FEATURED
STORIES
Romney names Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as running mate
By Adam C. Smith and Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Related: Breaking down the Paul Ryan VP pick by assets, liabilities, questions
Related: Paul Ryan: 10 facts about the Republican VP nominee
In pushing aside caution and tapping U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate, Mitt Romney on Saturday ensured the next 86 days will give voters a clear choice between two starkly different visions for how to get America back on track.
Ryan could be a drag on Romney in Florida
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Related: Flip-flop or evolution? Paul Ryan's Cuban-embargo stance could be a sore point in Miami-Dade
Related: Mitt Romney to make campaign stop in Miami
Republicans are rejoicing at Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate. But so are Democrats.
Romney-Ryan map has Florida at the center
By Jonathan Martin andMaggie Haberman
Politico
With the initial high of the Paul Ryan vice-presidential selection wearing off, Republicans across the country on Sunday offered a more clear-eyed assessment of what the pick means for the presidential map.
Romney and Scott offer up clashing narratives of Florida’s economy
By Mary Ellen Klas and Toluse Olorunnipa
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Numbers may not lie, but Republicans Mitt Romney and Gov. Rick Scott are using them to portray two very conflicting points of view about Florida’s economic picture.
Unlimited Corporate Money In Fla. Political Races 'Worries Political Scientists'
By Jessica Palombo
WFSU Tallahassee
Tuesday’s Florida primary and the upcoming general election in November are the first since the highly controversial Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which removed all limits on how much corporations can spend to help federal candidates get elected.
Legal tab piles up as Scott Adminstration defends changes to laws and policies
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott has a simple way to end the growth of a nearly $1 million taxpayer tab for more than a dozen lawsuits filed against the state since he took office less than three years ago.
EDITORIAL
CARTOON OF THE WEEK
By Andy Marlette
Pensacola News Journal
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Marco Rubio passed over for VP but benefited from exposure
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
By repeatedly playing down the speculation and hype around him, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio executed a time-honored strategy of the veepstakes: Never let them see how much you want it.
Speculation among state leaders that Charlie Crist could turn Democrat, eye 2014 governor's race
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
We never tire of Charlie Crist speculation here at The Buzz.
Legislative leaders, campaign committees moving millions
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
The Gator athletes competing in London aren't the only prominent Floridians going for the gold in a big way this summer.
Database of Voter Fraud Uncovers No Evidence Photo ID Is Needed
By Natasha Khan and Corbin Carson
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
A News21 analysis of 2,068 alleged election-fraud cases since 2000 shows that while fraud has occurred, the rate is infinitesimal, and in-person voter impersonation on Election Day, which prompted 37 state legislatures to enact or consider tough voter ID laws, is virtually non-existent.
Mail-in ballots subject to fraud
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
The arrest of a small-time, middle-aged Republican political operative in South Florida for mail ballot fraud should lay bare the continuing hypocrisy of Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders who have spent thousands of dollars in public money to defend faulty plans to purge the voter rolls.
The Villages: Florida retirement community provides foundation for Republican candidates
By Michael Van Sickler and John Martin
Tampa Bay Times
It's happy hour on a steamy summer evening and the band is playing covers of Jimmy Buffett, Pat Benatar and Aerosmith.
POLITICAL
RACES
Fla. primary lacks excitement of statewide battles
By Brendan Farrington
Associated Press
Outside of some local, legislative and congressional races, Tuesday's primary election is a bit of a snoozer.
In Orlando event, Democrats criticize GOP VP pick, say he's threat to state's priorities
By Mary Shanklin
Orlando Sentinel
At a south Orlando auto repair shop near the dead end of a neglected industrial area, the head of the Democratic National Committee on Sunday blasted U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan for proposals to "end Medicare as we know it."
Analysts say Ryan pick intensifies Medicare debate for Florida seniors
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate promises to intensify the debate over Medicare in senior-heavy Florida, where the issue could tip the perennial swing state’s 29 electoral votes and the presidency.
Connie Mack campaigns for U.S. Senate in Pinellas Park
By Katie Sanders
Tampa Bay Times
Rep. Connie Mack IV isn't completely ignoring his GOP primary. Turns out, he voted early.
Party poopers: Conventions rarely woo voters in host states
By Ted Jackovics
Tampa Tribune
It may take a year before Tampa punches the "total" button on the local economic impact from the 2012 Republican National Convention — all the hotels booked, goodwill earned, employers recruited.
Florida voters need to do homework
By Jerome R. Stockfisch
Tampa Tribune
Casting a ballot might require a little homework this year after the Legislature rewrote many provisions of election law and drew up new district maps.
