The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting won eight awards in the Florida Society of News Editors’ annual statewide journalism competition, including FCIR’s first awards for Spanish-language journalism.

Howard Goodman will blog regularly as well as work on special projects that will be published online and through FCIR’s media partners in print, broadcast and online.

Ralph De La Cruz: A bill moving forward in the Florida Senate would ban employees of Florida colleges and universities, including professors, from holding state legislative office.

Ralph De La Cruz: With the Republican presidential primaries coming, Floridians better buckle up for a torrent of marketing and money.

Ralph De La Cruz: Confrontational and secretive Ash Williams, the man responsible for Florida’s $120 billion pension fund, was unanimously reappointed. The question: Why?

Ralph De La Cruz: The federal ban on the importation of four species of non-native snakes that have overwhelmed the Everglades is welcome news — that’s decades late.

Ralph De La Cruz: The recently announced closure of 11 state prisons due to declines in crime are painful though necessary. But for further closures and reductions, other reforms proposed by state leaders a year ago are needed.

Ralph De La Cruz: After a controversial session last year, Florida lawmakers have said they want more cooperation and less confrontation this year. Now they even want to give the public the right to be heard.

Ralph De La Cruz: The Florida legislative session that began Tuesday promises to be lacking in controversial issues thanks to redistricting and the quest for the minority party to maintain political control for the next decade.

Ralph De La Cruz: When it comes to financial and corporate misdeeds, civil lawsuits and whistleblowers are the hope for justice these days.