FEATURED
STORIES
In Florida, a Political Marriage Soured Before a Top Official Stepped Down
By Christine Jordan Sexton and Lizette Alvarez
New York Times
As the annual press corps political roast unfolded here on Tuesday evening, Gov. Rick Scott stared stone-faced, holding a secret, while he watched a reporter spoof his strained relationship with his lieutenant governor, Jennifer Carroll.
After flunking running-mate test, Rick Scott gets a do-over
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Related editorial: Lessons from ex-Lt. Gov. Carroll’s fall from grace
A first major test of how a candidate might govern: choosing a running mate. Rick Scott flunked that one.
Scott's shifting stances may be an election issue
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Name a Republican governor whose critics say he reverses his position to win votes, governs by polls, and makes his party uncomfortable by cozying up to teachers and embracing an expensive policy put forth by President Barack Obama.
Florida may go rogue on Medicaid expansion
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
When Florida’s Rick Scott became the seventh Republican governor to support Medicaid expansion, he gave President Obama unexpected momentum for the nationwide effort, a key piece of the federal health care overhaul.
Larcenia Bullard, former Miami state senator with ‘biggest heart’, dies
By Marc Caputo and Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald
Former state Sen. Larcenia Bullard was the rarest of politicians in the Florida Capitol: She seemed to make everyone happy and had no apparent enemies.
EDITORIAL
CARTOON OF THE WEEK
By Chan Lowe
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read the artist's commentary here.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Will Weatherford's fast rise started from humble beginnings
By Michael Van Sickler
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related: At CPAC, Speaker Will Weatherford emphasizes opposition to Medicaid expansion
It was 10 a.m. on the Legislature's first day when Will Weatherford rose to the speaker's rostrum and delivered his opening remarks.
Jeb Bush says Republicans need to have larger vision
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Related: Jeb Bush a big loser at CPAC
Saying his party has become all too often associated with being "anti-everything," from immigration to gay rights to science, Jeb Bush in a speech Friday night made a forceful case for Republicans to cast a "larger" vision.
Gov. Rick Scott likely to feel fallout from Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll's resignation
By Betty Parker
Ft. Myers News-Press
Within hours of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll’s resignation Wednesday, Republican leaders and grassroots activists started looking ahead to Gov. Rick Scott’s re-election next year and the potential fallout.
Florida Lt. Gov.'s Bizarre Resignation Raises Questions About Gambling, Guns, and Graft
By Adam Weinstein
Mother Jones
On Tuesday, state authorities questioned Florida's first African American female lieutenant governor, Republican Jennifer Carroll, as part of a massive criminal probe against the operator of dozens of gambling outlets in the state.
House takes first step to ban internet sweepstakes cafés; Senate not far behind
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
The House Select Committee on Gaming passed HB 155 banning Internet sweepstakes cafés on Friday by a 15-1 vote.
Gaming committee chairman relies on flights from gaming lobbyist for travel to Tallahassee
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald//Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
The chairman of a Florida Senate committee that oversees gambling relies on the plane owned by a gaming lobbyist for travel to Tallahassee and his Naples home.
One more could be added to the Charlie Crist Jailhouse Brigade
By Adam C. Smith and Michael Van Sickler
Tampa Bay Times
Looks like another one of Charlie Crist's top money men may be headed for prison.
Good start — but more to do — on election reform
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Florida legislators are working hard to backtrack on their horrendous efforts to repress voters in last year’s election.
Five things to look for in Monday’s legislative session
By Rochelle Koff
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
The legislative week kicks off with some controversial issues including a possible ban on Internet cafes, tax breaks for another sports team and a workshop taking up a dozen charter school bills.
POLITICAL
RACES
A red alert governor
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s political troubles are obvious even to those outside of Florida.
Former Gov. Crist speaks to Democratic dinner
By Tamara Lush
Associated Press
Former Gov. Charlie Crist, who was once a Republican, has given one of his first speeches as a Democrat.
Candidate for Governor Addresses Polk Democrats
By Bill Rufty
Lakeland Ledger
Former state Sen. Nan Rich said she is not worried about a challenge in the Democratic primary from former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who recently switched to the Democratic Party.
Republicans hope report will be map back to winning track
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Has the Republican Party become too ideologically narrow and intolerant to win elections — or just the opposite, too liberal and squishy?
