More than 200,000 people in Hillsborough County live in poverty. You need not look far to see the numbers corroborated — the homeless man spending the night on a swinging bench along the shiny, new northern stretch of the Tampa Riverwalk; belongings piled in front of an apartment after a family's eviction; services like the Joshua House for children in crisis bursting at the seams. here
The sugar industry has an edge over supporters of a plan to buy land to reduce Lake Okeechobee discharges, at least when it comes to the money both sides spent in political contributions in the 2016 election cycle. Florida's sugar growers gave more than
$11.5 million
to campaigns and political committees since the end of 2014. Compare that to
$561,000
from board members and top employees at the Everglades Foundation and Everglades Trust. here
The Florida Supreme Court cemented death sentences for nearly 200 prisoners Thursday, ruling that they are not eligible for lower sentences or rehearings under a revamped death penalty law.here
To show appreciation for lenders who work with low-income borrowers, Florida's housing agency hosted a $52,000 dinner that featured filet mignon, broiled lobster tails and a bar stocked with "deluxe brand liquors.''here
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When thousands of Floridians were waiting for help in saving their homes, the agency awarded a total of nearly $443,000
More than a year after the Florida Commission on Ethics agreed to investigate several complaints filed against County commissioners Sandy Murman and Ken Hagan and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, the cases remain unresolved.here
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They are accused of steering a $1.3 million Go Hillsborough contract to the client of a politically connected public relations consultant.
All they want for Christmas is to keep their families together. That's the message dozens of Florida kids hope to send to their elected officials as they plead for an end to deportations. here
The board chairman of VISIT FLORIDA said Wednesday he will negotiate the departure of Will Seccombe, the agency president who signed the once secret $1 million promotional contract with rapper Pitbull. Seccombe could demand up to $326,807 in salary and more than $50,000 in bonuses from the agency that's getting rid of him.here
Anti-LGBT accusations, fought Miami Beach's attempt to ban Styrofoam, had ties to someone donating hundreds of thousands of dollars against medical marijuana, and battled a proposal to raise the minimum wage.here
Palm Beach County is seeking federal reimbursement for costs associated with escorting and providing security for President-elect Donald Trump, who spent the Thanksgiving holiday at his Mar-A-Lago mansion on Palm Beach.here
Florida presidential elector Nick DiCeglie, chairman of the Pinellas County Republican Party, got thousands of requests not to vote for Donald Trump. But he voted for him anyway. here
Weheardthat the Ybor City's Barrio Latino Commission approved developers' plan to demolish the existing structure at New World Brewery's address. I visited the brewery this morning before they opened. I ran into a rude lady who wasn't very friendly. She did tell me that the brewery would stay open at another location.
She knew nothing about the building and asked me to go to the Ybor City museum for more info, so I did. I talked to Kurt who told that the building has no historical value.
He said that the building next to it
(The old firehouse) does, it will not be touched. The new development will be an extension of it.
According to Department of Children and Families numbers obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, the total of minors evaluated in Florida under the Baker Act increased by 50 percent from fiscal year 2010 to 2015.
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In Tampa Bay,
Pinellas County, the numbers rose by 41 percent, while more than doubling in Hillsborough.here