News From In and Around The State

“Florida political and environmental leaders have been struggling for 20 years to come up with a way to stop huge green toxic algae outbreaks that plague Florida lakes and rivers,” said Earthjustice Attorney David Guest. “Today we finally turned the corner.”

The EPA maintains that the nutrient criteria will actually “save Florida money in the long run by making implementation faster and easier, thereby preventing future expensive clean-up costs and a decline in Florida’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry that is an engine of job growth in Florida.”

Write or call Senate President Haridopolos, President-elect Gaetz, Speaker of the House Cannon, Speaker-designate Weatherford, and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Alexander and urge them to (1) remove the current revenue caps; (2) restore oversight of district budgets in the Governor’s Office; and (3) avoid further legislative involvement in the operations of the water management districts.

FWF and others are asking a state administrative law judge to reject the state's rules. We allege they are arbitrary and contradict existing law. A hearing is set for next week, but the environmental groups are seeking a delay until late February.

Despite announcing last month that the Scarabeo 9 oil rig now off Cuba "generally" meets acceptable safety standards, federal officials acknowledged this week that results of their inspection of the platform would have prohibited it from drilling in U.S. waters.

If you are like most Florida anglers and boaters, you enjoy your time on the water. It’s an opportunity

The endangered Florida panther with the romantic nickname lived a roamer’s existence in the wilds east of Naples for more than