Valencia Norton awoke to a neighbor pounding on the windows of the mobile home she shared with a friend. Water had washed away her steps and part of the porch. She grabbed a small bag of clothes and waited. “I was freaking,” said Norton, tears streaming down her face as she recalled the scene. “I don’t know how to swim.” A short time later, a firefighter came by and carried her to dry land. It was one of many rescue…
Voters will have a chance to decide whether an outgoing governor should appoint vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court that open at the same time a new governor is sworn in. The House voted 73-45 to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot to give outgoing governors power to appoint justices during the transition to a new governor. If it passes and Gov. Rick Scott is re-elected, it would mean he will fill three vacancies expected to occur as…
Facebook says it will let users log in to apps anonymously, without sharing their identities and personal information with mobile applications they don’t trust. Facebook’s 1.28 billion users can already use a “log in with Facebook” button to sign up for apps that let them listen to music, play games, read the news and monitor fitness activities. But using the button allows apps to access information related to the Facebook user’s identity. With the anonymous login, Facebook will have information…
Florida’s school grading system would be paused for a year under a bill now headed to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida House on Wednesday voted 76-42 for the bill (SB 1642) that overhauls the state’s A-to-F school grading system. The legislation is backed by Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. The move is being made as the state transitions to a new test replacing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. But a key portion of the bill would ensure that…
After years of fierce debate, the Florida Legislature seems about ready to allow qualified Florida students to pay in-state college tuition rates even if they are in the country illegally. While some Republicans have sharply criticized the idea as “pandering,” Gov. Rick Scott and other top GOP legislators have embraced the proposal during this election year. The legislation earlier this session appeared in trouble due to the sharp divisions among Republicans. But state senators on Tuesday quietly waived their rules…
ย Florida’s growing craft beer industry would face new regulations under a bill passed by the Senate. The Senate voted 30-10 on Tuesday for a bill that would restrict the amount of packaged beer breweries can sell directly to visitors. Craft brewers opposed the bill. They currently can sell unlimited amounts of their kegged, canned and bottled beer at the breweries. Sen. Kelli Stargel argued the brewers are now operating under a loophole created for the Busch Gardens theme park and…
The Florida Senate is reviving a tuition break for some Florida high school graduates who are living in the country illegally. The Senate on Tuesday waived its rules and agreed to consider the bill before the session ends this week. No one objected to the motion made by Sen. John Thrasher, a Republican from St. Augustine. The tuition break for students who are living in the country illegal has divided Republicans this session. The measure passed the House but it…