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Phil AmmannJuly 5, 2016

Gun control, immigration and money to combat the Zika virus top the congressional agenda as lawmakers sprint toward the political conventions this month and a seven-week summer recess. Amid all that, Republicans plan to squeeze in a meeting with Donald Trump Thursday. The House and Senate have just eight legislative days before their break, and lawmakers […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 28, 2016

The Zika virus is making its way into the Sunshine State. The Department of Health confirmed Tuesday the first Zika-related case of microcephaly in a child born in Florida. The child’s mother, from Haiti, traveled with the virus and gave birth in Florida. Gov. Rick Scott has attempted to sound the alarm to the federal government […]

Keith MorelliJune 28, 2016

The first case of microcephaly, a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development, has surfaced in Florida. The defect is caused by the Zika virus, which was contracted by the mother while in her native Haiti, authorities said. Officials with the Florida Department of Health confirmed the […]

Mitch PerryJune 27, 2016

When Marco Rubio announced last Wednesday he would re-enter the U.S. Senate race that he insisted he would never do, the Florida GOP establishment immediately embraced his return. Despite the fact that he lost all but one of Florida’s 67 counties in the state’s presidential primary in March, Rubio still outpolled the five Republicans who were at […]

Associated PressJune 24, 2016

Saying he was “profoundly disappointed” with the ongoing federal stalemate over the Zika virus, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday ordered the state to spend millions in an effort to stop its potential spread. Scott used his emergency powers to authorize spending up to $26.2 million on everything from killing mosquitoes, training mosquito technicians and […]

Associated PressJune 20, 2016

Saron Wyatt pointed to the secluded end of her small street in Houston’s impoverished Fifth Ward, where a mound of old tires keeps popping up. Always a trashy nuisance, it’s now a growing danger. Tires collect water and become prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes — especially the ones that spread Zika virus disease and other […]

Staff ReportsJune 20, 2016

Saying “the time for inaction is over,” U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan today called for swift passage of a Zika funding bill before Congress adjourns Friday for a 10-day recess. “Today is the first day of summer, which means mosquito season is here and that means the Zika virus is here,” Buchanan said. “People’s lives are at stake — the time […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2016

Politics never takes a day off, and some would probably say it shouldn’t. Take the reaction this week to the shooting massacre in Orlando. Democrats have done what they believe urgently needs to be done to lessen the possibility of further mass gun shootings, by introducing gun control legislation in Washington. In Washington early this […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2016

Jupiter Democratic Representative and U.S. Senate hopeful Patrick Murphy has introduced the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act that would provide resources to state and local governments to help fight the spread of the Zika virus. The bill reauthorizes a lapsed 2003 mosquito-control program and provides $130 million each year for mosquito […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 10, 2016

Florida lawmakers continue to push for more federal assistance to fight the spread of Zika. Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday requested the Centers for Disease Control send an additional 1,300 Zika antibody tests to Florida. The additional tests would allow more Floridians, including pregnant women and new mothers, to see if they have had Zika. […]

Tag: Zika

Guns, immigration and Zika top agenda as Congress returns

Rick Scott, Jax leaders talk Zika strategy

Florida records birth of first baby with Zika-related birth defects

Rick Scott says Marco Rubio has done a ‘good job’ as Florida’s U.S. Senator

No help from DC? Florida to spend millions on Zika fight

As Zika looms, U.S. health officials worry about the neighbors

Vern Buchanan calls for immediate vote on Zika funding

Mitch Perry Report for 6.16.16 -CLC clears the path for Rubio

Patrick Murphy introduces bill to provide resources to local governments to fight the spread of Zika

Florida lawmakers urge action to stop the spread of Zika