Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 4, 2018

Every July Fourth, Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston reads a copy of the Declaration of Independence reprinted in the Tallahassee Democrat. “I always sit in the morning with a cup of coffee and read back through that,” Polston told members of the Economic Club of Florida in Tallahassee this week. “I just enjoy doing […]

Peter SchorschJuly 28, 2018

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With a brow-raising $89.3 billion for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the state appropriated the largest budget in Florida history, a $4.36 billion increase from last year. Those big numbers make Florida TaxWatch’s recently released Taxpayer’s Budget Guide all the more valuable. Authored by the watchdog group’s vice president of research, Kurt Wenner, the interactive series […]

Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2018

Clouds are brewing over the journalism industry, but the long-term forecast is promising. That’s according to Diane McFarlin, the former publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and current dean of the University of Florida College of Journalism. She delivered a media ‘forecast’ to an audience of UF alumni in Tallahassee this week. In the short term, […]

Staff ReportsApril 25, 2018

Call it instant karma. A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper’s car was intentionally struck as she was conducting a regular traffic stop. With minor sustained injuries, she pursued and apprehended the offender. On Tuesday night, FHP Trooper Vanessa Franceschi was parked along a portion of the Florida Turnpike in Miami-Dade County when a suspect in another […]

Staff ReportsNovember 3, 2017

Major Derek Barrs now is the state’s Chief of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, according to a Friday news release from Col. Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Barrs is a 26-year law enforcement veteran who most recently served as the Commander of FHP’s Troop J, which handles commercial vehicle enforcement operations for Florida’s southern region. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 8, 2017

With tropical storm-force winds less than 24 hours away, Hurricane Irma also is expected to bring storm surge of 6-12 feet to the state’s southern coasts, Gov. Rick Scott said Friday night. “Our state has never seen anything like this before,” he said. The governor spoke at an evening news briefing from the state’s Emergency Operations Center […]

Associated PressAugust 29, 2017

The second-highest ranking official in the Florida Highway Patrol is resigning amid an ongoing review into whether troopers were being ordered to meet traffic ticket quotas. Lt. Col. Michael Thomas resigned Monday after it was discovered he sent an email in late May that encouraged troopers to write two tickets an hour. Thomas had been […]

Associated PressAugust 16, 2017

The head of the Florida agency that oversees state’s highway patrol insists troopers don’t have ticket quotas. Terry Rhodes on Tuesday told Gov. Rick Scott and members of the state Cabinet that her agency is reminding all supervisors that quotas are not allowed. She says the reminder is being added to the highway patrol’s training […]

Staff ReportsJune 22, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags at half-staff to honor the late Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. William T. Bishop, who was hit by a car on Interstate 75 Saturday night. According to news4jax.com, Bishop was outside his patrol car investigating a traffic accident in Alachua County when he was struck. “He was taken to Shands Hospital […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2017

Orlando Democratic State Sen. Victor Torres and his wife Carmen Torres were injured in a car crash Wednesday morning in Tallahassee but have been released from the hospital. The three-car crash – with the Torreses in the middle – occurred early Wednesday right in front of the Capitol Building, at the corner of Apalachee Parkway […]

Takeaways from Tallahassee — A justice talks civics

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Budget breakdown

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Weathering the storm

Trooper struck during traffic stop, chases down offender

Personnel note: Derek Barrs becomes top commercial vehicle enforcer

Rick Scott: Irma’s ‘storm surge could kill you’

Ticketed: Another Florida Highway Patrol official resigns

Florida official: There are no ticket quotas for troopers

Governor orders flags at half-staff for FHP Sgt. William T. Bishop

Victor Torres, wife Carmen Torres, recovering after car crash