Click here to subscribe for free to the best daily news roundup in Florida.

Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Daily Clips for February 16, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Group hopes to regain momentum for curbside recycling

By Libby Hendren

10 Connects Tampa Bay

Related YouTube video: Pinellas County Needs Recycling

Tampa Bay CBS affiliate WTSP Channel 10 news coverage of Progress Florida's effort to win curbside recycling in Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, the state's largest city with no curbside recycling.

FEATURED STORIES

Gubernatorial Candidates Split On State Investigation of GOP Credit Card Use

By Keith Laing

News Service of Florida

The three leading candidates to replace Gov. Charlie Crist next year offered different advice on whether or not the state should investigate credit card use at the Republican Party under former chairman Jim Greer.


Crist takes aim at Rubio's bona fides as conservative

By William March

Tampa Tribune

Facing Marco Rubio's avalanche of momentum in the Republican Senate primary, Gov. Charlie Crist's best shot at winning - and salvaging his political career - is to redefine Rubio's image.


Oil drilling legislation not likely this year, lawmakers say

By Daniel Carson

Panama City News Herald

Area legislators expressed doubts Friday that the Florida Legislature will pass any offshore oil drilling-related bills in 2010 due to concerns about impacts on military missions, the region's tourism industry and the environment.


Sansom accuses panelist of bias

By Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times

State Rep. Ray Sansom charged Monday that a member of the House panel investigating his ties to a Panhandle college is biased, has a conflict of interest and should be removed from the panel.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Florida court allows local rules on voting machines, election audits

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

Now and then, as you know, Florida has had a spot of trouble with its elections.


State Democratic chair wants probe of GOP

By Brent Kallestad

The Associated Press

Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman is looking for help in persuading Attorney General Bill McCollum to investigate possible criminal activity in the Republican Party


Dems shut down McCollum anti-corruption hotline

By Dara Kam

Palm Beach Post

Attorney General Bill McCollum continues to defer to GOP party leaders instead of ordering an investigation into possible criminal conduct regarding credit card abuses at the Republican Party of Florida.


House committee begins Sansom hearings Monday

By Tom McLaughlin

Northwest Florida Daily News

A week out from his legislative misconduct hearing, state Rep. Ray Sansom has requested that one member of the five-member committee scheduled to hear his case be removed.


Palin touts can-do American spirit

By Jim Witters

Daytona Beach News-Journal

Related: Hundreds of fans flock to 'Going Rogue' signing

One thing for sure about Sarah Palin: Her theme never wavers.


Famous speakers find way to SW Fla.

By Glenn Miller

Ft. Myers News-Press

George W. Bush is scheduled to appear today at the Naples Town Hall Distinguished Speaker Series along with his brother Jeb, the former governor.


State senator used campaign funds to pay off election fine

By Gary Fineout

The Fine Print

It turns out State Sen. Charlie Justice, who is running for the congressional seat now held by veteran U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, used donations to pay off a state fine.


Tougher laws on misconduct

Editorial

Miami Herald

Call it the Keith Wasserstrom anti-corruption proposal. Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz and Palm Beach County State Attorney Michael McAuliffe want to toughen the state's official misconduct law.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Brent Batten: Diaz-Balart takes dim view of redistricting amendments

By Brent Batten

Naples News

Florida District 25 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart scoffs at the notion he is running for a seat in a new district because it's safer.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Christian group adds Volusia to lawsuit roster

By Willoughby Mariano

Orlando Sentinel

A Christian group filed a second federal lawsuit against county officials in Central Florida, repeating a claim, that its right to freedom of religion was violated.


Poor shouldn't subsidize state's conservation efforts

By Adora Obi Nweze

Tallahassee Democrat

The NAACP promotes environment stewardship, and we advocate for environmental justice. We also strongly support energy conservation -- but not on the backs of middle- and low-income working-class people.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

EPA holding hearing on Fla. water rules

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

Environmentalists say a proposal that would set numeric limits on farm and urban runoff is needed to clean up Florida's polluted water bodies and is long overdue.


Update: Scientist questions springs nitrogen limit

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

State officials for the first time are saying they know at what level of nitrate in groundwater that springs lose their ecological balance.


Muddying the water

Editorial

Daytona Beach News-Journal

In 2006, the Florida Legislature approved a scheme that enables electric utilities to charge their customers up-front for development and construction costs of nuclear power plants.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Homelessness: The Gap Between Need and Demand is Widening

By Margie Menzel

WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee

The record cold snap last month not only put Florida crops and wildlife at risk It also exposed the gap between the state's 50-60,000 homeless people and its ability to shelter them.


D.C. may send more to FL

By Dale White

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Florida may be missing out on billions of dollars each year because state agencies are not applying to get fully reimbursed for federally subsidized programs.


Some in Florida skeptical of feds' offer to help with jobless benefits

By Jim Stratton

Orlando Sentinel

As Florida's jobless rate flirts with 12 percent and the state borrows federal money to pay unemployment claims, the U.S. Department of Labor is pushing a deal legislators have already turned down once.


Stimulus money and weird science: Benefit or boondoggle?

By Robert Nolin and John Maines

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tipsy mice and sexed-up cactus bugs have been enlisted to help in America's economic recovery. But will they do much to boost employment?


State settles with Countrywide for $17 million

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

More than 2,700 Florida homeowners can look for a nice-sized check in their mailboxes this week.


Workforce president resigns

By Steve Andrews

Tampa Tribune

Criticized for spending thousands in taxpayer money on lavish meals, Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance president Renee Gilmore has resigned.

EDUCATION

Tab for new approach to teaching math? $200 million

By Dave Weber

Orlando Sentinel

Amid widespread budget cuts, the state plans to spend nearly $200 million to change the way it teaches math next school year in the hope that students will learn more if they cover fewer skills each year.


Moving backward

Editorial

Tallahassee Democrat

State employees with children at the Gwen Cherry Child Development Center had a full day Monday to weigh their options after Department of Education officials informed them that the center will close on April 30.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Insurance companies get rich as millions lose coverage

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

Are companies like WellPoint, UnitedHealth Group, Humana and Cigna trying to elbow the Wall Street banks out of the way to claim the mantle of America's Most Ignominious Industry?


Florida steps up to help Haitian children

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

Far from the rubble they left behind, Haitian children sometimes ask their Florida teachers if that was a tremor they just felt.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Rabbis call for delaying execution today

By Nathan Crabbe

Gainesville Sun

Related AP story: Fla. to execute 45-year-old inmate Tuesday

Jewish leaders are calling for an execution scheduled for today to be delayed, while the mother of the victim says it is long overdue.


Attorney General's Office investigates Cash4Gold

Staff Report

TC Palm

The Florida Attorney General's Office is investigating Cash4Gold after receiving 72 consumer complaints about the Pompano Beach company's services and policies.


Building more prisons in Florida isn't the answer

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

As the number of inmates increases, Florida will have to build 10 more prisons in five years just to keep up.

No comments:

Post a Comment