Sen. Bill Nelson, drawing much higher favorability ratings and strong support from independents–key to all statewide races in Florida–is maintaining a comfortable 52-46 percent advantage over Gov. Rick Scott in the race for U.S. Senate.
Florida
Gillum-DeSantis Debate Is a 60-Minute Bout Over Ring-Kissing, Crime, Trump, Race and Algae Blooms
Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis shredded each other Sunday night during a nationally televised debate, as the gubernatorial candidates appeared in their first face-to-face showdown.
Nikki Fried and Matt Caldwell Gun For Agriculture Commissioner Behind Holsters and Consumer Protection
Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell offer differing views on Trump, the state’s management of concealed-weapons licenses and how to move forward with medical marijuana.
Bitter Clash Over Charter Schools Behind Supreme Court Decision To Kill ‘Defective’ Ballot Measure
The proposed constitutional amendment could have opened a new avenue for the establishment of charter schools outside the control of county school boards.
Sean Shaw v. Ashley Moody: Race for Attorney General Contrasts Activism With Status Quo
State Rep. Sean Shaw, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, vows to aggressively use the office to take on fraud and other issues, while Former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody, the Republican candidate, wants to build on the work of her friend, the term-limited Bondi.
Saying Scott ‘Exceeded His Authority,’ Supreme Court Rules Next Governor Will Appoint 3 Justices, Not Scott
The winner of the Nov. 6 election between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum “has the sole authority” to fill the court vacancies, the court ruled.
Help Fill a Relief Truck Parked at Palm Coast Parkway Winn-Dixie for Hard-Hit Residents of Panhandle
The volunteer relief truck, provided by Flagler Broadcasting’s Beach 92.7 FM and WNZF, is at the Winn Dixie on Palm Coast Parkway from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Flagler County Emergency and Rescue Teams Part of Big Response as Panhandle Reels from Hurricane
Flagler County’s contributions includes Health Department Administrator Bob Snyder and Emergency Chief Jonathan Lord, among others sent to regions that have no functioning government structure.
‘Marsy’s Law’ Protections for Crime Victims Sound Great, but Could Cause Problems
Giving crime victims constitutional rights equal to those of defendants sets up a clash over the accused person’s Sixth Amendment right to due process and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Amendment 4: With 1.4 Million Florida Felons Banned from Voting, Voters Will Decide On Restoring Right
Amendment 4 would automatically restore the right to vote for felons who have completed their sentences, paid restitution and fulfilled probation. Murderers and sex offenders would be excluded.
‘Unimaginable’ Hurricane Devastation in Florida’s Panhandle as Long Recovery Begins
The Florida National Guard has deployed 3,500 members for search-and-rescue and humanitarian aid, with assistance from National Guard units from as far away as New York and Kansas.
Nearly 400,000 Without Power as Florida Shifts to Search and Rescue in Michael’s Wake
The Category 4 storm created storm surges up to 14 feet in areas, inflicted damages across Tyndall Air Force Base east of Panama City and spawned at least two “devastating” tornadoes in Gadsden County.
Category 4 Hurricane Michael Approaching Panhandle Landfall; Spared Flagler Sends Help
The storm is expected to speed through the Panhandle before moving into the Atlanta area and the Carolinas, Flagler County’s Suzanne Eubanks on Tuesday was deployed to go into Holmes County as part of the state’s Region 3 All Hazards Incident Management Team.
Scott Warns of Hurricane Michael’s ‘Devastation’ and Storm Surge, Flagler Calls Local Impact ‘Minimal’
Current bulletins from the National Weather Service for Flagler County include a high risk for rip currents, a high surf advisory, and a coastal flood advisory. The risk of tropical storm force winds has decreased to 20 percent.
‘Monstrous’ Hurricane Michael Aims For Panhandle, But Effects on Flagler Limited
Michael has the potential to be the strongest storm in the region since Hurricane Eloise swept across Bay County in September 1975 with 110 mph winds.
Tropical Storm Michael: Scott Declares State of Emergency for Panhandle; Impact on Flagler Uncertain
Though distant, what will become Tropical Storm Michael is expected to bring waves of heavy rainfall and embedded thunderstorms beginning Tuesday and persisting through late Thursday in the northeast Florida region.
