Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 29, 2018

State Sen. Victor Torres, clergy, and others are joining with Puerto Rican activists in Florida to protest the closures of assistance offices for people displaced by Hurricane Maria last year and to renew attention on their plight. Torres and the others, including organizers from VAMOS4PR FLORIDA, a network of statewide Puerto Rican diaspora organizations, are calling […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2018

The Arecibo Observatory, the huge, iconic radio telescope in Puerto Rico that has starred in movies and in important cosmic and physics discoveries, is coming under new management: of the University of Central Florida. The university announced Thursday it is now negotiating the final terms of a five-year, $20.2 million contract with the National Science […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham has done enough of her “workdays” now that she’s describing them as her campaign strategy, and midway through her shift Wednesday at a Hispanic grocery store and deli in Kissimmee she was talking more about what she gets to hear than what she wants to offer. She spent Wednesday stocking […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 12, 2018

After contentious weeks at the U.S. Capitol, Congressman Darren Soto has turned his attention toward Tallahassee, where he believes legislators face “big challenges” and should seize the opportunity to unite on major issues facing the state. The Orlando-area Democrat gave his take on the state’s Session on Monday during a press conference with several Hispanic […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 31, 2018

On the first day of FEMA’s ending of new supply shipments to Puerto Rico, some legislators highlighted the need for Florida to provide support for the islanders displaced by Hurricane Maria. A large group of Puerto Rican advocates gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday at a press conference hosted by VAMOS4PR, a network that supports […]

Scott PowersJanuary 30, 2018

Florida’s U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio took to the U.S. Senate floor Tuesday to demand more hurricane relief, with Nelson decrying the decision by the administration of President Donald Trump to end food and water aid to the people of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, and Rubio renewing his call for Congress to […]

Scott PowersJanuary 25, 2018

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has extended by another 60 days his executive order that has Florida and all 67 counties providing services and cutting red tape to help evacuating Puerto Ricans settle into the Sunshine State because of Hurricane Maria. On Thursday Scott signed Executive Order 18-17, a second 60-day extension of an order he […]

Scott PowersJanuary 22, 2018

Four months after Hurricane Maria laid waste to Puerto Rico, a coalition of groups and artists met in Orlando Monday morning to remind the public that still more than a half-million homes and businesses there still are without electricity, and to declare the island needs a “Marshall Plan” of federal help. “Today Puerto Rico is […]

Scott PowersJanuary 17, 2018

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto of Orlando has come under fire for statements he made last Friday at a Puerto Rico town hall meeting in Kissimmee, when he urged evacuees to declare they intend to stay in Florida. Soto’s comments had come during a question-and-answer period after he, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, and others including […]

Scott PowersJanuary 16, 2018

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has sent out letters to county, city and housing authority officials throughout Central Florida seeking information on affordable housing shortages. The letter, from DEO Director of Community Development Julie Dennis, is exploring available resources and unmet needs that are being tested as a result of both the damages caused […]

Tag: Puerto Rico

Victor Torres, Puerto Rican groups, urging more help for displaced Puerto Ricans

UCF gets its ear to the sky: university to take over Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico

Gwen Graham work day in Kissimmee connects with Puerto Rico evacuees

Darren Soto: State lawmakers need to unite on policy

Lawmakers stress state’s need to support Puerto Ricans

Bill Nelson, Marco Rubio, Darren Soto, Florida congressional delegation demand more hurricane relief

Rick Scott extends emergency orders for Puerto Rico evacuees

Puerto Rico groups pushing for ‘Marshall Plan’ to help the island

Darren Soto under fire for having urged Puerto Ricans to declare they intend to stay

Economic Opportunity surveying Central Florida housing needs