At exactly the time I should have been paying the closest attention, Florida was suffering probably the biggest environmental disaster in its history.
After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton
You probably can't imagine how much fun I've had at Sunshine State News over the last 10 years. I don't think anybody could.
November 1, 2019 - 6:00am
Politics
Columns
WASHINGTON -- We often wonder how people of the past, including the most revered and refined, could have universally engaged in conduct now considered unconscionable. Such as slavery. How could the founders, so sublimely devoted to human liberty, have lived with -- some participating in -- human slavery? Or fourscore years later, how could the saintly Lincoln, an implacable opponent of slavery, have nevertheless spoken of and believed in African inferiority?
Skeptics about democracy in the 18th and 19th centuries argued that the enfranchised masses would use their votes to seize the property of the relatively few rich. What could be more natural?
In the first quarter of 2015, in the sixth year of the historic Obama recovery, the U.S. economy grew by two-tenths of 1 percent.And that probably sugarcoats it.For trade deficits subtract from the growth of GDP, and the U.S. trade deficit that just came in was a monster.
America's smallest state -- one Nevada county is nearly eight times larger -- has the longest name: In a 2010 referendum, voters kept the official title, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.The state also has a dark-horse presidential candidate who is the only Democratic candidate so far who can shoe a horse. "Put a blacksmith in the White House" could be Lincoln Chafee's slogan.
Its interesting to see the volume of newspaper stories recently proclaiming that the world has turned on its head as a result of the Florida House going home early.
Comments about recent events in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray provide a glimpse at perhaps one of our greatest challenges -- perception.
Who killed Freddie Gray?
According to Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby, Freddie was murdered in a conspiracy of six cops who imprisoned him in a police van and there assaulted and killed him.
WASHINGTON -- The life of the wife of a presidential candidate can sometimes be like the government. Taxing.
SPEAKER'S UPDATE: "The Supreme Court issued a ruling just now that denied the motion by the Florida Senate Democrats to force the Florida House of Representatives to return to Tallahassee after our sine die adjournment. Accordingly, you will not need to return to Tallahassee until the Special Session for the budget is called."
Trending Now
By Kevin Derby
After winning the Republican primary on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott reminded Floridians on Wednesday that his $400 million cut of vehicle registration fees, one of his chief legislative priorities this year, takes effect on Sept. 1.
Scott insisted these fees were tax increases which then-Gov. Charlie Crist signed off on back in 2009. Despite having spent most of his political life as a Republican, Crist won the Democratic primary on Tuesday and will face Scott in November.
By Kevin Derby
With Tuesday marking the end of primary season in Florida, focus now turns to the general election. That was clear on Wednesday morning as the Florida Medical Association PAC (FMA PAC) announced it was backing Florida Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, over Democrat Judithanne McLauchlan in what is expected to be one of the most competitive legislative races come November.
By Kevin Derby
John Cortes, the vice president of the Florida Hispanic Caucus and a retired New York City corrections officer, pulled off a major upset in the Democratic primary on Tuesday by beating state Rep. Ricardo Rangel, D-Kissimmee.
With 5,494 votes counted, Cortes had 2,843 votes (51.75 percent) and Rangel had 2,651 (48.25 percent).
By Kevin Derby
Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, routed challenger Brandon Cannon in the Republican primary on Tuesday.
With almost 35,500 votes counted, Negron had 85.4 percent while Cannon took 14.6 percent of the vote.
I really appreciate this communitys vote of confidence in the commitment we share for protecting our environment, supporting our seniors and safeguarding our constitutional rights," Negron said after his big win. I look forward to continuing our grassroots campaign in the general election.
By Kevin Derby
Florida Sen. Geri Thompson, D-Orlando, beat Victoria Siplin to win a seat in the Senate back in 2012 and, on Tuesday, she bested former Sen. Gary Siplin, the husband of her old foe, in the Democratic primary.
With more than 23,400 votes cast, Thompson was well ahead, taking 64.1 percent while Siplin mustered 35.9 percent.
By Kevin Derby
After losses in state legislative primaries in 2010 and 2012, former state Rep. Carl Domino won the Republican primary to take on U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., in November.
With 75.5 percent of the vote in, Domino took 38 percent followed by former Connecticut state Rep. Alan Schlesinger with 24.7 percent. Nurse and conservative activist Beverly Hires took third with 14.1 percent followed by businessman Brian Lara with 12.6 percent. Former Tequesta Councilman Calvin Turnquest garnered 6.9 percent followed by businessman Nick Wukoson with 3.8 percent.
By Kevin Derby
With the support of former Gov. Jeb Bush and former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo won the Republican primary to challenge U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., in November. Garcia ranks as one of the top Republican targets in the nation.
By Kevin Derby
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings easily bested two candidates in Tuesdays Democratic primary.
With 21.6 percent of the vote, Hastings was cruising with 78 percent of the vote. Jean Enright stood in distant second with 15.8 percent while former heavyweight boxing contender Jameel McCline was in single digits with 6.2 percent.
Hastings, who was first elected to Congress back in 1992, will be a heavy favorite in November in this strongly Democratic district. Jay Bonner has the Republican nomination while Luis Fernandez is running with no party affiliation.
By Kevin Derby
Carol Platt from the Osceola County Realtors Association won the Republican primary on Tuesday night to challenge U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla.
With 96 percent of votes in, Platt, who had the backing of former Gov. Jeb Bush, took 54.4 percent in the primary. Navy veteran Jorge Bonilla came in a distant second with 29.8 percent and businessman Peter Vivaldi took third with 15.8 percent of the vote.
Grayson easily beat Nick Ruiz on the Democratic side, taking more than 74 percent of the vote.
By Kevin Derby
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., easily bested Republican primary challenger John Krause in Tuesdays primary. With more than 44 percent of votes in, Miller had 77.4 percent and Krause 22.6 percent.
Miller will face businessman Jim Byran, who has the Democratic nomination, and businessman Mark Wichern who is running with no party affiliation. This Panhandle district is a Republican stronghold, making Miller a heavy favorite come November.
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