Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Peter SchorschMarch 19, 2015

In what has to be one of the best opening sequences of any Star Trek episode or movie, James T. Kirk somehow manages to win the unwinnable test. For those of you who consider such sci-fi schlock beneath your station, the Kobayashi Maru is a no-win training exercise that tests the character of the new cadet, while being disguised as a mock battle […]

Associated PressFebruary 11, 2015

Two Major League Baseball teams that had flirted with moving their spring training operations to Arizona are staying in Florida. Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement Wednesday that the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros will remain in Florida for the next 30 years. The statement didn’t explicitly say the teams are moving to […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 1, 2015

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, from North Palm Beach, is one of the state leaders who wrote to the parole board on behalf of the daughter of a West Palm Beach politico who is serving up to life in prison for murder. A joint investigation by The Palm Beach Post and WPTV-Channel 5 discovered […]

Jac VerSteegJanuary 7, 2015

The West Palm Beach City Commission has provided a perfect example of how government turns into The Nanny State. At its first meeting of 2015, The Palm Beach Post reports, the Commission voted 4-0 to require bars to post signs reminding customers that it is illegal for people under 21 to buy alcohol and illegal […]

Tag: West Palm Beach

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

Peter Schorsch: The Florida Senate race, 'Star Trek' and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy

2 MLB teams keeping spring training in Florida

Jeff Atwater sends letter to NY parole board on behalf of accused killer

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: West Palm plants seeds of the Nanny State