Editor’s Note: “Believe the women” is one of the constant refrains heard from people demanding the Epstein files be released. But, in this country, we tend NOT to believe the […]
The Unflinching Courage of Taylor Cadle
BULLETIN BOARD
Florida’s race for governor is getting more crowded
Florida’s race for governor is getting more crowded — and it looks there could be competitive primaries for both major parties. Election records show that Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings […]
‘No one is entitled!’ Randy Fine (R) Florida, shames SNAP recipients for ‘life choices’
As 42 million Americans go without federal food assistance, including 16 million children, Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) took to Newsmax Sunday to shame Americans who receive help through the Supplemental […]
Florida begins first prosecutions under controversial ‘Halo Law’
As more people take to the streets for No Kings protests aqainst President Donald Trump’s policies, including the next round of protests scheduled for Oct. 18, Florida’s HALO Law may come into play.
Florida’s HALO Law does not prevent taking video or pictures of law enforcement in the course of their duties, but it does require you, if asked, to move 25 feet away, which can make shooting images or video much more difficult.
Local Governments Worked Hard to Hedge Against Climate Disaster. Florida Leaders Bigfooted Them.
Manatee County is among 25 local governments from across the state that have now joined to sue the DeSantis administration over SB 180, which the governor signed into law in June. The measure was billed by supporters during the spring legislative session as a means of helping hurricane-stricken communities recover by temporarily easing building rules. But a last-minute amendment goes further, the lawsuit argues, prohibiting local governments from enacting land development policies that are “more restrictive or burdensome.”
The law applies retroactively, to policies dating from Aug. 1, 2024 to Oct. 1, 2027. Because of the way the law is written and the widespread impacts of last year’s three hurricanes, it affects every county and municipality in Florida.
“This is the largest intrusion into home-rule authority in the history of Florida since the current constitution was adopted in 1968,” said Jamie Cole, the lead attorney representing the local governments in the litigation, which was filed in late September. “It basically freezes all local planning and zoning regulations in place as they were on Aug. 1, 2024, until Oct. 1, 2027.”
Why It’s Pointless for Democrats to Negotiate a Shutdown Deal
The popular way of describing what’s going on in Washington right now is to say that on October 1, the federal government shut down as a result of Congress’s inability […]
American Gulag: Inside the Hell of Alligator Alcatraz
When the Alligator Alcatraz detention center was announced by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in June, he explained the site was chosen because of its remote location deep in the Everglades: “People get […]
Brace for the Single Largest Spike in Health Insurance Premiums—Ever
As the federal government enters the ninth day of a shutdown sparked by Congress’ failure to pass a continuing resolution which would fund the government for around two more months—with hundreds […]
How Florida Uses Your Taxes After Hurricanes Fits The Definition Of Insanity
The Florida Legislature made its new development rules retroactive to Aug. 1, 2024, with the intent to keep them in effect until Oct. 1, 2027. The rules don’t just cover storm-damaged properties, but also any new development proposed within that window.
On Sept. 29, 25 Florida cities and counties filed a lawsuit in Leon County Circuit Court, arguing that the new law blocks local governments from using their home rule powers to determine how much growth and development their communities can support.
This isn’t about allowing people to restore modest bungalows built in the middle of the last century to their previous state, or even equivalents compliant with modern building codes.
State officials want condominiums, hotels and other intensive forms of development on high-priced coastal land that will increase the tax base and make developers richer.
State Investigators Visit Largo Man Who Sent Postcard Critical of Florida’s CFO
Two armed men wearing bulletproof vests with the word “police” stenciled on them showed up Wednesday at the Largo home of Cathy O’Gara while she was getting her 11-year-old granddaughter ready for school.
The O’Garas, who have been critical of those efforts, sent the postcard to Ingoglia after a news conference he held in St. Petersburg in August.
“I expected them to show up eventually because I’m an organizer, and it follows the state of play these days,” said Cathy O’Gara.
They’ve also sent emails to state Attorney General James Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis, criticizing their support of President Trump’s mass deportation policy, calling it “unlawful” and “un-American.”
Days after the visit — with the help of the Largo Police Department — they learned that the officers were investigators with the criminal division of the state’s Department of Financial Services, which is overseen by Ingoglia.
Ron Desantis Expects Alligator Alcatraz Reimbursement “Eventually”
Gov. Ron DeSantis says there’s not much urgency to get promised monies from the Donald Trump administration for Alligator Alcatraz. Critics have suggested the spend is significant, with independent journalist Jason Garcia noting that more than $350 million in contracts have been signed.
The vendor-managed project was projected to cost $245 per bed, or $450 million a year, and was scheduled to be reimbursed from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Hedge fund billionaire pressed Treasury Secretary for Argentina bailout, Argentine media reports
Editor’s Note: The bailout of Argentina’s economy comes on the heels of Argentina dropping their export tax so they could sell soybeans to China – taking the place of American soybeans that China will no longer buy from American farmers because of Trump’s tariffs. There is no logic to destroying the American farm economy, than bailing out the country who sold their products to our former customers – then bailing out the farmers whose businesses you just destroyed. That is, unless you consider corruption. With this administration, you must always consider that every single move they make has, at it’s heart, corrupt purposes. Meantime, who pays for all of these bailouts? We, the American taxpayers do…..