Attorney General Launches Investigation of Catholic Priests’ Child Sex Abuse in All 7 Florida Dioceses
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is leaving office in January due to term limits, said it is too early to know how many Floridians, former residents or visitors may have been molested.
Judge Halts Florida’s Medical Pot Licensing Process Over Its Flawed Restrictions
The judge previously ruled that Florida health rules over medical pot were unconstitutional, and set a Wednesday deadline for the deficiencies with the law to be resolved. It passed.
St. Johns River District Was Barreling Into Flagler Beach’s Marshes to “Restore” Them. Then It Met Fierce Opposition.
With little notice, some haphazardness and many unanswered questions, the St. Johns River Water Management District was speeding toward a $500,000, 113-acre “restoration” of marshes at the south end of Flagler Beach, angering residents and businesses, who slowed the project.
Nelson Calls Scott a Liar, Scott Calls Nelson a Do-Nothing, Both Lob Kavanaugh at Each Other
Scott’s and Nelson’s tangle over Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, was one of many points of contentions in the senate-race debate Tuesday.
Long Dormant Flagler Democrats Go Volcanic as Andrew Gillum Ignites a Crowd of Hopes
Andrew Gillum, the gubernatorial candidate, spoke to some 400 people at a Democratic rally at the Palm Coast Community Center Sunday, the largest such rally in memory in reddish Flagler.
In Blow to Scott’s Play for Puerto Rican Vote, Nelson Wins Island Governor’s Endorsement
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s endorsement of Nelson unleashed pushback from Scott, who’s made nine trips to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on the U.S. territory a year ago.
Sen. Dorothy Hukill, Among Rare Moderate Republicans, Ends Campaign and Enters Hospice as Cancer Returns
Hukill served as Education Committee chair and was one of four Republicans who earlier this year voted against a controversial measure (HB 7055) that included the use of sales-tax credits to help students attend private schools.
Rick Scott Presses His Case For Making Midnight Appointments to Florida Supreme Court
In a case that could alter the future of Florida’s highest court, Scott’s lawyers said the governor retains the power to select replacements for justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, who are all leaving in January.
Open Court Proceedings Require NRA-Backed Gun Litigants To Be Named, Florida Argues
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office is asking a federal appeals court to reject arguments that two 19-year-olds should be able to remain anonymous in a challenge to a new state gun law.
New Laws Benefiting First Responders With PTSD and Increasing Punishment for Animal Abuse Kick In
The 21 laws taking effect Oct. 1 range from allowing credit cards to be used for background checks when firearms are purchased to doling out tougher punishment for people who steal bee colonies or trespass at airports.
Environmentalists Call Scott’s Call for Red-Tide Research a Campaign Stunt
The state has documented 115 manatee and 318 sea turtle deaths this year in regions suspected to be related to red tide, which stretches 145 miles.
Gillum Wants $50,000 Minimum Teacher Salary. DeSantis Proposes 80% Formula.
In competing proposals, Democrat Andrew Gillum would provide teachers with a minimum $50,000 starting salary by raising the corporate tax, Ron DeSantis would require 80 percent of school funding to be spent in classrooms.
State Education Board Wants a $200 Per-Student Increase and $100 Million More For Cops
The budget proposal, which was approved by the Board of Education at a meeting in Naples, drew support from education advocates.
Ron DeSantis Quits Congress to Focus on Governor’s Race Against Andrew Gillum
DeSantis had missed 4.2 percent of the roll call votes since January 2013, but the percentage has spiked to 53.8 percent since July.
Justices Weigh Loading Charter Schools, Term Limits and Civics on One Amendment
Justices are only supposed to determine whether the ballot title and summary would provide an accurate description of the proposed constitutional amendment to voters.
Should Supervisors of Election Provide Spanish-Language Ballots? Judge Hears Arguments.
A federal judge today hears arguments in a lawsuit seeking to require 32 Florida counties, including Flagler, to provide Spanish-language ballots and other materials to Puerto Ricans who are eligible to vote in the state.
