Bipartisan bill would reclassify marijuana as Schedule 3 substance

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.

EDITORIAL: Finding Fla.a s voice through the pot debate

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.

President Trump turns on the charm to make allies of ex-rivals

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.

Trump on charm offensive with former rivals

" 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.

Our View: Leashing Visit Florida

Instead of euthanizing Visit Florida, House Speaker Richard Corcoran has decided to try to put it on a tighter leash. Corcoran, a Republican from Land O'Lakes, has been waging an internecine battle against Gov. Rick Scott over the state's taxpayer-funded tourism marketing agency.

Marco Rubio, relieve our fears about health care: Letters

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee examining ending modern slavery: Building on Success, on Capitol Hill. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee examining ending modern slavery: Building on Success, on Capitol Hill.

DeVos Confirmed In History Making Style

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as Education secretary by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie in a historic vote. DeVos, became the first cabinet member in history to need the President of the Senate , to cast the deciding vote.

Beyonce, Tebow for prez? Invalid votes spiked in Florida

Beyonce, Tim Tebow or the Norse god Thor for prez? Those were some of Florida's more unusual picks for president this past election. And the number of Florida voters who didn't cast a vote for either Donald Trump , Hillary Clinton or any other valid contender spiked in 2016, apparently in protest over the ballot choices.

Orlando shooter’s widow seeks jail release pending trial

Hawaii lawmakers are introducing bills to bring what they believe are the best parts of the Affordable Care Act into state law Hawaii lawmakers are introducing bills to bring what they believe are the best parts of the Affordable Care Act into state law A New York art dealer who scammed the art world for 15 years with fake paintings in an $80 million fraud will not go to prison A New York art dealer who scammed the art world for 15 years with fake paintings in an $80 million fraud will not go to prison A longtime Border Patrol official who was backed by the agents' union has been named chief of the agency, less than a week after his predecessor resigned under pressure A longtime Border Patrol official who was backed by the agents' union has been named chief of the agency, less than a week after his predecessor resigned under pressure Lawyers for the widow of the man who staged a deadly ... (more)

Gov. Scott announces $15.8 million…

Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that he has approved $15.8 million for emergency beach and dune restoration projects in four Northeast Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Matthew in October. The money will be split by St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Brevard counties to restore critically eroded beaches and to repair dunes where there is "an imminent threat to beachfront structures, such as roadways, homes and businesses," according to the governor's office.

2018 watch: Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine – exploring’ statewide run

"Now I look forward to exploring ways of how best to serve both my community and my state," Levine says in the video. That exploration, he says, will include "How to make Florida a leader in the 21st century world economy based on innovation, investment and daring.

University program receives $1.4 million federal grant

The Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center received another $1.4 million dollar boost from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The center is the first federally-funded entity focused on developing technology and methods to improve and accelerate the construction of bridges.

Rick Scott’s troubled jobs agency taps former Tampa rep as new leader

There is a new leader for the agency Gov. Rick Scott has most relied on to achieve his job creation campaign promises, but turmoil from the previous leader continues to grow. Enterprise Florida agreed on Wednesday - with Scott in attendance during the entire two-hour meeting - to hire former Tampa state Rep. Chris Hart IV to run the embattled quasi-governmental agency that oversees the recruiting of businesses to relocate to Florida.

Change coming to Florida politics after decades of influence by Fidel Castro

No one had a more important and enduring role in Florida politics in the last half century than the now-deceased Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, whose presence galvanized legions of voters and influenced the outcome of local, state and national elections. His absence could hasten a change that's already evident in South Florida, with younger generations of Cuban-Americans no longer automatically voting Republican because of the party's stand on Cuba and more Floridians showing an interest in doing business and traveling to Cuba under a liberalization of relations implemented by President Barack Obama .

Jeb: GOP Should Build on Trump’s Success

Established Republicans can learn from Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election and should build on his success, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush argues in The Wall Street Journal . Bush, who was part of the crowded field of 17 Republicans vying for the presidential nomination, was often the target of Trump's arguments that Washington was broken - a point Bush makes in his opinion piece.

5 things to know about Betsy DeVos,a Read Story Detroit Free Press

President-elect Donald Trump has picked one of the most well-known women in Michigan for his cabinet -- Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Here are five things to know about Besty DeVos, whom President-elect Donald Trump picked for education secretary on Wednesday, Nov. 23: --As a member of the DeVos clan of west Michigan, she is one of the top Republican fundraisers in the state.