Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegJune 10, 2015

In one of the more bizarre cases I’ve seen, a Palm Beach County woman has just agreed to a plea bargain that requires her to perform 20 hours of community service. Her crime: Waiting too long to kill her dog. Debbie Mays, who lives in Wellington in Palm Beach County, was charged with animal cruelty […]

Drew WilsonJune 10, 2015

Campaign finance numbers released Wednesday show Ocala Republican Rep. Dennis Baxley raised $42,665 for his District 5 Senate campaign in May, bringing his contribution total to $143,825. Expenditures for the month totaled $4,906, leaving the Baxley campaign with $123,000 cash on hand. The representative had a banner month in February, bringing in $79,500, but campaign rules […]

Peter SchorschJune 10, 2015

Compassionate Care Hospice (CCH) said Wednesday it has resumed operations in Central Florida and is accepting new patients after being forced to shut down because of a mix-up involving its license renewal. “After a few stressful, emotional months, I am pleased to say that we have reopened our doors and will immediately be providing services […]

Mitch PerryJune 10, 2015

Having survived a proposal in the Legislature that would have prevented them from making any rule changes to regular Uber and Lyft, Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission executive director Kyle Cockream said Wednesday that he will soon be recommending the “deregulation of some of our rules that we have.” The two ride-sharing companies have been […]

Mitch PerryJune 10, 2015

The big news in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning is Mike Salinero‘s exclusive in The Tampa Tribune that Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill is prepared to recommend to county commissioners and Mayor Bob Buckhorn that a half-cent sales transit tax be put on the ballot in 2016, with 60 percent of the revenue going to […]

Associated PressJune 10, 2015

Scott Hogan wanted to know why his batch of potential volunteers was “ready for Hillary.” The campaign staffer didn’t get the answer he wanted, but it was enough to get the conversation started. “To tell you the truth, I like Bernie Sanders for just his honesty, but I don’t think he’s electable,” said Gina Casey, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2015

Way back in April, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan issued a provocative statement that some might consider an example of foreshadowing. “As someone who is committed to Jacksonville, as a citizen, businessperson and owner of the Jaguars, I am going to be active in the political process here,” Khan said in a statement. That wasn’t all he said, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2015

The big news that came out of Jacksonville’s City Council meeting on Tuesday night is the passage of 2015-304: the Police and Fire Pension Deal, by a 14-4 margin. Those against it (Lori Boyer, John Crescimbeni, Bill Bishop, and Matt Schellenberg) made their arguments. But the fact was that Councilman Bill Gulliford and his impassioned […]

Daniel TilsonJune 9, 2015

Shirley dragged long and hard on her lipstick-stained cigarette. She alternated between shaking and nodding her head while listening to new friend Toni talk trash about politicians. “They did it again, threw us under the bus. They don’t know us, they don’t give a damn about us, we’re just bugs on their windshield, that’s all, […]

Sally SwartzJune 9, 2015

As more human-style health care becomes available for pets, veterinary costs are trending into the week-in-Paris realm. I’ve sympathized with fellow pet-loving friends as they opened checkbooks when their dogs and cats got sick. A few years ago, a friend spent upwards of $3,000 when his young dog contracted a life-threatening auto-immune disorder. Another spent […]

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Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Woman's crime? Waiting too long to kill beloved pet

Dennis Baxley Senate campaign gets $42,000 in May; Jimmie Smith lags

Compassionate Care Hospice resumes hospice services in Central Florida

Hillsborough County PTC promises deregulation of some rules regarding Uber and Lyft

Mitch Perry Report for 6.10.15 — Game-changing developments?

Hillary Clinton building vast network of campaign staff, volunteers

Shad Khan flexes his muscles

Bill Gulliford wins: Jacksonville passes police and fire pension deal 14-4

Daniel Tilson: Florida's uninsured left standing in the shadow of hopelessness

Sally Swartz: There's no Obamacare for pets, and bills zoom into the thousands of dollars