Another mystery candidate in South Florida? Mailers may tell the story

As rivals call on the FBI to examine a former mystery opponent of U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, the Miami Herald has uncovered a new connection between them: Both used the same print shop for campaign mailers.

But the print shop, Image Plus Graphics, isn't the only tie between Garcia and Jose Rolando "Roly" Arrojo, whose 2010 campaign violated federal campaign-finance disclosure rules.

Arrojo went to school and did business with Garcia's top adviser, who was abruptly fired May 31 as the congressman's chief of staff amid a state investigation into alleged absentee ballot-request fraud....

Federal election reform commission to hold hearing in Miami

The bipartisan election reform commission established by President Barack Obama will meet later this month in Miami — the focal point for the state's most-recent election meltdown.

The Presidential Commission on Election Administration is scheduled to meet all day Friday June 28 at the University of Miami to take testimony and public comments from local, county and state election officials and citizens, according to a notice published Wednesday in the Federal Register....

Federal election reform commission to hold hearing in Miami

The bipartisan election reform commission established by President Barack Obama will meet later this month in Miami, the focal point for the state's most-recent election meltdown.

The Presidential Commission on Election Administration is scheduled to meet all day June 28 at the University of Miami to take testimony and public comments from local, county and state election officials and citizens, according to a notice published Wednesday in the Federal Register....

President Barack Obama to visit Miami Beach for fundraiser

President Barack Obama travels to Miami Beach on Wednesday to raise money for the Democratic Party at a private event where donations could reach $32,400 per person.

But everyone will pay for the president's visit to the waterfront home of businessman Joseph W. Blount.

It costs federal taxpayers about $180,000 per flight hour just to take Air Force One. Locally, there's a cost as well....

Column: Gov. Rick Scott hopes pen is mightier than his past

A column by the Herald's Marc Caputo:

Dear [First Name],

Congratulations! I am so proud of the hard work you have done this year. Through your outstanding efforts and the outstanding work of your teachers, you achieved a perfect score on: [Assessment]

Bearing the name and signature of Gov. Rick Scott, form letters like this are soon to arrive by express mail at each of Florida’s 67 school districts. School workers are to fill in the blanks and personalize certificates, which are to be sent out with report cards to students who did well on standardized assessment tests....

Roger Stone: Why I won't run for Florida governor

A written statement Sunday from Republican operative-turned-Libertarian Roger Stone:

While I am sorely tempted to be a candidate for Governor of Florida, I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate. I have come to the conclusion that my own, shall we say, colorful lifestyle and the bumps and scars of hundreds of political fights would be a distraction from our message of Liberty....

In Trayvon Martin's text messages, talk of marijuana, fights and guns

In the months and days before his shooting death, Trayvon Martin was getting into fights, getting high on marijuana, getting suspended from school and talking with friends about getting a gun, according to cellphone text messages that defense lawyers for shooter George Zimmerman released Thursday.

Trayvon's chronically misspelled, slang-filled messages — as well as pictures of a semi-automatic pistol, marijuana plants and Trayvon flipping his middle fingers — are all part of Zimmerman's defense plan to put the Miami Gardens 17-year-old posthumously on trial....

Pam Bondi and 22 AGs to Urban Outfitters: stop 'undermining' war on RX abuse

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and 22 other attorneys general accused Urban Outfitters on Wednesday of "undermining" nationwide efforts to fight pharmaceutical-drug abuse because the store sells a line of drinking novelties that mimic prescription-pill bottles, boxes, pads and syringes.

"These products are not in any way fun or humorous but make light of this rampant problem," the group wrote in a letter addressed to the company's CEO and chairman, Richard A. Hayne. "We invite you to pull these products from your shelves and join with us to fight prescription drug abuse."...

Pam Bondi says Urban Outfitters' novelty prescription pill items go too far

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and 22 other attorneys general accused Urban Outfitters on Wednesday of "undermining" nationwide efforts to fight pharmaceutical-drug abuse because the store sells a line of drinking novelties that mimic prescription-pill bottles, boxes, pads and syringes.

"These products are not in any way fun or humorous but make light of this rampant problem," the group wrote in a letter addressed to the company's CEO and chairman, Richard A. Hayne. "We invite you to pull these products from your shelves and join with us to fight prescription drug abuse."...

Son of former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart dies at age 29

Lincoln Gabriel Diaz-Balart, son and namesake of a former congressman and nephew of a current U.S. representative, died Sunday at the age of 29.

The family has asked for privacy and time to grieve.

The Diaz-Balart family is, perhaps, the most-politically powerful in Miami's Cuban-exile community.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart is a sitting Republican representative. His brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart retired from congress after the 2010 elections. Another brother, Jose Diaz-Balart is a Telemundo host. A cousin of theirs is son and namesake of Fidel Castro, a prior uncle by marriage. A longtime family friend and virtual sister, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, expressed her sorrow this morning in a radio interview during which she spoke of the toll of depression and suicide....

AARP blocks Floridians from entering its contests, blames new gambling law

Sorry, grandma and grandpa.

The AARP is blocking Florida residents from participating in its Perfect Path to Retirement $50,000 Giveaway and its forthcoming Grandparents Day Photo Contest because, the group says, of a new state law cracking down on gambling.

The law was quickly passed last month after the arrests of 57 people and the resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll in connection with St. Augustine-based Allied Veterans of the World, which operated a chain of strip mall mini-casinos or so-called "Internet cafes."...

How Rep. Frederica Wilson spared dad of four from 4 a.m. deportation

The hour was getting late at the North Miami immigration forum. The four members of Congress were hungry.

But 18-year-old Carlos Rivas had something to say.

“My dad, he was two months ago arrested by ICE. I have my family right here: my mom and my three brothers and sisters. We don’t know what to do,” Rivas said.

“He’s about to be deported tomorrow at 4 a.m.” he said. “And I wanted to know what you could do for us. … What can you do? Is there any help you can try to give us?”...

Poll: Fla voters back pathway to citizenship

Florida’s Hispanic voters, the fastest-growing segment of the state’s electorate, are the most likely of any to support candidates who back a path to citizenship for those illegally in the country, a new poll from a Democratic-leaning firm has found.

Seven in 10 Hispanic voters said they’d be more likely to vote for a pro-pathway candidate, compared to 49 percent of African-Americans and 47 percent of non-Hispanic whites who feel that way, the survey from Public Policy Polling shows....