Scott PowersJanuary 15, 2019
6min297
The town hall focused in part on strategies to renew funding cut from state arts programs.
Tag: Florida LegislatureAerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.
Scott PowersJanuary 15, 2019
Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 15, 2019
7min378
The Cuban Club is a labor of love, but its role in the community is bigger than culture alone.
Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 14, 2019
4min456
La Gaceta Editor and Publisher Patrick Manteiga is asking lawmakers for $1.2 million to pay for repairs and renovations to the historic Cuban Club in Tampa’s Ybor City. State Rep. Susan Valdes is sponsoring an appropriations request. The funding would come from the Department of Economic Opportunity. Manteiga says the funding would be used to reduce water intrusion […]
Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 14, 20195min832
The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) released its 2018 analysis last week of Florida sentencing laws and the effects on prison population. The report, commissioned internally by the Florida Legislature in its 2018 General Appropriations Act, makes several recommendations for reducing the state’s criminal justice costs by reducing prison population. The […]
Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 8, 2019
8min307
Congressman Charlie Crist joined several ex-felons to register to vote Tuesday morning at the downtown St. Petersburg Supervisor of Elections office opened. It was the first day qualifying former offenders could register. Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4 last November, which automatically restores nonviolent ex-felons’ right to vote as long as they have fully paid their […]
Lloyd DunkelbergerJanuary 8, 2019
8min523
Floridians can expect a quick start to the Ron DeSantis administration, with the new governor ready to make key appointments to the state Supreme Court, announce a major environmental initiative and try to improve the medical-marijuana system. “Within the next week, I think you guys are going to have a lot to write about,” DeSantis […]
Scott PowersDecember 19, 2018
6min560
Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio called for the Florida Cabinet to provide an action of posthumous justice for the Groveland Four during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate Tuesday night, declaring, “It is time to do the right thing for the Groveland Four!” Rubio’s comments brought to the U.S. Capitol the case of […]
Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 17, 2018
5min538
Rep. Jackie Toledo filed legislation Monday that would make “distracted driving” a primary offense. The bill (HB 107) would apply to texting while driving and to talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving. Current law bans using a cell phone while driving as a secondary offense, which means law enforcement officers can […]
Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 3, 2018
4min261
Ray Blacklidge appears to have already started campaigning for House District 69 despite losing his first bid less than one month ago. Blacklidge lost to Democrat Jennifer Webb, who now represents the West St. Petersburg and mid-Pinellas County district, but his campaign Facebook page now reflects a 2020 logo. Blacklidge did not respond to a request […]
Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 29, 2018
10min1512
After two days of wall-to-wall speakers from high-tech companies, finance experts and land use planners, the 2018 Florida Autonomous Vehicle Summit wrapped up in Tampa this week with an array of geek-out-worthy autonomous vehicle demonstrations. The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority hosted the summit both this year and last, but Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes considers the annual event his baby. The […]