Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 9, 2016

A mosquito trap designed by University of Florida researchers could limit the spread of the Zika virus, but first it needs approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Phil Koehler, a professor in the university’s entomology and nematology department, said researchers have requested an emergency registration permit for the product. If granted, the university would […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

With Tropical Storm Colin now a memory for the Sunshine State, Gov. Rick Scott stopped in Jacksonville Tuesday to thank first responders at Fire Station #1 on Jacksonville’s Eastside. While he was here Tuesday morning, he sounded the alarm — yet again — on the matter of federal funding for Zika prevention. When discussing the storm, Scott noted that […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

On Tuesday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety committee mulled Zika-related legislation. One bill, which moves $122,524 from the mosquito control fund balance to allocations for insecticide and equipment this fiscal year and next, was approved by the Finance Committee Monday. RCDPHS approved the bill 5-0 without discussion. A […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2016

Monday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee included a discussion of Zika, expansion of the role of the inspector general, and approval of a July 18 date for Mayor Lenny Curry‘s budget address. All measures approved will require full Council approval next Tuesday. — 2016-320 would move $122,554 from the mosquito control fund balance to […]

Staff ReportsJune 3, 2016

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Sarasota Republican, said Friday Congress should make it a top priority to fund efforts to control the Zika virus when it returns to Washington next week after a week-long recess. Buchanan, the first Republican in the U.S. House to support the President’s $1.9 billion plan to confront the disease, said, […]

Scott PowersJune 3, 2016

Democratic congressional candidate Dr. Dena Grayson is opening the public phase of her run in Florida’s 9th Congressional District at a time when her professional expertise may be characterized as a unique, critical national asset. She’s also entering the limelight for the Aug. 30 Democratic primary, with perhaps the race’s biggest endorser at her side. The most important […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2016

Thursday on the Fox News program “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott sounded the alarm yet again on the need for federal funding to battle Zika. On this issue, and in this particular interview, there were a few interesting rhetorical pivots. One was the repeated assertion that, when it comes to Florida, “we need a federal partner.” […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 1, 2016

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Immediate action is needed to combat the spread of Zika. That’s the message Gov. Rick Scott conveyed in a letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday. In the letter, Scott called on the Obama administration to immediately provide Florida with Zika preparedness kits, resources to enhance surveillance and abatement, resources to increase training for mosquito control […]

Ryan RayMay 31, 2016

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham isn’t running for re-election in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, but that doesn’t mean the signature Graham family workdays have come to a close. Amid a major spending fight in Congress over funding to fight the Zika virus, the freshman Democrat from Tallahassee took to the west of her sprawling Panhandle district to combat the […]

Associated PressMay 31, 2016

The “enormous demand” created by the international Zika epidemic for traps used to monitor mosquitoes that carry the virus caught their German manufacturer off-guard, two company officials said Friday. According to Biogents’ only U.S. distributor, a backlog affects 1,950 traps ordered by governments and private businesses in Florida, Ohio, Kentucky and a few other states. […]

Tag: Zika
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

UF seeks approval for device that could help stop spread of Zika

Rick Scott meets with Jax first responders, calls for federal help on Zika

Second Jax council committee approves mosquito-control funds

Jax Finance Committee talks Zika, Inspector General, mayoral budget address date

Vern Buchanan calls for action on Zika funding

Democrat Dena Grayson enters public phase of her CD 9 race as Zika threat looms

Rick Scott wants Barack Obama to be ‘federal partner’ in Zika fight

Rick Scott calls on Barack Obama to fulfill Florida’s requests to fight spread of Zika

Gwen Graham hunts mosquitos, talks Zika on Bay County Workday

Mosquito trap maker can’t meet demand amid Zika outbreak