FEATURED STORIES
Inquiry into Lauderdale law firm rocks political campaigns
By Amy Sherman, Jay Weaver and Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
The politically influential Fort Lauderdale law firm that Scott Rothstein created just a few years ago has attempted to oust him amid a criminal investigation into his business dealings, sending shock waves through political campaigns that took fat checks.
Paula Dockery Says She Will Run for Governor
Staff Report
Lakeland Ledger
State Sen. Paula Dockery says she will run for governor, challenging Attorney General Bill McCollum for the Republican nomination.
Independent voters in Florida shifting toward GOP, poll finds
By Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Independent voters are more likely to side with Republicans than with Democrats on issues facing Floridians, according to a poll conducted for the St. Petersburg Times, Miami Herald and Bay News 9.
Off-shore drilling pros, cons explored
By Catherine Dolinski
Tampa Tribune
Only one in a hundred offshore drilling leases may produce oil, and there's no guarantee that near-shore drilling will bring big bucks to Florida.
FLORIDA POLITICS
St. Pete voters to pick mayor today
Staff Report
Tampa Tribune
Related: Black vote pivotal in mayoral race
Bill Foster and Kathleen Ford are battling to replace Mayor Rick Baker, who is finishing his second term.
2 candidates, 2 visions for Miami's future
By Charles Rabin
Miami Herald
As Miami chooses its next mayor Tuesday, the differences in candidates could not be more stark.
So who is responsible for Rothstein $200,000 check? Alex Sink or the Democrats?
By Gary Fineout
The Fine Print
The fallout from the Scott Rothstein case is moving fast and furiously.
Politicians Still Cashing in on Free Trips
By Amy Keller
Florida Trend
In 2007, after a scandal involving Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff revealed how lobbyists were using lavish trips to curry favor and buy face time with lawmakers, Congress enacted stricter rules governing privately funded travel.
Alan Grayson, the Liberals' Problem Child
By David M. Herszenhorn
New York Times
On paper, Representative Alan Grayson, a freshman Democrat from Florida, seems a bit stiff: degrees from Harvard and Harvard Law; a résumé that includes clerking for the United States Court of Appeals under Judges Antonin Scalia, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Robert Bork; an advocate for the aging.
Palin to speak at chamber function
By Bob Koslow
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be the featured speaker for the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's 90th annual meeting Feb. 15, executive committee chairman Ted Doran said Monday.
2010 RACES
Marco Rubio: Conservatives' New Man in Florida? (includes audio)
All Things Considered
NPR
When a political party is out of the White House and in the minority on Capitol Hill, it's time for licking wounds.
Florida police union chooses Charlie Crist in Senate primary
By David Hunt
Florida Times-Union
Florida's Fraternal Order of Police union is backing Gov. Charlie Crist in his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
FPL ordered to speed up $365 million refund for customers
By Julie Patel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
State regulators Monday directed Florida Power & Light to give utility customers a one-time refund of about $44 on their household electric bills in January for lower-than-expected fuel costs in 2009.
Progress Energy tells regulators it will wait to raise rates
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Progress Energy told state utility regulators Monday that it is willing to wait until the Public Service Commission decides on the company's rate increase rather than take the temporary boost in rates it is allowed under state law.
To drill or not to drill. . . is that really the question?
By Paul Flemming
Ft. Myers News-Press
It's a passionate debate, one that's been going on in Florida for decades with an environmentalist ebb and an oil flow.
Effects of "Dead Zone" on Gulf shrimping studied
By Florida State University and FloridaEnvironments.com
FloridaEnvironments.com
A team of researchers from Florida State University, Duke University and the National Marine Fisheries Service will study the environmental and economic impacts of the vast "dead zone" in the northern Gulf of Mexico on shrimping in the region.
Miami-Dade commissioners consider cashing in on old Glades jetport
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Related editorial: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades
Faced with a looming half-billion-dollar deficit from the expansion of Miami International Airport, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department wants to cash in on an Everglades jetport it was forced to abandon decades ago.
Another species of python is raising concern in region
By Kate Spinner
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
If thousands of Burmese pythons slithering through the Everglades are not worrisome enough, wildlife experts are now warning of another invasive reptile found as close as east Sarasota.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Legislators consider allowing gambling to compete with Seminole casinos
By Josh Hafenbrack
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Top Republicans all but pronounced the Seminole gambling deal dead Monday and said they are considering asking voters if they want to allow gambling such as blackjack and baccarat that would compete with the tribe's casinos.
Florida drivers' gas tax flows far
By Dale White
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
For every dollar they pay in federal gas taxes, drivers in Florida see roughly 14 cents spent on transportation projects in other states.
EDUCATION
Local School Board Member Blasts Governor's Education Funding Claims
By Tiffany Griffith
WOKV News Jacksonville
While in town last week, Governor Charlie Crist was asked about education funding, in which he declared, "We haven't cut education."
Applying for college? Don't wait
By Richard Danielson
St. Petersburg Times
There's a saying in college admissions. "If you smell the turkey in the oven, your college applications ought to be in before you sit down at the table," says Robert Spatig, director of undergraduate admissions at the University of South Florida.
Big interest in small schools: Broward, Palm Beach County students flock to Florida's smaller state universities
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
A steady stream of South Florida high school seniors walked into a college recruiting event last week at the Deerfield Beach Hilton, eager to get accepted into what many considered their first choice of schools.
More private-college presidents surpass $1 million in total compensation
By Luis Zaragoza
Orlando Sentinel
The number of private college and university presidents across the U.S. making more than $1 million in total compensation nearly tripled during the 2007-08 academic year, according to an analysis by the Chronicle of Higher Education published Monday.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Democrats' concerns over abortion may imperil health bill
By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post
While House leaders are moving toward a vote on health-care legislation by the end of the week, enough Democrats are threatening to oppose the measure over the issue of abortion to create a question about its passage.
Aronberg introduces bill to keep convicted felons from owning pain clinics
By Michael LaForgia
Palm Beach Post
A Democratic state lawmaker today filed a bill that would bar convicted felons from "any affiliation" with pain clinics - mushrooming businesses that authorities say are fueling an illicit drug trade that stretches from South Florida to the Appalachian mountains.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Freed inmate wants $1.35M from state for serving 27 years for murder conviction
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Nearly three decades after he was convicted of murder - thanks to a lying jailhouse witness, a discredited dog-handler and a bloody shirt he never wore - William Dillon is still fighting to be compensated for the 27 years he spent in prison.
Travesties of justice
Editorial
Florida Today
Twitter William Dillon testified before lawmakers in Tallahassee on Monday, asking for compensation for 27 years of wrongful imprisonment.
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