A nomination that was thought to be dead by many, was resurrected and Lawrence Keefe was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Keefe, a lawyer from Fort Walton Beach, was approved by a voice vote in the US Senate during the waning hours of the 115th US Congress. The position […]
By John Haughey | Watchdog.org A week after learning Florida’s projected $223 million surplus in this year’s budget “has likely disappeared” as Hurricane Michael’s recovery costs mount, state fiscal analysts are offering some unexpectedly rosy forecasts for the fiscal year 2020 budget that could include tax refunds for state businesses. According to the Legislature’s Office […]
By Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved the appointment of former House Speaker Richard Corcoran as the next state education commissioner. Corcoran, a Land O’Lakes attorney who served as a Republican House speaker from 2016 until last month, will succeed Pam Stewart, a […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — T.K. Wetherell, a former state House speaker who went on to become president of his alma mater, Florida State University, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer, the university announced. He was 72. Wetherell, a Daytona Beach native, served in the House from 1980 […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis, furthering his links to state House leaders, has tapped a lawmaker he called a “champion for deregulation” to oversee the agency that handles licenses and regulations for a wide range of fields, including the gambling industry. Rep. Halsey Beshears, a Monticello Republican […]
By Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Signaling that he will be open to the expansion of non-traditional school programs, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis on Thursday said he wants former House Speaker Richard Corcoran to be the state’s next education commissioner. DeSantis, the newly elected Republican governor, said he will ask the state […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — A follow-up report on the handling of the state’s concealed-carry permitting process pointed to a lack of management oversight by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, but the agency claims it is addressing the issues. The examination of the department’s handling of the permitting […]
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Offering extensive details of what she described as a “catastrophe,” an administrative law judge has backed a state decision to revoke the license of a Broward County nursing home where residents died after Hurricane Irma. Judge Mary Li Creasy, in a 94-page recommended order issued […]
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Citing widespread problems during the 2018 elections, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday suspended Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes and replaced her with one of his closest allies, Pete Antonacci. “Due to her demonstrated misfeasance, incompetence, and neglect of duty, Supervisor Snipes can no […]
The News Service of Florida The state’s concealed-weapons licensing program would be moved to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, under a measure proposed Thursday by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation. The proposal came as National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer is urging that the Republican-dominated Legislature move the program from the Department of Agriculture and […]