The Florida Trident

Witness in Sheriff Marceno probe raises alarm federal case may ‘go away’ Bonita Springs jeweler Ken Romano, a key witness in the federal investigation of Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, stares into the camera and addresses an audience of one about rumors circulating that the corruption case against Marceno is going to be killed by the Trump Administration.

“I know the evidence the federal government has in its possession,” said former LCSO deputy and internal affairs commander Mike Hollow. “There’s no denying the criminal charges are there – my concern is with the federal government’s inability to perform with the highest integrity.” #DefendDemocracy

#DefendDemocracy

Spending Soars, Rankings Fall at New College of Florida Student outcomes and rankings are slipping at the liberal arts college while spending is up. Critics believe the college is at risk of implosion, and some are calling for privatization.

More than two years into a conservative takeover of New College of Florida, spending has soared and rankings have plummeted, raising questions about the efficacy of the overhaul. #DefendDemocracy www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...

POLITICO Pro: Sen. Gaetz wants to protect government workers who file ethics complaints

Sen. Gaetz wants to protect government workers who file ethics complaints (paywall) #DefendDemocracy

Push to build Trump library on Miami Dade College land shrouded in secrecy One historian who studies presidential libraries said the state’s move to give public land to the cause so early in the process is “unusually fast.”

Push to build Trump library on Miami Dade College land shrouded in secrecy #DefendDemocracy www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...

Maxwell: Florida’s laughable DOGE team ignores Seminole’s $60 million tax hike Maxwell: Florida’s DOGE has targeted Orlando and Orange County – neither of which raised tax rates – while largely ignoring Seminole County, which just hiked taxes by more than $6…

Maxwell: Florida’s laughable DOGE team ignores Seminole’s $60 million tax hike trib.al/HhyJPKN

LifeScience Logistics received $132.6 mil. after the state awarded the company a no-bid contract to manage the importation of prescription medications from Canada -- yet several years later, their warehouse in Lakeland seems to have minimal activity. #DefendDemocracy

Government Gone Wild Goes Wilder DeSantis’ CFO on mission to cut government spending, wants more than $600,000 to beef up his own bureaucracy. A top state official spearheading the

FAFO: Gov DeSantis’ hand-picked new CFO Blaise Ingoglia is seeking over $600,000 to permanently establish the Florida Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Office to “uncover the truth about how these government entities are using taxpayer funds, especially property taxes." #DefendDemocracy

2024 Annual Impact Report

We’re excited to share our 2024 Annual Impact Report! FLCGA has continued shining a light on government actions across Florida, holding public officials accountable and empowering citizens with the information they need. #DefendDemocracy #TeamTrident flcga.org/2024report/

Charter School Queen: How an elected official is cashing in big on a publicly funded school Clay County’s public schools have eliminated teaching positions and cut student  busing services due to a budget deficit. School officials are now

Clay County schools have cut teaching jobs and busing due to budget deficits—yet County Tax Collector Diane Hutchings’ private firm quietly took in over $2.5M in “management consultant” fees from a single public charter school. #DefendDemocracy

Florida congressman and governor candidate Byron Donalds faces rampant ridicule after Epstein birthday book gaffe After a Congressional committee released Jeffrey Epstein’s “birthday book” that included a cryptic and lewd homemade card allegedly sent to the notorious

“From what I see, it’s not his signature,” said Byron Donalds, the Trump-endorsed frontrunner for Florida governor. “I’ve seen Donald Trump sign a million things.” Unfortunately for Donalds, the “signature doesn’t match” talking point was discredited in lightning speed. #DefendDemocracy #TeamTrident

Florida surgeon general begins striking school vaccine mandates, offers parents ‘freedom’ but no guidance Wasting no time to start on his pledge last week to remove all vaccine mandates in Florida, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo quickly removed four of them

If people get legacy diseases from unvaccinated children, “That is part of the experience of life," says Florida Surgeon General Joseph Lapado on his pledge to remove vaccine mandates -- a plan condemned by the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. #DefendDemocracy #TeamTrident

Byron Donalds skirts campaign finance laws in dual bids for Congress, Governor In February, after an endorsement by President Donald Trump,  U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds announced he was running for Florida’s next governor. Donations

When U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds announced he was running for Florida governor, donations poured in, totaling over $22 mil. But donations for Byron Donalds for Congress didn’t stop--and the FEC has an issue with that. #DefendDemocracy #TeamTrident floridatrident.org/byron-donald...

Congratulations to Michael Barfield on his first place Sunshine State Award for reporting on the Zieglers! Read the winning series: floridatrident.org?s=Ziegler #DefendDemocracy #TeamTrident

Sarasota County seeks stormwater rate increase. But audit finds millions available Sarasota County administrators are stiff-arming recommendations from a stormwater consultant and plan to push another rate hike on residents despite a new

Sarasota County administrators are stiff-arming recommendations from a stormwater consultant and plan to push another rate hike on residents despite a new audit showing the utility could have more than $70 million over the next five years without raising rates. #DefendDemocracy

Safety Deferred: FPL has delayed core enclosure tests at nuclear plant for nearly 20 years Shortly after Florida Power & Light brought the Turkey Point nuclear power plant online 53 years ago in south Miami-Dade County, a detailed safety

Safety Deferred: FPL has delayed core enclosure tests at nuclear plant for nearly 20 years #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/safety-defer...

