Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschSeptember 21, 2017

Florida farmers may have just experienced the biggest crop loss event in state history, but Florida Sugar Farmers is determined to bounce back. “Our rural farming communities will recover, replant and we will grow again after #HurricaneIrma,” the group said on Facebook Thursday. Florida Sugar Farmers included a video with the post that intercut descriptions […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 21, 2017

Puerto Ricans got their first view of the ruin brought on by Hurricane Maria, which swept across the island Wednesday, leaving a trail of destroyed homes, floodwaters, and 100 percent of the territory without power. But they were not the only ones. “Definitely Puerto Rico — when we can get outside — we will find […]

Gary FineoutSeptember 21, 2017

After a massive restoration effort, most of Florida has power 10 days after Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity to nearly two-thirds of the state, mostly because of improvements made to the power grid since Hurricane Wilma 12 years ago. But that may do little to stem a growing backlash over the widespread outages that caused […]

Scott PowersSeptember 20, 2017

While Puerto Rico got hammered by Hurricane Maria, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto defended his re-election campaign fundraiser he is holding Wednesday night in Kissimmee, home to Florida’s most concentrated Puerto Rican population. Soto, a Democrat from Orlando, said he’s been in constant contact with Puerto Rico officials and readying federal financial support for the country’s […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 20, 2017

A week after Hurricane Irma ravaged the Sunshine State, the long road to recovery is beginning in both South Florida — hardest hit by the storm — and in Tallahassee. Companies that deal in disaster relief and cleanup have begun lobbying up in advance of the 2018 Legislative Session, registration records show: — AshBritt Environmental, a […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 20, 2017

The chair of the state’s Public Service Commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities, says her board also has started “thinking” about how it can help get power back on quicker after major storms. Julie I. Brown released a statement Wednesday morning, more than a week after Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity to millions of Florida homes […]

Terry RoenSeptember 20, 2017

Visit Florida has launched an aggressive month-long marketing campaign to entice tourists back to the Sunshine State. Gov. Rick Scott announced that the multi-phased campaign will be paid for with existing Visit Florida funding and include digital, social, broadcast and traditional marketing methods in both domestic and international markets. The marketing push starts this week […]

Associated PressSeptember 19, 2017

During Hurricane Irma, Temple Shalom served as a sanctuary of a different kind. When the storm changed course at the last minute, the Naples synagogue suddenly became an emergency shelter. As power stayed off for days, the Reform temple, which had only minimal damage, was a place for neighbors to escape the heat and have […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 19, 2017

Prudence Duchene will never forget the day she moved to Key West. It was Aug. 30 — the day a storm brewing in the Atlantic got named Irma. Duchene, 22, was actually waiting to board her Florida-bound flight from Albany International Airport when she saw the news that the newly named tropical storm was headed […]

Scott PowersSeptember 19, 2017

State Sen. Jack Latvala called Tuesday for electric utilities in Florida to stop donating to political campaigns and instead spend the money on improving their power grid infrastructure. Latvala is a Republican gubernatorial candidate from Clearwater, has received electric company money in his political committee, Florida Leadership Committee, but not nearly as much as his […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma
Images via Florida Politics.

Florida Sugarcane Farmers ready to ‘grow again’ post-Irma

Puerto Rico is tragic, but don’t forget about U.S. Virgin Islands

Power is back on in Florida, but utilities still under fire

Darren Soto defends fundraiser as not affecting his efforts for Puerto Rico

Lobby Up: Disaster relief concerns get ready for Session

PSC enters hurricane readiness debate

Visit Florida unveils campaign to bring tourists back

After Irma, Florida Jews seek respite in High Holy Days

For a new Key West resident, Irma was her welcome-to-town

Jack Latvala swears off electric cash, urges utilities to stop political donations