government

Florida’s Department of State has asked the one of the state’s universities for help in safeguarding the 2018 elections. Dr. Eman El-Sheikh directs University of West Florida’s Center for Cybersecurity. She has been essential in developing a curriculum that’s used to train Supervisors of Elections and their staffs. El Sheikh recently spoke with WFSU’s Ryan Dailey to talk about what went into developing that training, and what election cyber-threats look like in 2018.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) began upgrading its Sunpass toll system on June 1st. Since then, Sunpass users have been racking up charges but not getting the bill.

The Maryland-based company Conduent State & Local Solutions was scheduled to finish work on the system by June 11th. Yet more than a month later, it still isn’t fully operational.

No matter the victor, City Commission Seat 5 will be getting a new face this election. Four candidates vying for the seat are talking ethics, development, crime and law enforcement.

Candidates for Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3 are weighing in on the FBI’s investigation involving city leaders and laying out how they’d improve trust in city hall, if elected.

Developers are working on a plan to build out nearly 31 acres at Bannerman and Bull Headley roads in northeast Leon County.

The county commission recently approved rezoning there that was met with dozens of public comments like these: 

President Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee is already causing partisan divides among Republicans and Democrats. That fight is also making its way to the Sunshine State.

The League of Women Voters of Florida is suing to block a constitutional amendment that could pave the way for more charter schools. The League says the ballot summary-which voters see on the actual ballot—is different from the language in the amendment, and is vague and misleading.

Attorney Ron Meyer is representing the League in the lawsuit. He’s also representing the state teachers union in a case against a Florida that targets the Florida Education Association. Lynn Hatter spoke with Meyer about both lawsuits, starting with the case against Amendment Eight. It’s comprised of three proposals—term limits for local school board members, and mandatory civics education. But it’s the language regarding school district oversight of public schools, that’s triggered the suit.

Candidates for City of Tallahassee Commission seat 3 discussed government funding, crime solutions and other key topics.

Florida’s election supervisors are feeling the squeeze of a short deadline to submit an application for $19 million in federal cybersecurity funding. The applications are due to the Department of State by next Wednesday.

Monday’s Community Redevelopment Board meeting divvied up $3 million  to three arts and cultural groups and a new program, not in the running last week, is now set to receive $1.8 million.

Thomasville, Georgia’s recycling center reopens Monday. The facility shut down for a few days to make changes to how it accepts paper and plastic.

Seminole County is the first US government agency to accept cryptocurrency as payment for county services. And according to a coinmap.org study, Tampa and Miami are ranked in the top 10 bitcoin-friendly cities in the world. With cryptocurrency usage growing,  Florida’s Chief Financial Officer plans to regulate the industry.

A Department of State panel has agreed to allow a Confederate General statue currently in the U.S. Capitol to call a Florida museum its new home. But, that decision is receiving some pushback.