News & Public Affairs

Protesters criticize Florida's Republican Legislature at an Awake the State rally in St. Petersburg listen

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Tags: Jeff Brandes, Awake the State, Rick Scott, Tallahassee, St. Petersburg, 2011 Legislative session

This year there have been rallies in Florida by people upset at policies pushed by the Republican-dominated state Legislature. Twenty-three Awake the State rallies were held across the state yesterday, including one at the office of Representative Jeff Brandes in St. Petersburg.

About sixty people held signs and shouted slogans outside the office of Republican Jeff Brandes on North 4th street. They encouraged drivers to honk their horns as they drove by. This is F. Timothy Martin, one of t...

State Senate panel OK's bill that would lift ban on lobbyist gifts listen

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Tags: lobbyists, Tallahassee, state legislature, Dennis Jones, Arthenia Joyner, Steve Oelrich, Nancy Detert, 2011 Legislative session

In Tallahassee today a Senate ethics panel advanced a bill that would do away with a ban on gifts from lobbyist. Unlike most other controversial items on the legislature’s plate this session, it garnered support from Republicans and Democrats.

Tallahassee Mayor John Marks urged the Senate Rules Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections to once again allow lobbyists to buy lunch for lawmakers. He said it’s about jobs.

"Since the legislative expenditure ban was adopted in 2005 the restaurant ...

Plastic flamingos, St. Pete officials unite to fight proposed pro-fertilizer industry law listen

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Tags: fertilizer ordinance, Tallahassee, nutrients, waterway health, pollution, 2011 Legislative session, St. Pete City Council, St. Petersburg

In recent years, cities throughout Florida have been banning use of certain fertilizers with the hope of curbing water pollution. Now, the state legislature is pushing through a law that would limit local control over fertilizer use. Today St. Petersburg became the latest city to pass a resolution opposing that bill.

The front lawn at St. Petersburg City Hall went kitsch this morning ahead of the City Council meeting. Dozens of pink plastic flamingos covered the small rectangle of grass. I...

City Council rejects proposal for local vendor preference listen

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Tags: local business, City Council, Tallahassee, construction

The Tampa City Council rejected a proposal today that would have given local businesses preference in bidding for city contracts. The proposal was intended to give local businesses a leg up in the bidding process, but many state-wide construction companies opposed the idea, saying that it might discourage competition.

Gregory Spearman is the director of the City of Tampa purchasing department. He defined a regional preference as a policy or ordinance which imposes legislative requirements...

Pinellas teachers give school board an earful listen

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Tags: Pinellas County School Board, Education, Budget Cutbacks, Tallahassee, State, Local

The Pinellas County school board meeting last night was crowded with students being honored for their achievements, their proud parents holding cameras and the teachers who helped them along the way. But the largest group was the 50 or so teachers, dressed in dark colors to symbolize their frustrations with proposed pay cuts and closing schools.

Kim Black, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, says that even Texas, another state with no income tax, didn’t increase their...