MORE STORIES

• 

  Capital Punishment

  Execution of murderer raises new questions about the death penalty in Florida

  Paul Augustus Howell, convicted of killing a state trooper, would be the first put to death in Florida after being denied a federal protective review

• 2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

  Renewed fight begins for bill to ban texting and driving

  Thirty-nine states ban text messaging for all drivers. Florida is among six without any ban.
• 

  STAND YOUR GROUND LAW

  Florida task force says no major changes needed to Stand Your Ground law

  Stand Your Ground is a good law that should stay the same, a state task force concluded. Critics of the makeup of the panel said they’re not surprised.

• politics

  St. Pete lawmaker to be next House Democratic leader

  Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg narrowly won a caucus vote to be leader of House Democrats, who are a minority in the Florida Legislature.
• 

  MEDICAID

  Florida Gov. Rick Scott supports Medicaid expansion

  The announcement reflects a dramatic policy reversal for Gov. Rick Scott, who had long pledged to defeat President Barack Obama’s health care law.

• NUCLEAR POWER

  Florida legislators hope to fix nuclear advance fee law

  A Florida law allowing utilities to charge customers in advance for nuclear power projects is proving costly for everyone, except the utilities themselves.

• MEDICAID

  Medicaid expansion faces uncertain future in Legislature

  Top House and Senate leaders are skeptical about the idea of expanding Medicaid to more Floridians.
• 

  POLITICS | NEWS ANALYSIS

  Gov. Rick Scott’s new ideology? ‘Getting reelected,’ some say

  With his call for a dramatic expansion of Medicaid in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott — the onetime outsider-conservative — now is butting heads with some Republican leaders and former supporters.

• CITIZENS PROPERTY

  Gov. Rick Scott outraged over salary increases at Citizens

  Gov. Rick Scott slammed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. for giving out five-figure raises to some of its highest paid executives last year.

• WAGES

  Bill to block local ‘living wage’ ordinance gets push in House

  An Orange County legislator’s plan to stop his local county from enacting a living wage bill also would repeal the proposals in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

• MEDICAID

  Consumer groups push for Medicaid expansion in Florida

  Expanding Medicare in Florida would create 71,300 jobs and $8.9 billion in economic activity, say two consumer groups.

• 2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

  Domestic partnership bill on hold for now

  A measure that would allow for civil unions, granting legal relationship rights to people who aren't married, stalled in a Senate committee

• TRANSPORTATION

  More state spending on roads, ports

  The state plans to increase transportation spending to boost jobs, build more roads, and get the state’s ports ready for the Panama Canal expansion.
• 

  Legislature 2013

  Debate over red-light cameras heats up in Tallahassee

  Once again, a bill is making its way through the Legislature that would eliminate red-light cameras.
• 

  CITIZENS

  Amid higher premiums, Citizens execs land big raises

  Citizens doled out big raises to its top executives while jacking up rates and fending off criticism over various scandals.
• 

  TAXES

  Gov. Rick Scott needs Democrats to pass business tax cut

  As he pushes for a new multimillion-dollar tax cut for manufacturers, Gov. Rick Scott finds himself in the unfamiliar position of needing Democratic votes.
• 

  CAMPAIGN FINANCE

  Greer whistleblower blasts loopholes in campaign finance bill

  The campaign finance bill pushed by Republican leaders is coming under fire from an unusual source — the former budget chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

• STATE BUDGET

  State’s flawed contracting process comes under fire

  State leaders vow to make changes in the state’s contracting sytem after facing financial losses.

• FLORIDA 2013 LEGISLATURE

  Lawmakers take aim at limits on alimony payments

  A bill would rein in the amount of time that alimony payments could be required, eliminating the idea of permanent idea.
• 

  SUN LIFE STADIUM RENOVATIONS | MIAMI DOLPHINS

  Miami-Dade County may require NFL to commit to a Super Bowl before agreeing to stadium fix-up money

  Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the Dolphins have agreed to a countywide vote on using tax dollars to renovate Sun Life. But he may hold back funds if the NFL snubs South Florida.