BALLOT
INITIATIVES
Is Florida’s Religious Freedom Amendment 8 the Truth?
By Roger Caldwell
Orlando Sentinel
Somehow our Attorney General Pam Bondi was able to rewrite Amendment 8, and it will be on the November ballot.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
Rising Seas, Record Temps, Yet Hostility to Science
By Martin Dyckman
Florida Voices
After a hurricane surge leveled much of Panama City Beach some years ago, Florida's natural resources director opined that "The Lord showed them the setback line."
Smell of cronyism in the wetlands
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Every Floridian has a vested interest in wetlands — a primary means for recharging the aquifer and drinking water supply — and so should the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Crystal River nuclear plant troubles stoke resident fears
By Ivan Penn and Drew Harwell
Tampa Bay Times
Staring across a nearly deserted RV resort, Wes Antill envisions doomsday.
Governor appoints 13 to new study committee on investor-owned water utilities
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott on Friday appointed 13 members to a new committee established by the Legislature to study investor-owned water and wastewater utility systems.
LGBT
Paul Ryan rated '0 percent' on gay rights by Human Rights Campaign, 91 percent by Christian Coalition
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
According to the website On The Issues, U.S. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Mitt Romney's choice for vice presidential running mate, "is a Hard-Core Conservative".
State group links human rights ordinance to gay marriage
Staff Report
News4Jax
296. It seems in the city of Jacksonville, never before have those three numbers meant so much to so many.
EDUCATION
Florida Prepares To Take Learning To The Next Level
By Lynn Hatter
WFSU Tallahassee
Florida and more than 40 other states have adopted uniform education standards called the common core.
Central Florida charity gives homeless students new clothes
By Kate Santich
Orlando Sentinel
All 6,500 homeless students in Orange and Osceola public schools will soon start their academic year with new, brand-name clothes, Dr. Phillips Charities will announce today.
In wake of scandal, union officials start school year facing questions
By Mike Clary
South Florida Sun Sentinel
In eight years of teaching high school economics and American government, Steven Beauchamp has faced with plenty of tough questions with no easy answers.
USF expansion could keep young minds here
By J. David McSwane and Michael Pollick
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The narrow mall of rectangular ponds, trees and bright “Bulls Country” flags that lead to the towering rotunda could be a rough sketch of an unfinished dream.
Protect students from being duped by for-profit colleges
By Andrew Marra
Palm Beach Post
For a sense of how much for-profit colleges are growing, look at Keiser University.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Florida Legislature turns blind eye to property insurance reform
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Property insurance reform was nowhere to be found among Gov. Rick Scott’s “legislative priorities” during this year’s lawmaking session in Tallahassee.
Florida seniors consider going without home insurance as Citizens hikes premiums
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
With the cost of insurance soaring, many senior citizens in Florida are choosing the precarious option of dropping insurance altogether and bearing the risk of a hurricane hit on their own.
Visit Florida, state's tourism bureau, accused of discrimination by former employees
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The organization tasked with recruiting a culturally diverse hodgepodge of tourists to Florida has discriminated against its own employees on the basis of race, religion and gender, according to several lawsuits and interviews with former staff.
Scott silent as utility bills soar
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott, a former chief executive of a for-profit hospital company, says he regularly chats with other CEOs about creating jobs and improving Florida's economy.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Groups ask Scott to hold benefit hearings
Staff Report
Health News Florida
A coalition of Affordable Care Act supporters is asking Gov. Rick Scott to hold hearings on the issue of which health benefits should be covered on all insurance policies to be offered as of 2014.
Abortions down 20 percent in Florida since 2006
By Andrew Maloney
Palm Beach Post
During the past five years, the number of abortions performed in Florida has fallen by nearly 20 percent, state figures show.
Officials: foster care system frequently neglects dental needs
By Ana M. Valdes
Palm Beach Post
Nearly 40 percent of Palm Beach County’s foster kids have gone six months or more without dental checkups, although Florida law mandates that children in state custody get seen by a dentist twice a year, state officials say.
HCA's prescription for profits
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
The nation's largest for-profit hospital chain is in trouble with regulators again.
CIVIL
RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
|Few Felons Regain Right to Vote in Florida
By Andrea Rumbaugh
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Vikki Hankins is one of about 1.5 million Floridians fighting for the vote — a right more difficult to regain under Republican Gov. Rick Scott than his GOP predecessor.
Open carry: More bad law from NRA
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
The National Rifle Association knows no limits.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
Reject smear campaign against Florida Supreme Court justices
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Even in a presidential election year, the state’s most dishonest campaign is the attempt to kick three justices off the Florida Supreme Court.
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