The jaw-dropping world of politics didn’t stop turning in Florida during 2016 -- in fact, its spin this year was slightly quicker (and a little bit crazier) than it had been in, well, pretty much any other year prior.
While the clock is ticking until President Barack Obama leaves the White House, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., is taking aim at him with a resolution “disapproving of President Obama and his administration’s refusal to veto the anti-Israel resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council.”
Education is always a revolving door in Florida and 2016 was another year of high-stakes drama in the Sunshine State's education stratosphere. From fierce courtroom battles to whopping fines for testing failures, this year several stories made big waves in headlines.
Here’s what happened this year in Florida education:
The first person to say it is unclear --- most seem to attribute the phrase to Hall of Fame baseball manager Casey Stengel --- but 2016 seemed to prove the old quote: "Never make predictions, especially about the future."
The journalist has an additional warning from the late, great Peter Jennings: "I don't think a reporter should give advice or make predictions."
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said that he strongly supports President Barack Obama’s actions against Russia for its efforts to influence the recent presidential election.
On Thursday, Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and imposed sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies in retaliation for that nation’s role in the election.
Floridians with any kind of interest in politics aren't likely to forget crazy 2016.
As he prepares to enter the White House, President-elect Donald Trump continues to regularly use the social-media platform Twitter to amplify his message.
He established that trend during his unconventional presidential campaign, using the 140-character tweets to laud supporters and hammer, sometimes personally, his opponents.
With his inauguration approaching, Trump hasn't toned down his Twitter commentary. This week, for example, he slammed the Obama administration over a United Nations vote on Israeli settlements, sending reverberations throughout the diplomatic world.
Members of the Florida congressional delegation with foreign policy portfolios weighed in after U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry offered a major address on the Middle East on Wednesday.
In his speech, Kerry took aim at Israeli settlements in territory disputed by the Palestinians. Last week, the U.S. refused to veto a UN resolution insisting the settlements were “illegal.” The Obama administration abstained on the vote.
“The status quo is leading toward one state and perpetual occupation,” Kerry insisted on Wednesday.
The controversial "Best and Brightest" bonus program for Florida teachers could be headed for changes in the upcoming legislative session, though the dimensions of those revisions are still murky.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Ways and Means and the Budget Committee, unveiled his priorities for the new year. These included national security, lowering taxes, cutting down on regulations and “strengthening Social Security and Medicare” to “help current and future seniors live with dignity and independence.”
