Tallahassee

Bong Ban Passes Through House Subcommittee, Moves Through Legislature

Over in Tallahassee, your state legislators are hard at work deciding whether your bongs and glass pieces should be deemed illegal. As we told you earlier this year, House Bill 49 would basically ban the sale of bongs in the state. Much like fireworks, you'd have to cross state lines to get your h ... More >>

Ten Homemade Smoking Options if the State Bans Bongs and Glass Pieces

Last week we gave you a heads up about some new legislation in Tallahassee that might throw up roadblocks for recreational smokers. Rep. Darryl Rouson has put up a bill that will ban the sale of bongs and glass smoking pieces throughout the Sunshine State. Florida's legislature has come down hard on ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced in Florida

On Monday, cops raided the home of Cathy Jordan, president of the Florida Cannabis Action Network, and seized all her pot after a government employee who was visiting a neighbor spotted some marijuana plants on her property. Turns out, Jordan has Lou Gehrig's disease and uses the marijuana as treat ... More >>

Keys Hospitals Submerged by Climate Change, Legislators Told

They were asked not to politicize the issue. And apparently, they succeeded. State legislators both Dem and GOP from throughout South Florida gathered this week to educate themselves (and the public, who can watch it here) on climate change, its impact on our region and what, if anything, can be don ... More >>

Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Second Official to Resign This Week

A note to anyone contemplating taking a state job in Tallahassee: You will probably have to work in Tallahassee.For the second time this week, a Florida official has resigned to be "closer to home" or some such thing: Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson submitted his resignation yesterday, saying ... More >>

Unexpected Losers of 2012 Legislative Session: Bankers and Charter Schools

​Once in a blue moon, even the most cynical among us find cause to celebrate. This year's legislative session in Tallahassee provided some unexpected victories for the little guys and defeats for the corporate interests that normally enjoy free rein in Florida. Two of the most shocking losers of 2 ... More >>

Parents Hate "Parent Empowerment" School Bill, So Why Does It Exist?

​A bizarre showdown is unfolding in Tallahassee this week. Advocates for parents -- including the Florida PTA and Parents Across America --  are lobbying vehemently against a bill that's supposed to "empower them."The proposed legislation would let parents vote to turn a failing public school ... More >>

Merick Lewin, State House Candidate With Family Ties to 411-PAIN, Raised Nearly $100K

​Merick Lewin, the Republican state House candidate from Davie whose family runs the 1-800-411-PAIN Referral Service, has raised $96,000 for his campaign-- far outpacing all of his competitors in District 97.Unsurprisingly,roughly 30 percent of Lewin's donations come from healthcare professionals ... More >>

Former Deerfield Commissioners Win a Trip to a Florida Ethics Commission Hearing

​After an audit of Deerfield Beach festivals declaring that three then-city commissioners secured scores of tickets to the city's mango festival "to garner political support" -- and the ensuing complaints filed by city activist Chaz Stevens -- those three former commissioners earned a trip to Tall ... More >>

Merick Lewin, Nephew of 411-PAIN Owner, Seeks State House Seat in Davie

​As state legislators consider tougher regulations for companies that refer car accident victims to chiropractors and lawyers, one powerful Broward referral service has a family member gunning for a seat in Tallahassee.State House candidate Merick Lewin is a little-known Republican seeking to ... More >>

Jane Jane Pollock at Propaganda July 27

Glenn Beck Endorses Allen West For Presidency

Beck, teaching.​Glenn Beck has endorsed Allen West for the presidency. Also, he's endorsed Michelle Bachmann for veep, Ron Paul for Treasury Secretary, and "Rambo for everything else." (America must hope Beck would rethink the latter notion if he sees the last John Rambo flick.) This came during t ... More >>

UPDATED: BSO Sgt., Wife, Hit With Oxy Trafficking Charges

Associated Press Wild Art: Rick Scott's omnipresent security guards (in what one reader called "Blackwater-style" beige vests) couldn't protect him from the catcalls and boos hurled at him by the crowd at this parade in Tallahassee.UPDATED: The pill mill problem in Broward County may have ju ... More >>

Rise of Anonymous: Former Tallahassee Staffer Tells of Lying, Cheating, and Stealing at Capitol

Coming up on April 15 is a local conference on political corruption that will have among its speakers dubious former state Sen. Steve Geller, Broward County Judge Ken "Mr. JenJen" Gottlieb, and lobbyist/fake ethics champion Norm Ostrau.With folks like that on board, there should be no shortage of co ... More >>

Key West Group to Send Rick Scott a Giant Cup of Pee

via Reid Report​Rick Scott may have pissed off a lot of people with his plans for mandatory drug testing of all state employees and welfare recipients. He's been verbally thrashed for hypocrisy and scrutinized for conflict of interest. Now, a group of Key West residents will send a giant sample of ... More >>

