FEATURED STORIES
Florida Supreme Court rules against Gov. Rick Scott in rulemaking case
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related editorial: Scott gets a needed lesson on Florida's Constitution
The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Gov. Rick Scott "overstepped his constitutional authority and violated the separation of powers" with an executive order freezing all pending rules until he could approve them.
Florida's Jobs Situation: What Rick Scott Won't Tell You
By Matthew Hendley
Broward New Times
Gov. Rick Scott has been proudly touting that Florida has created the second-most jobs in the country (behind Texas) since he took office, but here's what he won't tell you: Those new jobs suck.
Florida is now epicenter of foreclosure crisis, report concludes
By Kevin Turner
Florida Times-Union
Florida metro areas dominate the top 25 list for cities with the worst foreclosure rates — including the eight highest in the nation, according to a report released Tuesday.
Money for abstinence, but not dying kids?
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
In recent months, Florida politicians have turned away millions of federal dollars meant for Floridians in need.
Group urges public to robo-call governor
By Sascha Cordner
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
Florida Watch Action, known for its "Pink Slip Rick" Slogan, says they are about to get revenge on Governor Rick Scott for his robo calls.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Boca Raton crowd urges GOP lawmakers to speed up redistricting process in Florida
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Politicians are often blasted for not listening to their constituents.
Voting record undermines Dems credibility on redistricting, claims GOP
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times
We told you on Tuesday that Republicans were targeting Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith for taking a different position on redistricting as a party boss than when he was helping draw district boundaries in the state Senate.
9 Investigates: Fla. Attorney General's Hawaiian Trip
By George Spencer
Tampa Bay News 9
Kona, Hawaii is a tropical paradise in one of our western-most states. It's a fitting backdrop for this year's Conference of Western Attorneys General.
Bondi says no improper involvement of her office in cases
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose office has been hit with a string of allegations from former employees in the past month, told reporters that no one in her office has acted improperly or interfered in any investigations where they may have a personal stake.
State justices say Scott overstepped his authority
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
The Florida Supreme Court handed Gov. Rick Scott a defeat Tuesday with a ruling that he exceeded his authority by ordering state agencies to freeze rulemaking and submit planned regulations to his office for review and approval before formally proposing them.
Gov. Scott receives reverse robocalls (video story)
By Troy Kinsey
Tampa Bay News 9/Central Florida News 13
Monday, thousands of Floridians had their robocalls delivered by the group Florida Watch Action.
Rep. Allen West taking heat from backers for debt limit vote
By Alex Leary and Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
U.S. Rep. Allen West not only supported the debt ceiling deal, he actively tried to get others on board. Tea party and other supporters are incensed.
POLITICAL RACES
As presidential race soon shifts to Florida, Rick Perry revs up efforts
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
How do you start from nothing and quickly rev up a serious presidential campaign in a state as big as Florida?
Tea Party + Bush = Rick Perry
The Progress Report
Think Progress
Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) campaign for the White House is nothing if not novel.
At South Florida Democratic HQ, protesters criticize deportation program, warn Obama
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
Felipe Matos, originally of Brazil, told a crowd of protesters here Tuesday that he knocked on hundreds of doors campaigning for Barack Obama in 2008.
Allen West for Senate, and why it makes sense
By Aaron Blake
Washington Post
After previously opting not to run for Senate in Florida, Rep. Allen West (R) has now opened the door to seeking the Republican nomination against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).
Conservative Catholic blogger joins U.S. Senate race
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Add one more name to the list of Republicans running to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Expert: BP spill likely cause of sick Gulf fish
By Debbye Turner Bell
CBS News
More than a year after the largest oil spill in U.S. history, researchers studying the Gulf of Mexico are finding that more fish are sick, and they're trying to figure out exactly why.
Department of Environmental Protection announces key hires
Staff Report
Florida Tribune
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard announced Tuesday two key hires in the agency.
Scott casts a line
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott jumped a tarpon and reeled in a grouper while fishing in the Florida Keys last week.
EDUCATION
Teachers, under seige, deserve more respect
Editorial
Bradenton Herald
The exodus of teachers from the Manatee County School District comes as no surprise given the state of Florida’s full-scale assault on public schools.