• 2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

  Gov. Rick Scott turns to lobbyists to help push his agenda

  In an about-face, Gov. Rick Scott is asking lobbyists to help get his agenda through the Legislature.
• 

  In My Opinion

  Fred Grimm: A stadium upgrade? Broward loves it — if Dade pays

  I love sailing. So I have a friend with a sailboat.

• Education

  With millions at stake, tutoring lobby goes into action

  Florida won a waiver from a requirement that school districts hire tutors, but the industry made sure the money kept flowing.

• CAMPAIGN FINANCE

  House moves ahead with plan to end slush funds, raise campaign contribution limits to $10,000

  Candidates for political office could raise up to $10,000 per donor under a new plan that critics say will also concentrate power in the party and favor incumbents.
• 

  PolitiFact Florida

  Fla. House Speaker says state’s campaign contribution limit is nation’s second-lowest

  PolitiFact Florida checked out House Speaker Will Weatherford’s claim on Florida’s contribution limit and ruled it false.
• 

  2013 LEGISLATURE

  Red-light camera opponents find questionable champion in Rep. Campbell

  State Rep. Daphne Campbell of Miami, whose husband’s car has received five tickets, is sponsoring legislation to outlaw red-light cameras.
• 

  STATE BUDGET

  Cashing in on state contracts becomes growth industry

  Florida’s two-decades-long push to shift state services to contract vendors has meant big business for a burgeoning industry of lobbyists.
• 

  ‘anti-aging’ clinics

  Legal loopholes fuel growth of steroid clinics in South Florida

  Legal loopholes have allowed the growth of ‘anti-aging’ clinics in South Florida, making the region one of the top markets in the country for illegal steroids and growth hormones.

• 2013 LEGISLATURE | RETIREMENT FUNDS

  401(k) bill passes first test

  A bill placing all new state employees in a 401(k)-style retirement plan passed a House subcommittee on a party-line vote Thursday, setting up a major showdown between legislative Republicans and public workers’ unions.
• 

  DOLPHINS STADIUM DEAL

  Miami-Dade lawmakers mum on stadium tax deal for Dolphins

  The Miami-Dade delegation of lawmakers finalized a list of 2013 priorities that is conspicuously silent on the controversial Dolphins stadium deal.

• INSURANCE

  Citizens Insurance reform plan could cost property owners more money

  A draft proposal of a bill to reform Citizens Property Insurance — obtained by the Herald/Times — could have costly repercussions for millions of Florida property owners.

• HIGHER EDUCATION

  UF, FSU face off over Gov. Rick Scott's proposed $15 million bonus

  Questions are being raised about a provision in Gov. Rick Scott’s $74.2 billion budget that would single out the University of Florida for $15 million to help in its quest to become a top university.
• 

  STADIUM FINANCING

  Dolphins get unanimous support for stadium tax deal in first Senate hearing

  The Dolphins’ chances at getting a tax deal appear strong, but they have competition because several other sports facilities in Florida are lining up to try out for tax deals of their own.

• POLITICS

  Judge orders state to release emails in suit over Gov. Scott's plan for Tallahassee park

  Some governors left bronze statues behind. Others contributed a library or a sun room to the Governors’ Mansion.

• ELECTIONS

  Lawmakers want major changes in fixing long voting lines

  Some lawmakers are considering strengthening state officials’ authority to remove county supervisors of elections after voting snafus in November led to long lines and voter anger.

• ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES

  ALF reform bill moves forward

  A proposal to police assisted living facilities and punish those that that abuse or neglect their residents was approved unanimously Tuesday by the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee Tuesday.

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  Report calls Florida business incentives “corporate welfare’’

  A new report blames Florida’s jobs agencies for engaging in ‘corporate welfare’ through tax deals for firms that move to Florida.

