Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 17, 2018

Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long told a panel of environmental scientists and Gulf Coast business leaders Wednesday efforts to mitigate red tide are in full swing and will continue as long as the massive algae bloom threatens Florida beaches, fisheries and recreation. Pinellas County has 13 boats collecting dead fish and conducting monitoring activities in […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 17, 2018

Three Democratic federal lawmakers will work toward increasing water quality monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico and creating more wetlands to clean water flowing into the Gulf and other waterways. U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor and Charlie Crist, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson crafted a preliminary action plan Wednesday after meeting with local scientists and business leaders about […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 8, 2018

Florida Governor Rick Scott’s U.S. Senate bid got some good news this week, thanks to a University of South Florida College of Marine Science report. A three-week red tide mission found abnormally cooler temperatures and increased salt content might have caused this year’s red tide outbreak. Scott is running against incumbent U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. Scott […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 24, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott is directing another $2.2 million to red tide mitigation efforts, his office announced Monday. The state is funding testing on technologies to reduce red tide, including ozone treatments and specialized clay. The funding will expand Mote Marine Laboratory Ozone Treatment System in Sarasota. Mote has successfully tested ozone systems in tanks at the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 18, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott is putting another $4 million toward red tide funding for local communities impacted by the outbreak. The Tuesday announcement brings the total Florida Department of Environmental Protection funding available so far to $13 million. Red tide has been spreading north along Florida’s Gulf Coast for much of the late summer. It’s plagued Pinellas […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

An egg farmer by trade, Wilton Simpson currently serves as Senate Majority Leader. The Trilby Republican’s prestige doesn’t end there, though. Simpson, 51, is slated to become Senate President in 2020, on the heels of incoming Senate President Bill Galvano. (Both presidencies, of course, hinge on GOP dominance in that chamber following the 2018 and 2020 elections.) Voted […]

Drew WilsonApril 21, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced this week that the recreational red snapper season in Gulf waters would be upped to 40 days. “Florida is a premier fishing destination and saltwater fishing in the Gulf of Mexico has a $7.6 billion economic impact in our state every year. Adding […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2018

The federal government on Friday said it was opening Florida’s Gulf Coast to “oil and gas exploration and development.” A Interior spokesman, however, soon added that the “small slice available (approximately 944,000 acres) … is more than 100 miles offshore Florida.” A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson also said the proposed area is “currently open to […]

Jim RosicaNovember 17, 2017

Chris Hart IV, who last was with Florida TaxWatch, will be the next CEO of the statewide Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers association, according to a Friday press release. He starts Dec. 4. Hart “will provide strong leadership to our association,” said Marcia M. Johnson, Franklin County Clerk and Comptroller and 2017-18 Board President, in a statement. […]

Associated PressSeptember 6, 2017

Heavy rain and 185-mph winds lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico’s northeast coast Wednesday as Hurricane Irma roared through Caribbean islands on its way to a possible hit on South Florida. The strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever measured destroyed homes and flooded streets across a chain of small islands in the northern Caribbean, passing […]

Tag: gulf of mexico

Pinellas Co. cleanup nets nearly 1K tons of red tide debris

Prevent red tide? Start with more wetlands, experts say

Red tide report spells good news for Rick Scott

Rick Scott directs $2.2 million for red tide mitigation

State red tide funding soars to $13 million

#5 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Wilton Simpson

State extends red snapper season in the Gulf

Feds announce opening of Florida to offshore oil drilling, but it’s not not as bad as you might think

Personnel note: Chris Hart IV to head Court Clerks group

Rains from monster Hurricane Irma begin hitting Puerto Rico