Daily Clips for January 19, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

Biden appearance and parade mark Martin Luther King Day

By Beth Reinhard and Toluse Olorunnipa

Miami Herald

In a hastily arranged visit to South Florida's only historically black university, Vice President Joe Biden said the election of the first African-American president did not end the crusade for racial equality embodied by Martin Luther King Jr.

Haitian trip, rescue video boost Meek's profile

By William March

Tampa Tribune

Related AP story: Haitians seeking US refuge will be returned

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, whose Miami district includes the nation's largest Haitian community, left on a sudden and dramatic trip to Haiti Sunday to participate in aid efforts and gather information.

Florida Dems cut into GOP's big cash advantage

By Aaron Deslatte

Orlando Sentinel

The intra-party rebellion that ousted Florida Republican Chairman Jim Greer this month was fueled by images of limo rides, expensive meals, cocktail soirees at ritzy South Florida resorts, even cigars bought by the case.

Don't let Sansom off the hook

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

No one said it would be easy to hold former House Speaker Ray Sansom and his pals accountable for misusing public money to pursue their personal agendas.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Massachusetts senate race spills into Northeast Florida

By David Hunt

Florida Times-Union

Related AP story: Voters flock to polls for Massachusetts election

Northeast Florida's Democrats and Republicans have made thousands of calls to Massachusetts voters over the past few days in a power struggle that will help determine whether the Democrats keep their filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate.

Affidavits indicate Sansom's college job was supervisory

By Tom McLaughlin

Northwest Florida Daily News

Julie Cotton, the grant administrator for the Northwest Florida State College Leadership Institute, and Jill White, a school vice president, knew when state Rep. Ray Sansom was hired in November 2008 that he'd be Cotton's boss.

Don't repeal Florida's ban on local government 'electioneering'

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

Now and then the Legislature does something you agree with.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Redistricting issue already running up lawyers' fees

By Shannon Colavecchio

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

Sen. Mike Haridopolos quips that a proposed constitutional amendment to change how voter districts are drawn should be called ``the full employment act for lawyers,'' because it will spark so many challenges in court if approved by voters.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Freedom is for everybody': More than 1,000 join march honoring MLK

By TaMaryn Waters

Tallahassee Democrat

A sense of jubilation permeated the crowd of silver-haired grandparents, college students and round-faced toddlers.

Progress report: First black president, but work remains

By Nathan Crabbe

Gainesville Sun

Nearly a year after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, Gainesville's Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and unfinished work of the civil rights movement.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Cold inflicted major toll on fish in Florida

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

Everywhere he steered his skiff last week, Pete Frezza saw dead fish.

As farmers pump, neighbors go dry

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

This month's freeze underscores why Florida needs to better balance the interests of farmers and their suburban neighbors.

Recycling will pay off, if Tallahassee gets onboard

Editorial

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Florida lags in recycling efforts, and lawmakers have been loathe to do anything about it.

Glades menace

Editorial

Miami Herald

A hunt for Burmese pythons in the Everglades turned up an even scarier predator: the African rock python.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

A pricey political ploy

Editorial

Orlando Sentinel

Who knew how easy it was to painlessly solve the problems facing Florida's state budget and economy?

FSU, TCC, FAMU snag defense money

By Angeline J. Taylor

Tallahassee Democrat

Tallahassee's universities and community college will receive a portion of the $636.3 billion defense appropriations bill recently approved by President Barack Obama.

EDUCATION

Teacher unions oppose school grants

By Carmen Paige

Pensacola News Journal

Florida's application for the Race to the Top federal money is due today, but it has been rejected by many teachers' unions in the state, including unions in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties.

South Florida teachers suspected of bending FCAT rules

By Jennifer Gollan

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Under pressure to get their students to excel on statewide exams, some teachers are bending - if not breaking - the rules.

Run new race on schools: FCAT obsession hobbles state push for federal grant

Editorial

Palm Beach Post

"Race to the Top," which is part of the federal stimulus bill, is supposed to reward states and school districts for innovation in education.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

State Offers Aid to Haitian-Americans

By Whitney Ray

Capitol News Service

The state is offering free food, shelter, and counseling to Haitian-Americans fleeing the devastated country.

Fla. veterans look for help

By Bart Jansen

Tallahassee Democrat

Florida veterans are urging Congress to shorten the backlog for disability claims and to eliminate an overlap in survivors' benefits.