BALLOT
INITIATIVES
Obama donor and Charlie Crist boss backs medical marijuana plan
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
John Morgan, a major fundraiser for President Barack Obama and the boss of former Gov. Charlie Crist, is taking the reins of a Florida medical marijuana initiative, promising to pump major money and political muscle into the popular issue.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
EPA cuts deal with Florida on pollution rules, delighting business and angering environmentalists
By Craig Pittman
Tampa Bay Times
If Florida legislators and regulators will take certain steps, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will back off imposing new water pollution regulations on the state's waterways.
Environmentalists: EPA and Florida DEP Struck "Back Room Deal"
By Stephanie Carroll Carson
Public News Service Florida
It took more than three years, but the federal EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection have agreed on limits for the pollutants that cause toxic algae outbreaks.
Make polluters pay in Everglades
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
One of the broadest assaults on the Everglades cleanup effort is speeding toward passage in the Florida House.
EDUCATION
Charter school supporters plan less aggressive lobbying strategy in Tallahassee
By Kathleen McGrory
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
After suffering bruising defeats during last year's legislative session, charter school advocates have descended upon the capital city with a revamped strategy.
House, Senate bills would alter some graduation requirements
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
Making it to cap-and-gown season could become easier for some Florida high-school students as state lawmakers look to alter graduation requirements for teenagers not planning to go to college after commencement.
Florida Senate looks to tie teacher evaluations to actual results
By Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Republican leaders in Tallahassee appear to be taking heed of complaints from across Florida that the teacher evaluations required two years ago are unfair, particularly for teachers who don't have courses with approved tests connected to them.
Pinellas, other educators want to delay replacing the FCAT
By Anastasia Dawson
Tampa Tribune
Educators in Pinellas County have spent years preparing to make radical changes to curriculums by 2014, but superintendents across the state are now questioning whether they can meet the deadline for replacing the FCAT.
FAMU calls off president search
By Doug Blackburn
Tallahassee Democrat
Florida A&M University is no longer searching for a new president.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Legislature has $3.5 billion more to spend, economists say
By Bill Cotterell
Tampa Tribune
State economists wrestled all day with the impact of the federal budget sequester Friday and adopted cautious revenue estimates indicating the Florida lawmakers can spend $3.5 billion more in building their next fiscal budget.
Florida’s budget at mercy of federal cuts
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Florida economists Friday maintained that state tax collections continue to pour in at a pace not seen since 2007, but added a fresh caution about the lingering effect of across-the-board federal cuts to military and domestic programs.
I try — and fail miserably — to suss out Gov. Rick Scott’s views on unemployment
Florida economy
By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
Two years ago, Gov. Rick Scott made a priority of overhauling the state’s unemployment system, reducing the number of weeks benefits were available and tightening eligibility rules.
Wage theft: How to attack the issue fairly
By Morgan Watkins
Gainesville Sun
Related: Wage-theft victim shares her story
For years, Carole Dunne worked without overtime for fear of losing her job.
About twice as many women as men earn minimum wage: True
By Molly Moorhead
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
"More than 64 percent of minimum-wage earners are women."
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Thurston: Foot-dragging on Medicaid will cost state money and lives
By James Call
Florida Current
Across the country, state leaders are debating whether to expand Medicaid as called for under the federal Affordable Care Act.
Family caregivers' contracts under scrutiny in legislation
By Jodie Tillman
Tampa Bay Times
Patty Wallace's days begin when her 81-year-old mother awakens and wanders from her bedroom, asking whose kitchen she's standing in or when she should get ready for school.
PolitiFact Florida: Is Florida No. 2 in uninsured? Mostly True
By Amy Sherman
Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald PolitiFact
Florida Democratic Senate leader Chris Smith has found himself in unfamiliar territory lately: agreeing with Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
CIVIL
RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Jeb Bush blasted on idea to limit family visas
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
Jeb Bush’s new book about the need for a U.S. immigration overhaul has caused waves among fellow Republicans trying to steer legislation through Congress and drawn firefrom South Florida immigrant advocates, especially on his proposal to limit which family members are allowed under residence visas.
Family's hopes pinned on changes in immigration system
By Laura C. Morel
Tampa Bay Times
He felt his mother's hands shaking him from sleep.
The unearthing of the Johns Committee's dirty work
By Ron Cunningham
Gainesville Sun
Since we're celebrating Sunshine Week it's worth pointing out that Florida's public records law is an amazingly useful tool.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
Fix capital punishment flaw
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Florida's capital punishment system has a flaw that leads jurors to deliberate less thoroughly than in other states when deciding whether to recommend the death penalty. Florida and Alabama are the only two of 32 death penalty states not to require a unanimous jury vote as part of the sentencing process.
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