The biggest stories of 2012 ended up being an election and redistricting. A third ongoing story also pervaded the year’s news: The economy continued its long, slow rise from the ashes of the recession, and by year’s end the rebound – while facing the possible stomach-punch of a fiscal cliff setback – appeared to be solid.
Elections 2024
Bill McBride, Centrist Democrat Who Challenged Jeb Bush in 2002, Is Dead at 67
Bill McBride, a powerful lawyer who unsuccessfully tried to unseat then-Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002 and later watched his wife, Alex Sink, also run for governor, has died. He was 67.
Bogus Democracy: How Dark Money Helped Republicans Hold the House and Hurt Voters
A million more Americans voted for Democrats seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives than Republicans. That advantage did not result in control of the chamber. Redistricting and secret money were key to the disparity.
Florida’s New Gay Lawmakers: Pride For LGBT Community, Perspective in Tallahassee
With the election of Resp. Joel Saunders of Orlando and David Richardson of Miami, Florida was one of seven states to break the straight barrier in legislatures. Nationwide, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender candidates were elected to the U.S. Senate and House, and dozens to state legislatures.
Case Closed: Sheriff Fleming Will Pay $500 Fine to Settle Hammock Club Ethics Violation
the Florida Commission on Ethics is expected to approve the settlement agreement at its meeting next month, two weeks after Fleming will have left office after eight years as Flagler County Sheriff.
Despite Sandy, Unemployment Rate Falls to 7.7%, Best Since December 2008
Despite Hurricane Sandy and economists’ predictions of a poor jobs report, the economy added 146,000 jobs in November, for a combined 416,000 jobs in the last three months. But the numbers are still lower than what they should be for a robust recovery.
Sheriff Fleming “Conflicting” Under Oath, But Cleared of Wrongdoing in Fischer Case
Sheriff Fleming made conflicting and inaccurate statements under oath regarding his phone calls with John Fischer following Fischer’s wife’s involvement in a fatal hit-and-run last year, a state attorney’s report concludes, but there’s no evidence of “improper or illegal contact” between the two men, the report states.
Lone Star Reds: The Secessionist Tempest From Texas
Once again, there’s a tempest brewing in the national tea pot. We’re talking secession. Well, some of us are, writes Jim Hightower. Actually, very few are — and some of them aren’t too tightly wrapped.
Manfre Picks Rick Staly as Undersheriff, Passing Over O’Brien, Who’ll Be Chief Deputy
Incoming Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre’s appointment of Rick Staly as undersheriff signals Manfre’s intent to shake up the internal workings of the agency while maintaining some continuity with O’Brien, who’d risen to chief deputy during Manfre’s first tenure between 2001 and 2004.
For African-American Voter Turnout, a New Normal
Ever since the process toward full citizenship of African Americans began with the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, politicians and others have been trying to stop us from exercising the hard fought, hard won right to vote, writes Leslie Watson Malachie. It’s not working anymore.