LOST CEMETERY As many as 800 bodies may be buried in a long-forgotten cemetery for African-Americans dating back to the early 1900’s. The Zion cemetery property is now partially owned by Tampa restaurateur and businessman Richard Gonzmart and his Columbia Restaurant Group. The Tampa Housing Authority hired archaeologists who have found 144 coffins thus far. Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
PRESCRIBED BURNS The Florida Department of Agriculture is changing 30-year old rules related to prescribed burns in an effort towards added safety. The most recent changes impact the sugar cane industry, requiring an 80-acre buffer between wildlands and the burns when winds are high. During the pre-harvest burning process, there will be no burns at Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
NEW AREA CODE The Florida Public Service Commission approved a new 448 area code in Northwest Florida. Rolling out in mid-2021, the new area code includes 18 counties and the cities of Tallahassee, Panama City and Pensacola. FUTURE BUDGETS The revenue estimating conference met in November to discuss its end of the year report that Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
SPANISH-LANGUAGE BALLOTS Voters should have access to Spanish-language ballots in all 67 counties prior to the 2020 primaries. The Governor, Secretary of State Laurel Lee and supervisors of elections have made this a priority, particularly after a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Puerto Rican citizens who have moved into the State post-Hurricane Maria. NEW ORLANDO Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
DOZIER SCHOOL FOR BOYS The state last searched for additional burials of former residents at the Dozier School in 2015. With over 180 boys still unaccounted for, the team of University of South Florida experts will be back at the site conducting additional detection methods. Hampering the efforts is the growth of woods on the site Read more about Issues of Interest[…]