Commissioner Adam Putnam Briefs Vice President Mike Pence and…

Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, and today Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam briefed Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on the initial agricultural damage assessment. "Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, and the safety of all Floridians is our top priority.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Provides Search…

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is assisting with response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Michael. The department is providing Search & Rescue crews, Chainsaw Strike Teams, and securing food and water for impacted areas, among other efforts.

HART Launches a New Era of the TECO Line Streetcar System at Ribbon Cutting Event

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority hosted a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, October 12, 2018, to commemorate a "New Era of Transit" for the TECO Line Streetcar System. "Our customers wanted a service that fits the changing regional patterns of development and population trends, and a foundation to grow ridership," said HART Interim CEO Jeff Seward.

Florida Midterm Could Prove a Landmark Moment for Representative Democracy at a National Level

Long overdue re-enfranchisement of former felons and a progressive Democratic Gubernatorial candidate both on the 2018 ballot could result in a national sea change for 2020... Kav Confirm All But Certain and the SCOTUS Case Cited as a Reason for the Rush: 'BradCast' 10/5/18 Big Oil a big winner in Trump's new NAFTA deal; Two simultaneous Category 5's in the Pacific; Arctic sea ice hits new low; PLUS : Tesla's Big Battery a big hit in South Australia... Guests: AUDIT-USA's Emily Levy, attorney Chris Sautter; Also: FBI ignoring Kavanaugh witnesses, Trump mocks accuser, Americans can't wait to vote... Guest: David Dayen on new NAFTA, CA Net Neutrality, Amazon's new min wage; Also: Repubs hope to force vote, bury FBI probe on Kavanaugh... Florence 2nd wettest storm in US history; NC now fighting giant mosquitoes; Admin cites climate change to roll back fuel standards; PLUS: France calls on ... (more)

Weekly Roundup: High Stakes for High Courts With Brett Kavanaugh

Elected officials, political pundits and armchair quarterbacks are fanning the flames of a firestorm over President Donald Trump's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, a federal judge who's been accused of sexual assault at a drunken high-school bash more than three decades ago. Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the accusations lodged recently by Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University.

Too late for many, Florida’s prescription database is finally mandatory

Florida has been battling its image as the Oxy capital of America for more than a decade. The state began by shutting down pill mills, and this year the Legislature finally required its prescription database to be mandatory for health care professions.

Scott starts process to pick new justices

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday started what will be a closely watched process to replace three Florida Supreme Court justices who will retire in January, with the appointments possibly leading to a major ideological shift on the court. Scott said he asked the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission to begin a process that includes accepting and reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and making nominations for appointment.

Tampa’s Pam Bondi Goes to Bat for Adam Putnam

With less than six weeks to go until the primary, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi went to bat for state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Bondi appeared at an event in Winter Park with Putnam on Thursday and talked about her experience working with him in the state Cabinet.

Sen. Marco Rubio Endorses Matt Caldwell

Representative Matt Caldwell today received the endorsement of Senator Marco Rubio in his bid for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Senator Marco Rubio said, "As the most conservative candidate in the race for Commissioner of Agriculture, Matt Caldwell has been an unwavering supporter of the Second Amendment, consistently voted to cut taxes and reduce the size of government, and is a staunch supporter of the right-to-life.

Florida Democrats Ban Private-Prison Donations, but Emails Show Internal Pushback

At a gala fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party in Hollywood on Sunday, party leaders including Chair Terrie Rizzo stood onstage and repeatedly condemned the Trump Administration for imprisoning immigrant children at detention facilities across the country. But when a group of activists proposed a ban on all political donations from the private-prison companies who profit off Trump's policies, a small but influential minority of old-guard party officials fought back and nearly succeeded in killing the measure.

Florida’s Brightline trains could run from Miami to Tampa

Florida's Brightline trains could run from Miami to Tampa Brightline on Friday announced it is getting serious about a long-discussed Orlando-to-Tampa extension. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2tmUiO9 Brightline president Mike Reininger introduces the first of five Brightline trains that will offer high-speed service between Miami and Orlando at the company's operations facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 11, 2017.

Gov. Scott: Privately built Orlando to Tampa high speed rail in works

Gov. Rick Scott , who rejected $2.4 billion in federal funding for a high-speed train from Orlando to Tampa as one of his first acts in office, revealed Friday that a similar but privately funded project is on the table. The Florida Department of Transportation received an unsolicited proposal in March from Brightline to lease right of way and build a high-speed rail line connecting Orlando and Tampa along Interstate 4. Brightline already is building a rail line from Miami to Orlando, with a terminus at Orlando International Airport.

Democratic Black Caucus of Florida endorses Mayor Gillum

He also mentioned his status as the 'only non-millionaire Democrat' in the primary and how it makes him more relatable to those casting ballots. "One of my opponents is 11,000 times wealthier than I am, but I think I am in good company," said Gillum.

Why Florida Democrats can’t count on the so-called ‘black vote’

Florida's midterm Senate election is a race to watch this November - and not just because it will be a tight match pitting a sitting governor, Republican Rick Scott, against a sitting senator, Democrat Bill Nelson. But my research on minority politics in the South shows that it is time to re-examine old assumptions about Florida's so-called "black vote."