• HOSPITALS

  Hold off on new state trauma centers, panel warns

  A statewide moratorium on new trauma centers would mean no new trauma centers in Florida until criteria is established to determine how and where to create new facilities.

• State wins approval for senior Medicaid overhaul

  Federal health officials have approved a key part of Florida’s effort to transform its Medicaid program, clearing the way for tens of thousands of senior citizens across the state to move into managed-care plans.

• INSURANCE

  More mismanagement issues arise at Citizens Insurance

  A new report by state regulators raps Citizens Insurance for spending millions of dollars on expensive contracts, corporate travel and unoccupied office space.

• VOTING

  Gov. Rick Scott's elections adviser urges redo on early voting law

  Secretary of State Ken Detzner echoed the views of county election supervisors to offer more early voting days.

• POLITICS

  Emails show legislative staff talked with party over redistricting maps

  Despite new rules that prohibited legislators from coordinating with political parties in the once-a-decade redistricting process, emails show House and Senate staff were in communication with Republican party staff and consultants on the issues

• BUSINESS

  Gov. Rick Scott promotes Florida through branding campaign

  Gov. Rick Scott has launched a new business brand for Florida to pitch the state as “the perfect climate for business.”

• In My Opinion

  Fabiola Santiago: Florida lawmakers’ kissing up to gun industry is real scandal

  I propose a new nickname for Florida: State of the Absurd.

• POLITICS / ANALYSIS

  Miami-Dade County Commission helps Miami Dolphins more than voters

  Miami-Dade Commission’s plan to raise hotel taxes and give the Miami Dolphins an additional $3 million annual state subsidy has the slimmest of chances of passage in the Florida Legislature.
• 

  2013 LEGISLATURE

  Florida House speaker wants 401(k) for state retirement accounts

  House Speaker Will Weatherford wants to eliminate pensions for all new employees and replace them with 401(k)-style accounts.

• TALLAHASSEE

  Growers want state to give them 30-year no-bid access to Everglades land

  Environmentalists warn that if Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet sign off on the no-bid proposal, they lose some of their leverage at getting the companies to reduce pollution.

• Lawmakers consider to put in place health insurance exchanges under Obamacare

  Two experts agreed on little about the federal health law, but there was one bit of common ground : Florida should go slow in its approach to a health-insurance exchange.

• State government

  Gun makers feast on Florida tax breaks

  Florida has handed out generous economic incentives and tax breaks to companies and industries currently under fire for their roles in America’s cultural violence.

• Online chat Tuesday to lead up to town hall on legislative session

  Tallahassee is 480 miles away, and for many in South Florida it might as well be on another continent.

• COURTS

  Few blacks appointed to judgeships by Gov. Rick Scott

  In a state as diverse as Florida, racial and ethnic diversity in the court system has been a concern for decades, and it erupted anew last week in the state Capitol.

• FLORIDA LEGISLATURE 2013

  Major ethics bill unveiled in Tallahassee

  The bill introduced in the Senate is considered the most significant piece of ethics legislation in decades.

• State budget

  Senate starts over in quest to build a transparency website

  A state Senate panel wanting to make the budget more open to the public struggled to find a solution.

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM

  Florida Supreme Court upholds law requiring state workers to contribute 3 percent of pay to state pension plan

  The ruling means that state and local workers in the Florida Retirement System will have their salaries permanently reduced to offset three percent of the state’s contribution to their retirement accounts.
• 

  VOTING

  Florida Gov. Rick Scott calls for more early voting days, sites

  Gov. Rick Scott is recommending that state should allow supervisors of elections to offer up to 14 days of early voting – the number of days allowed before lawmakers shortened the early voting period two years ago.

• STAND YOUR GROUND LAW

  Democratic lawmakers, tearful Trayvon Martin’s mother demand repeal of Stand your Ground law

  Flanked by lawmakers, the mother of Trayvon Martin fought back tears Tuesday as she called for the repeal of the Stand Your Ground law, which she believes has been used as a shield by the man who shot her son.
• 

  GUN CONTROL

  Scott supports review of state gun laws: ‘I want people to feel safe’

  Gov. Rick Scott, who has declined to say specifically what he thinks should be done to protect schools from mass shooters, said lawmakers should "look at our laws" about the issue, but refused to say whether gun laws need to be changed.

