FEATURED STORIES
By Mike Salinero and Catherine Whittenburg
Related AP story: Jobs top mission in Fla. Gov. Crist's last year
Related editorial: A pragmatic conservative
Crist takes gamble with vigorous defense of his record
Florida Tribune
Gov. Charlie Crist took a gamble on Tuesday night, using his State of the State speech to forcefully defend his decision to endorse the federal stimulus package that has caused him so much trouble.
By Adam C. Smith
The governor who gave his final State of the State speech Tuesday night was remarkably different from the man who delivered his first formal address just three years ago.
By John Frank
Florida lawmakers gave sweeping approval Tuesday to a measure that delays a steep unemployment compensation tax increase for businesses.
By Shannon Colavecchio
Channeling former Gov. Jeb Bush, leading Republican lawmakers filed legislation this week that would dramatically overhaul teacher tenure and pay -- making it tougher for classroom teachers to achieve tenure, easier to get fired, and tying half of their pay formula to student test performance.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
By Steve Bousquet
Related: PolitiFact: Sorting out the truth in Crist's State of the State
In his farewell State of the State speech, Gov. Charlie Crist made a last-ditch appeal to the Legislature on Tuesday to embrace his style of pragmatic bipartisanship to confront Florida's problems.
By Jim Ash
His once stellar approval ratings sagging, his political future in jeopardy, Gov. Charlie Crist delivered his fourth and final State of the State message Tuesday to a polite but tepid response from lawmakers.
By Dara Kam, George Bennett and Michael C. Bender
Republican Gov. Charlie Crist attempted to reinforce his centrist image tonight, urging state lawmakers to sacrifice ideology, build consensus and to ride out the "dark clouds" hovering over Florida's economy.
By Mary Ellen Klas
As Florida legislators await budget details to be released later this week, they will hear several bills that relate to jobs and ethics reforms on their second day of session Wednesday.
Staff Report
A bill designed to help struggling Florida businesses has passed the state Legislature.
By Martin Merzer
Money is short, voters are losing patience and state government is in desperate need of a comprehensive tuneup to make it more efficient, transparent and accountable, House leaders said Tuesday.
Staff Report
The state Senate readied a sweeping ethics reform bill for the Public Service Commission on Tuesday after beating back an amendment to weaken the bill.
By Marc Caputo
House Democratic leader Ron Saunders "double-dipped" by billing taxpayers and his campaign account for travel to and from the state capital, according to a batch of complaints that a conservative activist leveled Tuesday at the Key West representative.
POLITICAL RACES
By Alex Leary
Ray Sansom may have quit the Florida House last week to avoid an ethics trial, but the scandal has legs in the Republican U.S. Senate primary between Gov. Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio.
By Dr. Susan A. MacManus
Predicting the outcome of Election Day November 2, 2010 is shaping up to be a more daunting task than ever.
Staff Report
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek -- the Democrat's likely Senate nominee -- knows an opportunity when he sees it.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
By Gina Jordan
Standards for drawing congressional and state legislative districts got their first review of the session Tuesday.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
By Bruce Ritchie
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection won't ask the Legislature to approve a proposed carbon cap-and-trade rule in the legislative session that began yesterday, according to DEP Secretary Michael Sole.
By Paul Flemming
Florida lawmakers ratcheted up the war on exotic reptiles Tuesday with a proposal to ban ownership of the animals outright.
LGBT
By Willie Howard
City commissioners agreed unanimously tonight to support a repeal of the state's ban on gay adoption.
By Anne Flaherty
Some Republicans are dismissing a planned nine-month Pentagon study on gays in the military as biased because it assumes Congress will eventually repeal the 1993 law known as "don't ask, don't tell."
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
As Florida spends an expected $17 billion in federal stimulus aid, legislative leaders are now backing a constitutional amendment to require Congress to curb its spending.
By Mary Ellen Klas
The framework of a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe is under way as both House negotiators and the tribe's lawyers are working earnestly in time for lawmakers to start counting on the cash this session.
EDUCATION
By Leslie Postal
Two key education bills filed recently in the Florida Senate would lead to dramatic changes in teacher-pay plans and high school graduation requirements, if adopted.
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Related: Schools prepare for class-size cuts
Jobless advocate: Unemployment impasse a "crisis"
Orlando Sentinel
HEALTH AND SENIORS
By Jim Saunders
As Florida lawmakers try to crack down on notorious pain clinics, a debate is seething on whether to limit dispensing of pain pills to three days' worth.
By Stacey Singer
Doctors who treat Medicare patients said they continued appointments as usual Monday, despite a 21 percent cut in their reimbursement that went into effect because of a Congressional stalemate.
Staff Report
Population growth, tourism and climate combined to make Florida the deadliest state in the country for pedestrians and bicyclists, USA Today reported Monday.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
By Kathleen Haughney
The laws governing an accused person's right to a speedy trial could be changed under a proposal filed by an Orlando legislator.
By Cristina Silva
Cash-strapped parents seeking child support have clogged the state's family court system, forcing hearing officers to work overtime and judges to play case managers.
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