The Seminole casino compact approved by the 2010 Legislature could deliver up to $1.2 billion to the state's coffers over the next five years, but the back story on the deal makes that jackpot look like an ill-gotten gain. And some say the state got hosed.
While billionaire Jeff Greene has been in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate for less than a week, he has already shaped the race tremendously --forcing Congressman Kendrick Meek to focus on his new rival instead of on newly independent Gov. Charlie Crist or former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the likely Republican nominee.
Blaming "past decisions to end the Space Shuttle program," President Barack Obama followed through with his pledge to create a task force to bolster Florida's sagging Space Coast.
The White House's announcement was alternately welcomed and derided by the region's congressional delegation.
From the first day of the legislative session, when a looming tax hike for employers was postponed, business arose as a high priority this year as lawmakers endeavored to pull the state out of a still-troubled economy.
Gulf currents could spare Florida's west coast beaches but bring muck and misery to the east coast, and possibly the Everglades, scientists said Tuesday.
"If the oil stays in the loop current, it will exit the Gulf of Mexico into the Florida Strait," said Richard Dodge of Nova Southeastern University.
From there, scientists say it's only a matter of time -- a week or two -- until the oil laps onto beaches in Miami and heads north all the way to Cape Hatteras, N.C.
Gordon Brown may have torpedoed his last chance to be prime minister in his own right when, in the privacy of his limo, he called 66-year-old Gillian Duffy that "bigoted woman."
What had widow Duffy done to deserve the slur?
After taking the Labor Party leader to task for several minutes, Mrs. Duffy raised the immigration issue -- "These Eastern Europeans, where are they all flocking from?"
Troy Stanley is the anti-Crist.
While Gov. Charlie Crist left the Republican Party to continue his run for the U.S. Senate as an independent running to the GOPs left, Stanley left the Republicans to continue running for Congress against Ander Crenshaw from the right. With no Democrat in the race, Stanley is Crenshaw's chief opponent in the race.
Along comes Sen. Mike Bennett, another political egomaniac who believes he's above scrutiny or honesty or answering for bad behavior in office -- and you know what? He almost is.
Oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico at an estimated rate of 210,000 gallons per day could reach Floridas shores late this week, and the states Gulf Coast businesses are bracing for the worst.
