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Religious Conservatives Take Center Stage in GOP Race

January 11, 2012 - 6:00pm

As the race for the Republican presidential nomination heads to South Carolina with its high concentration of evangelical Christians, those voters will increasingly be the focus of the GOP hopefuls.

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- who is looking to derail Republican front-runner former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in South Carolina on Jan. 21 -- unveiled the support of prominent religious leaders on Thursday. Prominent Christian author George Barna will lead Gingrichs Faith Leaders Coalition.

More Florida High Schools Earn A's While FCATs Fade

Kenric Ward

January 11, 2012 - 6:00pm

More Florida high schools are earning A's and B's while only 39 percent of 10th-graders are reading at or above proficiency levels on the state's FCAT exam, Department of Education records show.

Some 78 percent of high schools scored either an A or B grade in 2011, up from 71 percent last year. A-rated schools receive financial awards from the state of up to $150,000 per campus.

Yet high school students' academic competence is flat or falling. The 39 percent of students reading at or above Level 3 "proficiency" was the same as it was in 2010.

Leading Conservative Backs Efforts to Ban Abortion in Florida

Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 12, 2012 - 3:29pm

Tony Perkins, the former Louisiana state legislator who now leads the Family Research Council, a prominent social and religious conservative group, announced on Thursday that he is backing attempts in Florida to ban all abortions. Personhood Florida is attempting to push a state constitutional amendment similar to the one that went down in defeat in Mississippi last year.

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Webster: Florida Voters Want Non-Obama Economic Plan

Submitted by Anonymous on January 12, 2012 - 3:08pm

U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Orlando, a former Florida House speaker, said that to win the Republican primary in Florida on Jan. 31 the candidates must offer a plan that moves the economy away from President Barack Obamas efforts.

Voters are looking for a plan that provides certainty, that provides capital for business to expand and confidence among consumers so theyll start buying products, Webster said while speaking Thursday morning on the Sirius XM Radio station POTUS (Politics Of The United States).

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Herman Cain Backs Craig Miller in Senate Race

Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 12, 2012 - 2:56pm

On Thursday, businessman Herman Cain announced he is endorsing fellow restaurant executive Craig Miller for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.

Cain, who rocketed to national prominence by running for the Republican presidential nomination and winning the Republican Party of Floridas Presidency 5 straw poll in September, endorsed Miller at a media event in Orlando. After rising to the top of the polls, Cain faded and pulled out of the race after facing accusations of sexual impropriety.

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Caylee Anthony Bill Gets Backing in Senate Justice Committee

Submitted by Anonymous on January 12, 2012 - 2:46pm

Caylees bill received unanimous support from the Senate Criminal Justice Committee Thursday.

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Haiti Earthquake Reunification Program Announced

Submitted by Anonymous on January 12, 2012 - 2:29pm

During a media event in the fourth floor rotunda of the Florida Capitol Thursday, Florida Rep. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami, and Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, announced state efforts -- House Memorial 881 and Senate Memorial 1528 -- to encourage Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to create the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program.

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Scott to Examine Florida’s Special Taxing Districts

Submitted by Anonymous on January 12, 2012 - 1:43pm

Gov. Rick Scott has directed staff to review Floridas special taxing districts, a release from the governors office stated Thursday.

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Putnam Calls for More Home-Grown Technologies, Reinstating Incentives

Jim Turner

January 11, 2012 - 6:00pm

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putman outlined an energy plan Thursday designed to diversify the states energy portfolio, advance renewable energy production, encourage home-grown technologies and promote greater energy efficiency.

The plan calls for establishing a climate that encourages new energy industries and the creation of jobs without specifically targeting an emerging technology for the government to back.

Ron Paul Wins the Backing of a Major Evangelical Leader

Submitted by Kevin Derby on January 12, 2012 - 11:53am

As the race for the Republican presidential nomination heads to South Carolina, with its high concentration of military families and evangelical Christians, those voters will increasingly be the focus of the GOP hopefuls.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was able to score points with both of those key groups in an endorsement he received on Thursday from evangelical leader Rev. James Linzey, the president and founder of the Military Bible Association. The association helps military chaplains, provides Bibles to the military community and offers translations of the Bible.

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