• politics

  Gov. Scott scolded by legislative black caucus

  Members of the legislative black caucus scolded Florida Gov. Rick Scott for decisions he’s made or skirted during the first two years of his administration during a testy noon-hour meeting.

• POLITICS

  Support mounts to allow unlimited political contributions in Florida

  An ethics watchdog group says it’s time to end all pretense that regulators can limit campaign contributions and proposes unlimited campaign contributions and real-time reporting

• Elder affairs

  Senator vows to revive ALF reform efforts

  State Sen. Eleanor Sobel pledged to renew efforts to rein in or close dangerous assisted living facilities. Those proposals fizzled at the end of last year’s session.

• HEALTHCARE

  Lawmakers review Obamacare impact on Medicaid, small businesses

  As lawmakers decide how — or whether — to move forward with parts of the federal Affordable Care Act, House and Senate select committees plunged Monday into issues such as a potential expansion of the Medicaid program and the law’s effects on Florida businesses.

• CAMPAIGNS

  2012 campaign dollars poured into unlimited accounts

  Three out of four dollars spent in the 2012 election cycle skirted the state’s campaign caps, streaming into political committees where there is less disclosure and public transparency

• MEDICAID

  Hospitals that serve Florida’s neediest patients concerned about proposed change to Medicaid payments

  Hospitals that serve Florida’s neediest patients stand to lose the most under a new system for how the state doles out Medicaid dollars.
• 

  Social services

  Parents of disabled kids blast Florida care

  State lawmakers heard from parents of disabled children, who said the state seems to prefer warehousing their kids in nursing homes for seniors rather have them be taken care of at home.

• TRANSPORTATION

  Report: Crashes at red-light camera intersections are down

  Safety stats may have a say in whether the cameras are here to stay.

• COURTS

  Judge orders state to pay attorney fees in drug test case

  The judge said the state must pay nearly $200,000 in attorney fees to the the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 79, which filed suit last year.
• 

  Memorial set for 2002 Florida gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride

  A memorial service for Bill McBride, the Florida Democrat who defeated Janet Reno for the party’s gubernatorial nomination in 2002 but lost to Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, will be held later this week in Tampa.
• 

  POLITICS

  New poll: Many Florida voters say they wouldn’t re-elect Scott as governor

  Although the governor has made good on his promise to create jobs, most voters give the credit to President Obama rather than Rick Scott.
• 

  POLITICS

  Charlie Crist trashes Gov. Rick Scott in Senate hearing over bad voting ‘joke’

  Let the 2014 election begin: Former Gov. Charlie Crist bashed Gov. Rick Scott over a “partisan” election law — only hours after the incumbent acknowledged fixes are needed.

• POLITICS

  House Speaker apologies for behavior of unruly Republicans

  House leader says he won’t drop investigation into allegations of drinking and bad behavior at front desk of swanky Disney hotel.

• Florida Supreme Court

  Florida court strikes down law that banned loud music from cars

  The Florida Supreme Court has struck down a law that made it illegal for music coming from a car to be “plainly audible” from 25 feet or more.

• POLITICS

  Legislative leaders dish out salary increases to top staff

  Although thousands of state workers have not received pay raises in years, top legislative leaders gave their top staff higher salaries.

• Juvenile justice

  Report on Dozier School raises new questions about deaths

  The release of a new report detailing the deaths of children at a scandal-plagued Panhandle boys’ prison raises new questions about the reformatory’s history.

• POLITICS

  Senate President Don Gaetz cancels on governor to avoid rule violation

  To avoid any Senate rules violations, Senate President Don Gaetz declined an invited to dinner with Gov. Rick Scott.

