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Bruce RitchieMarch 2, 2015

Environmental groups pushing for the state purchase of U.S. Sugar Corp. land south of Lake Okeechobee may have received a boost Monday when a University of Florida study said additional land is needed for water storage. Environmental groups have been pushing the state to exercise an option to buy 46,800 acres for water storage to […]

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 RitchieFebruary 11, 2015

A House committee voted Wednesday to introduce a comprehensive water bill despite concerns from environmentalists that the bill doesn’t go far enough to protect springs. House State Affairs Committee Bill 15-01 addresses springs, water planning in Central Florida, and removes duplicate permitting for agriculture around Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. Many of Florida’s springs have […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 4, 2015

Environmental and agriculture groups raised concerns on Wednesday with draft water bill language presented by a House committee but speakers on all sides praised the chamber for its comprehensive approach on the issue. The House State Affairs Committee language addresses pollution threats facing springs and Lake Okeechobee and the need for increased water supplies in […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 3, 2015

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The House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday will consider draft bill language that would address springs, Lake Okeechobee and central Florida’s water future. Florida’s springs have become choked with weeds and algae caused by nitrogen in groundwater from a variety of sources including septic tanks, sewage treatment plants, lawn fertilizer and farms. Last year, SB […]

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 […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 22, 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 RitchieOctober 16, 2014

The environment was front and center in Wednesday’s gubernatorial debate even if an electric fan received the most media attention. By now you may know that former Gov. Charlie Crist was on stage for about five minutes at the start of a televised debate without Gov. Rick Scott. That’s because of a dispute over whether […]

Bruce RitchieOctober 9, 2014

The debate season is here. Now maybe we can hear candidates for governor talk about what they plan to do over the next four years rather than what their opponents did years ago. The first debate between Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist is set for Friday at 7 p.m. on Telemundo. The […]

Tag: Lake Okeechobee
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

UF study says more water storage needed south of Lake Okeechobee

Sally Swartz: Coloring book is sugar-coated corporate propaganda

House water bill filed without funding or enviro backing

All sides praise House water bill effort while raising concerns

Draft water bill focuses on springs, water planning and Lake O

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

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

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

Bruce Ritchie: Crist, Scott also got hot over environment, climate change during debate

Bruce Ritchie: Please ask an environmental question during gubernatorial debates