"Florida's redistricting conspiracy"

"The legal team that uncovered the shadow redistricting process that invalidated Florida's congressional and Senate districts didn't rely just on maps and cloak-and-dagger emails to prove that legislators broke the law."

The best clues came in the form of data — millions of census blocks — delivered electronically and found in the files of political operatives who fought for two years to shield it.

"But the breakthrough for the legal team — lawyers for the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, a coalition of Democrat-leaning voters and their redistricting experts — came just days before the May 19, 2014, trial on the congressional map was set to begin."

But the breakthrough for the legal team — lawyers for the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, a coalition of Democrat-leaning voters and their redistricting experts — came just days before the May 19, 2014, trial on the congressional map was set to begin.

After two years of legal challenges, Florida justices ruled that emails, maps and accompanying data produced by political consultants and related to redistricting must be produced and could be discussed at trial. The challengers had already learned that the Legislature's maps selectively shed and added populations to congressional districts to improve the performance for incumbent candidates, but they had only circumstantial evidence that the maps found on the computers of the political consultants played a role.

"Data sleuths decoded Florida's redistricting conspiracy."




"You're fired"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "If Donald Trump were still hosting his reality TV show instead of running for president, he'd be perfect to deliver a message to the Florida Legislature after its latest failure to produce constitutional boundaries for the state's congressional districts:"

You're fired.

"Give redistricting job to independent commission".




'Glades

Nancy Smith: "Will the Feds Just Let the Everglades Die?"




Florida Firefighters travel elsewhere to avoid state's embarrassing pay rates

"Michael Corgnell, a 42-year-old Charlotte County resident, is among more than 470 firefighters from Florida who have given up parts of their summer to battle fires in western states."

While public safety is part of their motivation, the lack of adequate pay in Florida is another driving force. Average annual pay for the state's 606 forestry firefighters is just over $27,000. Starting firefighters make just $24,000. And since 2006, they have had only one pay increase. In June, the state Legislature approved a $2,000 pay hike for them, but it was vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott.

"With pay raises elusive, Florida firefighters battle blazes out west to make money".




FlaGOPer says he'll quit

"Sam Rashid: I'll resign from the Hillsborough Aviation Board if the governor asks."




Rubio's "Dark Money"

"The groups, formed under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, are limited in how much they can spend on direct political activity, but they have a key advantage over super PACs: anonymity for donors. Critics call it dark money." "The rise of dark money in 2016, unlimited and anonymous."




No shi** Sherlock

No shi** Sherlock: "Central Florida had the lowest median wage of any major metro in America."

Lower than Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, you name it.

We were the only community in America where the majority of jobs — yes, the majority — paid less than $30,000 a year.

Nearly 40 percent paid less than $25,000.

Every other region in the top 50 did better. Even communities that are smaller. Even those with lower costs of living.

"Orlando: No. 1 in tourism and dead last in wages."