• State lawmakers cautious about projected $437 million budget surplus

  Initial, positive indications about Florida’s budget for the coming fiscal year could be overtaken by events if the Florida Supreme Court strikes down changes to state employees or the nation plunges over the fiscal cliff, the state’s top economist warned Wednesday.

• GAMBLING

  Genting abandons gambling petition drive

  After spending nearly $1 million to gear up for a petition campaign to put a casino amendment on the 2014 ballot, the casino giant withdraws its plans — for now.

• HIGHER EDUCATION

  Fla. university leaders want to avoid tuition hike

  State university presidents and student government leaders are offering Florida lawmakers a deal in exchange for not raising tuition next year.

• PRISONS

  Judge mostly rejects Fla. prison medical outsourcing

  A judge blocked plans to privatize health care services in three of Florida’s four prison system regions, but the state said it would appeal.

• INSURANCE

  Citizens loan deal draws critcism at House panel hearing in Tallahassee

  A controversial plan to loan $350 million to established private insurers to take out policies from the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. had skeptics on a House panel that will oversee insurance issues.

• ANALYSIS

  To win in 2014, Florida Democrats must build on momentum

  There is no more important question facing Democrats than whether they can take advantage of demographic changes in Florida like President Barack Obama did.

• POLITICS

  State ethics commission: State Rep. Erik Fresen may have failed to disclose personal finances

  State Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, said allegations that he may have failed to properly disclose his annual net worth, assets, and liabilities are “baseless and pointless.”
• 

  florida

  Florida Gov. Rick Scott is Colombia-bound

  Gov. Rick Scott was headed to Colombia in order to build business ties, his seventh overseas visit since taking office.

• Healthcare

  New study: Medicaid expansion could cost Florida $8.9 billion over 10 years

  Medicaid expansion under Obamacare could cover an additional 1.6 million people in Florida. But even if the state opts out, about 370,000 people will be added to the program.

• STATE BUDGET

  Legislative leaders are ready to shelve a $5 million budget-tracking program

  A $5 million program to monitor revealing details of the state budget has been kept under wraps and now may not become active unless state leaders agree to put it into place by the end of the year.

• FLORIDA LEGISLATURE 2013

  Lawmakers heard the voters on Election Day: They say they’ll work together — at least for now

  After years of increasingly intense hyper-partisan warfare, Republicans and Democrats sound serious — so far, anyway — about working for the common good of Floridians.

• Tallahassee

  New House speaker faces post-election challenges

  Will Weatherford, the youngest speaker in recent Florida history, will lead a chamber that still has a large GOP majority, though the party lost seats in the election.

• TOURISM

  Questions raised over cost of recruiting Visit Florida CEO position

  Visit Florida’s board spent $45,000 for a national search for a new CEO. The recruiting firm only found two candidates, both from Florida.

• POLITICS

  Leftover political donations went to Florida GOP

  The party banked almost $1 million from donations from unopposed candidates, who cut the party checks from their campaign accounts.

• Tallahassee

  Fired investigators uncovered evidence of misconduct at Citizens’ top levels

  Before they were fired by Citizens Property Insurance, four corporate investigators were looking into allegations of misconduct by top executives.

• Healthcare reform | Medicaid

  Florida facing quick deadline to increase Medicaid providers’ pay

  Federal healthcare reform requires states to increase Medicaid payments to primary care doctors on Jan. 1. But it’s unclear if Florida’s Republican leadership will approve the pay hike.

• POLITICS

  State representative wants early voting expanded

  State Rep. Darryl Rouson wants the early voting period to be restored to 14 days.

• EDUCATION

  Rick Scott’s education priorities: Keep funding steady, expand charter schools

  The Republican governor has crafted a set of education proposals to send to the Legislature in the spring with the goal of better preparing students for college and jobs.

• CAMPAIGN 2012 / STATE HOUSE

  Rookie battles veteran in state House race

  A longtime Republican lawmaker and a Democratic newcomer are facing off in a closely watched battle for state House.

