Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 1, 2018

A black attorney who has lupus is suing the state’s Department of Health for race and disability discrimination, saying she was wrongly forced to quit. Sharmin Hibbert, 36, filed her lawsuit in Leon County Circuit Civil court on Thursday, court records show, seeking her rehiring. Among other things, Hibbert said her supervisor—current General Counsel Nichole Geary—“reprimanded (her) […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags at half-staff to honor the late John Morroni, a former House member from Pinellas County. Morroni died Sunday. He represented House District 50, which covered parts of Pinellas County, from 1992 to 2000. Morroni spent the last 18 years on the Pinellas County Commission, serving as chairman in 2005, 2012, and 2015. “As […]

Joe HendersonMay 31, 2018

At some point maybe 10 or 20 years from now, the contortions used by the state of Florida to stall the use of medical marijuana will probably seem pretty silly. Eventually, the drug 72 percent of voters approved for use by people suffering such hideous diseases as HIV, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, […]

Jim RosicaMay 29, 2018

Saying “this madness has to end,” Orlando attorney John Morgan called on Gov. Rick Scott to drop the hastily-filed appeal of a decision allowing medical marijuana to be smoked in Florida. Morgan spoke at a Tuesday news conference that was streamed live on Facebook. In a 22-page order released Friday, Tallahassee Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said […]

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2018

Quoting George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, a Florida judge has ruled that the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana is unconstitutional. In a 22-page order released Friday, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said that the ban on smoking is “invalid because it conflicts” with the constitutional amendment on medicinal cannabis approved by statewide voters in 2016. A one-day […]

Staff ReportsMay 25, 2018

Flags will fly at half-staff on Friday to honor a Daytona Beach police officer who died following a training exercise. Thomas Coulter, 25, had been with the Daytona Beach Police Department for only one week. He “suffered a heart attack while conducting physical training in front of Police Department headquarters” last Friday, according to the Officer […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2018

The Florida Lottery projects an increase in sales from new vending machines and other equipment provided through a new multi-million dollar agency contract. Lottery representatives on Wednesday presented to the state’s Revenue Estimating Impact Conference, a roundtable of state economists. Lawmakers use their projections to craft the state budget each Legislative Session. Details on the […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags at half-staff to honor Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Police Officer Lance C. Whitaker, a 17-year veteran. Scott ordered the U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, City Hall in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville, and the Capitol in Tallahassee, from sunrise […]

Scott PowersMay 22, 2018

Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on Tuesday blasted “the government of my state, the state of Florida,” for not expanding Medicaid, during a speech on the Senate floor. Nelson did not name names beyond that, but his reference to the government could be directed at his opponent in this year’s U.S. Senate election, Gov. […]

Scott PowersMay 22, 2018

A Brevard County taxpayer is challenging U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson‘s appraisal of land he owns there, alleging it has been undervalued for years, costing the county “hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions” in under-taxation. It’s not a new issue, and Nelson, in a brief conversation on Friday, dismissed the complaint as something that […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Lawyer with lupus sues Health Department for discrimination

Flags at half-staff for John Morroni

Joe Henderson: State’s medical marijuana fight is past point of silly

John Morgan calls on Rick Scott to drop medical marijuana appeal

Judge strikes down ban on smoking medical marijuana

Flags at half-staff to honor Daytona Beach police officer

New equipment should boost Lottery revenues, agency says

Flags at half-staff for JSO officer killed in wreck

Bill Nelson blasts government of Florida for not expanding Medicaid

Bill Nelson’s Brevard County property valuation challenged