FEATURED STORIES
By Aaron Deslatte
Two constitutional amendments that could literally re-shape the face of Florida politics by taking away the Legislature's power to gerrymander political districts have crossed the finish line to make the November ballot.
By Jeff Harrington
Related AP story: Report: Stimulus saves, creates 87,700 Fla. jobs
Will Obama bring billions for Florida trains?
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A Scott Brown replay may not be easy in Florida
St. Petersburg Times
In Democratic race for attorney general, candidates offer contrast in style, experience
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
24 states' laws open to attack after campaign finance ruling
Gainesville Sun via The New York Times
A day after the United States Supreme Court ruled that the federal government may not ban political spending by corporations or unions in candidate elections, officials across the country were rushing to cope with the fallout, as laws in 24 states were directly or indirectly called into question by the ruling.
FLORIDA POLITICS
By William March
Under Florida law, you can contribute a maximum of $500 to your candidate for governor.
By Josh Hafenbrack
Florida's lawmakers will gather at the budget-battered capital this year to confront a financial mess - but even so, they vow not to raise taxes.
By Jim Turner
Gators and bass can't vote. At least not legally.
By Steve Bousquet
Ousted House Speaker Ray Sansom got more time Friday to find a new lawyer as he defends himself against charges he damaged the Legislature's integrity.
By Jane Healy
With the ouster of Florida Republican Party chairman Jim Greer this month, state Republicans have found themselves with a host of big problems to overcome in this election year. But can they do it?
By Beth Reinhard,
What's in a name? Only the true identity of a grass roots movement, says a federal lawsuit filed by a handful of tea party activists against the founders of Florida's new political party by the same name.
POLITICAL RACES
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Paula Dockery found more than a little political inspiration in Scott Brown's upset victory in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race this week.
By Bill Rufty
State Sen. Paula Dockery has said she doesn't need as much money as her Republican primary opponent for governor, State Attorney General Bill McCollum.
By Myriam Marquez
Former House Speaker Marco Rubio is salivating at Scott Brown's U.S. Senate victory in Massachusetts, as he should.
By Jeremy Wallace
A U.S. Supreme Court decision is adding more tinder to the hottest political race in Florida.
By Steve Bousquet
Gov. Charlie Crist's use of a video of U.S. Senate rival Marco Rubio prompted a state-run TV station to accuse Crist of a copyright law violation, and the video of Rubio has vanished from Crist's campaign Web site.
By Kathy Steele
There are no obvious frontrunners in special Democratic and Republican primary elections for the state House District 58 seat.
By Betty Parker
Another candidate for the state House District 73 seat now held by Rep. Nick Thompson, R-Fort Myers -- who's running instead for a circuit judge post -- is in the wings: John Schultz, a Florida Highway Patrol officer who does security for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp.
By Matt Dixon
Each election cycle, as candidates get their political messaging machines revved up, one theme often resonates loudest.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
By Aaron Deslatte
Get ready for a Super Bowl-like showcase of corporate-sponsored political advertising in the fall elections.
By Bill Kaczor
Related: 6 amendments will be on Florida's 2010 ballot
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE, AND SOCIAL ISSUES
By Frank Cerabino
I'm pretty confident that Bill McCollum is for gay adoption. Just not this year. Or anytime soon.
By Staci Fox
In January 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that the right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution protects the right of a woman to choose whether to continue a pregnancy to term or to have an abortion.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
By Betty Parker
With mangrove-shaded waterways as a backdrop and plenty of bright sun overhead, Gov. Charlie Crist used the opening of new visitor facilities at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Preserve on Friday to announce his push for new environmental funding in next year's state budget.
By Bruce Ritchie
Gov. Charlie Crist today included $50 million for the Florida Forever land-buying program and $50 million for Everglades restoration in a $2.1-billion fiscal year 2010-11 environmental budget request.