• ABSENTEE BALLOTS

  Judge rejects Florida House primary challenge

  A judge ruled against a challenge to a 13-vote victory in the Democratic primary election for a Florida House seat in Miami-Dade County.

• INSURANCE

  Citizens eliminates ‘corporate integrity’ office

  Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has dismantled its corporate integrity unity, even as its workload was increasing amid rising allegations of waste, fraud and abuse at the state-run insurer.

• ABSENTEE VOTING

  Signature a must for absentee ballots

  Want your vote to count? Be sure to sign your absentee ballot, election officials say

• INSURANCE

  Key lawmaker wants Legislature to review Citizens plans

  The incoming speaker of the Florida House called for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to put the brakes on a controversial plan to lend $350 million from its surplus to private companies.

• Tallahassee

  Protesters: Florida amendment will slice spending on social services

  Seniors, pastors, students and labor unions held a rally against Amendment 3, which would change state spending caps, and potentially cut social services.

• CAMPAIGN 2012

  GOP hopes of a Senate takeover fade

  The presidential race isn’t the only unpredictable war for control of Washington this year. Keep an eye on the U.S. Senate.

• CRIME

  State rep’s aide arrested for grand theft involving Haitian constituents of lawmaker

  A legislative aide working in state Rep. Daphne Campbell’s Miami Shores office was arrested for grand theft.

• Tallahassee

  Future House speaker’s big donors fund lavish political operation

  State Rep. Chris Dorworth has an almost unmatched ability to raise and spend political money, but his personal finances are a shambles.

• In My Opinion

  A roulette wheel that pretends it isn’t

  Players hover around the table, regarding a small metal ball as it dances around the circumference of a spinning roulette wheel that isn’t a roulette wheel. Not in Florida. Because, well, roulette’s illegal here, isn’t it?

• PINECREST

  Pinecrest mayor says state senator backs FPL against his constituents

  Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner accused state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla of supporting Florida Power & Light instead of his constituents.

• STAND YOUR GROUND LAW

  Local activists and families urge state task force to repeal Stand Your Ground

  A statewide task force reviewing the controversial Stand Your Ground law held its first Miami-Dade meeting in Cutler Bay.

• STATE CONTRACTS

  Bad economic deal could leave Florida on the hook for $20 million

  A Port St. Lucie company that got $20 million from the state has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, laying off hundreds of employees and likely leaving state taxpayers without a dime on their investment.

• COURTS

  State Supreme Court hears arguments in controversial state pension fund case

  Thousands of teachers, police, and other government workers could see some pay cuts restored if the Florida Supreme Court agrees with a lower court ruling over state pensions.

• Miami-Dade politics

  Two more defeated candidates in Miami-Dade challenge election results, citing absentee ballot fraud probe

  The lawsuits, filed by legislative candidate Paul Crespo and judicial candidate Alex Jimenez Labora, come after a defeated mayoral candidate and the Miami-Dade property appraiser also contested the election.

• POLITICS

  Florida’s election year trends: fewer voters, unopposed candidates

  How many votes does it take to get elected to the Florida Legislature? The answer: zero in 38 legislative districts this year.

• In My Opinion

  These politicians need to pay up

  As of Monday, 2,313 public officials still haven’t bothered to file the financial disclosure declarations required by Florida law. The forms were due on July 1.

• 2012 CAMPAIGN

  John Patrick Julien claims electoral fraud in House District 107 race

  The race for House District 107 was won by 13 votes, but the losing candidate alleges electoral fraud.
• 

  CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE | SECOND OF THREE PARTS

  Florida Legislature turns blind eye to property insurance reform

  With the backing of Gov. Rick Scott, and a mostly silent Legislature, Citizens has advanced an aggressive agenda of higher rates and reduced coverage.

