Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 7, 2015

A few days ago we saw an unfortunate failure of leadership in the Florida Legislature. As a businessman still somewhat new to the process, I was disappointed that the will of the majority was bypassed. By putting politics before the work of the people, too many important issues were left stuck in the balance. One […]

Bruce RitchieApril 30, 2015

The Florida office of a national environmental group on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against federal agencies over protection of an endangered sparrow and Everglades restoration indirectly related to a proposed big land purchase. Environmental groups and some local government officials are pressuring the state to exercise an option to buy 46,800 acres of U.S. Sugar […]

Bruce RitchieApril 29, 2015

A House bill establishing comprehensive water policy was amended and passed by the Senate on Wednesday, but was dead because the House had adjourned on Tuesday. House bills dealing with hydraulic fracturing were not voted on in the Senate because their Senate sponsor said they lacked the two-thirds vote needed. The 2015 Legislative Session continued […]

Bruce RitchieApril 24, 2015

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shut off discharges from Lake Okeechobee on Friday in reaction to claims of an algae bloom in water coming from the lake. The federal agency discharges water to prevent weakening the Herbert Hoover Dike around the lake. But the nutrient-rich discharges can cause algal blooms that smother aquatic life […]

Sally SwartzMarch 11, 2015

Florida’s newest Critical Wildlife Area, a tiny bird island in the Indian River Lagoon near Sewall’s Point, has survived erosion, hurricanes and the curiosity of boaters and fishermen. Now it faces a challenge – again – from an early dumping of Lake Okeechobee’s murky water. The 1.5 acre spoil island, created from sand dredged from […]

Guest AuthorMarch 11, 2015

Only two months into the New Year and already the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started to release polluted water from Lake Okeechobee, resulting in water flowing into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers, and the Indian River Lagoon, which is expected to continue over the coming weeks and months. Millions of Floridians are […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 18, 2015

He worked for six Florida governors and two presidents, helped found 1000 Friends of Florida, and is active in the Everglades Foundation and the Natural Resources Defense Council. His resume is impressive. But the Apollo School Foundation, kicking off a new speaker series, wanted Nathaniel Reed, 81, well-known as a storyteller, to share his childhood […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 11, 2015

A children’s coloring book produced by the sugar industry starred in a two-county controversy last week — one that raises questions about how corporate propaganda gets distributed. The book, “A Journey with Sugar Cane and Sugar Beet,” was given to a Palm City Elementary School kindergarten class by a Stuart dentist. The dentistry firm is […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 23, 2014

Whether candidates or elected officials want to acknowledge it’s true, the environment always is important in Florida. From a statewide perspective, here are my top 10 environmental stories from 2014: Scott re-elected Gov. Rick Scott was re-elected over former Gov. Charlie Crist despite cutting the budgets of water management districts, dismantling of the state planning […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 23, 2014

Whether candidates or elected officials want to acknowledge it’s true, the environment always is important in Florida. From a statewide perspective, here are my top 10 environmental stories from 2014: Scott re-elected Gov. Rick Scott was re-elected over former Gov. Charlie Crist despite cutting the budgets of water management districts, dismantling of the state planning […]

Tag: Indian River Lagoon
Rodney Guttman, image via University of West Florida.

Wilton Simpson: We must create a statewide plan to restore, protect all environmentally sensitive areas

Sparrow lawsuit has indirect link to water storage, U.S. Sugar land purchase

Water, fracking bills die as Senate meets without House

Feds halt Lake Okeechobee discharges after Florida pols sound alarm

Sally Swartz: Dumping dirty water threatens Bird Island

Eric Eikenberg: To stop polluting rivers, buy land for reservoir

Sally Swartz: Nathaniel Reed's Old Florida included movie stars and snakes

Sally Swartz: Coloring book is sugar-coated corporate propaganda

Bruce Ritchie: Florida’s top 10 environmental stories of 2014

Bruce Ritchie: Florida’s top 10 environmental stories of 2014