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.
Category: Florida Government
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.