politics

Would Two Presidents Be Better Than One?

Joseph Cooper, Bonnie Berman and Paul Leary — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Why Lawmakers Choose Myths Over Evidence

Joseph Cooper, Bonnie Berman and Paul Leary — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Watchdog Report Publisher Dan Ricker

Joseph Cooper, Bonnie Berman and Paul Leary — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

How Florida's Senate President Would Change Teacher Evaluations

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:41:47 +0000

Florida’s Senate President says the state’s teacher evaluation system is confusing and should be reworked so teacher ratings more closely match those of the schools they work in.

Senate President Don Gaetz, a former school board member and elected superintendent, says schools should no longer evaluate some teachers based on test scores of students they haven’t taught.

In Reversal, Gov. Rick Scott Agrees To Medicaid Expansion In Florida

Julie Rovner — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:30:41 +0000

Perhaps Florida Gov. Rick Scott's motto should be "never say never."

After the U.S.

DNC Chair: 'Unbelievable Oppression' In Cuba Makes Continuing Embargo Necessary

Christine DiMattei — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

The leader of the Democratic National Committee says the U.S. embargo of Cuba should remain in place, in spite of recent reforms in the Communist island nation.

Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke before a crowd of over 500 people Friday at an event sponsored by the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.

The DNC chair says it doesn't make sense to lift the embargo, in light of what she calls the "unbelievable oppression" in Cuba.

Richard Blanco, Inaugural Poet, Lived 'The Quintessential American Experience'

Steve Watkins — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:06:00 +0000

Richard Blanco is home now, back in Miami after a six-year journey that launched the award-winning poet and FIU double-graduate into what was supposed to be the “real America.”

“The great prodigal return,” he calls it, the irony evident in his voice – not only about the places he’s been, but about the place he’s come back to. The journey has shaped much of Blanco’s recent poetry, and his evolving sense of identity as a writer, as the son of Cuban immigrants and as an American.

5 Reasons Crist Shouldn't Run For Governor

Elaine Chen — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:50:47 +0000

If state Democrats have doubts about Charlie Crist's break with the GOP, he'll be giving them more proof on Wednesday.

Crist will be testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Voting Rights on the impact of Florida's 2011 election law. He will be joined by a Democratic state representative from South Carolina and a liberal advocacy group, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

NEWSCAST: Scott Vs. Crist

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 23:21:44 +0000

Obama: Why The 'Fiscal Cliff' Hurts Latin Families

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:37:11 +0000

White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Munoz voices

President Barack Obama’s concerns about what the impact of a failure to reach a budget agreement could mean for Latin families.

Census: The Rest Of America Will Look More Like South Florida

Mark Memmott — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:24:00 +0000

The trends continue:

"The U.S. population will be considerably older and more racially and ethnically diverse by 2060, according to projections released today by the U.S. Census Bureau."

Based on data from the 2010 census, the bureau projects that:

-- "The population age 65 and older is expected to more than double between 2012 and 2060, from 43.1 million to 92.0 million. The older population would represent just over one in five U.S.

NEWSCAST: Florida Lawmakers Weigh In On Debt Crisis

WLRN-Miami Herald News — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:58:02 +0000

Republicans are upset that the president wants the debt ceiling included in budget talks. Meanwhile, former Republican Governor Charlie Crist switches parties.

Details from WLRN-Miami Herald News:

NEWSCAST: Miami-Dade Commissioners OK Prayer

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 23:41:40 +0000

Is Climate Change "Sinking In" For Leaders?

Phil Latzman — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Leaders from throughout the region meet in Jupiter later this week for the fourth annual Regional Climate Leadership Summit, and the timing couldn't be better. Or worse, depending on your perspective.

Pounding surf and high tides from Hurricane Sandy's passage have put the issue front and center, especially in Fort Lauderdale.

In Fiscal Cliff Talks, Higher Taxes Vs. Closing Loopholes

John Ydstie — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:25:00 +0000

The White House and Congress continue to work on a deal that avoids the fiscal cliff and cuts deficits in the long run. One of the biggest hurdles is President Obama's proposal to raise tax rates for the wealthy.

Republicans think a better course would be to raise revenue by closing loopholes and limiting deductions for high-income people.

Why Charlie Crist Supports Democrat's Bill To Restore Early Voting

Rick Stone — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Former Gov. Charlie Crist is standing with state Democrats in favor of a bill to fix election problems that embarrassed the state last week.

State Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg is the House sponsor of the bill, which would restore early voting to 14 days and allow non-government buildings to be used as early voting site.

Crist's name continues to surface as a possible Democratic challenger to Gov. Rick Scott in 2016. He has left the Republican Party and remains an independent who likes to call himself "Citizen Crist."

NEWSCAST: What Happens Next With The Affordable Care Act In Florida

Sammy Mack — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:34:43 +0000

Florida is considering its options while refusing to implement the Affordable Care Act.

Governor Rick Scott has been a harsh critic of the health care reform law. Under Scott’s administration, Florida lead the Supreme Court case against it.

But the Supreme Court upheld most of the Affordable Care Act and last week, Florida voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have banned the individual mandate. That leaves Scott in a tough spot for someone who would rather not implement the law.

