FEATURED
STORIES
Fla. Democrats see Gov. Rick Scott as easy target in 2014
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Florida Democrats’ best candidate for governor right now isn’t a candidate and wasn’t always one of them.
Scott blocks paid sick-time vote in Orange, statewide
By David Damron and Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Related: On sick time, legislative hypocrisy abounds
Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Friday that would block local governments from enacting mandatory paid-sick-time measures, such as the one pending in Orange County.
Scott, others were told about insurance deal
By Gary Fineout
Associated Press
Florida Gov. Rick Scott - and other top state officials - quickly distanced themselves last month from a controversial deal approved by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to shift thousands of homeowner policies to a start-up insurance company.
Brewer Pulled It Off; Rick Scott Didn't
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Earlier this year, both Govs. Jan Brewer of Arizona and Rick Scott of Florida surprised political pundits by coming out in support of Medicaid expansion.
Graham: Without immigration, GOP to fail in 2016
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Republicans are “in a demographic death spiral” and will fail in their effort to win the presidency if the party blocks an immigration overhaul, a leading GOP senator said Sunday.
EDITORIAL
CARTOON OF THE WEEK
By Mike Luckovich
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Democrats rally, look toward 2014 races
By William March
Tampa Tribune
A record number of Florida Democrats, contributing a record amount of money, converged on Hollywood this weekend for a pep rally for the 2014 election, all with a laser focus on the governor's office and Gov. Rick Scott.
Governor signs 60 new laws
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation Friday to speed executions in Florida, despite warnings that innocent prisoners will die.
Rep. Alan Grayson 2.0: Less fire-breathing, more self-restraint
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida waited just a few hours after being sworn in to go on MSNBC, a forum he used to become a national figure during a tumultuous first go-around in Congress, and declare his return.
Rouson receives criticism at meeting of House Democrats
News Service of Florida
Tampa Bay Times
A meeting of state House Democrats on Saturday highlighted the concerns some members have with the leadership style of Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.
Election fraud: From the streets to cyberspace
Editorial
Miami Herald
Related: Online ballot fraud marks the ‘e-boletera era of Miami politics’
As ballot-fraud scandals mount, voters should be worried about the integrity of elections.
It's Scott against the consumer
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
It's one thing to be a hands-off governor when it comes to lawmaking.
POLITICAL
RACES
Crist ‘feels at home’ among Democrats at annual fundraising dinner
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
The simple act of walking in and out of a VIP reception before the Florida Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner Saturday proved to be a time-consuming task for Charlie Crist.
'Great Floridian' Award: High Honor Or Re-election Ploy?
By Sascha Cordner
WFSU Tallahassee
Governor Rick Scott has given out 40 ‘Great Floridian’ Awards so far. It’s an award given to those who have made significant contributions to Florida, and normally, there’s been about seven at the most named each year.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
DEP lawyer says clashes over enforcement led to his firing
By Craig Pittman
Tampa Bay Times
Related: DEP secretary denies controversial wetlands permit, vindicating agency expert
Lawyer Chris Byrd had just won a court victory on behalf of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection..
Indian River Lagoon mystery ailment killing dolphins, manatees, pelicans
By Craig Pittman
Tampa Bay Times
The Indian River Lagoon on Florida's east coast has long been known as the most diverse ecosystem in North America.
On gulf restoration, don't rush — do it right
By Keith Overton
Tampa Bay Times
The gulf oil spill is a tragedy seared into my mind, even more than three years later.
LGBT
Equality Florida 'condemns Marco Rubio's bigoted comments on immigration reform and ENDA'
By Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald
Senator Rubio's statements are indefensible and heartless.
EDUCATION
Scott signs off on change to teacher evaluations
By James Call
Florida Current
Among the 60 bills Gov. Rick Scott signed before jetting off to the Paris Air Show on Friday is a bill changing Florida’s teacher evaluation system.
Florida should continue its plans to implement Common Core, education leaders say
By Khristopher J. Brooks
Florida Times-Union
While some education leaders across the country are questioning using Common Core State Standards, a couple of noteworthy education officials in Florida say it’s worth staying the course.
New Pinellas charter recruits students from struggling neighborhood schools
By Cara Fitzpatrick
Tampa Bay Times
As the director of a new charter school aimed at low-income minority children, Cheri Shannon has made all the right moves.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Attacks on state pension plan not over
By James L. Rosica
Tampa Tribune
As Will Weatherford tells it, his plan to shut down the state’s pension fund to new hires won’t affect people already in it.
Critics: Fla. mortgage settlement misspent
By Aaron Deslatte and Mary Shanklin
Orlando Sentinel
South Orlando homeowner Francisco Molina said Gov. Rick Scott's decision Tuesday to spend mortgage settlement fees on new dorms, courts and the homeless misses the mark to help foreclosure victims.
More Than Space
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
When the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, it created a void in space travel.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Statewide Medicaid managed care gets fed approval
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
The Obama administration has approved Florida’s two-year-old request to move almost all of the state’s 3.3 million low-income, Medicaid patients into managed care programs, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday.
One month later, Florida lawmakers no closer to Medicaid deal
By Tia Mitchell
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Two House Republicans unwittingly revived hopes this month that lawmakers could compromise on a proposal to expand Medicaid.
With Obamacare deadlines near, Florida Democrats prod public and Legislature to sign on
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Florida Democrats and allied groups are planning hearings, working phones and walking door-to-door to advance Obamacare in an orchestrated push-back against Republicans and business leaders warning that the health care law is a disaster on the horizon.
On Medicaid, Arizona gives Florida heartburn
By John Romano
Tampa Bay Times
A (fake) conversation Friday morning at the governor's office in Tallahassee:
IMMIGRATION,
CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Rubio's English requirement touches nerve in Florida
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
If you can't speak English, you shouldn't seek permanent residence in this country, and you certainly can't become a citizen.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
Gov. Rick Scott signs bill to speed up executions in Florida
By Mary Ellen Klas
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Friday aimed at accelerating the pace of the death penalty process in Florida that could make the governor the most active executioner in modern state history.
Quest for Zimmerman jury reveals system partial to the uninformed
By Ben Montgomery
Tampa Bay Times
On the third day of jury selection for State of Florida vs. George Zimmerman, prospective juror No. 22 was working the court.
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