Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 27, 2018

They’re inexpensive, quick and ideal for short-distance trips — and they could be coming to a Florida city near you. Dockless scooters are the latest disruptions to the continually evolving transportation industry. But the two-wheeled rides — provided by companies like Bird and Lime — aren’t yet ready for a prime-time fight in the Legislature. […]

Peter SchorschOctober 22, 2018

Citing threats of violence and ongoing law enforcement investigations, the Florida Sugarcane Farmers are now calling the anti-sugar grassroots organization Bullsugar a “radical hate group.” “As you may know, Florida’s sugarcane farming industry provides more than 12,500 jobs and contributes more than $3.2 billion to Florida’s economy,” Frierson Farms owner Ardis Hammock wrote in an […]

Jacob OglesOctober 15, 2018

If Florida wants to fight blue-green algae and red tide, it means getting serious about septic tanks, says state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo. “Anyone of us who has a bathroom is at fault,” the Naples Republican said. Passidomo spoke on South Florida’s ongoing water woes at a Naples luncheon organized by the Women’s Republican Club of […]

Jacob OglesOctober 10, 2018

The U.S. Senate authorized a proposal for a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, which should cut down and potentially eliminate the discharge of blue-green algae into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said the news should help Florida deal with the twin catastrophes of algal blooms in the rivers and red […]

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 […]

Guest AuthorAugust 15, 2018

As every Floridian knows, tourism is critical to our state’s booming economy. This $111.7 billion industry represents 1.4 million employees, and one out of every four people in the Sunshine State works in hospitality. With more than 850 miles of beautiful coastline, seemingly endless options for entertainment and warm sunshine, it’s no wonder that millions […]

Staff ReportsAugust 13, 2018

Between the algae bloom and red tide, Florida’s coastal communities are fighting a two-front war, but the notion that the two environmental crises are linked is a myth according to numerous environmental scientists. The current red tide bloom began in October 2017, months before the first signs of another bloom in the coastal discharges released […]

Ryan NicolAugust 6, 2018

Florida Sugarcane Farmers (FSF), a group representing the state’s sugar farmers, is out with a statement defending those farmers’ support of Adam Putnam after a critical article appeared in the Tampa Bay Times. The article hits Putnam on his defense of sugar farmers in light of the new round of algae blooms hitting the state. The story […]

Scott PowersAugust 3, 2018

Rick Scott is blaming his Democratic opponent Bill Nelson for the harmful algae blooms devastating Lake Okeechobee and Florida’s coasts, according to a new TV and internet commercial from Scott’s Senate campaign. “Experts agree: Washington controls the dike at Lake O, so they have to fix it. And so we wait for Washington,” the commercial declares, as CBS News footage […]

Drew WilsonJuly 24, 2018

In an email Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson “must do his job” and secure funding for repairs to the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Scott is looking to replace Nelson in the Senate this fall; the email from his campaign touted his role in “championing” millions in state funding for […]

Tag: Lake Okeechobee

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Is Bird the word?

Sugar farmers label Bullsugar a ‘radical hate group’

Kathleen Passidomo: To stop algae problem, get serious on septic tanks

U.S. Senate authorizes reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee

Rick Scott directs $2.2 million for red tide mitigation

Carol Dover: Take action to protect Florida’s tourism industry

Link between Lake O bloom and red tide is a myth, scientists contend

Sugar farmers assail ‘misinformed’ Tampa Bay Times article

Rick Scott ad seeks to blame algae disaster on Bill Nelson

Email insights: Rick Scott says Bill Nelson ‘must do his job’ to secure Lake O funds