California law requires public records to be made promptly available, and allows 10 days to respond in certain situations, plus another 14 for more limited circumstances. In practice, the process can take longer, U-T Watchdog found in a project to mark the nationwide open government event known as Sunshine Week .
Category: Florida
Longtime bicycle advocate Alan Snel hit by car in Fort Pierce
Alan Snel, a longtime Florida bicycle advocate, is in a Fort Pierce intensive care unit after a motorist hit him from behind while he was riding his bike Tuesday. A former reporter with the Tampa Tribune , Snel co-founded the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club.
How protesters forced Rubio out of a second Florida office
A second office landlord in Florida has kicked Republican Sen. Marco Rubio out due to continued protests outside the two buildings both officials said were interfering with building operations. On Monday, Rubio’s spokesperson said the landlord at his Jacksonville office had alerted them that the month-to-month lease would be discontinued due to the distracting activity taking place out front of the facility.
A Closer Look at Gillum’s History in Tallahassee
“As governor of Florida, I can’t wait to invest the kind of resources to build the infrastructure of this state that makes us a 21st century state,” said Gillum. The mayor’s office said Gillum was unavailable for comment today, but his campaign team said a rally for Gillum is already set for Saturday.
Private prison deprived inmates of heat and hot water for months, lawmaker finds
During a surprise inspection at Gadsden Correctional Facility in North Florida this month, Rep. David Richardson found that water seeping from showers was resulting in standing water in the sink area. It was one of nearly 500 outstanding work orders for repairs that have been languishing for months at the women’s prison, he said.
Marco Rubio says people “get rude and stupid” at town…
In this Jan. 11, 2017, file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., questions Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson during Tillerson’s confirmation hearing before the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rubio’s moment of truth is at hand as a Senate committee prepares to vote on Tillerson.
A bill designed to boost Florida’s private alternatives to federal…
A bill designed to boost Florida’s private alternatives to federal flood insurance cleared an early stop Tuesday, though not without a bit of protest and unease about moves that whisk away price regulation. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St.
FM Chips Yes. Mandate No Way
Pai this week argued that people want to listen to the radio on their smartphones and said that as more and more people are able to, demand for activated FM chips will grow. So despite Pai’s calls for expanding the use of radio on smartphones, this is an issue that may continue to be deadlocked for some time.
Next 25 Articles
In the White House, President Donald J. Trump is like a lion in the zoo, a sort of sad, caged creature. “But if you let him out of the zoo and into his natural habitat, he feels like the guy who actually won the election and is President of the United States,” said Bruce Haynes, a communications expert and founding partner of Purple Strategies, a bipartisan political consulting firm.
Editorial: Cheers and more cheers
Cheer: Two Florida lawmakers, for introducing legislation to exonerate four black men accused of raping a white woman in 1949.  Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas were accused of raping Norma Padgett.
Back in Florida, Craig Fugate is happy to leave the next disaster to a new FEMA chief
Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator, appears with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on Oct. 7 after briefing the president on Hurricane Matthew. [Manuel Balce Ceneta Naturally, disaster threatened North Florida as Craig Fugate returned home after seven years in Washington running the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Mar-a-Lago stirs protests, spurs ethics debate
He has described the sprawling Mar-a-Lago property as the Winter White House and has spent two weekends there so far this month. But it’s also become a magnet for anti-Trump protesters and the subject of an ethics debate over his invitation to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to join him this weekend – with Trump pledging to pay for the accommodations.
Appellate court says Uber drivers are independent contracts, not employees
Siding with the San Francisco-based technology giant, a Florida appeals court Wednesday upheld a decision by Gov. Rick Scott’s administration that Uber drivers are independent contractors – not employees – and therefore not eligible for unemployment benefits. The unanimous decision by the three-judge panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeals stems from an unemployment claim filed in 2015 by Darrin McGillis, who spent five months as an Uber driver before the company dropped him.