Unclean Hands: DeSantis gave company accused of ripping off Hurricane Ian victims $200 million in “emergency” state business #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/unclean-hand...

Back on track: Scientists restart work on next-gen rainfall project to defend against worsening flooding A suspended federal project that promised to be a game-changer in protecting the public from worsening flooding is back in business today, with a team of

Back on track: Scientists restart work on next-gen rainfall project to defend against worsening flooding #DefendDemocracy #TeamTrident floridatrident.org/back-on-trac...

Extreme rainfall: Modernized database may be saved from budget cuts after public outcry and deadly Texas flooding A next-gen federal database designed to predict extreme rainfall that leads to dangerous flooding may be safe from federal budget cuts after all,

Extreme rainfall: Modernized database may be saved from budget cuts after public outcry and deadly Texas flooding #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/extreme-rain...

BREAKING: Sarasota Assistant County Administrator Resigns Amid Stormwater Fallout Sarasota Assistant County Administrator Mark Cunningham resigned on Wednesday, becoming the highest-ranking official to step down in the wake of

BREAKING: Sarasota Assistant County Administrator Mark Cunningham resigned on Wednesday, becoming the highest-ranking official to step down in the wake of revelations about widespread failures in the county’s stormwater management system. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/breaking-sar...

Florida’s higher ed makeover: Attacks, resistance and all-out war -- with DeSantis leading the charge #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/floridas-hig...

Governor DeSantis is building “Alligator Alcatraz” with little oversight – and this big campaign donor is set to reap millions from it As the large commercial trucks roar one after another onto the airfield property in the Everglades where a massive detention camp for immigrants is being

Governor DeSantis is building “Alligator Alcatraz” with little oversight – and this big campaign donor is set to reap millions from it #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/governor-des...

Sarasota County stormwater crisis sparks major shakeup after public trust erodes Sarasota County leaders voted Tuesday to create a separate stormwater department — breaking it off from Public Works — just days after a joint

Sarasota County stormwater crisis sparks major shakeup after public trust erodes #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/sarasota-cou...

'Alligator Alcatraz' is just the start of a state plan to remove immigrants. Will it wreck Florida's economy? Mega-farmer Francis Alfred “Alfie” Oakes III addresses the camera as massive watermelons come rolling down a conveyor belt at one of his farms in Collier

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is just the start of a state plan to remove immigrants. Will it wreck Florida’s economy? #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/alligator-al...

Stormwater chief defends dredging permit and flood response, says he divided rainfall forecast by 3 Sarasota County Public Works Director Spencer Anderson addresses reporters at a press conference Monday, June 30, 2025. | Photo by Derek Gilliam, Suncoast

Stormwater chief defends dredging permit and flood response, says he divided rainfall forecast by 3 floridatrident.org/stormwater-c...

Sarasota County officials downplayed flood risk. Tropical Storm Debby exposed their failures By Michael Barfield of Florida Trident and Derek Gilliam of Suncoast Searchlight Tropical Storm Debby didn’t look like trouble.  No hurricane-force

Tropical Storm Debby didn’t look like trouble. No hurricane-force winds. No mass evacuations. Just forecasts, quietly urgent, calling for historic rainfall...On Aug. 5, the rain came. Then the flooding. Then the reckoning. #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/sarasota-cou...

No emergency permit: Dredging of Phillippi Creek to wait another hurricane season Phillippi Creek won’t be dredged this hurricane season, no emergency permit issued By Michael Barfield of Florida Trident and Josh Salman of Suncoast

Phillippi Creek won’t be dredged this hurricane season, no emergency permit issued #DefendDemocracy

floridatrident.org/no-emergency...

FLCGA Newsletter: Issue 3 - June 2025 The Florida Center for Government Accountability continues to assist media outlets with their public record requests and continually monitors local and state governments for open government violations.

Just released: our latest newsletter! See how FLCGA and the Florida Trident are working to protect open government and shine a light on public officials across the state. Read the latest investigations and updates: mailchi.mp/flcga/newsle... #DefendDemocracy

'Mortifying distinction': Federal judge holds Florida Attorney General in civil contempt It may not be one of the things to learn in kindergarten, but it’s supposed to be absorbed at some point in the education of a lawyer: Don’t disobey a

Mortifying distinction: federal judge holds Florida Attorney General in civil contempt #DefendDemocracy floridatrident.org/mortifying-d...

Sheriff Marceno says he has 'zero tolerance' for street racing. Here's a video of Sheriff Marceno street racing. Call it a case of highway hypocrisy. After Lee County deputies arrested an 18-year-old on a street racing charge last week, Sheriff Carmine Marceno put

Sheriff Marceno says he has ‘zero tolerance’ for street racing. Here’s a video of Sheriff Marceno street racing. #DefendDemocracy