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Associated PressMay 9, 2017

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast has unveiled a proposal that would speed up the completion of Everglades restoration projects, including a massive reservoir system south of Lake Okeechobee approved by the Florida Legislature this year. The bill will be formally introduced Thursday and would expedite the ambitious plan by a top Florida Republican to build a […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

The Senate manager for two of the most ambitious bills debated during the Legislative Session was a little wistful following sine die. Sen. Rob Bradley, who carried SB 10 for Senate President Joe Negron, called the bill “one of the real legislative achievements of the last decade or so, that we can all be very […]

Scott PowersMay 3, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham spent a good part of Wednesday installing solar panels on roofs in Orlando, while vowing she’ll do all she can to make the Sunshine State a solar energy leader. It’s not one now. Florida’s solar energy generation per person falls somewhere between Illinois and Ohio, well behind such un-sunshiny states […]

Staff ReportsMay 2, 2017

The Senate voted Tuesday to send a trimmed-down version of SB 10, Senate President Joe Negron’s Lake Okeechobee restoration plan, to Gov. Rick Scott. The 33-0 vote followed approval by the House earlier in the day. Under amendments adopted in the House, and accepted in the Senate, bonding authority to acquire land and construct reservoirs […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

Ken Lawson, CEO of the embattled VISIT FLORIDA, again pleaded with lawmakers to fully fund his agency, saying jobs depend on it. Lawson appeared before the Legislature’s tourism and economic development budget conference on Friday as Gov. Rick Scott left the state to attend a National Rifle Association meeting in Atlanta. Meantime, Scott’s political committee, Let’s […]

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2017

Florida’s Everglades is an American iconic national park known and revered throughout the world for its biodiversity. Floridians, regardless where they live, must join together to protect and restore this treasure before the Everglades reaches a point of no return. The Everglades is home to thousands of plant and animal species and draws millions of […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

Rick Scott did not look like he was negotiating. The governor fired a shot over the bow of the Legislature, all but demanding full funding in the state budget for his 2017-18 priorities: $200 million to begin fixing the dike at Lake Okeechobee, $100 million for VISIT FLORIDA, and salvaging Enterprise Florida from House Speaker […]

Michael MolineApril 26, 2017

House and Senate negotiators have agreed on the broad outlines of a new state budget, and were haggling over the details before appointing members to conference committees, Senate President Joe Negron said Wednesday. “We’ve reached an agreement on the substance of the budget, and we’ve also reached agreement on a way that we can get […]

Peter SchorschApril 25, 2017

Updated 2:45 p.m. — The House has sent over an offer and the Senate is reviewing, according to staffers in both chambers. — After teetering toward a late-session meltdown, the bones of a roughly $83 billion 2017-18 state budget are in place, according to three sources close to Gov. Rick Scott‘s office and several lobbyists familiar with […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2017

A bill that looks to “un-muddy” the mission of Florida’s main environmental land acquisition program could potentially affect the plan for an Everglades reservoir. A House bill brought forth Monday by Rep. Matt Caldwell, a Republican with close ties to House leadership, was passed unanimously by a House panel. Caldwell wants to alter what projects […]

Tag: Lake Okeechobee
Police unions are standing tall for Rosie Cordero-Stutz.

Brian Mast looking to fast track Lake Okeechobee reservoir

Rob Bradley reflects on his big win, and big loss, during the Legislative Session

Gwen Graham vows to push for solar while installing panels

Joe Negron’s signature Lake Okeechobee project headed to governor’s desk

Ken Lawson on VISIT FLORIDA funding: ‘Protect our people’

Bob Martinez, Dominic Calabro: The time is now to address the Everglades crisis

Rick Scott demands full funding for tourism, development

Budget deal would include Lake O plan, lower property taxes for schools

State budget deal struck? Jack Latvala says, ‘no,’ but…

Florida Forever bill could affect Everglades reservoir plan