Monthly Archives: December 2014
Manatee deaths reduced in 2014
Good news from the world of Florida wildlife. Manatee deaths in Florida waters were down substantially in 2014 when compared to 2013. According to reports from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute the 2014 numbers of 361 deaths was far smaller than the 2013 tally of 811 dead Manatees.
Wednesday Open Thread
Leave your best memories of 2014 and greatest hopes for 2015 in the comments section!
Florida political winners and losers for 2014
NOTE: Our Tuesday poll feature will return next week. It’s that time of the year for reflections. 2014 was an election year and with it came the usual array of winners and losers. A difficult year for Democrats across the country as well as here in Florida saw clear winners and losers.
Tragic Everglades crash anniversary
One of the most famous and tragic accidents in Florida’s history happened 42 years ago today. On December 29, 1972 Eastern Airlines Flight 401 a new L-1011 Tristar aircraft (photographed) was en route from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Miami International during the busy holiday season tragically into the Everglades.
Sources: Fort Lauderdale Strikers have big plans
Last week we discussed the steps taken by the Tampa Bay Rowdies to turn around the club after a disappointing 2014 season. The Rowdies as mentioned in the piece have raided the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and south Florida to acquire new players. Since that article ran, our TKR writers have spoken to several people around […]
Farewell AirTran
AirTran Airways which prior to its 2011 purchase by Dallas-based Southwest Airlines was headquartered in Orlando flew for the last time on Sunday. The airline has now been fully integrated into Southwest. The final flight was between Atlanta and Tampa. AirTran’s lower cost structure and non-union workforce has now been integrated into higher-cost and heavily […]
President Obama, national Democrats and Charlie Crist’s defeat
Charlie Crist’s defeat November 4th along with the loss of three other cabinet races mean that Florida Democrats have now lost 17 of the last 18 races for state office. This record is unmatched for futility anywhere east of the Mississippi River. But unlike past election cycles, Florida’s Democrats actually performed equally if not better […]
Cuba’s terrorist state designation and Florida politics – cynicism at its finest
Cuba has been designated a state sponsor of terror since 1982 by the US Government. The nation is one of four that remain on the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism. When you click on the link it is obvious the case against Cuba is exceedingly thin and flimsy compared to the other […]
Pan Am, political influence and the growth of Florida’s international tourism economy
Following last week’s feature on Eastern Airlines return it made sense to look back at the history of Pan Am and its impact on the state of Florida. Before we begin let me recommend the book, Skygods: The Fall of Pan Am which is one of the finest narratives I have ever read about the aviation industry. […]
Qatar Airways making Miami flights daily
Qatar Airways who are currently the only Middle Eastern airline to serve the state of Florida is bumping its service to Miami up from 5 times weekly to daily beginning in the winter of 2015. The carrier is a state owned and funded airline. The Emirate of Qatar boasts the world’s largest reserves of natural gas, […]
The Florida Squeeze 