The state's transportation future will be shaped this week by one clear, difficult choice. If modern passenger rail service is to come to Florida any time soon, the Legislature must pass a new law in special session that sets up a statewide structure to oversee and help pay for regional and city-to-city trains. ...more

December 6, 2009

State Senate President Jeff Atwater has sent legislators a summary of new legislation on the controversial SunRail proposal, to be debated in a special legislative session starting Thursday morning. ...more

December 1, 2009

State Senate President Jeff Atwater told senators the new legislation would set up a set up a statewide authority similar to the state Turnpike Enterprise to oversee rail transit systems, and solve the problems that led to SunRail's defeat in the last two legislative sessions. ...more

November 30, 2009

SunRail backers in the state Senate continue to press for a special session to jumpstart the Central Florida commuter rail project. ...more

November 6, 2009

SunRail backers in the state Senate continue to press for a special session to jump start the Central Florida commuter rail project. ...more

November 5, 2009

With the swine flu, high unemployment and plummeting housing prices, Sun City Center has not been immune to national problems. Part-time residents here, however, can always count on cheery friends and neighbors to welcome them back every November. ...more

November 4, 2009

Lost sovereignty Editor: It is my understanding that President Barack Obama will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. I have read that the president will sign a treaty without seeking a two-thirds ratification of the treaty by the Senate, or any other type of Congressional approval. I read that most of the world will sign it. It is my understanding that this treaty will bring the United States into a position of submission to the rest of the world and bring us more than ever under the control of the U.N. ...more

October 27, 2009

The Senate has sent Gov. Charlie Crist's office a long list of questions about his latest gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe. ...more

September 15, 2009

Senate President Jeff Atwater will run for Chief Financial Officer. ...more

May 15, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist drew chuckles Monday when he introduced Don Winstead as Florida's "stimulus czar" - the key official charged with riding herd over $13.4 billion in federal stimulus money expected by the state. ...more

March 24, 2009