What's Tampa Bay Saying?

$408 Red Light Camera Ticket: Is That Fair?

Drivers who want to appeal a ticket might have to pay up to $250 in additional fees if Gov. Rick Scott signs a new bill into law. Do you think that’s right?

Hate red light cameras? If so, you might hate them even more if Gov. Rick Scott signs a bill recently passed by the Florida Legislature into law. The bill sets a new process for appeals that enables local government bodies – cities and counties – to tack on an additional $250 in court fees for those who try to appeal tickets generated by red light cameras and fail. It also puts the new appeals process into the hands of those very same local governments that would benefit from the additional fees. That means motorists who appeal and lose will no longer be subject to just a $158 penalty – they might have to fork over $408. The new law, according to The Tampa Tribune, was designed to streamline the appeals process and put more control in the …

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What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Alimony Bill Vetoed: Was Gov. Scott Right?

A law that would have ended permanent alimony in Florida didn’t get Gov. Rick Scott’s stamp of approval. Do you think he was right to nix the legislation?

Divorced men and women across Florida got good news – or bad, depending on perspective – late last week when Gov. Rick Scott shot down a law that would have put an end to permanent alimony in Florida. Scott vetoed the measure with only four hours left on the clock for it to automatically go into law, according to Fox News. Citing concerns about the financial impacts the bill would have on Florida families and a dislike for the fact the measure had a clause that would make it retroactive, Scott told lawmakers he could not support passage. "The retroactive adjustment of alimony could result in unfair, unanticipated results,” Fox quoted Scott as saying. Had the law gone into effect it would have limited the amount of alimony a person could …

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Lucy Gonzalez

12:38 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sorry Bryan :(   more ›

Seminole Heights Area Teachers Getting Raises?

The Florida Legislature has passed a merit-based pay raise that will go into effect next year.

It looks like Gov. Rick Scott’s promise to give Seminole Heights area teachers a raise is coming to fruition, but it’ll be a little later than hoped. Both the House and Senate gave a green light to a measure that would give Florida teachers a raise, but instead of being across-the-board, the proposal calls for merit-based raises. And, while Scott wanted to see those raises go into effect in 2013, they won’t be happening until June 2014, according to The Tampa Tribune. Under the Legislature’s plan, teachers who are ranked “effective” will be eligible for raises of $2,500. Teachers who are deemed “highly effective” will get $3,500, the Tribune says. Scott proposed the statewide raise in January. Hillsborough County teachers are among the …

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What's Tampa Bay Saying?

How Do You Rate Gov. Rick Scott?

Florida's governor is 'not so good' or 'poor' on the job, according to 42 percent of the respondents in a newly released poll.

A newly released poll shows that Gov. Rick Scott is not winning any popularity contests in Tampa Bay's two largest counties, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Most of the respondents surveyed in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties rated Florida's governor as "poor" or "not so good." A little more than a quarter ranked Scott as just "average." Less than a quarter thought the governor does a "good" or "excellent" job, according to the Tampa Bay Times-Bay News 9-AM 820 poll. What do you think? Is the governor doing a good job running the state? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Here's a closer look at the numbers: According to the Tampa Bay Times: Of the two counties, Scott's numbers are substantially worse in Pinellas. While 33 …

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Michael D.

5:16 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013

Michael, Then your problem is finding anyone in our government who is responsible. On both sides of the isle, a personally responsible politician is an extinct breed.   more ›

Gov. Scott to Universities: Come Up With $10,000 Degrees

Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants the state’s universities to come up with a way to make higher education more affordable. His challenge could save Seminole Heights households thousands.

Seminole Heights residents who find themselves scrimping and saving to pay for college might have it a little easier in the years to come if Gov. Rick Scott gets his way. The Republican leader is challenging the state’s 12 public universities to come up with a way to create $10,000 degrees, according to TBO.com. "You should be able to work and go to school and not end up with debt," Scott said in an interview on News Channel 8. "Yet those degrees cost so much money and tuition is so high that that's not going to happen. So I put out this challenge to our state colleges." Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here. Scott’…

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Patch Political Digest

Is Crist Rising on Wave of Rick Scott Criticism?

Former Gov. Charlie Crist increasingly is blasting Gov. Rick Scott over how he is running the state of Florida.

The 2012 election is barely in the books and already Florida politicos are turning their eyes to 2014, especially Democrats hungry to take back the Governor's mansion from the Republicans. Increasingly, Democrats appear ready to embrace former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist as their best chance at winning in 2014. At the same time, Crist is taking a more vocal role in criticizing Gov. Rick Scott, even taking to Twitter to blast Scott's controversial decision not to extend early voting during the presidential election.  Crist certainly is a topic of news and speculation across Florida. Here is a sampling: AS DEMOCRATS TURN TO 2014, CHARLIE CRIST EMERGES AS MOST VOCAL OPPONENT OF RICK SCOTT by Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald  The populist…

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Tropical Storm Isaac May Skirt Tampa Bay

It's too early to know with certainty. Tampa is still in the cone of possible tracks, but Isaac may arrive west of Tampa Bay early next week.

We're not in the clear just yet. At 8 a.m. today, Tropical Storm Isaac churned at sea, just south of Haiti, where a hurricane watch is in effect. The National Weather Service expects the storm to crawl at about 15 mph toward Florida, crossing Cuba Sunday morning. But hurricane officials are not anticipating a direct hit on the Tampa Bay region. If current projections stand, Isaac will arrive west of Tampa Bay after midnight Tuesday as a Category 1 hurricane. There is a chance that Isaac will impact Florida's panhandle next week. Of course, all that may change with the unpredictability of the storm as it edges closer to landfall, hurricane officials said. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Carlisle, the Tampa Bay …

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Budget Cuts Force County to Step Out of Sulphur Springs Health Center

Non profit stepping in to run six Hillsborough County clinics as Health Department lays off 114.

TBO.com reporter Mike Salinero (a longtime Southeast Seminole Heights resident), has posted a story reporting that the Hillsborough County Health Department will step away from operating six clinics and eliminate 114 jobs to help meet demands by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature to cut spending by the state's Department of Health.* Salinero reported that the Sulphur Springs Health Center, located at 8605 N. Mitchell Ave., would be among the six clinics. The clinics mostly serve Medicaid recipients and other low-income patients receiving prenatal and maternal care. The patients will be transferred to two non-profit health care providers: Tampa Family Health Centers, which has six clinics throughout Tampa, though none are located …

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