city at a conference sponsored by the Jacksonville Bar Association and Florida Coastal Law School. Unsurprisingly, the most frank comments came from Edward Waters College […]

Scott PowersMarch 29, 2016

A national group founded to fight to preserve and expand Social Security and Medicare benefits has put boxing gloves on Val Demings and wants her to fight for it in Congress. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare announced Tuesday it has endorsed Demings, the Orlando Democrat, in her race for Congress in […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2016

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For decades, aspiring restaurateurs in Tampa and Hillsborough County have had to contend with regulations unlike those in any other part of Florida. State law requires that any restaurant that serves alcohol must be at least 2,500 square feet in size. However, in Hillsborough County, state law dictated that restaurants that sell booze must be at least 4,000 square feet. No longer. […]

Local

Democrats becoming challengers on I-4 again?

Barbs, jeers fly as Republican CD 2 candidates square off in Panama City

Susannah Randolph gets endorsement of Barbara Lee for CD 9 race

Brevard leaders tackle big fish kill in Indian River Lagoon

Wilton Simpson tells Pasco crowd things he says media won’t

Rick Scott suspends Eatonville Mayor Anthony Grant

Rick Scott names William “Buck” Burney to Clay County Commission

Jax officials discuss easing racial tensions, building community trust

Social Security, Medicare advocacy group backs Val Demings in CD 10 race

New law brings Hillsborough County in line with rest of Florida regarding restaurant size to sell alcohol