U.S. Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican whose district includes most of Lakeland, is being investigated by the Florida Bar for campaign finance irregularities, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Spano concedes that campaign loans, also being investigated by the Federal Elections Commission, were probably a violation, but says they resulted from a mistake, not maliciousness. A campaign spokesman said the Florida Bar has not contacted Spano and accused The Times of “doing the work of the left.”

Latest campaign finance reports show that two Democratic candidates have more cash available than first-term Republican incumbent Ross Spano in the 2020 race for the U.S. House District 15 seat, which represents most of Lakeland: Adam Hattersley, D: $171,314; Alan Cohn, D: $85,313; Spano, R: $41,986.

Florida Sen. Kelli Stargel’s bill requiring parents to consent to a minor’s abortion passed the Senate Thursday on a party-line vote and is headed to passage by the House and signature by the governor. The Lakeland Republican said she opted to have a baby as a teen when she found she was pregnant even though her mother suggested an abortion.

A bill by state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that would shield state lawmakers’ home addresses and family members’ income sources passed a committee 4-3 on a party-line vote. The law’s supporters offered no evidence why members of the Legislature need the same protections as judges and law enforcement officers, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Though the primary is eight months away, the two Democrats who hope to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Ross Spano are already sniping at one another. Adam Cohn portrays Adam Hattersley as a politician who has done little but try to advance to higher office. Hattersley says that as a former TV reporter, all Cohn does is talk. Bay News 9’s Mitch Perry reports.

A battle is brewing among two Democrats wanting the party’s nod to run against Republican incumbent Ross Spano for the congressional seat that represents much of Lakeland. Alan Cohn and Adam Hattersley, both from the Hillsborough side of the district, are getting big-name endorsements — including former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham for Cohn and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park for Hattersley.

A bill by state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, requiring parents to consent to minors’ abortions passed the Senate Health Policy Committee today 6-3 in a party-line vote.