Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2016

The state’s Department of Agriculture is asking a court to speed up its handling of a public records lawsuit involving an animal research lab. The department filed its answer Wednesday in Leon County circuit civil court. That filing reveals the case “was triggered by a public records request by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).” It’s not […]

Jim RosicaMay 18, 2016

An animal research lab has filed suit to prevent the release of public records it says contain “trade secrets.” Primate Products, Inc. first wants a temporary injunction to prevent the state’s Department of Agriculture from releasing those records until the case’s final disposition. The company, with offices in Immokalee and Miami, breeds and sells “nonhuman primates for […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 6, 2016

Eight Southwest Florida circuit court judges will keep their spot on the bench after no challengers filed to run against them by Friday’s noon qualifying deadline. In Collier County, Judges Jim Shenko and Lauren L. Brodie will retain their seats. Lee County Circuit Judges Nick Thompson, Jay B. Rosman, Ramiro Manalich and Alane Laboda will […]

Ryan RayNovember 19, 2015

An environmental activist group has filed a complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking a challenge to an air emissions permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to the U.S. Sugar Corp. Attorneys for Earthjustice filed the complaint Thursday, which seeks to include cane burning as part of DEP’s purview when issuing air […]

Drew WilsonNovember 2, 2015

Republican Joe Davidow officially began his campaign for House District 80 with an event on Hodges College campus this past Tuesday. In his announcement, the Naples lawyer told a crowd of about 70 people that he was “deeply concerned” about the “large influx of new residents” to the state and how it may affect Florida […]

Guest AuthorOctober 14, 2015

The United Nations itself had not yet been officially established when its Food and Agriculture Organization was formed. The U.N. opened Oct. 24, 1945, eight days after the FAO, and not until 1948 did the international body ratified its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The way these events unfolded suggests that ahead of individual human […]

Associated PressJuly 17, 2015

Florida’s unemployment is dropping slightly. The June unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, compared with 5.7 percent the month before. The state added 7,000 jobs last month, according to figures released Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The state’s jobless rate remains higher than the national rate of 5.3 percent. There are about 529,000 unemployed […]

Bruce RitchieOctober 23, 2014

The debates are over in the race for Florida’s governor. Some environmental questions have been asked and either answered or dodged. Election Day is Nov. 4, and early voting has begun. But the lingering unanswered question I have that should be on the minds of every Floridian is: What will happen to the state role […]

Guest AuthorOctober 7, 2014

The Tampa Bay Times is recommending a “no” vote for a constitutional amendment before voters in November. The proposal put forward by conservationists would allocate one-third of the documentary stamp tax required of real estate transactions to be applied to acquisition of conservation lands. In 2016, the newspaper notes, more than $600 million could be allocated to this important […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 8, 2014

As a Hendry County commissioner and as a local business owner, I am disturbed by a Sierra Club representative’s remarks in a recent Palm Beach Post article. I am disturbed but not surprised at the complete disregard of the employment reality, and as usual the apparent assault on the U.S. Sugar/Sugar Hill Sector Plan — […]

Tag: Hendry County

Ag. Department says PETA triggered public records fight

Animal research lab suing to prevent release of records

Eight Southwest Florida circuit court judges keep their seats

U.S. Sugar calls recent EPA cane burning complaint “baseless”

Joe Davidow officially kicks off campaign for HD 80

Terri Susan Fine: You need no special talent to help fight hunger

Florida’s unemployment rate drops slightly in June

Bruce Ritchie: Candidates say nothing about Florida’s future role in managing growth

Alan Farago: GOP forcing Floridians to use Amendment 1 to conserve vital lands

Karson Turner: U.S. Sugar/Sugar Hill Sector Plan good for Hendry County