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Ryan Ray - page 8

Ryan Ray has 632 articles published.

Ryan Ray writes about campaigns and public policy in Tampa Bay and across the state. A contributor to FloridaPolitics.com and before that, The Florida Squeeze, he covers the Legislature as a member of the Florida Capitol Press Corps and has worked as a staffer on several campaigns. He can be reached at [email protected].

Rick Scott orders probes into Visit Florida, Space Florida

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered examinations into Visit Florida and Space Florida, two high-profile public-private partnerships with the state government, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Gray Rohrer. The purpose of the reviews is to determine the level of return on investment Florida taxpayers get in exchange for funding projects through the entities, which don’t have the same broad open-government laws by which purely public agencies must abide. The move comes amid scrutiny of both ventures, instigated most recently by the Sentinel, which has…

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Rick Scott suspends Eatonville Mayor Anthony Grant

in Top Headlines by

Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Tuesday afternoon suspending Eatonville Mayor Anthony Grant over alleged violation of state election laws. In Executive Order 16-88, Scott cited Grant’s recent indictment by an Orange County grand jury over allegations the mayor conspired to commit election fraud by intimidating voters and fraudulently handling six absentee ballots. Grant, the chief municipal figure in the historically black Central Florida town, bonded out of jail on Tuesday after turning himself in to Orange County authorities late Monday night following…

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Tampa Bay area arts, cultural institutions fared well in Legislature’s budget

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Several of Tampa Bay’s most prominent fine arts institutions found success in the Legislature’s budget for 2016-17, navigating the delicate appropriations process and escaping Gov. Rick Scott‘s veto pen. Lawmakers approved $2 million for Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, frequently home to performances by The Florida Orchestra and national touring acts. Katie Pedretty, Director of Public Relations, said the money will go toward renovating the 33-year-old building that has become as much a public space as a private entity. “The lobby will be expanded by more than 6,000 square feet to include…

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Donald Trump campaign: manager “absolutely innocent” of assaulting reporter

in 2017/Top Headlines by

The Donald Trump campaign issued a swift response to the criminal charges which came down on campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Monday, saying he is “absolutely innocent” of misdemeanor battery. Police allege Lewandowski grabbed former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields at a press conference in Florida earlier this month after Fields attempted to ask Trump a question. According to first-hand accounts of the incident, Fields was “clearly roughed up” and fell to the ground after Lewandowski grabbed her by the arm. “Mr. Lewandowski was issued a Notice to Appear and…

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Florida Chamber to partner with FAU research professor on water policy

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The pro-business Florida Chamber announced a new “educational partnership” with Dr. Brian Lapointe of Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute on Monday. The longstanding Tallahassee advocacy group said they will work with Lapointe in order to develop “strong, science-based water quality standards” as Florida population continues towards an estimated 26 million by 2030, bringing with that growth a 30 percent increase in demand on the state’s already-strained water supply. In an statement announcing the partnership with Lapointe, who has studied South…

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Marco Rubio donors to remain secret indefinitely

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Much was made of Jeb Bush‘s relentless maneuvering when it came to early fundraising, but the actual dark money pioneer of 2016 may well be U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. As Shane Goldmacher writes in POLITICO, the Florida senator’s top moneymen allies at Conservative Solutions Project managed to stake out a novel arrangement that will allow the sources of more than $10 million in funding for opposition research, mailers, and TV ads will remain forever unknown to the public. “It is now the model for a how a…

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Rick Scott signs raft of 33 bills into law

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A day after signing nine bills into law on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott gave final approval to 33 bills passed during the 2016 Legislative Session late Thursday morning. The raft of newly enacted legislation includes HB 93 by Democratic Rep. Shevrin Jones, which requires Florida law enforcement agencies to “establish policies and procedures regarding the use” of police body cameras. The bill does not require all police to actually use the cameras, but it does appear it could hasten the arrival of police body cameras…

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