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FL Senate convenes for dramatic vote over a suspended sheriff and the power of a governor
Two mass shootings in Broward County, poignant testimony from parents of slain students, a death threat against a hearing officer, claims of voting-rights infringement, and allegations of high-level political arm-twisting are among the subplots in Wednesday’s special session of the Florida Senate. The chamber will vote on whether to uphold or overturn Gov. Ron DeSantis’ […]
Senators weigh Gov. DeSantis’ suspension of Broward sheriff amid testimony about deadly mistakes
Update: The Florida Senate Rules Committee voted late Monday along party lines to uphold Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, overturning a special master’s recommendation to reinstate the sheriff. The full Senate will consider the Rules Committee’s recommendation on Wednesday. Members of the Florida Senate’s powerful Rules Committee clashed Monday over […]
Tensions are high as FL Senate judges Broward sheriff accused of incompetence in mass shootings
The Florida Senate convenes in special session today – under the cloud of a death threat against a hearing officer – to decide whether to reinstate Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, accused of incompetence for his officers’ handlings of two mass shootings. Senate President Bill Galvano heightened security measures around proceedings this week. The case […]
Florida farmers question state Ag rules on hemp crops
Future hemp farmers of Florida fear that proposed rules for cultivating and producing hemp contain big flaws, especially restrictions on seeds and methods for testing crops for over-the-limit concentrations of psychoactive THC. The concerns came at a public hearing Friday, where the Florida Department of Agriculture’s draft hemp rules were discussed. Chris Topping of Cedar […]
FL Senate reacts to death threat in suspended Broward sheriff case
The special master who recommended reinstatement of suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has received a death threat, prompting security concerns about next week’s Florida Senate special session reviewing the recommendation. Special Master Dudley Goodlette concluded from his investigation that Gov. Ron DeSantis failed to prove that Israel was incompetent or negligent in regard to […]
Attorney General to investigate vaping sales and marketing at some FL companies
Citing an “epidemic” of vaping among Florida’s youth, state Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Wednesday she will investigate the marketing and sales of e-cigarettes at more than 20 companies operating in Florida. Moody said an April study by the Florida Department of Health’s Tobacco-Free Florida Bureau found a 58 percent increase in vaping among high […]
No more denying on climate change, says a GOP chair in state Senate
Just a few years ago, some GOP colleagues “emotionally shut down” when confronted with climate-change science and the urgency of addressing it, Republican State Sen. Tom Lee recalls. Today, “There is a younger generation of conservatives in this state that aren’t so much in denial,” said Lee, who represents parts of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk […]
Hemp hype? Some observers fear the state is setting up small farmers for failure
Hemp — the hip, new superstar of the agriculture world — is getting a lot of buzz within farming and political circles in Florida and nationally. But hemp harvests this fall aren’t matching the hype, portending disaster for small growers while manufacturers and retailers stand to get rich. Nikki Fried, Florida’s commissioner of Agriculture and […]
Reports: Ukraine scandal figures have Florida ties, gave campaign money to DeSantis, Scott
Update: Gov. Ron DeSantis directed his political action committee Thursday to turn over to the federal government the donation, telling the Miami Herald through his spokeswoman that he viewed the gift as “troubling.” Gov. Ron DeSantis should rid himself of “dirty money” donated by two Soviet-born, south Florida businessmen arrested Wednesday night on campaign-finance charges […]
The word from the Panhandle: ‘We don’t have time’ for delay with hurricane recovery
Time is running out for hurricane victims in Northwest Florida, a group of state and local leaders warned Thursday, citing continuing suffering since Category 5 Hurricane Michael bludgeoned the region on Oct. 10 last year. Some post-storm assistance has arrived, but the hardest-hit counties were already impoverished when Michael hit and may never recover unless […]