It's not often, if ever, I've picked a bone with even-handed News Service of Florida. But the bias in NSF's Tuesday story, "Group Works to Sway 'Sanctuary Cities' Bill," sticks out like a chapel hat peg.
Writer Ana Ceballos "exposed" the interest various groups have shown to help Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, draft SB 168, his red-hot bill to ban sanctuary cities in Florida.
Florida's three top leaders -- both U.S. senators and the governor, Republicans all -- believed Florida had a commitment from President Trump not to short funding for Everglades restoration in his new proposed budget. But when the budget surfaced earlier this week, it provided $63 million in Everglades funding, falling well short of the $200 million Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis sought.
If Randy Fine and Eric Eikenberg were trading cards, I'd give you 10 Eikenbergs for one Fine.
That's how much hope Fine offers to Florida's ailing waterways, particularly to the Indian River Lagoon.
Miami may have more experience hosting Super Bowls and other major national events, but it was Milwaukee chosen Monday to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
"I'm grateful for every finalist city for being a part of this process with us," tweeted Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, "now let's get ready for 2020." He was talking specifically about Milwaukee's glitzier rivals, Miami and Houston.
In case you didn't notice, U.S. House Democrats, including Florida's Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, voted Friday for their first major legislation of the new Congress.
The Democrats call it "For the People Act of 2019;" the Republicans call it "Democrat Politician Protection Act." Mucarsel-Powell, who unseated Republican Carlos Curbelo in the last election, was a bill co-sponsor.
So, what was the Democrats' top priority? Job creation? Veterans? The economy? Nope. The first major program passed by House Democrats primarily benefits ... House Democrats.
The idea of a lower Lake Okeechobee has captured the attention of officials in West Palm Beach and a new activist group who fear the lake will turn into a mud hole and some 1 million people living in coastal Palm Beach County will choke in the next drought.
In September 2018, Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg predicted his influence was about to increase mightily.
"Forty days from now," he said, "we'll have a new Administration in Tallahassee, a new governing board at the Water Management District, new leadership at the Corps."
The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board looks to be back in business.
Gov. Ron DeSantis named four new members to the nine-member board Thursday -- three in Naples and one in Stuart -- giving the board a quorum at its March 14 meeting if five members show up, avoiding a further delay in board business.
