rssPosts by Virginia Chamlee
Virginia Chamlee is a graduate of the University of North Florida and covers environmental issues, Florida's congressional delegation and reproductive rights for the Independent. She currently resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., with her rescued lab-shepherd mix, Chloe. You can reach Virginia by email at virginia [at] floridaindependent [dot] com or follow her on Twitter: @VChamlee.
Senator files amendment to repeal nuclear cost recovery statute
State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has filed an amendment to a Senate committee’s energy bill in an effort to repeal a statute that allows energy companies to charge their customers for nuclear power plants that may never be built.
Panel discusses misleading recruiting, stat-keeping practices at for-profit colleges (Updated)
A panel of former for-profit university students, professors and recruiters discussed the controversial higher ed institutions yesterday, making strong claims about questionable practices at schools like the Art Institutes, Argosy University, Brown Mackie College and South University — all of which are owned by the Pittsburgh-based Education Management Corporation.
Republican Party chairman fires back in Gingrich winner-take-all controversy
The Newt Gingrich campaign is reportedly gearing up to challenge Florida’s “winner take all” policy, which allows the winner of the state’s presidential primary to gain all 50 of the state’s delegates, on the grounds that it violates the rules of the Republican National Committee. Republican Party of Florida chair Lenny Curry is defending the policy, arguing that it’s “a shame when the loser of a contest agrees to the rules before, then cries foul after losing.”
Floridians among top donors to pro-Romney Super PAC
A handful of wealthy Floridians are among the top donors to Restore Our Future, a Super PAC associated with Mitt Romney.
Department of Environmental Protection completes oil spill inspections of state beaches
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection today announced it has completed a series of post-hurricane season beach inspections, as part of the response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Environmentalists call Florida congressman’s bill ‘a gift to polluter-lobbyists’
A coalition of Florida environmental groups is speaking out against a new bill introduced by Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Panama City, that would, he says, “empower Florida officials, rather than bureaucrats at the EPA” to implement water pollution standards.
Florida House committee amends, passes reclaimed water bill
The House State Affairs Committee passed a much-debated reclaimed water bill today — this time, with the go-ahead from environmental groups. Though it has been met with reservations by some lawmakers in the past, House Bill 639 was much less contentious today, in large part due to an amendment offered by the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa.
Romney wins Florida primary
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has won the Florida GOP primary. The victory was unsurprising, as Romney had been leading in the majority of polls leading up to today’s vote.
EPA pledges $10 million for beach cleanup
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has pledged $9.8 million in grants to 38 states, territories and tribes to “help protect the health of swimmers at America’s beaches.” The amount of each grant ranges from $150,000 to $516,000, with Florida receiving the heftiest grant of any state (.pdf).
Southerland: Federal water pollution rules ‘terribly dangerous’ for Florida
In an interview with Southeast AgNet, Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Panama City, says a set of federally mandated water pollution rules would be “terribly dangerous” for Florida, and could cost the state close to 50,000 agricultural jobs alone.
