Briefs
Almost 1 in 5 public school teachers work in jobs outside of school
With Florida’s meager public school teacher pay in the news, a national survey has added fuel to the fire: Nearly 1 in 5 public school teachers across the country reported that they work other jobs outside of school to boost their income. Those outside jobs include teaching and tutoring, non-teaching jobs related to the teaching […]
Miami Herald story shows dark side of South Florida’s big-money, cash-only real estate deals
The Miami Herald has a fascinating story today: “How Dirty is Miami real estate? Secret home deals dried up when feds started watching.” The story highlights multi-million-dollar cash buyers in the real estate market who shield their identities. A new study says that once the U.S. Treasury Department issued a temporary rule to try to […]
Tom Steyer’s NextGen America ground troops begin their march into Florida for Andrew Gillum
As he frequently says on the campaign trail, Andrew Gillum is the only non-millionaire running for the Democratic nomination for governor. Now, he’s trying to make up for that with grassroots support and big bucks from millionaire liberal San Francisco philanthropist Tom Steyer. Steyer endorsed Gillum last month, contributing $1 million to his campaign as […]
National Rifle Association gives Adam Putnam its top rating
It’s that time of year in Tallahassee, when the National Rifle Association weighs in with its annual grades of every candidate on the ballot in the August 28 primary. The top dog for the NRA is Adam Putnam, the self-described “NRA sellout” who has seemingly regretted making that remark in the wake of the Parkland […]
Koch brothers set up new political committee to funnel cash in governor’s race, Politico reports
Politico reports this morning that a political group backed by Republican mega-donors the Koch Brothers is setting up shop in Florida, presumably to funnel cash into the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis. – a Trump favorite. The new committee is chaired by Mark Holden, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of […]
Green groups sue to block Trump’s offshore drilling plan in Gulf of Mexico
Four environmental groups filed a lawsuit today against the Trump administration for its decision to open more than 78 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico to offshore drilling. The groups – Earthjustice, the Gulf Restoration Network, the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity – issued a press release announcing the lawsuit and […]
Watch these cops trying to enforce the beach access law that isn’t a law anymore anyway
Watch these two sheriff’s deputies struggle to enforce the stupid law the Legislature passed this year about “customary use” of our public beaches. The beachgoers ask the deputies where they are allowed to be sitting under the new regime, and basically they are supposed to have their chairs in the Gulf of Mexico. Gov. Scott […]
Deputies seize 2004 Toyota and kayaks from 77-year-old Maggy Hurchalla in free speech case
Sheriff’s deputies seized a 2004 Toyota and two aging kayaks from well-known South Florida environmentalist Maggy Hurchalla yesterday, she says. The seizures are the latest in a dramatic legal battle that pits the 77-year-old Hurchalla against a billionaire who filed suit against her after she opposed his South Florida rock mining operation. Hurchalla is the […]
“Disgraceful betrayal of America:” Trump’s strange press conference with Russia’s Putin draws ire in Florida
Democrats and some Republicans in Florida spoke out critically following President Trump’s news conference held with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Helsinki. During the appearance, Trump dismissed his own national intelligence director’s conclusion that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election and sided with Putin instead. Putin denied Russia’s involvement. “President Putin says […]
Investigate fiascos over concealed weapons permits at Adam Putnam’s Ag Department, groups urge
Following a series of reports on the mishandling of the concealed-carry firearm permit process at the Dept. Of Agriculture and Consumer Services, two activist groups say they want an independent investigation of how the process is being carried out. The department is led by Adam Putnam, a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor. Orlando area Democratic state Senator Linda Stewart is calling for Florida’s Chief […]
The feds say they will keep releasing vile Lake Okeechobee pollution to coasts
Despite the nasty fluorescent green algae outbreak that’s happening off South Florida’s east and west coasts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has resumed releases of the polluted water from Lake Okeechobee that’s filled with fertilizer, manure and sewage from surrounding industrial agriculture operations and cities north of the lake. The Okeechobee swill flows out […]
Gwen Graham has already consulted attorney in potential Florida Supreme Court battle
President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court has interjected the power of the federal judiciary into Florida’s governor’s race, and the state judiciary as well. His likely confirmation to the high court has opened up the explosive possibility of the Roe v. Wade decision on legalizing abortion being overturned, and some […]