Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressOctober 21, 2015

Amid a deepening rift that has split top Republicans, the Florida Senate may require voters in 2016 to pick senators for all forty of the state’s current Senate districts. The move may end a growing and contentious debate that has threatened to derail the 19-day special session that started this week. The GOP-controlled Florida Legislature […]

Guest AuthorOctober 21, 2015

A theater student recently came to my office a little on the glum side. He was acting in a production that had received a less-than-favorable review and wasn’t taking it well. He had taken the writer’s words to heart and it was affecting his performance. To be honest, I felt a little responsible for his […]

Guest AuthorOctober 21, 2015

Thousands of trophy hunters will descend on Florida’s wilderness to kill an estimated 320 Florida black bears, a unique subspecies of the American black bear that’s found nowhere else on Earth. The state is holding this hunt starting Saturday despite most Floridians’ opposition to it. Nearly 3,000 hunting permits have been sold. Kate MacFall, Florida […]

Steve PeoplesOctober 21, 2015

Don’t expect Democrats to take down Donald Trump. If the GOP’s baffled establishment wants to dismiss their party’s billionaire presidential front-runner, it appears they’ll have to do it themselves. Quietly pleased the brash real estate mogul and reality TV star has become the face of the modern-day GOP, Democrats who specialize in opposition research are […]

Diane RobertsOctober 20, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – Another Special Session! Why, it’s just like Christmas – minus the joy. Minus the presents, too. While the members of the Florida Legislature rake in lobbyist largesse during committee weeks and every other hour that God sends, trawling for dollars during a Session is verboten. This makes them surly. Surlier. They aren’t […]

Sally SwartzOctober 20, 2015

About 150 of James Hutchinson’s friends braved a stormy night in Stuart last week to hear their favorite celebrated artist talk about living with the Seminoles and Miccosukees half a century ago. Hutchinson’s paintings from those six years, well known statewide and nationally, capture not only a gone-forever way of life, but also the disappearing […]

Guest AuthorOctober 19, 2015

“Not one more.” “Enough is enough.” “When will we do something about these mass shootings?” These are routine responses when someone shoots up a school, of which there have been three this month alone. In addition, let’s not forget about accidental shootings in the home, domestic abusers killing girlfriends or wives, countless suicides and murders […]

Shannon NickinsonOctober 19, 2015

Northwest Florida has a lot going for it. That was among the bits of wisdom and moments of insight offered throughout the recent Gulf Power Economic Symposium at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin. What we do with all that potential and goodwill created by our area’s natural beauty and a workforce influenced […]

Associated PressOctober 19, 2015

Donald Trump likes to boast about his enormous wealth and how he doesn’t need anyone else’s money to pay for his presidential campaign. That hasn’t stopped tens of thousands of people from chipping in with checks as small as $10 to let the Republican candidate know they’re behind him. Trump has taken in 73,942 contributions, […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 19, 2015

One of the major issues in Jacksonville is vacant properties, stemming from the foreclosure crisis and other issues. Estimates say about 30,000 such properties dot the various neighborhoods in Jacksonville. Even in a time where we’ve seen equity markets surge to record numbers, the struggle is real … even in “good neighborhood[s],” according to one […]

Uncategorized
This exhibit celebrates late-blooming artistry, proving it’s never too late for bold creativity.

Florida Senate may require senators to be on 2016 ballot

Heather Gibson: For the next time someone says something bad about your work

Kate MacFall: Florida’s black bears in hunters’ sights starting Saturday

Donald Trump’s Republican critics pushing for GOP-backed takedown

Diane Roberts: Charm and grace again flow downhill from Capitol

Sally Swartz: Accomplished artist recalls life with Seminoles, Miccosukees

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Here are 11 concrete actions you can take to curb gun violence

Shannon Nickinson: Economic symposium points way for NW Florida's future

Small-dollar donors flock to Donald Trump, help power his campaign

Jax resident proposes property confiscation to deal with vacancy crisis