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Janet Cruz latest Democrat to call for Frank Artiles resignation

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Florida Democratic Minority House Leader Janet Cruz is calling for Miami Republican Sen. Frank Artiles to step down, following the outrage over published remarks of his racist comments to black Democratic lawmakers. “Frank Artiles’ comments Monday night transcend politics and get to the idea of who we are as people,” said the Tampa Representative in a statement issued late Wednesday afternoon. Her response was the latest in a series of calls by Democrats for Artiles to resign. The Florida Legislative Black Caucus, which includes seven…

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Florence Snyder: Let’s hope someone loves Frank Artiles enough to get him some help

in Statewide by

On a busy day of hearings in a busy week of the legislative session, a south Florida woman wanted a picture of herself and a friend and the rain pouring outside the Knott Building. She scanned the immediate vicinity for a friendly face, and held her iPhone out to Jacksonville’s Audrey Gibson. Plainly the tourist had no idea that Gibson was a member of an elite, exclusive, and powerful club. The tourist was utterly unaware that the elegant lady she…

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Andrew Gillum: Frank Artiles needs to go

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Andrew Gillum is refusing to forgive Miami Republican Frank Artiles, who apologized on the Senate floor Wednesday for using the N-word toward two black lawmakers. The Tallahassee mayor, an African-American who is running for governor next year, says Artiles needs to resign from the Florida Senate. “We have struggled with days when these words were too common,” Gillum said. “They are the ugliest words in our language and they tear at the fabric of our society. They have no place in 2017, just…

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Of course, Frank Artiles should resign. Does the Senate have the steel to make that happen?

in Peter by

My father-in-law being a U.S. Marine, I’ve learned not to use the past tense to describe his service. Even at 67 years old, my father-in-law is a Marine, not was a Marine. Republican state Senate Frank Artiles is a Marine, not was a Marine. Volunteering to serve our country shows Artiles has far more courage than I’ve ever had in my life; for that, Artiles — no matter what he says or does — deserves respect. But now, Artiles must find a…

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Bottoms up: Beer, booze bills clear Senate committee

in Statewide/Top Headlines by
beer booze cheers

Let freedom pour: Bills aimed at changing beer and booze regulations in Florida have cleared their latest review panel. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee OK’d measures that would allow beer distributors to give free branded beer glasses to bars and restaurants, authorize beer companies to advertise in theme parks and let craft distillers sell more bottles directly to consumers. Sen. Frank Artiles, the Miami-Dade Republican sponsoring the glass bill (SB 1040), told committee members the measure would benefit small businesses…

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Legislation would require reporting on race disparities in criminal sentencing

in Statewide by

Sponsors of legislation requiring the state to produce a report each year on criminal sentencing disparities based on race said Monday that they don’t mean an attack on judges but need to know what the data show. “I’ve heard there’s been some consternation from some judges,” said Sen. Audrey Gibson, a Democrat from Jacksonville. “The bill is not about judges. It’s justice, and it’s about data. Nobody should fear data,” she said. “The data already exists. The bill simply asks…

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Senate committee OK’s 3 bills: job protection, veteran IDs, emergency management

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Three bills were passed unanimously Tuesday by members of the Senate Military and Veteran’s Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee as legislators shuffled back into the state capital following a long holiday weekend. Gulf Breeze Republican Doug Broxson, the committee’s vice-chair, led the 45-minute meeting. SB 370, introduced by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel, requires certain public and private employers to provide up to 15 days “of unpaid leave to an employee engaged in a Civil Air Patrol mission, or training,” prohibiting…

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