February 16, 2011 - 6:00pm
SunRail: Next Stop on Gov. Scott's Hit List?
February 16, 2011 - 6:00pm
Gov. Rick Scott's rejection of high-speed rail may have laid the groundwork for derailing a Central Florida commuter train.
SunRail, a planned $1.2 billion line running through four counties, doesn't have the sex appeal of a high-speed train, but it has strong political ties to state GOP leaders.
"High-speed rail was President Obama's train. SunRail is the Republicans' train," says Matthew Falconer, an Orlando-based commercial real-estate owner who ran for Orange County mayor last year.
UF Students Craft a Vision for the Future of Rural Florida
Submitted by Kevin Derby on February 17, 2011 - 1:16pm
Nestled in Hamilton County, right off of where I-10 and I-75 meet, is White Springs, a town of 800 which is probably best known for hosting the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. While Floridians will head over to White Springs during May when the annual folk festival is held there, the town has seen better days. A century ago, the town was home to 14 luxury homes, and more than a few prominent Americans -- including Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft -- vacationed in White Springs, enjoying the warm weather and lovely views of the Suwannee River.
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Senate President Mike Haridopolos Lauds Medicaid Reform Bill
Submitted by Kevin Derby on February 17, 2011 - 10:54am
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, cheered the new Medicaid reform bill released Thursday by his fellow Republican senators -- Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, who chairs the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, and Sens. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Rene Garcia, R-Miami, who both serve on the committee.
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Backers Promote Communications Technology to Lure Jobs to Rural Florida
Submitted by Kevin Derby on February 17, 2011 - 10:52am
Speaking to more than 250 attendees at the Florida Rural Economic Development Summit in St. Augustine, Patrick Lien, director of broadband services for the North Florida Broadband Authority (NFBA), took aim at the states continuing unemployment problem, pushing increased high-speed Internet in rural areas to lure companies to the states 32 rural counties. Lien offered the keynote address to the summit on Thursday morning, focusing on the need for increased communication technologies in rural Florida -- and reminding listeners about global competition.
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Senate Republicans Unveil Medicaid Reform Bill
Submitted by Kevin Derby on February 17, 2011 - 10:47am
Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, released details of his Medicaid reform bill Thursday, which is expected to save more than $1 billion in a program that takes up nearly 30 percent of the state budget.
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Florida Rural Economic Development Summit Kicks Off Focused on Jobs
Submitted by Kevin Derby on February 17, 2011 - 10:45am
The Florida Rural Economic Development Summit began in St. Augustine on Thursday morning with leaders grappling with how to prepare the Sunshine States 32 rural counties for the new economy.
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Better Communication Technology Will Put Folks in Rural Counties Back to Work
February 16, 2011 - 6:00pm
The Florida Rural Economic Development Summit kicked off Thursday in St. Augustine with leaders grappling with how to prepare the Sunshine States 32 struggling rural counties for the new economy.
Republican Lawmakers Sputter Over Scott's High-Speed Rail Rejection
Submitted by Anonymous on February 17, 2011 - 9:25am
As Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson lawyers up in search of ways to ram the rejected high-speed railroad through Florida, he's getting help from Republican Rep. John Mica.
The House Transportation Committee chairman said, "The (U.S. transportation) secretary and I have decided to look at our options; by end of the week and soon as the highly paid folks analyze them, a new plan will be formed."
The Florida congressman's words echo Nelson's comments, which has conservative groups wondering: What side of the aisle is Mica sitting on?
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Rep. Rachel Burgin Wins Award from National Pro-Life Group
Submitted by Kevin Derby on February 17, 2011 - 8:38am
The Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life organization, honored Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Brandon, on Wednesday by presenting her with the 2011 Susan B. Anthony Young Leader Award.
I am honored and humbled to receive this award, said Burgin. It is my responsibility to defend the rights of the unborn and help strengthen Floridas families. I am thankful to have a platform and vehicle as a member of the Florida Legislature to help create a culture and state that values life.
The legislator also won the praise of a key member of the House leadership.
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