FEATURED STORIES
Deepwater trouble on the horizon: oil discovered floating near source of Gulf of Mexico spill
By Ben Raines
Mobile Press-Register
Related: Scientists: Oil fouling Gulf matches Deepwater Horizon well
Editorial: Find the source of leak around BP well now
Oil is once again fouling the Gulf of Mexico around the Deepwater Horizon well, which was capped a little over a year ago.
Rick Scott's Missing Emails Situation Is Getting Fishy
By Matthew Hendley
Broward New Times
Gov. Rick Scott's magically deleted email debacle is starting to sound a bit ridiculous already, even though he's ordered an "investigation" from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Gov. Rick Scott's lost emails dim right to know
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
So far, news that emails from Gov. Rick Scott's transition got deleted hasn't fueled much outrage.
Scott: Let's compete for $100-million Race to Top grant for young kids
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
Florida plans to compete for $100 million in the federal government's latest Race to the Top program, assuming the Florida Legislature is willing to accept other federal money it had previously rejected.
New Florida poll shows Obama has work to do
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
Lucky for Barack Obama that the election is 13 months away, because a new Florida poll shows him trailing Mitt Romney and neck and neck with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.
BEST OF THE BLOGS
Daniel Webster (R-FL) Admits To Distributing Watch List, Is Unapologetic
By Kenneth Quinnell
Florida Progressive Coalition
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel Republican Daniel Webster admitted to sending out the “watch list” flier that was recently handed out at a town hall held by Tim Griffin (R-AR).
Scott Reneges on Jobs Goal: “Mission Accomplished” Banner Is Now Ready
By Bruce Seaman
Daily Marion
Having built his reputation as a ‘jobs creator’ whose first priority was jobs creation, who would slay fictional regulatory job-killing dragons and pave a golden yellow brick road with taxpayer dollars to bring sun-starved businesses scurrying to Florida (but only toll roads for citizens), Florida Governor Rick Scott recently declared a virtual victory for himself after almost 8 months on the job.
Marco Rubio: Medicare, Social Security ‘Weakened Us As People,’ Made Us Lazy
By Igor Volsky
Think Progress
Potential vice president running mate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) dismissed the importance of programs like Medicare and Social Security during a speech at the Reagan Presidential Library this afternoon, arguing that the initiatives “weakened us as people”.
Supreme Court Rules Against Self-Proclaimed "Supreme Executive" Rick Scott
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
Yesterday the Florida Supreme Court found that Florida Governor Rick Scott overstepped his constitutional authority when he suspended rulemaking by state agencies shortly after he took office in January.
Slavery in Florida's Tomato Fields
By Liz Eleanor
Daily Kos
There has long been good reason to avoid the sad, pale, flavorless winter tomato, as sturdy as a softball and about as delicious.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Not that you asked, but …
By Daniel Ruth
St. Petersburg Times
This could have been the mother of all spit-take moments, but considering I was ingesting some very nice scotch at the time, I summoned the inner discipline of a thousand Spartans to keep things where they belonged.
ACLU jumps into court battle over new elections law
By Travis Pillow
Florida Independent
The American Civil Liberties Union and Project Vote announced today that they are intervening in Florida’s effort to win federal approval for its controversial changes to state election laws.
Judge to Jim Greer: You'll stand trial on all six counts
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
An Orlando judge has refused to throw out criminal charges against Jim Greer, former chairman of the Florida GOP, setting aside defense claims that prosecutors and agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement had failed to follow the law as they built their case against the fallen politico.
In need of ideas, not more ideology
Editorial
Ocala Star-Banner
Gov. Rick Scott this week ordered slashing the budgets of the state’s five water management districts by $700 million.
POLITICAL RACES
One year out: Preparations underway for 2012 GOP convention
By Christian M. Wade
Tampa Tribune
One year from now, the eyes of the nation will be on Tampa as Republicans from across the country converge on city to select their next presidential candidate.
Jobs are crux of Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign for president
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
He burst into the Republican presidential field with typical Texan bravado, corralling attention from his rivals and promising to "work every day to make Washington, D.C., as inconsequential in your life as I can."
Rick Perry aims to outshine Mitt Romney in Florida fray
By Jackie Kucinich
USA Today
Texas Gov. Rick Perry's decision this week to accept invitations to several key Florida GOP events next month offers him the chance to make progress in a key primary state.
Hasner admits Fla. financial disclosure violation
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Former state Rep. Adam Hasner, now a candidate for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, admits violating Florida's financial disclosure law.