Proposal could resolve key death penalty issue
Lawmakers are inching toward getting Florida’s death penalty back on the books after a series of court rulings left the state without a way to condemn to death defendants convicted of capital crimes. House Judiciary Chairman Chris Sprowls on Tuesday filed a measure that would require unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences to be imposed, in response to a Florida Supreme Court ruling in October.
Business Leaders Applaud Gov. Scott’s “Fighting for Florida’s…
Governor Rick Scott announced today that he is proposing $618 million in tax cuts to help Florida families and small businesses, and ensure taxes are cut for Florida’s future generations. These tax cuts will encourage job creators to add more jobs and build opportunities now and in the future.
White House English-only website nixing Spanish content
‘A No, no puede!’: New White House begins with English-only website as Team Trump breaks with Obama by nixing all Spanish-language content President Trump made a point during his campaign of urging Spanish-speaking immigrants to ‘assimilate’ by learning to speak English Chairman & CEO of advocacy group ‘U.S. English’ says there are 323 languages spoken in the U.S. and Spanish shouldn’t get special treatment The newly minted president made a point during the Republican primary season of his preference for immigrants to learn English, mocking former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish on the campaign trail.
Florida, get ready for less perfect weather as 2016 marks record heat
Florida has never sent one of its own to the White House, but Donald Trump may be the closest the country has come to making a Floridian president. The Sunshine State could act as key proving ground for the new president’s policies on everything from immigration to healthcare reform to the economy.
Trump celebrity crew waiting for his moment in the spotlight, and their own
Fabio, the golden-haired model who graced the cover of hundreds of romance novels, was wrapping up Thanksgiving dinner at Donald Trump’s South Florida club when the president-elect began making the rounds to greet his guests. Fabio, who goes by his first name only, said he hit it off with the newly elected Republican, who asked the brawny model how he stays in shape.
U.S. to Study Sand from Bahamas to Protect Florida Coast
A potential solution to a troublesome sand shortage off Southeast Florida is tucked away in a massive water resources funding bill President Barack Obama signed into law last month. The 2016 Water Resources Development Act authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to study the potential of using foreign sand, such as from the Bahamas, to widen shorelines and protect coasts from hurricanes like the ones that lashed the Big Bend and northeastern Florida last summer.
Politics | “The Sunday Political Brunch” – January 1, 2017
Happy New Year! As of today, I begin my fortieth year in mass media, much of that time spent covering politics at the local, state, and national levels. The year 2016 was like no other.
Burt & Max’s closed until air quality tests done
Of the stores set to close, 24 will be Kmart and eight will be Sears. Most of the closings will be in Florida, Kentucky, West Virginia and New York.
Mayo CEO Noseworthy Meets with Donald Trump
Donald Trump now says the White House transition is going “smoothly” after complaining earlier about some of President Barack Obama’s “statements and roadblocks.” Earlier Wednesday, Trump wrote on Twitter: “Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.
Former Orlando mayoral candidate Paulson running for state agriculture commissioner
Orlando mayoral candidates Paul Paulson and “Sunshine” Linda-Marie Grund appeared together outside Orlando City Hall on Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Orlando mayoral candidates Paul Paulson and “Sunshine” Linda-Marie Grund appeared together outside Orlando City Hall on Monday, Oct. 19, 2015.
Continuing battle with media, Trump avoids news conference
Less than a month from taking office, President-elect Donald Trump has yet to hold the traditional news conference that most incoming presidents have held within days of their victory. Trump, whose refusal to do news conference has been criticized by journalism groups and media watchdogs, has instead tried to convey his message directly to the American public, bypassing the media with pronouncements at his boisterous rallies and, of course, distributing his thoughts 140 characters at a time on his famed Twitter account.
Ruth: Careful fooling with the Florida Constitution
By the time this constitutional pie fight ends, Florida may have to rename itself Turkmenistan-on-the-Gulf. Feel free to weigh in.
Monday’s letters: Focus on fixing cyber security
Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta is the kind of behavior that the United States needs to address, but the hype about it is poorly focused. First, the hacking effort was likely expected by cyber security folks, but apparently not sufficiently by the DNC and Podesta to take even modest precautions: Shame on the DNC and Podesta.