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Think Big Sugar has nothing to do with the discharges? Think again

February 26, 2024

VoteWater’s Gil Smart: Some say Big Sugar has nothing to do with the discharges. But the entire rigged system was created to keep Big Sugar high and dry – while we drown in a deluge of dirty water.

Where are our champions? What are elected officials doing to stop these discharges?

February 22, 2024

Massive discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers began this past Saturday, with up to 6,500 cubic feet of water per second roaring through the Julian Keen Jr. Lock and Dam/S-77 in Moore Haven and up to 3,600 cfs…

Lake O discharges start Saturday. What are we going to do about that?

February 14, 2024

For months we’ve been predicting it. Thursday it became official: Beginning Saturday, Feb. 17, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin hammering the northern estuaries with discharges from Lake Okeechobee. In a press release the Corps said water will…

Whatever happened to LOSOM – and why is Big Sugar STILL trying to game the outcome?

February 8, 2024

Hm. Seems we remember this new “lake management plan” that was being developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Lake O… what was that called again? Oh, right — LOSOM. Whatever happened to LOSOM, anyway? As Ed Killer…

Final tally: Big Sugar spent $3.6 million on state politics in 2023

February 2, 2024

The final numbers are in — and they’re big. In 2023, Big Sugar political spending in Florida totaled over $3.6 million, with the vast majority — $2.9 million — coming from industry giant U.S. Sugar. Florida Crystals chipped in just…

Deep Dive: What will it cost to fix the Indian River Lagoon?

February 1, 2024

When is $100 million not a lot of money? When it comes to saving the Indian River Lagoon. In December, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the allocation of $100 million in state funds through the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program for…

Rogues gallery: Who’s behind this year’s dirty-water bills?

January 25, 2024

We’ve spend a lot of time and space analyzing the dreck oozing from Tallahassee this session, the terrible bills and bad ideas destined to result in dirtier water, more reckless development and more citizen intimidation. This week, let’s take a…

Big Sugar has at least 48 lobbyists in Tallahassee; how many do YOU have?

January 18, 2024

Ever wonder why Big Sugar so often gets its way when it comes to Florida water policy? Part of the answer lies in the number of lobbyists the industry pays to roam the halls of the capitol, sweet-talking legislators. While…

Legislative session 2024: It’s going to be a long two months

January 11, 2024

Welcome to the good, the bad and the hideously ugly. The 2024 Florida Legislative session began Tuesday, Jan. 9, and continues through Friday, March 8. More than four dozen bills that could have an impact on clean water have been…

Big Sugar spent millions in 2023; most went to PACs

January 4, 2024

With the 2024 Florida Legislative session bearing down — it starts next week! — we figured we’d take a look at what our old friends at Big Sugar spent buying influence in 2023. While totals for the fourth quarter of…

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