A bill was approved by the House panel that gives judges discretion in deciding whether to award attorney fees in public-records lawsuits. The bill was created to stop people who flood governments with public records requests just so they can file lawsuits, but may decrease the state's level of government transparency.
Read More »Gaetz: Health Coverage Issue Dead, Focus On ‘Second Tier’ Issues
During the final meeting of Gov. Rick Scott's Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding on Tuesday, Sen. Don Gaetz said proposals about expanding health care coverage for uninsured Floridians could be dead for years. Gaetz added that lawmakers are now focused on "second tier" health issues.
Read More »Alachua County Grower Among 5 Promising Pot Start By February
TALLAHASSEE — Five dispensing organizations selected by state officials, including one from Alachua County, promised lawmakers Wednesday they would meet a deadline next month to get medical-marijuana production off the ground, despite legal challenges that could threaten their licenses. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee received updates from the state Office of Compassionate …
Read More »State Faces Challenges On Marijuana Licenses
Perkins, TropiFlora and Gainesville-based San Felasco Nurseries, which were rejected by health officials for medical-marijuana licenses, are challenging the licenses granted to Florida's first "dispensing organizations." The deadline for appeals is Monday.
Read More »Florida’s Orange Crop In “Free Fall”
The outlook for production of Florida oranges, the state's signature crop, continues to drop. For the second consecutive month, the Florida orange-harvest forecast for the 2015-2016 growing season was adjusted down Wednesday by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Read More »Pot Back In Political Spotlight In Florida
A Quinnipiac University poll last month found that nearly 90 percent of Florida voters support allowing adults to use medical marijuana. Numerous other surveys in Florida and across the country consistently show that a majority of voters endorse medical marijuana for sick and dying patients. Voters next November will almost certainly have the chance to decide whether Florida should legalize medical marijuana.
Read More »UF Journalism Alumnus Talks Alligators At Matheson Museum
UF College of Journalism and Communications alumni Jeff Klinkenberg will speak at the Matheson Museum on Nov. 13 about two things that go hand-in-hand: Florida and alligators.
Read More »Gainesville’s Link To October Extends Far Beyond Halloween
Gainesville holds a special connection to National Bat Appreciation Month, housing one of the largest bat houses in North America and a thriving bat population. Bats influence local agriculture by removing pests and dropping seeds that promote regrowth.
Read More »Taxi Companies Sue State Over Uber, Lyft
Taxi companies in Tallahassee and Broward County are suing the state over app-based transportation services, alleging that Florida officials aren’t requiring Uber and Lyft to prove that the way they calculate trip distances — and charges — is accurate. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services certifies taxi drivers’ meters …
Read More »Gainesville Job Fair Attracts Hundreds Of Hopefuls
Hundreds of job seekers made their their way around the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Multipurpose Center Tuesday morning for the annual Gainesville job fair. Gainesville's unemployment rate increased from 4.3 percent in April to 5 percent in July, so the job fair was just what many people needed.
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