FEATURED STORIES
On RNC stage, nettlesome issues unmentioned
By Beth Fouhy
Associated Press
Viewers tuning into the Republican National Convention have heard Ann Romney speak lovingly of her husband and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pledge "a new era of truth telling."
Five key things Mitt Romney needs in his acceptance speech
By Maggie Haberman
Politico/Tampa Bay Times
Related: Republican nominee Mitt Romney must fill in the blanks
Related: Utah delegation has better insight on Mitt Romney than most
Related: Schedule for Thursday, Aug. 30, at the Republican National Convention in Tampa
Mitt Romney is about to face the most important political moment of his life.
Republicans Boast About Voter Suppression in Tampa, But Ground Is Shifting
By George Zornick
The Nation
On the first full day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay, Republicans were not running from their record of voter suppression.
As FBI and questions swirl, Marco Rubio keeps distance from "Nixonian" pal David Rivera
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Related: Campaign finances of candidate with alleged ties to Rep. David Rivera remain federal focus
Imagine if Sen. Marco Rubio had been picked as Mitt Romney's vice presidential candidate, only to have the story break about Rep. David Rivera's potential involvement in a campaign that is facing a federal grand jury investigation.
1.6 million Floridians would get healthcare if Medicaid is expanded
By Michael Peltier
News Service of Florida
Almost 1.6 million Floridians making less than $15,372 a year were not covered by health insurance in 2010 and would be eligible for Medicaid if the state went along with a controversial expansion of the program under President Barack Obama’s healthcare law.
FLORIDA POLITICS
REPORT: Rick Scott’s Anti-Voter Effort Grinds Democratic Registration To A Halt
By Josh Israel
Think Progress
Related: Hundreds Rally Against Voter Suppression Laws Near Republican National Convention
Last July, a Florida voter suppression law — enacted by the state legislature’s Republican majority and signed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) — went into effect, putting major new restrictions on groups who work to register new voters.
Protesters as surprised as anyone at anemic RNC showing
By Leonora LaPeter Anton
Tampa Bay Times
Andrew Speirs climbed a statue of a former Tampa mayor and tied a black bandanna around the bronze head. He and other black-clad protesters were getting impatient.
Tampa rally supports Planned Parenthood rain or shine — but mostly rain
By Kameel Stanley, Justin George, Kim Wilmath, Keeley Sheehan and Jamal Thalji
Tampa Bay Times
More than 250 gathered at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park on Wednesday afternoon to rally in support of Planned Parenthood.
Sen. Marco Rubio will revel in national spotlight introducing Mitt Romney at convention
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
The son of a Cuban immigrant bartender and maid, Marco Rubio stands on the biggest stage of his life Thursday when he introduces himself — and the Republican presidential nominee — to the nation.
George LeMieux: 'This isn't the Charlie Crist I knew'
By George LeMieux
Tampa Bay Times
This isn't the Charlie Crist I knew.
RNC delegates fume over bus delays; officials work on logistics
By Michael Van Sickler and Rich Shopes
Tampa Bay Times
John Zajicek only wanted to return to his hotel after a long night of rousing speeches at the Republican National Convention.
POLITICAL RACES
Republican convention helps Romney pull even with Obama
By John Whitesides
Reuters
Republican Mitt Romney pulled even with President Barack Obama in a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Wednesday, getting a boost from his party's nominating convention in Tampa this week.
Paul Ryan energizes RNC in Tampa
By Alex Leary, Adam C. Smith and Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times
Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan was greeted with deafening applause and hailed as the face of a new GOP on Wednesday night as he tore into President Barack Obama's policies, casting him as a failure on the economy who is unwilling to make dramatic change.
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie commands Republican spotlight
By Dan Balz
Washington Post
Mitt Romney may be the Republican Party’s presidential nominee and Paul Ryan the running mate, but Chris Christie takes a back seat to no one in the GOP.
Tension brews over race and media outlets at RNC
By Eric Deggans
Tampa Bay Times
On the surface, it sounds like a simple, if horrifying, event.
Ryan, Romney and the art of the humble brag
By Roger Simon
Politico
Let's run down the checklist: Ann Romney gave Mitt a heart. Chris Christie gave him courage. And Paul Ryan gives him a (more conservative) brain.
Parties, yacht tours, massages all part of RNC's surreal scene
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
On Monday morning, I was out of the hotel by 6:45 am. On Tuesday night, I was still blogging at midnight.
Allen West brings rhetorical firepower to convention — just not on main stage
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Watching U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Palm Beach Gardens, attend a series of Republican convention-related events on Wednesday was a reminder of his national star power for the party faithful — and his status as a national target for Democrats.
