Florida's Latest News

Tampa voters will decide one of Florida's most competitive Senate races

A political newcomer with a storied military career is vying to unseat an incumbent Tampa Bay Democrat with deep ties to the region in one of the state’s most competitive Senate races.

A steady stream of attack ads have flooded airwaves and mailboxes in the closely watched contest between state Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, and Republican Jay Collins in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 election.

Cruz was first elected to the Senate in 2018 after spending eight years in the House, where she served as minority leader. Cruz, who was born in Tampa, defeated Republican incumbent Dana Young in a contentious 2018 contest that also was one of the Senate’s marquee races.

Collins, who served in the U.S. Army Special Forces, has a lengthy military resume that includes multiple deployments to war-torn regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The Purple Heart veteran was wounded several times in combat, with one injury later requiring amputation of one of his legs.

Tracing the dollars in Florida's political money puzzle

Political committees connected to Florida Power & Light, Florida Crystals and other large corporations have contributed millions of dollars in state elections, including hundreds of thousands to top-of-the-ticket races as well as the majority of state senate races.

As reported in independent journalist Jason Garcia’s Seeking Rents newsletter, executives at the Associated Industries of Florida control five political committees that receive the lion's share of its funds from six companies: Disney, Florida Blue, Florida Crystals, U.S. Sugar, HCA Healthcare and FPL. Since 2019, about 82% of the nearly $30 million contributed to those political committees, or PCs for short, came from those companies.

The five committees are Associated Industries of Florida Political Action Committee, Florida Prosperity Fund, Floridians United for Our Children, Floridians for a Stronger Democracy and Voice of Florida Business. 

Which nursing homes are Gold Seal worthy? Panel meets to discuss applicants

Six Florida nursing homes are vying for “Gold Seal” status. Members of the Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care will meet Tuesday to consider applications that were submitted by the facilities.

Two of the applicants, Village on the Green in Longwood and Mayflower Health Care Center in Winter Park, are submitting initial applications.

Village on The Green was cited with several deficiencies in a summer re-licensure survey. According to the report, the facility failed to provide necessary care to two patients; failed to prevent a decrease in range of motion for two residents; didn’t maintain all its survey results for the last three years for the public to review; failed to follow up on pharmacy recommendations for one resident; and failed to ensure that the food was kept at proper holding temperatures.

The deficiencies were corrected according to a Sept. 2 follow-up visit, documents show.

Housing is a 'serious issue' for Bradenton workers. Business group tries new solution

The highest inflation in decades and more jobs than workers are huge problems facing businesses. But the need for affordable housing for the Bradenton area workforce has taken on growing urgency as the price of room and board has gotten out of hand for those who staff local businesses.

For several years, the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation has been quietly working behind the scenes with local businesses on a concept that could produce a solution, including wrap-around services that workers need.

Sharon Hillstrom, president and CEO of the Bradenton Area EDC, said developing a workforce housing community could be a joint effort of a number of businesses and organizations. It was unclear whether there might ultimately be a single workforce housing community, where it might be located, and whether there might be several housing communities.