Goodman: Gov. Rick Scott, friend of the environment, LOL.

The Florida governor whose mantra is jobs, jobs, jobs? Who rode to office on a wave of tea party support and has pushed for limiting government and gutting regulations, including those that protect the environment, in the name of giving business a freer rein? Yet here he was this week, proposing to boost spending on Florida's natural resources and environmental programs by $220 million.

Letter: Losing our hard-earned money

Are you aware that the price of gasoline and diesel fuel will go up Nov. 1 due to Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature? Senate Bill 1 raises the gas tax by 12 cents per gallon and diesel by 20 cents. Also, your auto registration will rise on a sliding scale somewhere between $25 and $175 depending on the value of your car.

Speculation rife as first arrest in US Russia probe nears

WASHIGNTON : Official Washington was abuzz this weekend over reports that a grand jury has charged at least one person stemming from the US probe of Russia's attempts to tilt the 2016 presidential elections in Donald Trump's favor. There was no indication, in reporting by CNN that other media later confirmed, of who might be charged or what crimes might be alleged in the ongoing inquiry led by former FBI chief Robert Mueller.

Analysis: Louisiana’s Medicaid contracts get newa

Analysis: Louisiana's Medicaid contracts get new scrutiny A task force created by lawmakers is searching for signs of waste in Medicaid spending. Check out this story on dailyworld.com: No one seems to want to scrap the insurance-model system, but the Edwards administration can expect continued inspection of contracts that are among the largest in state government, amid concern that too few people are tracking the money.

Puerto Rico governor calls for cancellation of Whitefish contract

Puerto Rico's government power company said on Sunday it would move to cancel a $300 million repair contract with a tiny Montana company to restore power to the storm-hit U.S. territory after an uproar over the deal. FILE PHOTO: A pickup truck from Montana-based Whitefish Energy Holdings is parked as workers help fix the island's power grid, damaged during Hurricane Maria in September, in Manati, Puerto Rico October 25, 2017.

Bikers for Trump rallies for Gillespie – without Gillespie

One of President Trump's most fervent fans hopped onto his Harley in South Carolina and roared all the way to Virginia Beach, where he led a "Bikers for Trump" rally Sunday for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie. Except Gillespie wasn't there, irking some Trump supporters who say the Republican has been too stand-offish toward the president.

Washington abuzz as Robert Mueller’s Russia probe set to file first …

Official Washington was abuzz this weekend over reports that a grand jury has charged at least one person stemming from the U.S. probe of Russia's attempts to tilt the 2016 presidential elections in Donald Trump's favor. There was no indication, in reporting by CNN that other media later confirmed, of who might be charged or what crimes might be alleged in the ongoing inquiry led by former FBI chief Robert Mueller.

Puerto Rico governor wants to cancel shady $300 million Whitefish energy contract

Whitefish Energy Holdings workers restore power lines damaged by Hurricane Maria in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, Oct. 15. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it had no involvement in the decision to award a $300 million contract to help restore Puerto Rico's power grid to a tiny Montana company in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo RossellA3 wants to cancel a tiny Montana company's $300 million contract to restore power to the storm-hit U.S. territory and expects help from the governors of Florida and New York, his office said on Sunday.

Puerto Rico’s governor wants to end power contract with small Montana company

Puerto Rico's governor on Sunday called for terminating a $300 million contract awarded to a little-known Montana company hired to coordinate restoring electricity on the island following Hurricane Maria. The contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings has come under increased scrutiny.

Cuomo, Schumer reflect on lessons learned 5 years after Sandy

Gov. Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer on Sunday reflected on Hurricane Sandy and said New York has come back stronger and smarter. During the joint appearance in Oceanside, L.I., to announce a Nassau County water treatment plant project, Cuomo invoked Winston Churchill's motto of "never given in" to say how New York tackled the aftermath of the devastating storm.

Sen. Manchin says federal spending is out of control

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin told West Virginia voters that the country's biggest threat comes from unaddressed, excessive spending. The Journal of Martinsburg reports that the Democrat held a town hall meeting Friday in Berkeley Springs, where he responded to a number of questions from voters on topics that included health care, gun rights and opioid treatment.

Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post: It’s time for Trump to put Democrats on the spot with tax reform

When Republicans brought their budget to the Senate floor last week, they were bracing for what is known on Capitol Hill as a "vote-a-rama," in which Democrats would keep the Senate in session till the wee hours, forcing Republicans to cast dozens of politically toxic votes on everything from gun control to legalizing the immigration status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients. Why? Because they knew that what was toxic for Republicans would be even more toxic for vulnerable Senate Democrats running for re-election in states President Trump won by double digits.

‘This Administration Doesn’t Have a Clue.’ Meet the…

Donald Trump's latest Twitter dustup is with California megadonor Tom Steyer, who is funding a push to impeach the 45th president. On Friday morning, Trump appeared to have caught wind of the effort, criticizing the progressive activist on Twitter by calling him "wacky and totally unhinged."

Kansas proposes work requirement in new version of Medicaid

A proposed change to Kansas' privatized Medicaid program would compel about 12,000 adults to work to obtain benefits, making the state the first in the country to have such a requirement. Gov. Sam Brownback's administration said Friday requiring some Medicaid recipients to work would improve their lives and increase their self-esteem.

The Latest: Christie says US serious about fighting opioids

U.S. President Donald Trump declares the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency - a step that won't bring new dollars to fight a scourge that kills nearly 100 Americans a day but will expand access to medical services in rural areas. An Ohio father who lost his son to a drug overdose and now runs an opioid recovery center, says grassroots effort in the opioid crisis 'is most effective' and doesn't put faith in the federal government to solve the issues.

The business community looks to Washington and Richmond for answers

"I can't really think of the last time I've been in a client meeting over the past six months where they haven't asked me what I think that Congress is going to do with tax reform," says Stephen Kimberlin, a CPA who is senior tax manager at Dixon Hughes Goodman in Richmond. "It goes hand-in-hand.

Trump calls for liberation from ‘scourge’ of drug addiction

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to declare the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Washington. President Donald Trump speaks during an event to declare the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Washington.