Florida has agreed to reduce the length of the red snapper season in state waters to match a federal measure to reduce the season’s length in federal waters. Red snapper is a key species for recreational and commercial anglers. Federal efforts to reduce overfishing of snapper and group have created a political outcry among Florida […]
State matches controversial fed move reducing snapper season Read More »
Ichetuckneee Springs State Park A springs program launched in 2001 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush would be sharply cut by the Legislature in its proposed 2010-11 state budget even as the Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a bill aimed at protecting springs. The Florida Springs Initiative has helped pay for work including research to
Water bill goes to governor but springs program could get cut Read More »
The outlook for a Public Service Commission reform bill passing this legislative session doesn’t look good, Senate President Jeff Atwater said Thursday. And he added that passage of a renewable energy bill is in question. The 60-day legislative session ends Friday. SB 1034 would extend a ban on lobbying to top commission aides and provides
PSC reform bill in doubt as session nears end, Atwater says Read More »
Oil could begin washing ashore on Florida Panhandle beaches as early as Monday, a federal forecast suggested Thursday. About 200,000 gallons of oil per day is leaking from an oil well under 5,000 feet of water off the Louisiana coast after an oil drilling rig exploded and sank last week. The slick appeared to be
Spill may be headed toward Florida as officials monitor Read More »
Democrats on Thursday clamored for an end to talk about opening state waters to oil drilling in the wake of an ongoing spill off the Louisiana coast. U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson Thursday sent a letter to President Obama telling him that he’s filing legislation to block the expansions of offshore oil drilling announced by
Ongoing oil spill prompts Democrat responses Read More »
A bill that would ban Burmese pythons and five other snake species along with Nile monitor lizards was approved Wednesday by the House. SB 318 by Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, now goes to the governor. The bill was introduced in response to media firestorm created last summer after a pet python strangled a 2-year-old girl
Snakes bill passes House while FWC takes closer look Read More »
Oil spill location map provided by The Response Group Wednesday evening. Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday described as “very disturbing” an oil slick he viewed Tuesday on an aerial tour leaving from Alabama. The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and sank on April 22, causing a continuing leak of up to 200,000 gallons per day
Crist calls view of oil spill “very disturbing” Read More »
A Senate water bill won approval on Wednesday from the House despite opposition from legislators from the Wekiva River area north of Orlando. SB 550 at one time had required that septic utilities be established statewide but the measure faced opposition from the Florida Home Builders Association. That requirement was dropped from the bill last
Water bill approved by House, headed back to Senate. Read More »
An oil spill off the Louisiana coast drew the scrutiny from Florida officials Tuesday as it appeared the slick was moving closer to Florida. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig blew up and sank last week, causing 1,000 barrels (about 42,000 gallons) of oil per day to leak from the ocean floor. The Coast Guard said
Gulf oil spill concerns Florida officials Read More »
A bill that allows utilities to charge customers separately for the cost of renewable energy passed the House on Tuesday. Supporters cited a Washington Economics Group study that said legislation similar to HB 7229 could produce up to 40,000 jobs in renewable energy industries. But opponents raised concerns about the cost to the economy of
Energy bill divides both GOP and Dems before passing House Read More »
