The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in Florida’s favor in a challenge to the state law that establishes restored beaches as public property. But while ruling in favor of the state, a four-member minority of justices also may have created an avenue for future claims by property owners against courts in environmental cases, according […]

Fifty-five applications were submitted by the Thursday deadline for the Public Service Commission seats now held by Chairman Nancy Argenziano and Commissioner Nathan A. Skop. Argenziano had submitted her application on Wednesday and Skop was among those submitting on Thursday. The nomination process and eventual confirmation likely will be controversial. Argenziano has suggested there are

Sen. Mike Fasano says he will ask Gov. Charlie Crist to scratch former Public Service Commission Executive Director Mary Bane from the list of candidates being considered for two vacant spots on the panel that regulates utilities. Fasano, R-New Port Richey, introduced SB 1034, a PSC reform bill that was intended to address ethics controversies

The Caribbean Conservation Corp., a Gainesville-based nonprofit group that lobbies for sea turtles at the Florida Capitol, changed its name Wednesday to the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The group oversees spending for 30 percent of revenue from the Florida’s sea turtle license plate and lobbies the legislative and executive branches on issues including oil drilling, beach

PSC Chairman Nancy Argenziano, center, makes a point on Tuesday as commissioners Lisa Polak Edgar and Nathan A. Scop listen. The three remaining members of the Florida Public Service Commission traded accusations of “pettiness” and “silliness” during a tense discussion Tuesday on commission policies and procedures. The PSC has become a battleground between Gov. Charlie

President Barack Obama told a military audience in Pensacola Tuesday that the administration will do everything it can to deal with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill including calling in the military if necessary. Obama wrapped up a two-day tour of Gulf states affected by the ongoing BP oil spill. On Tuesday night, he said in

Florida failed to use federal money to create jobs and, instead, targeted dollars to an energy rebate program, according to a critical federal report released earlier this month. Florida was allocated $126 million from the U. S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which was supposed to be targeted

Organizers of February’s “Hands Across the Sand” gathering in Florida against oil drilling plan to do it again on June 26, this time with a nationwide event. The Feb. 13 event attracted more than 10,000 people to 90 beaches around the state, according to organizer Dave Rauschkolb, a Seaside restaurant owner. Gov. Charlie Crist and

Twenty-three miles of Escambia County’s coastline was closed to fishing Monday because of oil from the BP oil spill. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission closed the state waters in the area extending nine nautical miles from the shore beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday. The closed area extends from the Alabama state line to

Before Florida residents had ever heard about the Deepwater Horizon oil rig or had seen their beaches covered with tar balls, a group of writers decided last fall to pen their thoughts against oil drilling. And the editor of “UnspOILed: Writers speak for Florida’s Coast,” said she hopes the book will energize people rather than