FEATURED STORIES
By John Frank
Related: Audio: Hear the taped conversation between Delmar Johnson and Jim Greer
McCollum now acknowledges ties to 2 groups attacking Scott
Tampa Tribune
FCATs see gains, and a plateau
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Storm forces suspension of oil spill skimming and booming operations
Miami Herald
FLORIDA POLITICS
By Gary Fineout
Some of the innermost secrets of the Republican Party of Florida spilled out in the open on Tuesday as prosecutors released documents that raise additional questions about the ongoing financial scandal that has resulted in the arrest of the former party chairman.
By Rene Stutzman
Jim Greer, former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, called a friend at a Tallahassee law firm in February 2009, asking for help in setting up a company.
By Bill Cotterell
If you're a drug user and just broke your bong, or if your Burmese python just slithered away, you might want to shop for a new one -- today.
By Jackie Bueno Sousa
This past session the state Legislature passed 274 laws, many of which take effect Thursday.
By Nick Sortal
Unlimited poker becomes legal in Florida on July 1, and the sharks from across the U.S. are coming looking for fish.
By Shelley Rossetter
A state law that makes it a crime to sell smoking devices such as pipes and bongs at most head shops takes effect Thursday.
POLITICAL RACES
By Amy Keller
This time last year, Gov. Charlie Crist appeared to have a lock on Florida's 2010 Senate race, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee breaking its long-established tradition of not getting involved in primaries to declare him the "candidate with the best chance to win."
By Mitch Perry
Jeff Greene is staring at me with a somewhat bemused grin.
By Michael C. Bender
Florida Attorney General candidate Dan Gelber resigned from his law firm after it was retained by BP, but not soon enough for his Democratic primary opponent, Dave Aronberg.
Editorial
Want to get elected to the Florida Legislature or to a prime seat in the U.S. Congress?
BALLOT INITIATIVES
By Pamela Winchester
Sometimes, when the political system gets corrupted and out of touch, citizens need to step in to restore proper balance -- and that's what Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 will do.
By Anthony Man
The fledgling coffee party group, formed largely in response to the better known and louder tea party movement, is taking on the proposed Florida constitutional amendments that would reform legislative and congressional redistricting.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
By Jamie Page
Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday promised that more oil skimmers and protective boom are headed to the Pensacola area, and said the administration remains committed to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill recovery effort.
By Grace Gagliano
New College of Florida Professor Frank Alcock could hardly believe it when he learned BP's oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico had exploded April 20.
By Bruce Ritchie
With the Gulf oil spill threatening wildlife and coastal economies, federal officials are planning to relocate sea turtle hatchlings from the region to the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday.
By Jennifer Portman
Grouper and snapper fishing will be among the hardest hit by the expanded closure of federal Gulf of Mexico waters east to Cape San Blas, officials say, but near-shore fishing in state waters -- including the harvesting of scallops and oysters -- remains largely open.
By James Hudson
As the Gulf of Mexico oil slick is blackening beaches from Louisiana to Pensacola, one of the major issues facing residents of the Gulf Coast is the effect this spill is having on the seafood industry.
By Bruce Ritchie
Related: Sink calls for energy leadership but avoids committing to policies
Utilities-only cap may be last hope for carbon-pricing legislation
Florida Independent
Government sends mixed messages on oil policy reforms
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
LGBT
The Associated Press
A judge has agreed to hear a case challenging the U.S. government's "don't ask, don't tell' policy against openly gay soldiers.
EDUCATION
By John Chambliss
The contractor for the FCAT faces costs and damages that could top $25 million for being late with the scores.
By Akilah Johnson
The long-delayed FCAT results, released by the state Tuesday, show South Florida's elementary students stumbled, but middle and high school students generally improved from last year in reading, science and math scores that continue to beat statewide averages.
By Sherri Ackerman
Fourth-graders statewide scored lower on the reading portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test this year.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
By Bart Jansen
A $500-million marketing campaign will be necessary to combat public perceptions about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that could ripple for years, tourism officials told congressional staffers Tuesday.
By Anthony Clark
The Gulf oil spill is weighing on Florida consumers' minds, combining with other economic concerns to lower their mood to spend.
By Mark K. Matthews
A key congressional committee sidestepped a potential vote on NASA's future Tuesday, opting to take no position on White House plans to scrap NASA's moon-rocket program and replace the space shuttle with commercial rockets.
By Richard Burnett
Along with ads for payday-advance loans and roadside signs touting foreclosure-prevention aid, offers of help from debt-relief companies have turned up nearly everywhere during the housing slump and recession.
Editorial
The unemployment rate in Florida and the nation remains depressingly high, few private sector jobs are being created and the Consumer Confidence Index plummeted again Tuesday.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
By Carol Gentry and Jim Saunders
A former secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration said WellCare Health Plans' CEO tricked him into believing the company was spending more than it actually was on Medicaid patients and says state prosecutors should consider criminal charges against WellCare's former executives.
By Kris Hundley
The allegations of wrongdoing at WellCare Health Plans Inc. continued Tuesday with the unsealing of two more whistle-blower complaints against the Tampa company.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
By Alfonso Chardy
Federal immigration officials now have the ability to identify potentially deportable foreign nationals booked into Florida county jails on suspicion of crimes.
