Gary Fineout - page 15

The political careers of several members of Congress – including a Republican seeking to become the next U.S. House speaker – could come to an abrupt halt under a sweeping overhaul of Florida’s electoral map. Florida Circuit Judge Terry Lewis on Friday recommended new boundaries for the state’s 27 congressional districts, some of which would make it nearly impossible for U.S. Rep. Dan Webster – one of the hard-line conservatives who pushed John Boehner to resign as speaker and then…

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Florida officials are pondering what to do with the site of a closed reform school in the Panhandle where until recently researchers were combing the ground searching for unmarked graves and unclaimed bodies. The Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna was shuttered in 2011 and some former students have accused authorities of both physical and sexual abuse. Researchers with the University of South Florida are scheduled to issue a final report on their findings on the school by…

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A three-day trial that could decide the fate of Florida’s political landscape ended Monday as lawyers for both sides accused each other of recommending changes to the state’s 27 congressional districts that could benefit either Republicans or Democrats. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis, who said he would rule sometime in October, must recommend a new map to the state Supreme Court. The job fell to him after the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature failed to agree on new districts during its August special session.…

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Two Republican state senators tried on Friday to explain to a judge why the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature deadlocked this summer over drawing new boundaries for the state’s 27 congressional districts. Both Sen. Tom Lee and Sen. Bill Galvano, who each played a key role, testified during the second day of a trial that could decide the state’s political landscape. After the trial is over, Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is expected to recommend a new map to the Florida Supreme Court.…

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The Florida judge who will play a pivotal role in deciding the fate of the state’s political landscape says he may craft his own proposal to sort out the mess left from squabbling over Florida’s 27 congressional districts. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis has been asked by the state Supreme Court to pick a new congressional map and send it to the justices for final approval after the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature failed to reach an agreement during an August special session. A three-day trial…

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