Florida Five: Bobby Jindal abandons Jeb Bush’s Common Core, Local govts. ready for legal weed

Five of today’s top Florida political stories at your fingertips:

Jeb Bush
AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Jim Beckel

Bobby Jindal Nixes Common Core, Distances Himself from Jeb Bush: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal took a giant leap away from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush last week when he signed an executive order pulling the Southern state out of the national Common Core State Standards. Jindal’s decision comes as a significant break from the ultraconservative policies of top Republicans like Bush, who have fully embraced Common Core as the answer to the country’s future in education. Jindal’s not alone, either. Two other GOP governors — Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Mary Fallin of Oklahoma — have signed off on pulling their states out of the standards, too. Read more

Local governments get ready for legalized medical marijuana: Local lawmakers are ramping up plans to regulate medical marijuana, should voters says yes to November’s ballot question. “We are just beginning to have discussions,” said Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala. “However, until the rules are written by the Legislature, we are not sure what authority we will have. Most counties and cities want to have the say on dispensary locations, keeping them away from schools or tourist hot spots. Read more

Dennis Ross named one of deputy whips under new House leadership: Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, has been named a senior deputy whip under newly-elected House Whip Steve Scalise. Ross will be one of five deputies on Scalise’s team, joined by Reps. Kristi Noem (SD-At Large); Aaron Schock (IL-18); Steve Stivers (OH-15); and Ann Wagner (MO-02). Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10) was named chief deputy. “This is a great opportunity to have a positive impact,” Ross said. “I have always worked hard on behalf of Central Floridians to make sure that their voices are heard and that government works better for them.” Read more

New law aims to protect homeowner associations from pricey attorney fees: A new law takes effect Tuesday clarifying what community association managers can do without having to hire an attorney. The measure (HB 7037) was approved by Gov. Rick Scott on June 13, despite a request from the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar to veto it. Hired managers of homeowners associations sought help from lawmakers after the RPPTL section of the Bar, which regulates the state’s legal profession, raised concerns that some duties constituted unlicensed – and thus illegal – lawyering. Read more

Census shows Florida continues to grow grayer: Florida’s population continued to get older last year from a combination of natural aging and new residents, and the state had the highest rate of residents older than 65 years old, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The estimates show Florida’s population grew by 1.2 percent from 2012 to 2013, and the state had about 19.5 million residents as of July 2013. The Census estimate had Florida trailing New York by less than 150,000 residents to be the nation’s fourth most populous state, but that estimate is now likely outdated. Florida’s growth has outpaced New York and Florida likely surpassed New York in population earlier this year to qualify as the nation’s third most populous state. Read more

BONUSReally, Charlie Crist? Your Wife’s Tax Returns Are Off Limits?

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