The City of Pensacola shrank last decade, dropping 8 percent from 56,255 in 2000 to 51,923 in 2010. Detroit, Michigan saw its population drop a whopping 25 percent. It was the largest…
Category: State & National News
New Senate bill lets Escambia kids go to Santa Rosa schools
A bill that would expand the public-school provisions of the Opportunity Scholarship Program moved through committees in both Florida legislative chambers this week. Students would be able to move from struggling public…
Ingram manure bill narrowly passes committee
Rep. Clay “What’s that Smell” Ingram’s bill to prevent local governments from placing restrictions on fertilizer use passed the House Community Affairs & Military Subcommittee 8-7 in a mostly party-line vote. The…
Move over Wisconsin, Florida union bashing begins
The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that state lawmakers have proposed several bills that are nearly identical to those proposed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: SB 830, sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St….
Haridopolos stalls Senate ethics bill
Last year Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos co-sponsored a bill that would have cracked down on legislative voting conflicts of interest. This year, he had the bill pulled from the agenda of…
DOE Secretary resigns
Statement from Eric Smith who announced his resignation as the Secretary of the Florida Department of Education: This past weekend, I informed the members of the State Board of Education of my…
Education is the target for state budget proposals
In Escambia County, County Administrator Randy Oliver has got his board eyeing the Sheriff David Morgan’s budget as a way to balance their budget. In Tallahassee, Education is the target. Gov. Scott…
GOP double-talk
I find it ironic that Gov. Rick Scott professes that his budget cuts will create jobs and revive our economy, yet most local officials will tell you that they expect their revenues…
NPR sting producer refused to be videotaped
James O’Keefe, the conservative activist known for his hidden-camera videos that attacked ACORN and National Public Radio, refused last week to let a local newspaper videotape his speech to the Bayshore Tea…
Who guides Gov. Rick Scott
The St. Pete Times reports that Gov. Rick Scott is guided by three conservative think tanks: Cato Institute, Reason Foundation and Heritage Foundation. If you read the article, you will that big…
Truth about state pensions
Gov. Rick Scott wants the public to believe that teachers, law enforcement, firefighters and other public employees are getting rich off their pension benefits. The Miami Herald punctured that baloney in its…
D.C. teacher evaluation system
Washington Post: The District of Columbia’s new teacher evaluation system, IMPACT, is becoming a national model. Master educators observe, critique and evaluate teachers. Read more.