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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 […]