Tallahassee Man Arrested For 1988 Rape and Robbery of 16 Year-Old-Girl in Miami

Lyndell Davis, a 48-year-old suspect in a 23-year-old rape case.​U.S. Marshals surrounded 48-year-old Lyndell Davis as he did yard work in front of a Tallahassee home on Wednesday, and arrested him for the rape and robbery of a 16-year-old girl in Miami, which he allegedly committed 23 years ago.& ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: No. 90 -- Pork Buns From Umi Fish Bar Grill

As a countdown to the Best of Broward Palm Beach 2011, coming in June, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up a hundred of our favorite dishes in South Florida. Send your own nominations to Deirdra.Funcheon@BrowardPalmBeach.com.No. 90: Pork Buns From Umi Fish Bar Grill It goes without saying that Sou ... More >>

Stacy Ritter Hit With 28 Election Charges, Complains She Feels "Stalked"

[UPDATE: Stacy Ritter has posted a somewhat surreal YouTube video press release on the elections commission charges. See it above. Caution: There's a weird kung fu movie lag between the audio and video.]  The Florida Elections Commission found probable cause this morning to ... More >>

Florida Capital Ranks Second "Most Stoned" City in Daily Beast Poll

Honorary FSU alumni?​In honor of 4/20, now "universally known as the annual date of celebration for those with pot smoking countercultural pride," the Daily Beast has ranked the top 40 most toked-up cities across America. And it comes as only a mild surprise that our state capital, Tallahassee, sc ... More >>

Sick Tour, Bro

Deal Us In

It's Unanimous: Florida Legislature Flunked

Flickr User: MonteCristoScene of the crime: the state capitol in TallahasseeSure, it's unfair to focus entirely on what did not happen in a legislative session, and with all the economic troubles, this one was going to be grueling no matter what. But even grading against a curve of extremely low exp ... More >>

Boca, Please Rein in Your Race-Baiting Legislator

Flickr user: Hasner On the MoveHoly warrior: Hasner in a photo op with Israeli troopsAt first, it seemed like Delray Beach Rep. Adam Hasner just had one of those typical, post-9/11 freakouts, panicking at the prospect of a Muslim group's lobbying trip to Tallahassee. Then two weeks ago, we learned t ... More >>

Breaking With Boredom

House Owned By Tally Power Players Under Homestead Investigation

Arduin and Ericks with Jeb BushOne of the GOP's top tax experts is under investigation for her own homestead tax exemption.   The Pulp has learned that the Broward Property Appraisers Office is investigating the homestead exemption on a Fort Lauderdale home owned ... More >>

At Last, Peace Reigns in Tattooland

The bill that would have overhauled tattoo regulation in Florida is dead. The two factions of state tattooists, who had earlier this month waged an epic, expletive-laden battle in the comments thread of this Juice post, are now on the same team, or soon to be. And together, they will work toward a b ... More >>

DeGroot Picks Apart Ron Book, Lobby Racket

The legislative session, marking the real advent of springtime in Florida, begins in Tallahassee this week. And the busiest bees working the capital are the lobbyists, who are buzzing about, putting their noses in everything they can, spreading their demon seed far and wide.  If you d ... More >>

Sentinel Reporter Hollis Taking Job With State Democrats

Another Newspaper Mini-Merger

RIP Fred Pettijohn

Video: Dead Prez at Rock the Bells 2008

D-Day At The Sun-Sentinel -- UPDATED

PB Post Links Porn, Thinks Better Of It

The Ink-Stained Unemployed

Newspapers will shrink as veterans are forced out the door

Massive Job Cuts Coming At Sun-Sentinel, Tally Chief Volunteers

Concert Review: Blitzen Trapper at Langerado

Post Pulls Reporter Off Crist Beat -- UPDATED

A Quick Lesson in Firearms

A Quick Lesson in Firearms

Hollis Coming Home?

The Tightest Slots in Town

Aren't you happy you get to shovel money into the shiny new machines?

Dead Prez

Get Free or Die Tryin': The Mixtape Volume 2 (Landspeed)

The Last Governor

Barred For Life

The process for restoring the civil rights of felons in Florida works perfectly -- if not restoring their rights is the goal

West Palm's Next Mayor Speaks

Forget Joel Daves. Lois Frankel rules.

Longshot

Florida House minority leader Lois Frankel is waging an impossible campaign for governor

Minority Madness

Wisecracking Democrats in Tallahassee were steamrollered during the presidential contest. But they didn't take it lying down.

Undercurrents

Saving Private Smith

Waste-Case Scenario

While negotiating a $21 million contract with Broward County, Unisys swept a $100 million health-insurance mess right under the rug.