Editor Brian Harrod Provides Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, with aggregated news from sources all over the world from the Roundup Newswires Network
A Florida Republican wants to add massive algae blooms to the list of emergencies covered by the federal government after his state was denied emergency funds for a destructive bloom that covered 200 square miles last year. Rep. Brian Mast introduced the Federal Do No Harm Act last month to add harmful algae blooms in state waterways and coastal estuaries caused by water releases from Army Corps of Engineers-controlled dikes and dams to the list of disasters under the Stafford Act.
The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature approved an $83 billion budget on Monday night that ignores some of Republican Gov. Rick Scott's top priorities - and provides Democrats some ammunition if Scott makes an expected challenge of Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson next year. Scott wanted $100 million for the Visit Florida tourist marketing program; legislators approved $25 million.
A woman, who asked not to be identified for her safety, discusses her reasons for driving without a license. She has been without a license for 10 years after her request for political asylum was denied.
Unable to complete the budget by Friday's scheduled adjournment, they will return Monday to vote on an $82.4 billion spending plan, then adjourn . House and Senate leaders did agree to many of their priorities, but they all but ignored fellow Republican Gov. Rick Scott 's agenda, underscoring major rifts within the state's ruling political party.
In addition to being the day the House of Representatives passed an Obamacare repeal bill and the unofficial Star Wars day, Thursday was also National Orange Juice Day. It's a totally real thing promoted by the state's Department of Citrus, which you should not be surprised to hear is also a real thing.
The jury selection process is expected to last two days, starting Monday, in the trial of former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown. The Florida Times-Union reports that prosecutors and defense attorneys hope to seat 12 jurors by Wednesday when opening arguments are set to begin in federal court in Jacksonville.
A top Florida senator on Tuesday rolled out his version of a comprehensive plan to help students who attend perpetually failing public schools in Florida - proposing to offer additional resources to those traditional schools, rather than emphasizing incentives for new charter schools to come in and compete with them as the House wants to do. Senate Pre-K-12 education budget chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, unveiled his alternative to the House's "schools of hope" legislation by piggy-backing his proposal on to an unrelated education bill that originally dealt only with expanding bonuses for top teachers and principals.
A lawyer who represented Florida State University in an explosive sexual assault case and another lawyer who during the 2016 presidential campaign accused Hillary Clinton of enabling sexual predators have been chosen for key roles in the Department of Education, raising fears that the agency could pull back from enforcing civil rights in schools and on college campuses. President Trump will nominate Carlos G. Muniz, a politically connected Florida lawyer who served as deputy general counsel to former Gov. Jeb Bush, to be general counsel to the Education Department.
At least 126,000 acres have burned in wildfires across Florida since January, surpassing the five-year average of acreage burned in a typical year, officials said. Florida's fire season peaks this month, during the driest part of the year in the state, and experts warn that the fire risk may worsen in the coming weeks.
Salman kept quiet during the hearing, which lasted less than five minutes. Her attorney waived the reading of an indictment and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf.
As the Trump administration proposes cuts in programs dealing with climate change, witnesses told a Senate panel Monday that South Florida is experiencing worsening effects from rising sea levels. "While there are still some who continue to deny that this climate change is real, South Florida offers proof that it is real and is an issue we're going to have to confront in the decades ahead," said Sen. Bill Nelson , ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, as he opened a hearing at West Palm Beach City Hall.
Not far from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, one expert after another warned Monday about the dangers that rising sea levels pose to Florida's coast. Not that surprising, except this was a Senate committee field hearing challenging the position shared by President Donald Trump and many Republicans in Congress that climate change isn't real.
Brittany Wengel was supposed to fly Delta to Florida on Thursday for a long weekend away from a gray New York City. As of Sunday, she was still grounded. Delta, which had canceled her original flight to Fort Lauderdale, rebooked her on another direct one for Sunday morning before canceling that one as well and offering her a multiple layover option instead.
These American strikes in Syria came as President Trump, as we have reported , was hosting the president of China for their first summit - the chief issues, North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and trade between the world's top two economies. "They agreed to increase cooperation and work with the worldwide community to convince the DPRK to peacefully resolve the issue and abandon its illicit weapons programs", Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the two-day summit in Florida, referring to the acronym of North Korea's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Bipartisan legislation proposed in the House on Thursday would make marijuana a Schedule 3 drug, removing cannabis from its current standing as a Schedule 1 substance alongside deadly contraband including ecstasy and heroin. By reclassifying weed in the same category as anabolic steroids, Congress would "make it easier for ill-patients and scientific and medical researchers to obtain marijuana," the bill's authors said in a statement Thursday.
The Florida congressional delegation is comprised of 27 members: 11 Democrats and 16 Republicans. As of Wednesday, 15 of the 27 members in the delegation are voting against the Republican health care plan pushed by House Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump.
The Florida Legislature opened its 2017 session Tuesday, and before they wrap up this year, lawmakers must cement the will of 71 percent of the voters who last November wanted medical marijuana written into the state Constitution in the belief that it would help some of their sickest neighbors.
FRIEND ME: President Trump, seen yesterday at a meeting with leaders of small community banks, is trying to forge alliances with former campaign opponents. President Trump has launched a charm offensive to rope in erstwhile rivals whose help he needs as he focuses on governing and passing legislation.
" After spending months rehashing the brutal GOP primary campaign and bragging about his victory, President Donald Trump has quietly launched a charm offensive, reaching out to former rivals whose help he now needs. The latest on his list: Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has said he has significant concerns about the GOP health care bill Trump is pushing for passage.
EXCLUSIVE: Beau Biden's widow wears her wedding ring as she emerges for the first time after her relationship with his brother Hunter was revealed amid 'drugs and prostitutes' divorce claims Trump taunts Obama for making secret 2012 election promises to Putin - a day after accusing him of wire-tapping Trump Tower It's not just for cleaning your teeth! The unexpected but incredible uses for toothpaste Trump's NEW travel ban: The President 'will sign an executive order banning Middle Eastern and African migrants next week' Nevada wife who poisoned her husband's Lucky Charms to avoid having sex with him 'is hiding out in Mexico' The shocking moment a road rage driver smashes an SUV window with his bare FIST and then pepper sprays the stunned driver Married woman is found dead 'with her car still running nearby' in Indiana woods just 120 miles from where two teenage girls were murdered 'Go ... (more)