Posts Tagged crime

NAACP report: Florida among 4 states with ‘most restrictive’ felon disenfranchisement laws

By Ashley Lopez | 12.20.11 | 1:26 am | More from The Florida Independent

A report released earlier this month by the NAACP found that Florida is among the states with the “most restrictive” felon disenfranchisement “laws in the country” — one of many aspects of the state’s voting practices that will limit voter participation among minorities, according to the group. More…

Republican chairman has ‘confidence’ in Vern Buchanan, despite ethics investigations

By Virginia Chamlee | 12.20.11 | 1:00 am | More from The Florida Independent

Rep. Pete Sessions, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, says he has “confidence” in Committee Finance Chairman Vern Buchanan, despite a U.S. Department of Justice criminal investigation and an Office of Congressional Ethics investigation into the Sarasota congressman over an alleged campaign finance scheme to reimburse employees who contributed to his campaign. More…

Federal report: Arizona has shown ‘systematic disregard’ for constitutional protections

By Marcos Restrepo | 12.15.11 | 3:51 pm | More from The Florida Independent

A federal report released Thursday finds that Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., an advocate for controversial immigration enforcement and detention measures, has committed a “wide range of civil rights violations.” More…

Federal judge rejects FEC motion against former Buchanan business partner

By Virginia Chamlee | 11.16.11 | 2:14 pm | More from The Florida Independent

A federal judge has denied the Federal Election Commission’s motion to fine a former business partner of Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, over contributions made to Buchanan’s 2006 and 2008 campaigns.

Broward Teachers Union president under investigation for misuse of funds

By Marcos Restrepo | 11.16.11 | 11:17 am | More from The Florida Independent

Pat Santeramo, the longtime president of the Broward Teachers Union, will not be in charge of the union while he is under investigation by the Florida Elections Commission and the Broward State Attorney’s office for his handling of union dollars. More…

Arizona’s Russell Pearce explains his defeat

By Marcos Restrepo | 11.15.11 | 4:11 pm | More from The Florida Independent

Former Arizona Sen. Russell Pearce — one of the most recognized architects of that state’s immigration enforcement law S.B. 1070, and who recently lost a recall election — writes today that his defeat had nothing to do with S.B. 1070. More…

New bill would ‘tweak’ pill mill legislation

By Virginia Chamlee | 11.14.11 | 5:56 pm | More from The Florida Independent

Though the program was only recently implemented, state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has filed a bill to tweak Florida’s prescription drug monitoring database, known as E-FORCSE. More…

FBI says number of hate crimes holding steady

By Marcos Restrepo | 11.14.11 | 3:03 pm | More from The Florida Independent

The number of hate crimes in the U.S. in 2010 increased slightly over 2009, according to a report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation today. The number of incidents defined as hate crimes in 2010 totaled  6,628, an increase from 6,604 in 2009. More…