Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2018

In a campaign capacity in Jacksonville Wednesday afternoon, Agriculture Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Adam Putnam helmed an opioid roundtable. Putnam heard about Jacksonville’s own efforts on this front, as the city deals with an overdose crisis that has led to action on the local level. But even with that action, the problem is crippling the […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 19, 2018

A representative of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department noted in a Monday meeting of a City Council panel that ‘fentanyl-laced cocaine’ is an emergent overdose trend. Jacksonville currently has a pilot program treating overdose victims. The program tests for 17 different adulterants, spanning a wide pharmacological range. Previous concerns have been fentanyl-based heroin, suggesting […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 30, 2018

A proposal that would give judges discretion over drug trafficking mandatory minimum sentences advanced Tuesday after receiving strong pushback from a veteran Tallahassee lobbyist. “I don’t ever want to help a trafficker, no sir, and I don’t want to give a judge not one iota of an opportunity to go less on a trafficking sentence,” […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 8, 2018

A Democratic state Senator from South Florida has filed legislation expressly allowing dog trainers to give anabolic steroids to racing greyhounds. The bill (SB 1774), filed Friday afternoon by Kevin Rader of Delray Beach, is for the 2018 Legislative Session that begins Tuesday. In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted at 12 tracks. The measure […]

Tamara LushJune 30, 2017

At least 12 greyhound racing dogs in Florida have tested positive for cocaine, and their trainer has had his license suspended. It’s at least the second instance this year of racing greyhounds testing positive for cocaine. The dogs raced at Bestbet Orange Park in northeast Florida near Jacksonville. The state is home to 12 of […]

Associated PressMay 4, 2017

State officials revoked a racing greyhound trainer’s license after five dogs tested positive for cocaine after a race in January. According to records from the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Malcolm McAllister’s racing license was permanently revoked April 24. Urine samples for the dogs were taken by state employees following races at the St. […]

Scott PowersOctober 7, 2016

President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of seven Florida men convicted in federal courts of dealing cocaine or methamphetamine, the White House announced late Thursday. Two of the federal prisoners, Benjy Neil Allums of Niceville, and Virgil Leon Darville of Boynton Beach, will be eligible for release from prison in February under the commuted sentences. The others still have many years […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 2, 2016

The city of Jacksonville requires pre-employment drug screenings for everyone but elected officials. How are those going? On the bright side, 98 percent of those tested passed, according to the most recent statistics. On the down side, those who fail: roughly 2 percent of those tested, according to Director of Employee Services Kelli O’Leary. “For the […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2016

A Tallahassee lawyer-lobbyist has been charged with one felony count of buying cocaine, a Leon County booking report shows. Lawrence “Lance” Block, 61, was arrested Wednesday by Florida State University police. He was released from jail that same day on $10,000 bail. Details were not available because the arrest report has not yet been filed with the court. Block’s attorney, Jackie Fulford, filed a […]

Ryan RayMarch 13, 2015

Ah, brothers. Such an embarrassment sometimes. Jimmy Carter had Billy the beer-swilling redneck, Bill Clinton had Roger the cocaine distributor and Lyndon Johnson had Sam Houston, the other beer-swilling redneck. The conventional wisdom is that Jeb Bush will have something of an albatross around his neck owing to his brother’s relatively unpopular tenure in the White House — so then why […]

Tag: cocaine

Adam Putnam: ‘Opioids are eroding our state from within’

‘Fentanyl laced cocaine’ an emergent overdose trend in Jacksonville

Bill giving judges discretion over drug trafficking sentences moves forward

Kevin Rader files bill to legalize steroids in racing dogs

State officials: Racing greyhounds test positive for cocaine

Busted: Cocaine found in 5 greyhounds at Derby Lane

Barack Obama commutes sentences for 7 Florida drug dealers

City of Jacksonville drug screens show failure rate of only 2 percent

Lobbyist Lance Block charged with cocaine buy

Charlie Cook on Jeb’s national favorability problem