Stateline Headlines

Some States Speed Up Death Penalty

The slow pace of the death penalty prompted states to fix it or quit it this year.

Florida paid $9.5 million in settlement over crisis-era deal

Is Florida in a long – and wrong – race to be cheapest for business?

Amazon may bring 3,000 jobs, tough work conditions to Florida

PolitiFact: Bill Nelson says Rick Scott said no to $1 million to monitor health insurance rates

Florida hits lowest rate ever for infant mortality

Zimmerman jury identities to remain secret, for a time

Rick Scott's latest veto is simply wild

Internet sales get free ride in Florida

Rush to privatize is all about bucks

Gov. Rick Scott signs bill to speed up executions in Florida

One month later, Florida lawmakers no closer to Medicaid deal

Online ballot fraud marks the ‘e-boletera era of Miami politics’

Fla. Democrats see Gov. Rick Scott as easy target in 2014

State orders Miami assisted living facility to close

Election fraud: From the streets to cyberspace

Return of the real Rick Scott

How Did States Create Jobs?

States this year awarded tax breaks to businesses, touted worker-training programs and even poached jobs from each other to boost their economies and create work for the nearly 12 million Americans still unemployed.

Jeb Bush highlights immigration battle of GOP establishment vs. newcomers

Amazon deal could bring 1,000 jobs to Hillsborough, but more taxes for online shoppers

Sequestered jury in Zimmerman trial will have limited access to families, outside news

Poll: 71 percent of Fla. voters back immigration reform

Deadline on key Everglades project looms

Gov. Rick Scott going to Paris, looking for jobs to bring back to Fla.

Zimmerman jurors will be sequestered, judge says

Don't let failing schools off the hook

Don’t fritter away Dolphins’ funds

Another mystery candidate in South Florida? Mailers may tell the story

Gov. Rick Scott signs 4 bills, vetoes 3 others

Hundreds of state prison staffers owed comp time, back pay

Gov. Rick Scott's office quiet as report names top educator as LG candidate(2)

Gov. Rick Scott's office quiet as report names top educator as LG candidate

Florida has highest rate of seniors

Federal election reform commission to hold hearing in Miami

Fla. man executed for prison guard's murder

Potential juror dismissed, lawyers move forward in Trayvon case

Scott's low road on higher ed

In search of a state legislator who doesn't always toe the party line

For Miami’s chronic homeless, more beds needed

Politicians in Tampa protest Scott's immigration veto

President Barack Obama is coming to Miami Beach, and you’re paying part of the bill

In Zimmerman trial, potential jurors asked to set aside publicity

Common sense added to gang database

Miami’s Silicon Beach

Trooper fired over legislators' traffic tickets may get job back

Ballots stolen on eve of Fla. House election

Scott’s interest in tuition crosses the line, some say

DCF mired in controversy over foster care providers

Road to justice begins — one juror at a time

Feds belatedly send $67 million in disaster funds to Utah, Colorado, 12 other states

Scott should stand with workers

A glimpse of an unguarded Gov. Rick Scott

Rick Scott is right. We Floridians have tons to brag about

A mean-spirited veto

George Zimmerman trial: What will both sides seek in jurors?

Jury selection to begin in Trayvon Martin killing

PolitiFact: Kathy Castor says 70,000 children lose Head Start access, including 2,000 in Florida

Woman who says she was tricked into abortion pushes for new law

Other states resent Scott’s job poaching

A visionary alliance

Gov. Rick Scott hopes pen is mightier than past

State Rep. Darryl Rouson pays back taxes on Tallahassee townhome

Kennedy: Environmental concerns in water dispute

Florida officials use onset of storm season to blast Washington

DCF says tot’s death not a sign of systemic incompetence

Gov. Scott to decide on signing, vetoing bills affecting consumers

New guidelines needed for juvenile offenders

As Short-Terms Rentals Boom, Regulation an Issue

Popular online travel sites like Airbnb and HomeAway are luring customers away from hotels and into the spare rooms and vacation rental homes of locals. The surging popularity of these rentals poses challenging questions for state and local regulators.

Hillsborough County Commission unanimously repeals ban of gay pride recognition

Gov. Scott calls federal health law a disaster

Feds, Fla. detail crackdown on timeshare fraud

Gov. Scott signs abortion law

Gov. Scott trades up on new plane

Graham: FBI withheld reports about Sarasota Saudis

A partisan Scott veto on licenses

Joe Garcia’s ballot scandal

Buzz: Officials in Scott's office unsure if tax cut passed

Rep. Darryl Rouson failed to pay taxes on Tallahassee townhouse

Repeal of gay pride ban under consideration today by Hillsborough County commissioners

Gov. Scott signs mortgage-relief law

Driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants’ kids vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott

Judge won't block law closing senior arcades

DNA searches go too far

New Human Trafficking Laws Focus on Victims

In the latest update of human trafficking laws in Florida and New Jersey, legislators aim to give victims a new start.

Aging Baby Boomers Could Help Florida Medical Marijuana Effort

Should Grandma smoke pot? A Florida campaign hopes Grandma says yes.

Foreign Law Bans: Political Statement or Unconstitutional?

State lawmakers are focused on keeping U.S. courts away from the influence of foreign law. But does banning all foreign law go too far?

Attorneys General Seek Warning Label Cautioning Pregnant Women Against Using Pain Pills

State attorneys general are hoping to protect the littlest victims of prescription drug abuse.

Cities, States Face Off on Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

Stateline - NYC and Portland will require businesses to provide paid sick leave. But many states are less than enthusiastic.

Obama Administration Poised to Approve Arkansas-style Medicaid Expansions

The Obama Administration is inviting states to apply for Arkansas-style Medicaid expansions in an effort to woo those balking at traditional Medicaid expansion.

Maryland Repeals Death Penalty

Maryland has executed five people since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. But nobody else will be sentenced to death in the Old Line State.

States That Skip Medicaid Expansion May Favor New Immigrants Over U.S. Citizens

The law of unintended consequences will strike states that decline to expand Medicaid.

NFL Plays Offense to Get Public Money for Stadiums

Why are so many teams asking taxpayers to build new pro football stadiums this year?

Drone Limits Become Law

Police agencies in five states already have drones, and lawmakers want to make sure protections are in place before more agencies spend more money. Which cities already have drones?

Florida Governor Knocks Obama for Unpaid Port Bill

Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants more than just a presidential visit to Miami’s port; he wants the federal government to pay its share of the bill for big improvements under way at Florida’s biggest ports.

State Higher Ed Funding Support Continues Decline

Per-student funding has declined in 48 states over the past five years, with New Hampshire and Florida reducing support the most.

Florida State of the State Address 2013

Following is the preparded text of Flordia Gov. Rick Scott's (R) 2013 State of the State Address

Backlash for Red-Light Cameras Hasn’t Slowed Spread

Throughout the country, state legislatures are considering how broadly to use traffic cameras, but the number of communities using them keeps growing.

States in Recovery: Housing

The housing crisis that threw states into economic free fall is helping them climb back out.

States Seek Legal Limits on Domestic Drones

Lawmakers in nearly half the states are working to set legal limits on the use of drones, before they become a key part of domestic policing.

Pay Boost on the Horizon for Some State Workers

Far fewer people are working for state governments than before the recession began, but those who remain may get modest salary increases this year.