Central Florida Political Pulse

Parents, educators, advocates and others have responded to the Orlando Sentinel’s investigative project on Florida’s scholarship programs, which will send nearly $1 billion to private schools this year, by sharing their own experiences and views.

>>>Share your views with us here for possible inclusion in this story.

TALLAHASSEE — Second lady Karen Pence unveiled an initiative Wednesday to promote art therapy treatment and education at Florida State University, which has one of the oldest art- therapy programs in the country.

Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, said she was inspired by her experiences while visiting people who benefit from art therapy.

Last week, the region’s water-management district fined a parking-lot operator $200,000 for improperly destroying wetlands.

Sounds OK so far. After all, if a business gets caught breaking the rules, it should pay a price.

The University of Florida’s campus is bracing for a speech Thursday by white nationalist Richard Spencer, which is expected to draw protests despite school leaders urging students to stay away.

Spencer is slated to speak 2:30 p.m. at the university’s Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

UF President W.

After years of delays, funding questions and land buys, the long-awaited Pine Hills Trail officially opened Wednesday – or at least the first part of it.

When completed, the trail through the Pine Hills neighborhood is designed to be the key connector between the West Orange Trail and the Seminole-Wekiva Trail, two major pathways in the region.

In today’s column, we have items on aliens, clowns, nude photos and backwards horse racing.

But first, Florida politicians are begging Congress for a $2.5 billion relief package for Florida agriculture in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Gov.