Florida's Latest News

Melissa Rutland files for open HD 60 race

Republican Melissa Rutland has filed to run for House District 60, to replace Democratic Rep. Lindsay Cross.

Rutland’s filing adds another moving piece to a race that opened up last week when Cross announced she would not seek re-election, even though she could have served two more terms before reaching term limits. Rutland filed late Tuesday, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

Rutland’s campaign highlighted her roots in Pinellas County, which stretch back more than a century to “when her family helped build St. Petersburg’s business community through Rutland Brothers Department Store, Rutland’s men’s store on Central Avenue, and St. Petersburg Bank & Trust, which eventually became Rutland Bank, which left a lasting impact on the city.”

In 2015 Rutland founded her own business, the Rutland Florida Gulf Group, where she specializes in commercial investments. That same year she was also appointed by Mayor Rick Kriseman to the St. Petersburg Development Review Commission, where she served for nearly a decade, including a stint as its first female Chair. In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis also appointed Rutland to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, and she also serves on the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Board of Directors. 

What historic funding for research and planting could mean for Florida's embattled citrus industry

Before citrus greening disease quickly spread across Florida’s orange groves through the Asian citrus psyllid 20 years ago, the state’s industry produced just over 300 million boxes of fruit.

Last year, it was down to 14 million boxes.

Now, historic funding in Florida's budget could help the state’s embattled citrus industry … it just needs to get past Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto pen.

Over a two-year period, $320 million would go toward researching greening disease and planting new trees.

"We think that this funding is going to pay tremendous dividends as growers continue to reinvest and rebuild their operations in this industry," said Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of an organization representing growers called Florida Citrus Mutual.

Joyner said this will fund one of the largest field trials in the country.

It will be a combination of grove management, therapeutic tools and disease resistant varieties for new plantings.

Blaise Ingoglia, two others qualify for CFO race

A majority of the candidates for Florida’s Chief Financial Officer have qualified to appear on the ballot.

Republican incumbent CFO Blaise Ingoglia and Republican challenger Frank William Collige have qualified. Democrat Earle Ford has also qualified, though Annette Taddeo, also a Democrat, had not yet qualified, as of Wednesday. But she’s expected to do so before the Friday qualifying deadline.

No Party Affiliation candidate John Daniel Smith filed for candidacy but has not yet qualified.

As an appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis, this will be Ingoglia’s first election for CFO. DeSantis appointed him to the post after former CFO Jimmy Patronis won a Special Election last year for Florida’s 1st Congressional District representing the Panhandle.

Ingoglia previously served in the Florida Senate and House serving mostly the Gulf coast area north of Tampa. He also was the Chair of the Florida Republican Party. Ingoglia has already raised about $1.15 million and spent more than $190,000, according to Division of Elections records.

Qualifying opens for State, U.S. House contests

Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera drove from Sorrento in Lake County to be among the first in line Monday as the qualifying sprint kicked off for U.S. House and state legislative offices.

A Democrat running for the Congressional District 6 held by Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, Murchinson-Rivera wanted to ensure his paperwork was correct. “I drove almost four hours to get here. I didn't want to have to come back. I didn’t want to have to drive again. I like being the first to do everything,” said Murchinson-Rivera.

That sentiment was echoed by Nick Zateslo, a Democrat from Tallahassee who is among a throng of candidates who have jumped into the Congressional District 2 seat, which includes all or part of 16 counties in the Panhandle, upon the retirement of U.S. Rep. Neil Dunn, R-Panama City.

Formal qualifying opened at noon Monday for those running in Florida for governor, the three Cabinet offices, all 120 state House seats and 21 state Senate seats.

There is an extra Senate seat open this year because Appropriations Committee Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, is stepping down this year with two years remaining on his current term.

All paperwork and filing fees are due by noon, Friday.