Merit Pay Could Mean Big Rewards for Florida Teachers
By John O'Connor
StateImpact.com
The best Miami-Dade teachers could buy a new car with their bonuses this year while most of their colleagues may only be able to replace an alternator with their bonuses.
Law change pushes Duval opportunity scholarship transfers to record
By Topher Sanders
Florida Times-Union
After a change in state law helped to quadruple the number of Duval County schools required to offer opportunity scholarships, a record number of students are requesting transfers to schools with higher FCAT grades.
Land swap approved by Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet approved a land swap between Florida State University and the Seminole Boosters Tuesday in the heart of a planned student housing, shopping and entertainment complex that will anchor Tallahassee's long-running revitalization of Gaines Street.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Private prison plan comes with surprise $25 million cost to taxpayers
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The state of Florida will soon privatize 30 prisons to save money, but first, taxpayers will be on the hook for a payout of up to $25 million.
Feds Downgraded, Florida Upgraded
By Whitney Ray
Capitol News Service
While the Federal Government’s credit rating dropped… Florida’s soared… climbing from a AA+ to S&P’s coveted AAA rating.
Credit downgrade, job layoffs, but taxes are down: “The right things are happening,” at WMD, Scott says
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Despite a credit rating downgrade and more than 100 layoffs, Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday he supported the dramatic changes occurring at the South Florida Water Management District, saying “absolutely the right things are happening.”
Despite Scott talking point, Florida still adding debt
By Michael C. Bender
Miami Herald
In the wake of the federal debt debate, Gov. Rick Scott has found a talking point: "We're not doing any new debt."
Florida gets $97.7 million in federal funds to spur small-business loans
By Jeff Harrington
St. Petersburg Times
An additional $97.7 million in federal funds for small-business lending will be available statewide through the recent approval of Florida's application to tap the State Small Business Credit Initiative.
Jobs agency probe focuses on possible criminal conflict of interest
By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
A U.S. Labor Department probe of Workforce Central Florida is focused on possible "criminal conflict of interest" that may have tainted contracts awarded to companies owned by or tied to agency board members.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Medical loss ratios are stumbling block in Medicaid negotiations
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Related: Florida's Medicaid director leaving her job
Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek, Deputy Medicaid Director Roberta Bradford and officials from the governors office had face to face negotiations with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid staff earlier this week in an attempt to hammer out a "short list" of differences Florida has with the federal government regarding its Medicaid 1115 waiver.
Florida to keep latest funds from Affordable Care Act
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
According to Politico Pro, the state of Florida is going to keep yet another grant that is funded (partly) from the federal health care reform law.
Study: Florida 36th in U.S. in kids' health
By Ana M. Valdes
Palm Beach Post
A new study of children's health and well-being released today shows Florida's youngest residents are among the most severely affected by the economic downturn, with more than a half-million children and teenagers impacted by their parents' unemployment and home foreclosures.
Sen. Nan Rich Calls Out ‘Hypocrisy’ In Tallahassee
By Kimberly Vlach
HealthyState.org
Democratic State Senator Nan Rich (D-Sunrise) is firing back at state Republicans in the decision to accept federal dollars for abstinence education while declining to use tens of millions of dollars for other health care programs.
Florida not out of the running for home visiting grants
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
According to a state health agency, Florida may not be completely out of the running for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program grants the state Legislature rejected.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Fla Immigrants rally at Miami-Dade Dem HQ
By Laura Wides-Munoz
Associated Press
Immigrants in South Florida joined groups nationwide to protest the Obama administration's decision to make its Secure Communities program mandatory.
Fearing 'Wild West,' Palm Beach County may challenge Florida gun law
By John Kennedy and Jennifer Sorentrue
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach County commissioners may challenge a new state law that is forcing them to repeal at least seven local rules regulating guns and ammunition.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
DJJ investigates use of psychotropic drugs in its facilitiesBy Sascha Cordner
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
State officials want to know whether bribes were involved in the over-prescribing of anti-psychotic medications to minors in Florida's jails.
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