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Campaign to pay college athletes may come to Florida
By: Michael Moline - September 20, 2019
The Florida House’s Democratic leader plans to file legislation allowing college athletes to earn money through endorsement deals. Rep. Kionne McGhee of Cutler Bay said Friday that his bill would allow athletes to use their name, image, and likeness in advertising. “The NCAA regularly earns more than $1 billion per year, but these student athletes […]
Gov. DeSantis was in the Windy City for business talks
By: Michael Moline - September 19, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Chicago Thursday, meeting with financial executives on another business development expedition. During the morning, the governor’s schedule placed him in talks with CME Group, the futures and derivatives exchange, and with Northern Trust Corp. which specializes in wealth management and banking services to corporations and very rich people. The governor […]
Gov. DeSantis and the war against trial lawyers
By: Michael Moline - September 19, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis is firmly behind a renewed Chamber of Commerce campaign against lawyers who sue companies on behalf of consumers and said the need for a more business-friendly court system is guiding his appointments to the Florida judiciary. Businesses he has attempted to lure to Florida were aware of the state’s low taxes and […]
Gov. DeSantis hails impending arrival of Texas-based mega-gas station
By: Michael Moline - September 16, 2019
When you open a mega-service station with a shop bigger than some supermarkets and scores of gas pumps, that will employ perhaps 200 or so workers earning $15 per hour with benefits, you can get the governor to come to your groundbreaking ceremony. “I think it’s really, really neat,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday, welcoming […]
PAC report: Patronis committee again leads Cabinet colleagues in donations
By: Michael Moline - September 12, 2019
Treasure Florida, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’s political committee, outraised his Cabinet colleagues again during August, pulling in five donations totaling $45,500. The Patronis’ committee’s biggest contribution, $25,000, came from the Florida Professional Firefighters’ PAC. The Florida Prosperity Fund, affiliated with the Associated Industries of Florida business lobby, kicked in $10,000. Southern Glaser’s Wine […]
FL Gov. DeSantis pushing for a ‘robust program’ to reduce HIV and AIDS
By: Michael Moline - September 11, 2019
Following a report that his predecessor’s administration turned down $70 million in federal money to fight HIV and AIDS, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that he has already met with federal officials to boost the support for HIV prevention and treatment. “Not only are we taking a look at it, I met personally with the […]
Donations rebound in August to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC
By: Michael Moline - September 11, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political committee doubled its money intake during August, compared to July, raking in contributions worth nearly $685,000. They included two gifts of $100,000 each and brought the total raised since January 2018 to more than $43.5 million. The $100,000 donors to Friends of Ron DeSantis included Daniel Doyle Jr., CEO of DEX […]
Gov. DeSantis leads Florida’s observance of 9/11 anniversary
By: Michael Moline - September 11, 2019
U.S. and Florida state flags are flying at half-staff at state and local government buildings and facilities under an executive order Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in observance of what Congress has designated as “Patriot Day” – the anniversary of the al-Qaida attacks on the United States. “It was one of the worst moments in our […]
Gov. DeSantis set to shape a crucial appeals court in Florida with conservative judges
By: Michael Moline - September 11, 2019
The nine candidates for two seats on Florida’s second-most important court include seven white males, two white females, six members of the Federalist Society, five graduates of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and precisely no members of minority groups. Oh, and four of them are millionaires. As for their professional backgrounds, the […]
Gov. DeSantis fears Bahamian refugee influx might stress Florida’s counties financially
By: Michael Moline - September 10, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has maintained that Florida has no role in smoothing recovery in the Bahamas or admitting refugees following Hurricane Dorian, announced Tuesday that he has discussed the refugee situation with the White House and is sending aid after all. His administration is helping to coordinate state and private assistance to the Bahamas, […]
Gov. DeSantis dismisses furor over weather service interference as ‘a press thing’
By: Michael Moline - September 9, 2019
Gov. Ron DeDantis declined Monday to be drawn into the debate over whether Floridians could trust weather forecasts in light of the Trump administration’s political interference with the National Weather Service. When Hurricane Dorian loomed offshore, DeSantis advised Floridians to closely monitor weather forecasts. Asked specifically Monday whether, still deep into hurricane season, they can […]
Beware scam charities for Hurricane Dorian victims, state says
By: Michael Moline - September 6, 2019
State agents are looking into 140 real or purported charities that have sprung up online to raise cash for Hurricane Dorian relief in the Bahamas, Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried announced Friday. Agents of Fried’s Division of Consumer Services are contacting these entities, some operating via GoFundMe or other web platforms, to […]