Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonOctober 30, 2017

Consumer confidence may be down, but shoppers won’t be spooked on Halloween according to a new survey by the National Retail Federation. NRF, the parent group of the Florida Retail Federation, expects 179 million Americans to spend a combined $9.1 billion this year on all things Halloween — that’s 8 million more trick-or-treaters and $700 […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 11, 2017

Wal-Mart announced Monday it was “committing up to $10 million in additional support for 2017 U.S. hurricane relief efforts,” bringing its total this year to $30 million, the retailer said. “We know our associates and customers make the difference. And once again, when needed the most, they are stepping up to help in a major […]

Jim RosicaMay 25, 2017

Saying it could hurt job creation, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a contentious bill that would have removed the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. Scott filed his veto letter of the measure (SB 106) on Wednesday night, his deadline to act on the bill. It’s the first veto of a bill from the 2017 […]

Jim RosicaMay 21, 2017

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Costco now is joining Wal-Mart, Target and others in one last push to get Gov. Rick Scott to sign a bill to remove the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. Their Floridians For Fair Business Practices coalition on Friday released a tranche of letters sent to Scott encouraging him to OK the legislation (SB […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 18, 2017

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The real impact of Chinese imports on American factories has been discussed to death. But if you look closely, you can find a counter-narrative emerging. One example of that was demonstrated in Northwest Jacksonville Thursday afternoon, where Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and other local dignitaries came together for the grand opening of a 121,000 square foot […]

Jim RosicaApril 24, 2017

A troubled measure to undo the requirement that retailers sell distilled spirits separately from other goods is back on the House calendar for this week. But a number of amendments were filed Friday night that could continue to muddle the legislation’s path to passage. The House on Tuesday will again consider the “whiskey & Wheaties” bill (SB […]

Mitch PerryApril 12, 2017

After just three years in operation, retail giant Wal-Mart closed its doors February in the Midtown neighborhood of South St. Petersburg. It was a blow to the community on a number of levels, not least of which was making it much more difficult for Midtown residents to get access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Studies […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

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Let freedom pour: Bills aimed at changing beer and booze regulations in Florida have cleared their latest review panel. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee OK’d measures that would allow beer distributors to give free branded beer glasses to bars and restaurants, authorize beer companies to advertise in theme parks and let craft distillers sell more […]

Joe HendersonMarch 23, 2017

It’s not surprising that the so-called “whiskey and Wheaties” bill that cleared a Florida House committee Wednesday did so by a bare 15-13 margin. Any measure that makes it easier to buy booze will mobilize people on both sides. This bill is basically equivalent to one in the Senate, which would knock down the legislative wall […]

Les NeuhausMarch 16, 2017

More than three-quarters of Florida’s corrections officers have less than two years’ experience. In some state prisons, a single CO will be left alone to supervise 150-200 inmates in a jail block. Contraband has become so bad, one random search of (just half) a Dade facility turned up $15,000 in street value of cocaine, seven knives, […]

Tag: wal mart

NRF survey predicts another record-setting Halloween for retailers

Wal-Mart pledges $10M for hurricane relief

The hangover: Rick Scott vetoes ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ bill

Big-box chains, others make one last push for ‘whiskey & Wheaties’

How Jacksonville beat China in the garbage can business

Is this ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ last hurrah for 2017?

Legislature considers proposal to address Florida food deserts

Bottoms up: Beer, booze bills clear Senate committee

Joe Henderson: Time for wall between whiskey & Wheaties to crumble

Florida prison chief: State losing corrections staff to ‘Wal-Mart,’ creating insecurity in system