By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TAMPA — Likening the November election to “reclaiming America’s soul, for real,” former Vice President Joe Biden held a crowd of supporters spellbound Monday as he shared a stage with Florida’s top two Democratic candidates as early voting started in many parts of the state. “I think […]
By Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida university leaders want to revise the system’s performance-funding model, looking to eliminate a dreaded “bottom three” that annually denies state money to the lowest-performing schools. In this academic year, Florida A&M University, the University of North Florida and New College of Florida missed out […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — A state lawmaker from North Fort Myers who is a real-estate appraiser and an attorney from Fort Lauderdale who lobbies for the medical-marijuana industry are competing in next month’s election to replace term-limited Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Unlike candidates in races for other Cabinet […]
The News Service of Florida The Florida Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the next governor — not Gov. Rick Scott — will have the authority to appoint three justices to the Supreme Court. The decision ends a long-running dispute about the power to appoint replacements for justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy […]
Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — State and local elected officials would be banned from lobbying for six years after they leave office under a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot. The proposal, Amendment 12, is largely the handiwork of former state Senate President Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who […]
By Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In trying to distance himself from a multistate lawsuit that could eliminate insurance protections for people with pre-existing conditions, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said this week he believes health care should be a “right.” Scott’s statement, which came during a debate against U.S. Sen. Bill […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam would like the renegotiated and rebranded North American Free Trade Agreement to do more to help the state’s farmers. And he’s not alone, as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also expressed concerns about the absence of relief for Florida agriculture […]
By Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Board of Education on Friday advanced a $21.8 billion request for public school funding in the next budget year, including a $200 boost in per-student funds and increased funding for school-safety initiatives. Highlights of the 2019-20 budget proposal include: — An overall $673 […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a case being watched by business groups and local governments, the city of Miami Beach is asking the Florida Supreme Court to act quickly in a battle about the legality of a local minimum wage. Justices last month, in a 4-3 decision, agreed to […]