• POLITICS

  NRA takes aim at Florida gun law

  Proposed change would allow legal holders of concealed-weapons permits to carry exposed guns in public.
• 

  POLITICS

  State Senate race becomes a rematch between the Bullards and Saunders

  The Democrat-dominated Senate District 39 is a contest between two incumbent lawmakers — a Keys native and a Miami teacher, both with deep political roots.

• Campaign 2012 | Florida House District 111

  Fight between House GOP hopefuls heads to court

  The legislative campaign between Rep. Eddy Gonzalez of Hialeah and his challenger in the Republican primary, Maykel “Miguel” Balboa, has moved into the courts, with Gonzalez filing a wide-ranging complaint Monday seeking to have Balboa kicked off the ballot and an allied political group dissolved.
• 

  POLITICS

  Former speaker of the House may get state to pay his legal bills

  Ray Sansom’s career as speaker of the House was one of the shortest in Florida history.

• An uncensored peek at Gov. Scott’s e-mail

  An absolutely true news item: To erase the perception that it was censoring public records, the office of Gov. Rick Scott has announced it will no longer delete unflattering correspondence from the governor’s official email account.

• AUTO INSURANCE

  PIP changes might not lower insurance bills for drivers, report says

  Auto insurance reform laws passed by the Florida Legislature to lower premiums may not decrease your bill.
• 

  CRIME

  Exonerated Fla. man charged in recent shooting

  Since being exonerated of rape and released from 24 years in prison, Alan Jerome Crotzer has been an outspoken advocate for those wrongfully held in Florida’s prisons. This week, he was back in jail in Tallahassee on a charge of attempted murder. S

• POLITICS

  Some Florida lawmakers see wealth rise while in office

  Florida state senators have grown their wealth by an average of $800,000 since taking office, according to a study by the Tallahassee group Integrity Florida. But the opposite is true for members of the Florida House.

• Proposals to reform ALFs hit resistance

  Owners clashed with elder advocates as the state work group created to improve Florida’s assisted living facilities met for the second time this year.

• HURRICANE INSURANCE

  Citizens’ cash eyed by private insurers

  Citizens Property Insurance is considering paying private companies millions of dollars to take over its policies.

• Florida politics

  Florida appeals Miami federal judge ruling blocking law prohibiting hiring of companies tied to Cuba

  Gov. Rick Scott’s administration will continue defending the legislation, which has been challenged in court by the Coral Gables-based affiliate of Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht.

• Thousands in Miami-Dade face loss of child-care subsidies

  As state child-care administrators seek a fairer way to distribute scarce pre-school dollars, thousands in Miami will find themselves with no where to go in search of day care.

• Tallahassee

  Lawmakers looking to tackle gaming regulation

  The state may even renegotiate its gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe a year early.

• 2012 CAMPAIGN

  Unlimited campaign contributions finding a route to Florida lawmakers

  Dozens of state lawmakers are taking advantage of a legal loophole that allows them to raise and spend millions from special interest groups.

• In My Opinion

  Unchecked power let union bosses betray teachers

  Before Pat Tornillo was a crook, he was a union hero. He built the old Dade Classroom Teachers Association into the negotiating force that became United Teachers of Dade. He was a leader of the 1968 statewide teacher strike that brought an end to Florida’s notion of the submissive schoolmarm.

• GAMBLING

  Genting dollars fuel possible ballot drive

  A political action committee linked to the Genting Group has spent nearly $600,000 on what appears to be an effort to put a constitutional amendment for casino gambling on the ballot in 2014.

• Gov. Rick Scott veto hurts legal assistance program for poor

  A day after the governor vetoed $142 million from the state budget, officials at an organization that provides legal help for low income Floridians said the decision will mean fewer attorneys.

• FLORIDA BUDGET

  Agency chiefs may face working closer to home

  Agency heads would have to live near Tallahassee, with a tighter control on their travel expenses, under a new legislative proposal that followed reports of travel costs for three agency directors.

• Leaving Tallahassee

  Ten state lawmakers from Miami-Dade and Broward are leaving office this year. Here's a look at their tenure in the Legislature.

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