Some 20-plus communities in the nation, including the Seminole Tribe of Florida, will share out $600,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency money for training and technical assistance to help water utilities bolster their climate change resilience and readiness.

The EPA made its assistance announcement Wednesday.

Administrative Judge W. David Watkins gave the Department of Health's proposed rules for implementing Florida's new medical marijuana law the heave-ho Friday, calling them an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority.

Yes, on Jan. 1 doctors can order marijuana in oil form to treat patients for seizure, but none of the five licenses authorized by the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 have been awarded.

The Heartland Institute has been named a 2014 top-rated nonprofit organization by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations.

Florida Senate President-designate Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, today appointed Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, as chair of the Senate Committee on Rules.

Will Abberger, campaign manager for Florida's Water and Land Legacy, released a statement Tuesday night thanking voters for their resounding approval of Amendment 1.

The amendment that will provide a third of the state's doc stamp revenues to buy conservation land for the next 20 years needed 60 percent of the vote but received 74.72 percent, or 4,218,651 votes.

Why is it when you round up and shake out the fraudsters in Florida around election time, you've got a great chance of winding up with a contributor to a Charlie Crist campaign?

Well, it's happened again. I'm sorry -- I don't make this stuff up.

Want to see what PACs have donated the most money to Rick Scott and Charlie Crist in the Florida gubernatorial race through Oct. 3?

Brian Bandell in The South Florida Business Journal --"Who's Funding Crist and Scott?" --has it all, including this showing of more money poured into political action committees than has gone to candidates or political parties during the current election cycle.

If you missed "Live with Lori, Political Food for Thought" Wednesday morning, then you missed Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, aboard Royal Carribean's Allure of the Seas preparing shrimp-crab cake with a creamy remoulade sauce -- all the while talking politics with host Lori Halbert.

The John Thrasher for Senate Campaign, Senate District 6, distributed the following statement, which it attributes to Thrasher.

Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and President-Designate Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, released statements Tuesday regarding the Florida State University board of trustees selecting state Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, as Florida States new president.

Tuesday's selection now goes to the State University System Board of Governors.

President Gaetz: