I recently had the opportunity to take my 8-year-old son Jackson to see the movie 42 -- the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
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
Our former presidents haunt our popular culture. We plaster their portraits on dollars and cents. We carve their faces on a giant rock in South Dakota.
WASHINGTON -- As soon as the Constitution permitted him to run for Congress, Al Salvi did. In 1986, just 26 and fresh from the University of Illinois law school, he sank $1,000 of his own money, which was most of his money, into his campaign to unseat an incumbent Democratic congressman. Salvi studied for the bar exam during meals at campaign dinners.
WASHINGTON -- It is reassuring that in the midst of so much government dysfunction, the IRS has resolved the question of when and whether to tax tanning beds under the Affordable Care Act.
There are many who complain that big government is the root of all our problems.
It would be nice to write a column in praise of President Obama for his vigorous conduct of the war on terror -- to praise his willingness to look for "dots" to connect amid all the electronic noise of the communications web.
What were they thinking?Legislators this year enacted a law that essentially replaced college preparatory instruction with developmental education.
The recently proposed acquisition of Smithfield Foods by a Chinese company not only marks the largest acquisition of a U.S. company in history, but also highlights a strategic move by the worlds second largest economy to ensure they have enough food to feed their growing population over the long term.
Trending Now
By
Despite Monday's announcement that Florida's unemployment rate was the lowest in January that it had been in nearly six years, Charlie Crist's campaign team pushed back on Gov. Rick Scott and his promise to create 1.7 million jobs in the Sunshine State.
By Kevin Derby
Abby Dosoretz, the campaign manager for Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, turned up the heat on Republican primary rival Curt Clawson. They are running in the Republican primary to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., who resigned in January after pleading guilty of cocaine possession.
By Kevin Derby
Former Florida Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich won support from the National Organization for Women (NOW) over the weekend as she continues her underdog challenge for the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in November. Despite spending most of his career as a Republican, former Gov. Charlie Crist is leading Rich in polls of the Democratic primary.
By Kevin Derby
On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott announced Florida's unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent in January, the lowest it's been since June 2008.
Florida's unemployment rate dropped 1.9 percent from January 2013 to January 2014, the largest drop of any state according to areportfrom the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By Kevin Derby
One of Gov. Rick Scotts chief legislative goals in 2014 is to roll back $400 million in vehicle registration fees. A poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday finds solid support across the Sunshine State for Scotts proposal.
The poll shows a clear majority -- 55 percent -- of those surveyed back Scotts proposal with more than a third -- 38 percent -- strongly supporting it and 17 percent somewhat supporting it. The proposal garners the opposition of 35 percent with 19 percent strongly opposing it and 16 percent saying they somewhat oppose it.
By Kevin Derby
Florida continues to back its Stand Your Ground" law according to a poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday.
The poll finds more than 60 percent of those surveyed support Stand Your Ground with 41 percent saying they strongly support it and 21 percent somewhat support it. Less than a quarter--22 percent--strongly oppose the law while 7 percent somewhat oppose it.
The poll of 507 registered voters in Florida was taken from March 6-March 16 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.35 percent.
By Kevin Derby
A poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday shows a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana that Floridians will vote on in November has an excellent chance of passing.
The poll shows 74 percent of registered voters plan to support the amendment while 22 percent say they plan to vote against it. For a state constitutional amendment to pass, it needs 60 percent of voters.
By Kevin Derby
A poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday shows former Gov. Charlie Crist, the favorite for the Democratic nomination despite spending most of his political career as a Republican, beating Gov. Rick Scott by a hair.
The poll of registered voters has Crist with 34 percent with Scott right behind him with 33 percent. But 34 percent of voters are on the fence with 17 percent saying they would back someone else besides Scott and Crist and 17 percent still undecided.
By Kevin Derby
Gov. Rick Scott and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, now the president of the University of Miami, teamed up on Friday to showcase the governors proposal to send $80 million from the state budget for cancer research. Scott is calling for $60 million to ensure Florida Cancer Centers gain National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation and $20 million for grants.
By Kevin Derby
With an additional $150 million added to the more than $1 billion Florida state government surplus , Florida TaxWatch released a report on the matter late on Friday and urged the Legislature to remain fiscally conservative.
Live streaming of WBOB Talk Radio, a Sunshine State News Radio Partner.