2012 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

Bill to make USF Polytechnic state’s 12th university draws debate

Lawmakers are crafting legislation to split the Lakeland campus of the University of South Florida into the...

FORECLOSURES

Landmark settlement with mortgage lenders provides relief for some struggling home owners

$25 billion deal with mortgage lenders

Courts

South Fla. battle brews in case of fake cop who duped court

Lebrak Morales Gomez is accused of claiming to be a Miami-Dade detective and securing the release of a man ...

Palm Beach County

Polo magnate’s kids, adopted girlfriend, share $300M trust fund, court told

Palm Beach County polo mogul John Goodman’s two natural children — and his newly adopted 42-...

REDISTRICTING

Before the ink dries on Florida’s redistricting maps, lawsuits fly

Moments after legislators take the final vote in their congressional and legislative maps, the Democratic P...

2012 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

House approves $69 billion state budget

Amid complaint from Democrats, the Republican-dominated state House approved a $69 billion budget. Next up:...

Lotteries

Saturday’s $310 million Powerball jackpot sets a Florida record

Powerball’s recent price increase to $2 per ticket has sparked the richest lottery we’ve ever...

2012 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

Capitol Buzz: Housing and school bus ads are topics of debate

Catholics Days continues at the Capitol, culminating with Red Mass of the Holy Spirit program at 6 p.m. Not...

Ex-South Florida politician to plead guilty to tax charges in federal corruption probe

Former Fort Lauderdale legislator Mandy Dawson will plead guilty to tax-evasion charges stemming from secre...

Former state Sen. Mandy Dawson to plead guilty to income tax evasion

2012 Florida Legislature

Miami-Dade college president deems budget allocation process unfair

The House budget proposal includes special allocations for a trio of colleges in north and central Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott

Gov. Scott’s Facebook page draws praise and protests

Gov. Rick Scott’s Facebook page is intriguing because the comments to a question about the Florida L...

2012 Florida Legislature

Bills to revamp high school sports spark debate

GAMBLING

Legislators reject attempt to clarify state’s regulation of slot machines

While holes in state gambling laws threaten payments from the Seminoles, legislators rejected regulators&#x...

2012 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

Capitol Buzz: Biden visits Tallahassee to talk jobs

Here’s what we’re watching on Monday edition’s of the 2012 Legislature:

Prisons

Debate on Florida private prisons hinges on cost

Proponents say private prisons would save seven percent over state-run prisons, but opponents are skeptical.

Legislators propose shifting oversight of utility watchdog

A proposal to move the office that represents consumers before state regulators gets mixed reviews, as some...

2012 Florida Legislature

Charter schools seek construction money

Florida school districts are fighting a bill that would require them to share construction dollars with cha...

Explosion at Fla. horse center kills worker, horse

An apparent spark within the high-oxygen chamber of a Florida equine sports medicine center triggered a mas...

Churchill acquires Bluff Media

Churchill Downs Inc., the owner of the racetrack that's home to the Kentucky Derby, is hoping to cash in on...

Report: Non-Solyndra energy loans could cost $3B

The government could lose nearly $3 billion on Energy Department loans for green energy programs - far less...

Fla. prison guard charged in tax fraud scheme

A Florida prison guard is facing allegations she obtained inmates' names and social security numbers from a...

Explosion at horse center kills worker

An explosion at an equine rehabilitation center in north Florida's horse country has killed a worker and a ...

Death row man now turns to US Supreme Court

A man who was denied a stay of execution by the Florida Supreme Court now is asking the U.S. Supreme Court ...

First lady talks nutrition in Florida

Michelle Obama is assuring kids and parents that hamburgers and chicken nuggets aren't completely off-limit...