Peter Schorsch - page 486

As the blazes continue to heat up in the western states, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Forest Service is sending dozens of firefighters to aid suppression efforts. “The Florida Forest Service is a talented group of some of the most skilled firefighters in the country,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Thanks to current low wildfire danger levels in Florida, we are able to lend support to other states for the protection of people,…

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A Florida judge is upholding a law that allows elected officials to place their assets in a blind trust instead of reporting each investment publicly. Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper on Monday ruled that politicians can use a blind trust and still comply with a 1976 constitutional amendment that requires officials to disclose their finances. The Florida Legislature passed a law last year authorizing the use of a blind trust. Gov. Rick Scott is the only public official who…

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House District 67 hopeful Shawna Vercher’s finances are not quite what they appear, according to state reports intended to give voters an accurate idea of a candidate’s economic health. Instead, Vercher’s financial disclosures raise more questions than they answer. Florida politicians and candidates are required to file reports with the state on July 1, so Floridians have a chance to examine favorable changes in lawmakers’ income, such as assets like houses, stock or vehicles. For the second year, this information…

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When it comes to different labor, educational, legal and social conditions, Florida is among the best states to be female — and by far the best state in the South, according to a study released last week by the University of Connecticut. The study looked at market conditions specific to women, including the gender pay gap, the prevalence of women in traditional female occupations, maternity leave provisions, and the cost of child care. The study also looked at educational attainment by women…

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While upsets in sports are generally enjoyed by the masses (some opponents included!) and provide excellent fodder for inspirational stories and movies, the same is untrue in electoral contests — at least according to a new study out of the University of Georgia. To the contrary, the study finds that people who had back a “surprise loser” in an election often have less trust in government and democracy following the loss.  Barry Hollander, professor of journalism and mass communication, believes…

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Perhaps not surprising for an incumbent governor, search engine activity has been more active for Rick Scott than for Charlie Crist over the past year, excepting for July 2013 when the former Republican-turned Independent-turned Democrat announced his candidacy. Google Trends offers a little more insight, as well, on where in Florida people have searched for information on each candidate. Crist’s “interest map” lights up heavily along the I-4 corridor, most strongly in his hometown Bay Area, as well as the…

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On Friday, Kartik Krishnaiyer, the editor in chief of The Florida Squeeze political website, announced that he would be posting less frequently to the blog because he is taking a position with George Sheldon’s Attorney General campaign.  The Florida Squeeze is the successor to The Political Hurricane and is the best amateur blog in the state in terms of being a purely opinionated, run-and-gun forum for the expression and exchange of ideas. (My site — with its staff of veteran journalists and…

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