FEC asks Rep. David Rivera to explain campaign debt
By Erika Bolstad
Miami Herald
The Federal Election Commission has asked Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, to elaborate on why there's new debt on his most recent campaign finance reports.
DCCC seizes on Rep. Steve Southerland's salary complaint
By Dan Hirschhorn
Politico
Democrats pounced Thursday on politically inartful comments by Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.), who told constituents that his $174,000 salary is nothing to write home about.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Environmentalists: Water district cuts will hurt Florida's ecology
By Keith Morelli
Tampa Tribune
Environmentalists around Florida are livid about the budget cutbacks for the five water management districts and they predict that the cuts will result in an inevitable decline in the quality of the state's ecology.
Florida's top environmental regulator shares his vision for agency
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard says his department must provide consistent and efficient permitting while not allowing environmental protection to slip.
Scott declines to review NW Bradenton land-use case
By Sara Kennedy
Bradenton Herald
Gov. Rick Scott has declined to review a land-use decision rescinded Tuesday by the Manatee County Commission.
LGBT
Family Research Council to challenge LGBT GOP groups at Tampa convention
By Sofia Resnick
Florida Independent
After being tipped off by a recent Washington Blade article about GOP LGBT groups’ attempts to influence the Republican Party platform at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says those groups should expect a fight.
EDUCATION
Support emerges for higher education overhaul in Florida
By Lilly Rockwell
News Service of Florida
Gov. Rick Scott may have one crucial ally in his nascent effort to overhaul higher education in Florida: State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan.
Cloud remains over several Florida for-profit universities
By Kim MacQueen
Florida Current
The state of Florida is continuing its crackdown against for-profit colleges and universities who bend the rules to reach and retain students.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Nelson urges income tax reform, accuses GOP of 'extreme position' to 'cut, cut, cut'
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson made a bipartisan appeal for tax simplification at a Forum Club of the Palm Beaches luncheon today, then urged Democratic activists to help defeat Republicans who hold the "extreme position" that spending cuts are the only way to reduce the deficit.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Health care agency reaches out to HMOs and nursing homes about fate of Medicaid reform
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Agency for Heath Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek has been making the rounds to special interests groups discussing Florida’s new Medicaid managed care program and the waivers required to make it all work.
Most pill-mill doctors ‘clear, active’
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Of the 13 physicians indicted in a massive federal pill-mill bust this week, 12 are still listed on the Department of Health website as having "clear/active" licenses with no pending complaints.
Rick Scott just loves Florida’s seniors and kids – yeah right
By Natasha Dowdy Gordon
Westside Gazette
Thanks to Governor Rick Scott and his Republican run state legislature, the state of Florida has refused to accept millions of dollars in federal funds intended for needy Floridians.
DCF director examines new ways to protect children
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
When Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins walked into his new office for the first time last January, he had heard about the department’s problems — but he had no idea how bad they were.
FL Gov names Elder Affairs Secretary
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott is keeping a holdover from the administration of Gov. Charlie Crist in his job.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Welfare drug-testing yields 2% positive results
By Catherine Whittenburg
Tampa Tribune
Since the state began testing welfare applicants for drugs in July, about 2 percent have tested positive, preliminary data shows.
Federal judges have ruled testing welfare recipients for drugs violates 4th Amendment rights.
By Chase Cain
WTSP 10 News Tampa Bay
Floridians who need help taking care of their children now have to pass a drug test first.
Gov. Scott's migration fixation
Editorial
Northwest Florida Daily News
Leave it to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is known to have an old-fashioned hankering to stamp out illicit drugs, to keep pushing for a solution to yet another problem that’s already well on the road to solving itself.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Rick Scott Takes Heavy Hand With Department of CorrectionsBy Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
The prison system and the Department of Corrections are probably some of the least appealing parts of state government.
Alexander supports ouster of DOC chief Buss
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
The chairman of the Senate budget committee said Thursday Gov. Rick Scott made a wise decision in ousting Department of Corrections Secretary Ed Buss for not supporting the push to privatize state prisons in South Florida.
Abrupt departure for pioneering corrections chief
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Rick Scott isn't saying much about why he forced out one of his best and brightest agency heads after just six months on the job.
Fla. inmate asks US justices for stay of execution
Associated Press
Miami Herald
A man convicted of killing a Florida police officer has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay his Sept. 6 execution.
MSNBC to film at Santa Rosa prison
News Service of Florida
Pensacola News Journal
The on-again, off-again MSNBC look at Santa Rosa County Correctional Institution is on again after Gov. Rick Scott signed off on a Department of Corrections plan to allow the network to film inside the prison for its series "Lockup."
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