What government interest is served by disenfranchising felons?

The bumpy path of Desmond Meade's life meandered to its current interesting point. He is a graduate of Florida International University law school but cannot vote in his home state because his path went through prison: He committed non-violent felonies concerning drugs and other matters during the 10 years when he was essentially homeless.

Rick Scott teases a ‘big announcement’ amid Florida Senate speculation

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is teasing a "big announcement" on April 9, fueling long-running speculation that he will launch a Senate bid to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November. Scott has long been courted by national Republicans to run against Nelson and President Donald Trump himself said last year he hopes Scott runs for the Senate.

Parkland students join lawmakers and gun safety advocates to call for change ahead of Saturday march

Students who survived the Parkland shooting last month joined with teachers, lawmakers and other stakeholders for a press conference on Capitol Hill today as part of their buildup to this weekend's March for Our Lives on the National Mall. Parkland student Aalayah Eastmond, who attended with her mother Stacey-Ann, urged lawmakers to take action, noting it's been more than a month since the shooting.

It’s buyer beware as big airlines embrace ‘basic economy’ fares

When Michael Zwirn recently booked tickets for his family to travel from Washington, D.C., to Chicago to Boston, he snagged what he thought was a great deal - until he read the fine print. It turned out he'd inadvertently purchased "basic economy" tickets on United, which meant no changes, no access to the overhead bins and, most critically, no guarantee the three of them would be seated together.

At least 4 dead when Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapses on vehicles

Florida officials said Thursday that four people have been found dead in the rubble of a collapsed South Florida pedestrian bridge where the frantic search for any survivors continued past nightfall. Fire Chief Dave Downey said at an evening news briefing that four deceased people were found amid the chaotic scene of concrete rubble and crumpled vehicles.

Several killed, cars crushed in Florida foot bridge collapse

Six to 10 people were killed when a newly installed pedestrian bridge spanning several lanes of traffic collapsed at Florida International University on Thursday, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida told local TV station CBS Miami. Emergency personnel searched for signs of life amid the wreckage of concrete, twisted metal and that rained from the collapsed structure and crushed vehicles on one of the busiest roads in South Florida.

Senator Grassley to Hold Guns Hearing Following Florida High School Shooting

Senator Charles Grassley plans to convene a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in response to violence in schools following the Parkland, Florida, massacre. Among those Grassley will call as witnesses at the hearing are Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Governor Bill Nelson.

Florida lawmakers may allow teachers to have guns. But will GOP Gov. Rick Scott sign it?

As the Florida House prepares to vote as soon as Wednesday on a measure aimed at boosting school safety, the state's Republican governor, Rick Scott, is still not saying whether he would sign the bill, which includes a provision he opposes that would allow some teachers and other school staff to carry weapons. Whether to sign the bill - proposed in the wake of the high school massacre in Parkland - is an important political consideration for Scott, who is term-limited and is widely expected to challenge Florida's Democratic US senator, Bill Nelson, in the November mid-term election.

After Parkland, guns at forefront in Florida Senate campaign

In this Feb. 27, 2018 file photo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott talks alongside Andrew Pollack, right, whose daughter Meadow was murdered in Parkland during press conference at Miami-Dade Police Department in Doral, Fla. The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has put guns at the forefront, for now, in the U.S. Senate campaign in Florida.

Murphy to discuss background checks at White House meeting on

From left, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., meet with reporters following weekly policy luncheons where they discussed school safety measures in response to the Parkland, Fla., assault that left 17 dead, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. less From left, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., meet with reporters following weekly policy luncheons where they ... more Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer answers questions during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol February 27, 2018 in Washington, DC.

“Never Seen Such a Big Crowd”: Florida Gun Show Sets…

Organizers for the Florida Gun Show held at Florida State Fairgrounds say they set an all-time attendance record this weekend, reports Shannon Valladolid of WTSP . FLORIDA GUN SHOW I Organizers say they saw record numbers yesterday with close to 7k people showing up and they expect more today! They also tell me they do not support a ban on assault rifles but more laws for mental health.

Grieving father questions Rubio as survivors join town hall to say #NeverAgain

In an emotional gathering just one week after a gunman mowed down 14 students and three teachers at Stoneman Douglas High School, thousands of community members and students were meeting with politicians and others for a town hall on how to make schools safer. "Tonight people who have different points of view are going to talk about an issue that I think that we all believe and that this should never have happened and it can never happen again," Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican, told the crowd.