Candidates in smaller swing state races struggle financially amid pandemic

by Nicole Girten | Jul 24, 2020 | Featured, Politics

When asked to describe what fundraising has been like during a pandemic, first-time Democratic congressional candidate Kimberly Walker did not miss a beat: “Hard.” Across the board, donations surged in competitive congressional races despite the...

$1 million in election funding allocated to Hillsborough County may not be enough

by Nicole Girten | Jul 23, 2020 | Campaign2020, Featured

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said Wednesday that the county was given a total just over $1 million in funds from the CARES Act and the county to spend on ensuring safe elections in August and November. However, he’s not sure he can stretch...

Esper says it’s ‘unclear’ who ordered protesters dispersed from Lafayette Square

by Nicole Girten | Jul 10, 2020 | Military

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Thursday that it is “still unclear” who gave the order to disperse thousands of protesters in Lafayette Square outside the White House so President Donald Trump could walk through the park for a photo-op. Law enforcement officers...

Florida small businesses struggle as many get denied COVID-19 loans

by Nicole Girten | Jul 1, 2020 | Business

Democrats and Republicans reached a rare consensus Wednesday: The federal government is moving too slowly in providing loans to companies struggling with the pandemic. A federal loan program for small businesses has denied 48 percent of applicants, leaving 2.5 million...

Spano tells constituents he’ll hold “communist China” accountable for the COVID-19 pandemic

by Nicole Girten | Jun 26, 2020 | Featured, Politics

U.S. Rep. Ross Spano emphasized holding China accountable for the spread of COVID-19 during a telephone town hall Thursday night. “We’ve had 127,000 folks in our nation that now have died,” Spano said in response to a caller from Lakeland. “In large part it’s a result...