Author Archives: Ryan Ray
TFS Archives: The Cross Florida Barge Canal (from 2014)
A subject we’ve discussed a little bit in the past but never on its own, the Cross Florida Barge Canal and the movement to stop it are among the biggest environmental issues in the history of a state that is marked by huge environmental issues. Promoters of the canal sought to bisect Florida from Fernandina to Cedar Key, connecting the […]
Contra Conventional Wisdom, Cuban Embargo Contentious in Miami
A poll released today by Florida International University found that Cubans are more divided on the issue of sanctions against Cuba than is commonly believed. According to FIU researchers, 52% of Miami-Dade Cuban-Americans support ending the embargo — among 18 to 29 year olds, that number rises to 62%. Of particular interest is the differential between […]
Is Florida journalism in a bad way?
As we discussed briefly on Wednesday, LobbyTools, Inc. news imprint The Florida Current is in the process of “evolving,” i.e. contracting or disappearing altogether. In itself this is simply a business decision made by the publication’s parent company to sacrifice in-depth coverage in order to bolster their bottom line. But as the Current employed a significant portion of the […]
The Florida Current: happy trails?
LobbyTools news imprint The Florida Current began reducing its capacity yesterday, letting go of reporters Bruce Ritchie and Gray Rohrer and announcing the “evolution” of their news operation to focus more on short “policy notes” largely comprised of information found in other publications. Sarah Iarussi, president and co-owner of the Tallahassee-based firm, told SaintPetersBlog yesterday that this […]
NSF: FL Supreme Court overrules lower court, makes admissable RPOF redistricting documents
The Florida Supreme Court today offered us a stark reminder of what’s at stake in the 2014 Governor’s race when they again did the right thing and allowed the League of Women voters and other plaintiffs in the ongoing reapportionment case to review and enter into evidence (and hopefully someday the public record) operative-drawn maps, emails and […]
Sen. John Thrasher is exactly the wrong choice for FSU President
We began hearing that Sen. Thrasher was a shoe-in to replace Dr. Eric Barron as President of Florida State University soon after Barron’s departure, but with Tuesday’s formal nomination by Sandy D’Alemberte and the recent news that the search committee advised by higher education expert Bill Funk is suspending its mission until it meets with Thrasher for […]
NSF: Crist fundraising efforts remain competitive while Rich flounders
Below is News Service of Florida coverage of the April financial reporting numbers released yesterday. Charlie continues to raise the kind of money necessary to propel a proper statewide campaign while Sen. Nan Rich — though she also enjoys the support of the opaque outside group Progressive Choice — would have a hard time pecuniarily in many […]
Charlie Crist in Cuba: an idea whose time has come?
Only an American President with the anti-Communist bona fides of a Nixon could have gone to China, the old saw goes — is it possible that it takes a Charlie Crist to visit Cuba? It just might. Though it wasn’t so long ago Charlie criticized Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Davis for taking a fact-finding mission while […]
Urge Your Representatives: Pass Parasailing Reform Before Sine Die
Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed’s HB 347 is the House companion bill to Sen. Maria Sachs’ SB 320, a package of common sense reforms to the currently unregulated parasailing industry. HB 347 — supported by the parents of two young women killed in needless accidents in Pompano Beach, supporters of good government, and stakeholders in the industry itself — […]
Poll: Crist Maintains Large Lead Over Scott
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida. Reprinted with permission. THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, April 30, 2014……….With strong support from women and independents, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist continues to hold a hefty lead over incumbent Republican Rick Scott, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.Crist, who was elected governor in 2006 as a […]
The Florida Squeeze 