Republican state Sen. Paula Dockery jumped into the governor's race Tuesday, saying she's used to the role of underdog and winning. ...more

November 4, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - In the ebb and flow of politics, few qualities approach inevitability for power and influence. Whether wielded on behalf of a cause or a candidate, inevitability is the mother of all pre-emptive strikes. ...more

November 1, 2009

Gambling is getting easier for Floridians. That's because the Florida Lottery is rolling out the first of 1,000 instant ticket vending machines this week, starting in Tampa and Fort Myers. ...more

August 19, 2009

Prosecutors have dropped a case against a woman accused of stealing three large drawings from Mark Lunsford, the father of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford who was kidnapped and killed in 200 ...more

June 7, 2009

A forward-thinking bill meant to defend Florida's military bases from indiscriminate budget cuts is progressing in the Legislature. And that should be good for the nation's defense and Florida's economy. ...more

March 31, 2009

It's clear some of our legislators are using bad economic times as an excuse to dismantle state entities that they don't like. In state Rep. Denise Grimsley's case, that's the Department of Community Affairs. ...more

March 27, 2009

To lift its education system out of a darkening economy, the state lined up three academic advisers with first-rate credentials. ...more

March 22, 2009

A special bank account has been opened for contributions to help a 94-year-old woman travel to San Francisco in August to participate in her eighth National Senior Games. ...more

March 21, 2009

The state's judicial oversight group today dropped charges against former state appellate judge Thomas E. Stringer. ...more

March 19, 2009

A recent editorial rebuked the federal government of shortchanging Florida in its effort to provide more educational funds (stimulus) for our schools. How could the feds be so mean to require the state to request a waiver because it had cut funds for education instead of increasing funds? In reviewing Florida's record relating to educational funding, one will discover that Florida had shortchanged education for decades. The late governors Askew, then Collins, tried to turn the tide and move Florida up about 45th in the nation on funding, only to have the Democratic legislature to again decrease funding. Governor Graham worked to improve funding, but again that was reversed. The late Governor Chiles had a Republican legislature that under funded education. The state is currently near the bottom in funding education. ...more

March 15, 2009