Innocence Commission endorses bill addressing police photo lineups

“The great thing about these procedures is that they’re not only going to obviously prevent misidentifications, but they’re really going to strengthen prosecutions.”

Farm photos now only a misdemeanor in Norman’s bill

“If they don’t have anything to hide, what are they worrying about?”

Egg producer requested Norman’s farm-photo felony bill; similar legislation pending in Iowa

According to the Florida Farm Bureau, state Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, drafted his controversial “Farms” bill at the behest of Wilton Simpson of Pasco County, whose Simpson Farms produces 21 million eggs annually for Florida’s second-largest egg seller, Tampa Farm Service, Inc. As currently written, Senate Bill 1246 would make photography “at or of a farm” a first-degree felony.

Florida Farm Bureau on farm-photo felony bill: ‘We’re revising the whole thing’

A controversial Senate bill currently under review in Tallahassee will be revised, according to a spokesman for the Florida Farm Bureau.

Norman bill would make farm photography a first-degree felony; animal-rights groups outraged

A bill filed by state Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, would make photographing farms without the written consent of the owner a first-degree felony in Florida. Senate Bill 1246, simply titled “Farms,” has caused a stir among animal-advocacy groups for comparing a potential whistleblower who might expose the realities of factory farming — or even a tourist snapping a photograph of cows grazing in a field — with those who commit murder or armed robbery.

‘Awake the State,’ tea party to battle over budget as legislative session opens

With Florida’s legislative session set to begin tomorrow, groups on all sides of the political spectrum are gearing up for what is likely to be a highly charged and protracted fight on a range of issues facing a state helmed by a governor who wants to drastically scale back spending — which many argue will shift the financial burden to those who can least afford it.

Grand Jury blasts Broward School Board for incompetence, corruption, but identifies no guilty individuals

Florida’s 19th Grand Jury on Public Corruption issued its final report late last week, slamming the Broward County School Board in a 51-page report detailing the “gross mismanagement and apparent ineptitude” of board members who squandered millions of taxpayer dollars in the nation’s sixth largest school district.

Orlando public feeding issue back in court, has cost taxpayers $150,000 so far

After five years of protracted legal wrangling and back-and-forth rulings over an Orlando city “public feeding” ordinance, which restricts the sharing of food with groups of 25 or more within a two-mile radius of city hall, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal on Tuesday heard arguments in a rare rehearing of a case that has so far cost Orlando taxpayers nearly $150,000 in legal fees.

Rep. Adams, pushing for health care reform repeal, still receiving public health care

While many Republicans in Congress have come under fire in recent months for railing against federal health care reform while simultaneously accepting government-subsidized health insurance, a handful have moved to more legitimately align themselves with their position by refusing to accept the benefits afforded to federal employees.

One such representative is Sandy Adams, R-Oviedo, who calls for the repeal of health care reform and has turned down Congress’ health insurance plan. Adams, however, still receives taxpayer-subsidized health insurance through her husband, a Florida judge.

Tea Party Caucus: West is in, Rubio is wary and the Florida legislature will have its own

The tea party movement, a phenomenon that many deem responsible for installing Florida’s all-Republican cabinet and turning over control of the House of Representatives to the GOP, continues to demonstrate its influence throughout the state and the country.