Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2016

A Southwest Florida Democrat is calling on the federal government to designate Lake Okeechobee as a national monument. April Freeman, a Cape Coral Democrat running for Congress, said Tuesday that President Barack Obama should designate the lake as a national monument through executive order. The action, she said, would expedite clean-up, and “ensure appropriations for […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 17, 2016

Relief could be coming for some South Florida small businesses impacted by the Lake Okeechobee discharges. On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott activated Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program for more than 100 businesses affected by the releases. The move comes after theFlorida Department of Economic Opportunity conducted a survey to assess the economic damages […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 14, 2016

U.S. Sugar is hitting back over claims that sugarcane farmers are to blame for the harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges. The Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers for about a month. The releases came after a wetter-than-normal January. South Florida officials have said the […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

The Everglades Foundation lauded lawmakers Friday for passing a bill that would fund Everglades restoration efforts with up to $200 million a year. HB 989, put forward by incoming Senate President Joe Negron and Republican Rep. Gayle Harrell, would pull the lesser of 25 percent or $200 million from the money collected under the 2014 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 3, 2016

The Army Corps of Engineers is slowing the releases from Lake Okeechobee; not stopping them, despite repeated calls from lawmakers and local communities to do just that. The Corps announced Thursday it would reduce the flows from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. The reduction is expected to begin this weekend. However, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 27, 2016

Sen. Bill Nelson urged Southwest Floridians to call state lawmakers and tell them to put Amendment 1 money toward land purchases, a move he said would help ease the effect of Lake Okeechobee releases. “If you can take that dedicated source of funding and, instead of using it on salaries, go spend it on buying […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 26, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in three Florida counties and called on President Barack Obama to fully fund repairs needed to operate the Herbert Hoover Dike. Scott, a Naples Republican, declared a state of emergency in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie counties on Friday. The decision came after record rainfall drenched […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 24, 2016

It’s not surprising that David Guest and his radical Earthjustice group would use a true weather-related crisis – record rain and flooding across Central and South Florida – to level yet another mean-spirited and false assault on local farmers living and working in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Guest’s statement regarding the state and federal government’s […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 16, 2016

Adam Putnam was met by a crowd of angry Treasure Coast residents during a stop in Martin County last week. Putnam, the state’s agriculture commissioner, was greeted by protesters calling on the state and the Army Corps of Engineers to stop discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the Indian River Lagoon and the Caloosahatchee River. In […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 15, 2016

With much of the nation embroiled in the 2016 presidential campaign, it’s almost understandable that some things in Florida have escaped widespread notice. For those of paying attention, however, they have no doubt been aware of the release of excess water from Lake Okeechobee, a result of historically high El Niño rainfall in South Florida. […]

Tag: Lake Okeechobee

April Freeman calls on Barack Obama to designate Lake O a national monument

Rick Scott activates emergency loan program for small businesses impacted by Lake O discharges

U.S. Sugar says cane farmers not to blame for dirty water flowing from Lake O

Everglades Foundation commends lawmakers for final passage of “Legacy Florida” funding

Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flows from Lake Okeechobee

Bill Nelson, Curt Clawson promise to help communities affected by Lake O discharges

Rick Scott declares state of emergency in Lee, Martin, St. Lucie counties

Phillip Roland: Environmental activist’s claims about Everglades water and farmers don’t square with facts

Angry protesters demand that Adam Putnam put stop to Lake Okeechobee releases

Beyond the pale: Enviro activist calls for “death of thousands” in Lake O discharge controversy