By Kevin Spear
The perilous road to the state's water future swerves through Central Florida this week when separate groups look to unify the region to share water, clean up iconic Wekiwa Springs and draft a far-reaching water bill for this year's Legislature.
By Kevin Spear
Local tribes began burying their dead along this part of the St. Johns River about 7,000 years ago, and for several millennia left behind animal bones, clam shells, broken pottery, tools and arrowheads.
The Associated Press
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved the conservation of a 4,000-acre chunk of private land for Florida panther habitat.
By Sean Kinane
A new report from the National Wildlife Federation finds that a common Florida tree holds ecological and economic promise in a warmer future.
By Alan Farago
It was a gamble what time to leave Coral Gables. I would either make the meeting on the other side of the state or waste the day missing it.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
By Jim Stratton
Florida's unemployment rate climbed to 11.8 percent in December, the highest level in almost 35 years and up three-tenths of a point from a month earlier.
By Alex Leary
President Barack Obama will arrive in the Tampa Bay area Thursday with a renewed focus on the struggling economy, and many hope he'll bring news that Florida will get $2.5 billion for a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa.
By John Frank and Marc Caputo
A game of chicken between Amtrak and the state could jeopardize one of Gov. Charlie Crist's legacies: Central Florida commuter rail.
By Jim Ash
With Florida's unemployment rate inching toward historic highs, and the state fund for laid off workers already broke, businesses are warning that a massive unemployment compensation tax hike in April will only lead to more layoffs.
By Don Ruane
Small businesses in Lehigh Acres and around the state need access to credit to jump-start investment and build for the future, Florida's chief financial officer said Saturday.
By Laura Layden and Tracy X. Miguel
Alfredo Ladra Trejo only worked one day last week picking tomatoes in Immokalee.
By Kingsley Guy
Florida lawmakers face a daunting task in the upcoming legislative session: They must close a budget gap that could reach $2.4 billion.
EDUCATION
By Gary Fineout
This year could bring some of the most substantive changes to Florida schools in more than a decade.
The Associated Press
Gov. Charlie Crist plans to announce his 2010 education budget recommendations during a visit to a St. Petersburg elementary school.
By Leslie Postal
Rebecca Pittard is an accomplished teacher who was honored this month with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
By Kathleen McGrory
When Oriana Manhertz needs help with her homework, or a positive role model to chat with, she looks for somebody in a red jacket.
By Whitney Ray
Time is running out for parents who want to lock in today's college tuition rates.
Study abroad programs never more popular, or harder to finance
Miami Herald via South Florida News Service
On school reform, just talk won't do
St. Petersburg Times
HEALTH AND SENIORS
By Stephen Nohlgren
Yellow and savory, the pureed pot roast and veggies that Janet Williams spoons into her husband's mouth is helping save Florida thousands of dollars a month.
By Jim Saunders
Put aside the furor about national health care reform. Florida leaders have a more immediate problem.
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida could save more than $118 million if it removed HMOs as one of the health care options offered to state employees, according to a consultant's report commissioned by the state agency that oversees health insurance for state workers and their families.
By Christine Jordan Sexton
A consulting group that lists WellCare Health Plans in Tampa as one of its clients has signed a $105,000 contract with the Florida House to conduct a study on Florida's managed care delivery system including its penetration in the market and whether providers participate in the system.
By Carole Fader
Did Sen. Bill Nelson surreptitiously put a provision into the health care reform bill that exempts only three counties in Florida from Medicare Advantage cuts?
Editorial
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum insists that his threat to file a lawsuit to stop federal health care reform is not about "politics." There is a great way for McCollum to demonstrate that -- by dropping his plans to engage in a politically charged lawsuit.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
By Amy Sherman and Jay Weaver
Related: In Fort Lauderdale, Scott Rothstein's items go to the highest bidder
Cameras in the courtroom? State by state the debate rages on
Orlando Sentinel
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Editorial
Daytona Beach News-Journal
