Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 11, 2018

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Charter chalks a win The Leon County School District suffered a bruising defeat this week when an appeal panel unanimously recommended the state overturn the county’s decision to block a new charter school from setting up shop in the county. The Charter School Appeal Commission, composed evenly of traditional public and […]

Peter SchorschAugust 4, 2018

Every July Fourth, Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston reads a copy of the Declaration of Independence reprinted in the Tallahassee Democrat. “I always sit in the morning with a cup of coffee and read back through that,” Polston told members of the Economic Club of Florida in Tallahassee this week. “I just enjoy doing […]

Peter SchorschJuly 28, 2018

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With a brow-raising $89.3 billion for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the state appropriated the largest budget in Florida history, a $4.36 billion increase from last year. Those big numbers make Florida TaxWatch’s recently released Taxpayer’s Budget Guide all the more valuable. Authored by the watchdog group’s vice president of research, Kurt Wenner, the interactive series […]

Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2018

Clouds are brewing over the journalism industry, but the long-term forecast is promising. That’s according to Diane McFarlin, the former publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and current dean of the University of Florida College of Journalism. She delivered a media ‘forecast’ to an audience of UF alumni in Tallahassee this week. In the short term, […]

Peter SchorschJuly 14, 2018

There appears to be a concerted effort between the state and federal government toward making industrial hemp a mainstream commodity. At the end of June, the U.S. Senate passed the 2018 Farm Bill by an 86-11 vote. Among the provisions: language removing hemp, a cannabis plant material with low levels of THC, from the federal […]

Staff ReportsJuly 7, 2018

A bill seeking to narrow the state’s practice of suspending driver’s licenses didn’t get very far during the 2018 Legislative Session. But the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Jeff Brandes, promises it will be back next year, when nuanced support from the courts will accompany it. This week, a federal judge in Tennessee ruled unconstitutional a state law that suspends […]

Peter SchorschJune 30, 2018

Patriotism in the Sunshine State While the president may have a ‘Winter White House’ in Mar-a-Lago, Florida doesn’t quite make the cut as one of the most patriotic states in the union. According to a new WalletHub study that compiled the “Most Patriotic States in America,” the Sunshine State could use a bit more of […]

Staff ReportsJune 23, 2018

In her lifelong fight against child abuse, state Senator Lauren Book has found a friend in America’s favorite pastime. The Plantation Democrat brought together 1,000 middle and elementary school children from seven schools in the Bronx for a walk to advocate for child safety and protection Thursday. Led by Book, the large group of children […]

Staff ReportsJune 16, 2018

Who cares? And what do they care about? Those were two very telling — but perhaps overlooked — questions recently surveyed by the Florida Chamber. By determining how voters feel about the state’s direction and what tops their list of priorities before they head to the ballots, the Chamber’s latest poll helps to inform guesswork […]

Staff ReportsJune 9, 2018

First known for cuisine and later his storytelling, chef and TV star Anthony Bourdain had a knack for traveling the world and telling the world about it. After news broke Friday that Bourdain tragically ended his own life in France, the world mourned and celebrated his work — which, we’ve learned, brought him to all the nooks and […]

Tag: Takeaways from Tallahassee

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Charter chalks a win

Takeaways from Tallahassee — A justice talks civics

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Budget breakdown

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Weathering the storm

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Hemp on horizon?

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Suspensions in suspense

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Patriotism in the Sunshine State

Takeaways from Tallahassee — At the old ballgame

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Closer look at November

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Remembering Anthony Bourdain at FSU