Campaign Money “Arms Race” Goes Nuclear
By Dan Heyman and Chris Thomas
Public News Service Florida
The people watching money in politics say the fundraising arms race has gone nuclear.
Democrats hammer Republicans taking convention spotlight
By Alex Isenstadt
Politico
It's supposed to be the biggest night of their political careers: A speaking slot at the national party convention.
What Makes Us Exceptional
By Dan Gelber
Florida Voices
I’ve been listening to speakers at the Republican National Convention, who seek to reclaim our nation and protect “American Exceptionalism.”
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Broward School Board Warns Voters About Amendment 8
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
The Broward School Board brought attention to an amendment teachers and civil rights advocates say could drain money from public schools and redirect those dollars into religious schools.
Orange leaders back competing sick-leave proposal
By David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County voters could be facing some confusion Nov. 6 over two competing ballot initiatives concerning paid sick time for workers.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Fears of Agenda 21 go mainstream in the Republican Party platform
By Peter Jamison
Tampa Bay Times
In a nation fond of its conspiracy theories, the belief that an international cabal is plotting to take over the United States by building bicycle paths manages to stand out.
Ichetucknee Springs restoration plan calls for legislation, state agency action
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A restoration plan for Ichetucknee Springs prepared for a former Florida Department of Environmental Protection working group says DEP's approach to saving the springs is too slow and lacks enforcement power.
LGBT
GOP Platform: Bring Back DADT, Ban Same-Sex Marriage
By Adam Serwer
Mother Jones
According to its platform, the Republican Party wants to reinstate Don't Ask Don't Tell, prevent same-sex marriages from being recognized by the federal government, and stop efforts to prevent gays and lesbians from being persecuted in Africa.
Conservatives launch campaign supporting same-sex marriage
By Jodie Tillman
Tampa Bay Times
They lost another fight at this year's Republican National Convention, but conservatives who support gay marriage are taking heart: At least they had a fight.
EDUCATION
Outside Republican convention, Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee use film to push parent trigger education policy listen
By Janelle Irwin
WMNF Tampa
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush used the Republican National Convention as a platform to garner support for so-called parent trigger legislation. During a panel discussion at the Straz Center for the Arts Tuesday, Bush said states need massive overhauls to their education systems.
Move state’s education system forward
By Andy Ford
Miami Herald
We have a new opportunity in light of the ruling by Administrative Law Judge John Van Laningham regarding the proposed amendment to Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-5.030.
Miramar charter school closes; teachers lose pay
By Michael Vasquez
Miami Herald
After a history of academic and athletic failures — including a football scandal that prompted Florida’s largest-ever fine against a high school — Miramar’s Parkway Academy has been forced to close.
Charter schools get chilly reception
By Marcia Lane
St. Augustine Record
‘You are not welcome here,’ said one parent.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
This time, Rick Scott wants the federal money
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Related: Gov. Scott tours flooded Palm Beach County; damage set at $72 million
Federal money for a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa? Gov. Scott didn’t want it.
Foreclosure settlement money trickling down to troubled homeowners, but spending spat goes on
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
More than 23,000 Florida homeowners victimized by suspicious foreclosure practices have received $1.7 billion in assistance so far as part of a settlement between the country’s five largest banks and state attorneys general, according to an interim report released Wednesday by federal regulators.
State trade mission to Colombia planned
Staff Report
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott will be leading a trade mission to Colombia in December with the goal of capitalizing on the new U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement and increasing commerce between Florida and the Central American nation, according to Miami Today.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Pam Bondi, Georgia AG attack Obamacare with awkward 1-2 punch
By Tia Mitchell
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and her Georgia counterpart, Sam Olens, took President Barack Obama to task for his health care law during an awkward dual speech at the Republican National Convention.
Big changes coming in Medicaid reimbursement
By James Call
Florida Current
A fundamental shift in how money changes hands in Florida’s health care system is coming in 11 months.
Cancer patient says Planned Parenthood saved her life
By Joe Henderson
Tampa Tribune
A couple of miles away from the arena where Mitt Romney prepares to bask in the warmth of Republican love tonight, Susan McPartland sat outside at Riverfront Park and held up a little sign with impact way beyond its few words.
Only 20 percent of people on Duval health department's priority list have been tested for TB
By Tracy Jones
Florida Times-Union
Despite hopes of testing most of the people who had direct contact with a specific tuberculosis strain, Duval County Health Department has reached only 20 percent of its targeted population.
High stakes in entitlement reform
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
No state's future is tied tighter to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid than Florida's.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Appeal court removes judge in Zimmerman case
By Frances Robles
Miami Herald
George Zimmerman’s attorneys got a second judge kicked off his murder trial Wednesday, when the Fifth District Court of Appeal ordered the sitting jurist to step down from the controversial case.
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