Author
Want a voice in planning for massive FL toll road network? Here’s how
Florida legislators passed the largest statewide highway expansion plan since the 1950s last spring – a network of new toll roads stretching from South Florida to the Georgia border. Now the state Department of Transportation is asking for the public’s input on the controversial plan, which was called “the worst environmental bill in twenty years” […]
Study: Keys Marine Sanctuary generates $4.4 billion for FL a year
A new study says that the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary generates $4.4 billion for the state’s economy, but that a severe algae outbreak could cause a $1.5 billion economic hit. The sanctuary, a popular diving and fishing destination stretching from Miami to the Tortugas, also provides 43,000 Florida jobs, the study by TBD Economics […]
Four awful new state laws that punish citizens
It’s never been more perilous for a Florida citizen or a local government to stand up for what they believe than it is right now. That’s because the Florida Legislature passed laws this spring specially designed to shut down dissent, and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed them into law. DeSantis got public accolades for vetoing […]
Pensacola man indicted for trying to sell equipment to Iran
A federal grand jury has indicted a Pensacola man for “conspiring” to sell power generation equipment to Iran – a violation of America’s sanctions against the country. The man, James P. Meharg, 59, is accused of “conspiring to sell and export power generating equipment to a recipient in Iran, and concealing the scheme, as well […]
FL getting $166 million from VW “dieselgate” settlement; state wants public input on how to spend it
Florida is getting $166 million from Volkswagen as part of a $3 billion national settlement reached when the carmaker was caught improperly rigging emissions equipment to make it look like VW cars (including Audis and Porsches) were emitting less pollution than they actually produced. Now, the state Department of Environmental Protection has released a draft […]
Appeals court to decide what voters meant when they approved popular FL conservation initiative
Two teams of lawyers – one for conservation groups and the other representing the state – squared off at the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee Tuesday. The legal argument was over exactly what voters expected in 2014 when they approved the Water and Land Conservation amendment to the Florida Constitution, a ballot initiative […]
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott claims Trump’s comments against women of color in Congress aren’t racist, plus more reaction from Florida leaders
WASHINGTON – As outrage grows over President Donald Trump’s comments against four women of color serving in Congress, Republican Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott insisted that Trump’s comments are “not racist” and went on to further publicly attack the women. Scott, according to the Miami Herald, said he disagreed with the president’s inflammatory rhetoric but […]
How to cut costs from the next hurricane
With billions in tax dollars going to rebuild hurricane-hit communities, natural resources experts are urging Congress to put policies in place that are proven to cut storm damage – and the high price tag that comes with it. The National Wildlife Federation has been pushing a dozen approaches to curb the damage from natural disasters. […]
Voters’ will? Legal case over FL conservation land-buying measure has its day in court Tuesday
Five years ago, a whopping 75 percent of Florida voters approved a state Constitutional amendment to dedicate a share of state tax dollars to conservation land buying. The enormously popular measure got more votes than any candidate (or any other issue) on the ballot. It wasn’t a new tax – it just earmarked 33 percent […]
Here’s who is debating which night and where to watch
The lineup for Wednesday night’s debate in Miami is: Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, former Texas U.S. Rep Beto O’Rourke, former Maryland U.S. Rep John Delaney, former Housing and Urban Development secretary Juliana Castro, Ohio U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, […]
The monarch butterfly migration is amazing. A new public-private partnership proposal might help
In the vast, big-sky coastal marshes of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge south of Tallahassee, the air is thick with migrating monarch butterflies on certain fall days. Driving through, it’s impossible not to hit some, and when I do, I’m appalled that I’ve just exterminated an insect that may have flown over 1,000 miles to […]
More women are running for president than any time in U.S. history: How cool is that?
UPDATED Check it out: There are more women running for president right now than at any time in American history. We have six women (four of them sitting U.S. senators) vying for president in 2020 – all Democrats. We also have 102 women serving in Congress – the largest contingent in American history. When the […]