Obamacare Participants in Florida Will See Lowest Premium Increase In 8 Years
The rate increases are some of the lowest ever requested by Florida insurance companies since the federal health law passed in 2010.
Ron DeSantis Uses ‘Monkey’ Comment To Refer to Policies of Andrew Gillum, Who Is Black
DeSantis’ use of the word “monkey” in relation to the first black candidate ever nominated by a major party for governor in Florida drew a firestorm of criticism from Democrats.
In Historic Upset, Democrat Andrew Gillum Beats Graham and Will Face DeSantis In Race for Governor
Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee’s mayor, has long been considered a rising star in the Florida Democratic Party but had trailed in the polls in a crowded primary.
Judge Boots Victim’s Rights’ Proposal Known as “Marsy’s Law” Off the Ballot, Citing Deceit
A judge found fault with what was left out of the ballot title and summary, and that the proposal would not explain to voters how it would affect the rights of people accused of crimes.
Judge Will Decide Whether to Remove Victim’s Rights Proposal From November Ballot
Lawyers opposing the measure known as Marsy’s Law say it restricts the constitutional rights of those accused of crimes while misleading voters about its intent.
Calling Florida Prison Officials Ignorant and Bigoted, Judge Orders Accommodations For Transgender Inmate
A federal judge ordered Florida prisons to continue providing hormone treatments to Reiyn Keohane, who identifies as female since age 8. She started serving a 15-year sentence for attempted murder in 2014.
Party Split or Not, Republicans Using George Soros to Smear Other Republicans Is Offensive
The GOP primary that has degraded into absurd name-calling pits tea-party-backed Scott Sturgill against conservative Mike Miller in the Edgewood, Orlando, and Winter Park area.
Supreme Court Clears Release of Parkland Massacre Videos School Board Sought to Block
The order sides with a coalition of news organizations and ordered the release of footage from the afternoon of Feb. 14, when 17 people were killed at the school.
Judge Orders Proposed Amendment on Charter Schools Off the Ballot, But Appeal Likely
The provision in question would have allowed the state to operate and control public schools “not established by the school board,” wording that could have yielded oversight to private companies.
Bank Closes Campaign Account of Florida Candidate Who Advocates for Medical Marijuana
Nikki Fried, a lawyer running for Commissioner of Agriculture, once lobbied for medical-marijuana operators and helped shape the state’s laws and regulations regarding pot.
Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin Sales Pitch Downplayed Risks Of Opioid Addiction
More than 1,500 pending civil lawsuits, filed mostly by state and local governments, allege that deceptive marketing claims helped fuel a national epidemic of opioid addiction and thousands of overdose deaths.
Gwen Graham’s Bid for Governor Tries to Make History But a Legacy Can Be Double-Edged
Gwen Graham, a former one-term member of Congress, could make history this fall by being elected Florida’s first female governor and the first child of a governor to serve in the state’s top job.
22 of Florida’s 67 School Districts Are Using Armed Personnel as “Guardians” to Comply With Law
The guardian program approved by lawmakers has been controversial, with most districts, including Flagler County, rejecting the idea of training school personnel to be armed.
Supreme Court Asked To Block 6 Constitutional Amendments That Combine Multiple Issues
The plaintiffs include a former Supreme Court Justice and take aim at proposed amendments that the Florida Constitution Revision Commission placed on the November ballot.
In Governor’s Race, Democrats Push For Expanded Health Coverage For Floridians
Democratic candidates s are accentuating a split with Republicans in a campaign where health care has become one of the touchstone issues.
From Slinging Possums To Age Discrimination, Florida’s Silly Season Turns Toxic
The weeks leading up to elections are sometimes known as the “silly season,” but on numerous fronts in the Sunshine State, “the nasty season” seems a more fitting label.
Spurred By Latest Dubious Shooting, Calls For Stand Your Ground Repeal Hit Capitol
The July 19 shooting death of Markeis McGlockton, with his three young children nearby at a Circle K in Pinellas County is prompting the latest calls to repeal the 2005 law.
At Parkland Massacre Commission, Lessons of Columbine Compete With Tragic Repetitions
Security enhancements include more active-shooter drills, upgraded cameras with a central monitoring system and single-point entries for visitors.