Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Sally SwartzOctober 27, 2015

A nightmare development scenario playing out in Palm Beach County is bad news for proponents of local control statewide. It’s almost unbelievable: new developments with thousands of homes in preserve areas that now provide drinking water for cities and water for a wild and scenic river. Ten-lane and 12-lane highways, including double-deck, high-rise roads and […]

Guest AuthorOctober 14, 2015

The United Nations itself had not yet been officially established when its Food and Agriculture Organization was formed. The U.N. opened Oct. 24, 1945, eight days after the FAO, and not until 1948 did the international body ratified its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The way these events unfolded suggests that ahead of individual human […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 23, 2015

The proposed State Road 7 extension in Palm Beach County north to Northlake Boulevard has sparked many stories and much debate. The debate pits residents in the rural northwest against a gated golf community, so the demographic polarization keeps the discussion lively and interesting. Both camps, though, would be wise to join forces against looming […]

Jac VerSteegSeptember 20, 2015

Open government sustained a serious setback this month. For this, you can “thank” the city of West Palm Beach, along with West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio and spokesman Elliot Cohen. As reported extensively by WPTV NewsChannel 5 and The Palm Beach Post, the city – in response to public records requests – posted information […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott joined the Office Depot Foundation on Monday to hand out backpacks and school supplies to students and parents for the 15th annual “National Backpack Program” event in West Palm Beach, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Scott also highlighted this year’s Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday running from Friday until […]

Jac VerSteegJuly 20, 2015

A federal judge’s comments last week while handing down a tough sentence provide more evidence that, when facing criminal sex charges it’s really good to be rich and connected. Calling the convicted defendant’s actions “horrific,” U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra, presiding in West Palm Beach, last week sentenced Dontavious Blake to 27 years in prison. […]

Guest AuthorJune 8, 2015

This is a story about pediatric cancer clusters in Florida. It begins in Durham, N.C., at Duke University, where Dr. David Banks is a professor in the Department of Statistical Science. In 2013 Dr. Banks was the new editor of Statistics and Public Policy, a journal of the American Statistical Association. In early February, Banks […]

Steve SchaleMay 17, 2015

These days, every conversation about Florida and 2016 generally starts and ends with the Hispanic vote – and for good reason. It is easily the fastest growing segment of the population. The Hispanic vote in Florida is critical, though I would caution election observers that it isn’t the silver bullet. Most GOP and Democratic strategists […]

Ryan RayApril 29, 2015

The Senate has passed a Palm Beach County local bill — HB 1213 sponsored by Rep. Lori Berman — that serves as a key component of a multilayered arrangement between state and local governments in their quest to land the spring training operations of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. In […]

Ryan RayApril 23, 2015

Boca Raton businessman Jospeh “J.B.” Bensmihen will give two-term U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel a general election challenge that his camp thinks has a serious shot in the Democratic-leaning district based in Palm Beach and Broward. Bensmihen’s candidacy was first reported by The Palm Beach Post‘s George Bennett. Bensmihen describes himself as a moderate Republican, and stresses […]

Tag: West Palm Beach

Sally Swartz: Development runs rampant without state controls

Terri Susan Fine: You need no special talent to help fight hunger

Timothy Hullihan: Traffic, traffic, and more traffic

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: West Palm’s version of Wikileaks

Rick Scott marks back-to-school sales tax holiday with backpack giveaway

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: If you’re a sex criminal, it pays to be rich

Alan Farago: Florida Department of Health failing to respond to credible reports of cancer clusters

Steven Schale: How Hispanic voters could swing Florida's 2016 presidential race to Democrats

Senate OKs bill to ease Astros, Nationals path to West Palm Beach

Republican Joseph Bensmihen challenges Lois Frankel for U.S. House