Explained: What Health Insurance Exchanges Might Look Like In Florida

Julie Rovner — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:34:00 +0000

Last week's election may have settled the fate of the federal Affordable Care Act, but its implementation after months of uncertainty has caught many of the players unprepared.

Late last week, the federal government extended the deadline for states to decide what they want to do about health exchanges.

NEWSCAST: GOP Leaders Signal A Move To Bipartisanship

WLRN Staff — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:39:11 +0000

Incoming Florida Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) and House Speaker Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) say they want Republicans and Democrats to work together.

Weatherford says the people have spoken in re-electing President Obama.

Palm Beach County Dogged By Ballot Printing Problems

Christine DiMattei — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:31:56 +0000

State election officials say they're keeping an eye on Palm Beach County's operations, after a second printing mishap involving absentee ballots.

The first blunder involved 27,000 absentee ballots with a header missing above the judicial races. The ballots can't be read by Palm Beach County's vote tabulation machines, so election office workers are copying out those forms by hand onto new ballots.

How To Dance To The Preamble Of The United States Constitution

Jordan Levin — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:30:00 +0000

The endless election season is enough to turn anyone cynical about politics. But for a group of female South Dade migrant workers, the idea of democracy is still a wonder.

They've been exploring it at a dance workshop sponsored by Miami-Dade College and the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center. It’s part of the “Are We Democracy” workshop in Cutler Bay. The program was created by the New York dance troupe Urban Bush Women. The idea is to make democracy personal and concrete for everyone.

Florida License Plate Proposal Delayed After Outcry From Tax Collectors

Gina Jordan — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:01:58 +0000

The redesign of Florida license plates is on hold.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles wants new license plates that are easier for toll booth cameras and red light cameras to read.

But the agency withdrew its request for approval by the Florida Cabinet Tuesday.

The DMV is tweaking the plan in part because of concerns by county tax collectors that private companies will be hired to issue the new plates.

How Most College Students Would Prefer To Vote

Christine DiMattei — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:14:02 +0000

Forget booths and absentee ballots.

College students would rather vote using their thumbs, according to a study conducted by telecommunications giant AT&T.

AT&T conducted the survey on one of the most politically galvanized campuses in the nation -- Lynn University in Boca Raton. American politics have played a major role at Lynn since last fall, when the university was chosen to host the last Presidential debate of 2012.

Out of nearly 300 students surveyed, 58 percent say they would use smartphones to cast their ballot if "mobile voting" were available.

Live Video Stream: The Florida Roundup Presidential Debate Special At Lynn University

Daniel Rivero — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:50:09 +0000

Dispatch: The Server And The Cat

Kenny Malone — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:48:15 +0000

During the previous debate, our Dispatches from the Swing State team met an interesting character in a Key West pub -- a local server named Patti Wilde who is originally from Cincinnati and is something of a local celebrity.

Or, as she explains it, "I mean, I used to be. I've been here 30 years so they go, 'oh, Cincinnati Patti's here.' But now they don't do that anymore. They go, 'Larry!'"

"Larry" is Patti Wilde's cat -- a very large cat that sits calmly on the bar stool wherever she goes.

Churches Hope To Unite Flocks After Election

Marva Hinton — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:55:13 +0000

After the final vote is cast next month, the country may be in need of some healing and reconciliation.

That's the idea behind Election Day Communion.

Hundreds of churches across the country will be holding services election night and serving communion including one in South Florida.

Reverend Spencer Potter is the rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Palmetto Bay.

He says the service will be a time for the whole congregation to unite.

'Lynn, Who?': Debate Puts Small Boca Raton University On The Map

Christine DiMattei — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:22:02 +0000

If you’re a small, private university with a less-than-stellar reputation, what’s a good way to boost your profile?

For Lynn University it was a no-brainer: Host one of the most important events in American politics.

"We've been waiting for this moment for a long time," says Dr. Kevin Ross, Lynn University's president.

The “moment” arrives on Monday, when President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney arrive on Lynn’s Boca Raton campus for the third and final presidential debate before Election Day.

Lynn University Invites Tweeters To "Lounge" Around During Debate

Christine DiMattei — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:02:52 +0000

Lynn University students are rolling out the digital red carpet for political watchers in advance of the last Presidential Debate of 2012.

The small Boca Raton university is hosting the final face-off between President Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney on Monday, October 22nd.

Debates Commission: Lynn U.'s Time On The Big Stage Will Pay Off

Christine DiMattei — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:34:12 +0000

A wry symbol on a text message.

Last fall, that was the first inkling Lynn University President Kevin Ross had that his school would be making the history books.

“I was out at lunch and got a text that said, ‘You need to come back to campus immediately,’" recalls Ross. “And it was with a smiley-face after it. So I knew it was good.”

Lynn University To Become 'Mini-United Nations' During Debate

Christine DiMattei — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:52:56 +0000

A week from today, news outlets from all over the world are expected to converge upon Boca Raton's Lynn University for the third and final Presidential Debate of 2012.

And it looks like some foreign journalists won't be needing their pocket English dictionaries as much as they thought.

International students from more than 80 countries make up nearly a quarter of Lynn's student body. University officials say they've worked hard to locate students who will be able to serve as translators.