FEATURED
STORIES
Obama's perfectly reasonable gun proposals
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Related: Florida reaction to Obama's gun control announcement
Related: Despite what seemed like openness to universal background checks, Rubio says he's opposed
Americans are about to have the most vigorous discussion on guns in decades, and it's about time.
Democratic lawmakers, tearful Trayvon Martin’s mother demand repeal of Stand your Ground law
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
Flanked by lawmakers, the mother of Trayvon Martin fought back tears Tuesday as she called for the repeal of the Stand Your Ground law, which she believes has been used as a shield by the man who shot her son.
Crist leads Gov. Scott 53-39 percent in new poll
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Following his switch to the Democratic Party, former Gov. Charlie Crist now gets high favorability ratings among Democrats and leads Republican Gov. Rick Scott 53-39 percent in a new Public Policy Polling survey.
Rubio-Obama immigration plan? Senator’s proposal looks like White House policy
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
The White House has said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s immigration plans, which could legalize the status of some of those unlawfully in the country, "bode well for a productive, bipartisan debate."
A Tribute to Florida Journalist Lucy Morgan
By Florence Snyder
Florida Voices
Lucy Morgan didn’t aspire to a career in journalism.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Florida's flawed campaign finance laws come under scrutiny in House committee
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
Florida’s campaign finance system came under scrutiny Wednesday as the House Committee on Ethics and Elections began its review of the process that has allowed unchecked political committees to operate as candidate slush funds.
Rick Scott’s problem with women
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Since he took office, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has struggled to win the support of all voters, sporting some of the lowest approval ratings ever recorded for a public official in the Sunshine State.
Chamber releases long list of legislative proposals
By Toluse Olorunnipa
Miami Herald
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has put out its legislative agenda for 2013.
Florida Chamber targets local sick-time laws
By David Damron and Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
The Florida Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday that one of its top legislative priorities this year would be blocking local governments from adopting paid sick-time measures such as the one pending in Orange County.
You hear the one about the pro-Scott satanic cult?
By Michael Van Sickler
Miami Herald
It sure sounded funny. An outfit called The Satanic Temple announced last week that it was gathering at the State Capitol on Jan. 25 to show support for Gov. Rick Scott, a Christian conservative.
POLITICAL
RACES
PPP: Crist has big lead over Scott in hypothetical 2014 matchup
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
PPP's first Florida poll of 2013 finds Rick Scott's approval numbers on the decline and Democrats warming up to Charlie Crist, setting the stage for Florida to possibly elect its first Democratic Governor in 20 years next fall.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
Day 1000 of the BP Oil Spill, Now What?
By Andrew Ruiz
WMBB Panama City
April 20, 2010, it's a day many will never forget; the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and although many efforts have been made to clean it up, researchers are still seeing it's effects a thousand days later.
House chairman sees need for subcommittee to address nuclear cost recovery
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee chairman said Wednesday he expects a comprehensive energy committee bill that covers issues including nuclear cost recovery.
Will PollutersTry to Undermine New EPA Water Rules for Florida?
By Robert Lorei
WMNF Tampa
Protectors of the environment won a battle late last year when the federal government announced new, tougher standards for water quality in Florida.
Environmentalists: Florida Isn't Ready to Manage Its Waterways
By Stephanie Carroll Carson
Public News Service Florida
Protests are planned today in Tampa in response to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement of the Clean Water Act in Florida.
EDUCATION
Judge hears challenge to Florida teacher law
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
The Florida Legislature crossed the line between its proper role of setting policy and unconstitutionally dictating labor contracts when it passed a law requiring merit pay for teachers and ending tenure for new hires, union lawyers told a judge Wednesday.
Florida lawmakers discuss school safety costs
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Bulletproof glass, more police in schools as well as additional guidance counselors and teacher training to help prevent trouble before it starts are some ideas that Florida lawmakers are talking about in response to last month's Connecticut school massacre.
Florida's rule on ACT scoring frustrates potential graduates
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Alan Sourk thought his son had finally passed his exit-level high school reading test.
State to develop way to calculate cost-per-degree
By Joey Flechas
Gainesville Sun
As Florida’s state university system seeks performance-based funding from the Legislature, higher education leaders are forming a workgroup to explore the cost-per-degree for students, universities and the state.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Scott, at Honeywell, touts plan to boost manufacturing
By Peter Jamison
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott toured the Honeywell Aerospace plant in Largo on Wednesday, seeking to draw attention to his plan to boost manufacturing jobs in Florida by cutting taxes.
Legislators likely to consider Citizens rate increase
By Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Post
A fresh round of proposals to reform last-resort insurer Citizens include raising its rate cap from 10 percent to 13 percent, though the company’s president acknowledged Wednesday only about half of the company’s 1.3 million customers have realistic choices in the private market.
Time to rethink reliance on business tax breaks
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
When the Great Recession struck Florida about five years ago, state lawmakers began a series of painful spending cuts in health care, education and other sensitive areas to make up for lost tax revenue.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Fla. must offer insurance or pay $300m penalty
Associated Press
Gainesville Sun
The state of Florida could be on the hook for a $300 million penalty unless it makes major changes to the program that provides health insurance to state workers.
Lawmakers vow to reconsider assisted living facility reform
By Brittany Alana Davis
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The head of the Senate committee in charge of elder affairs vowed Tuesday to revive efforts to toughen the rules for assisted living facilities — and close the most dangerous ALFs.
HHS hears health agencies' budget requests
By James Call
Florida Current
A reorganization of the Department of Health last year has resulted in the agency requesting $31 million less in its budget for next year.
CIVIL
RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Scott supports review of state gun laws: 'I want people to feel safe'
By Peter Jamison
Tampa Bay Times
Gov. Rick Scott voiced his support for a broad review of Florida's controversial gun laws by state lawmakers Wednesday, saying the state's vital tourist economy depends on visitors being able to "feel safe" amidst an increasingly well-armed population.
South Florida as divided as U.S. on gun law tightening
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
Robert Renault, a gun store owner from Boynton Beach, was attending a weapons trade show in Las Vegas Wednesday when President Obama presented his landmark gun control proposals to the nation.
Obama’s proposals do not ‘undermine’ the Second Amendment
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
President Obama on Wednesday offered a list of modest firearm safety proposals with which no responsible gun or rifle owner should disagree.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
Clerks of Courts tell Leg they want stable source of money
By Margie Menzel
News Service of Florida
Clerks of Court told lawmakers Wednesday they’d like a stable and predictable source of money from year to year, rather than being at the whim of the legislative process.
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