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

Progress Florida -- Progressive Solutions for Florida

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Daily Clips for March 11, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

Crist, Rubio trade zingers in GOP Senate race

By William March

Tampa Tribune

It was a day of posturing and zingers in the U.S. Senate race Wednesday, as GOP primary opponents Gov. Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio each sought to portray himself as the job-saving, limited government advocate and his opponent as the big spender.


Crist defends his tour on state plane

By Beth Reinhard and Marc Caputo

Miami Herald

Gov. Charlie Crist used the taxpayer-funded state plane Wednesday for a four-city media blitz that promoted a pro-business initiative but ended with a Miami campaign fundraiser.


Don't You Forget About Meek

By Katie Connolly

Newsweek

Our man in Florida, Arian Campos-Flores, recently noted with mock astonishment, that there's actually a Democrat in Florida's Senate race too.


Fla. jobless rate at 11.9 percent

By Paul Flemming

Tallahassee Democrat

Florida matched its highest-ever unemployment rate in January at 11.9 percent with 1.1 million Floridians out of work.


Public Option Support Now Over 40 In Senate

By Ryan Grim

The Huffington Post

Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) became the 41st senator to say that he would back the public insurance option as part of a health care bill moved through reconciliation.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Florida House, Senate differ on budget plans

The Associated Press

Panama City News Herald

Senate President Jeff Atwater has proposed spending a bit less for public schools, health care and criminal and civil justice than House Speaker Larry Cretul.


State lawmakers signal an easing of insurance controls

By Gary Fineout

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The effort by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, to allow insurance companies in Florida to set their own rates appears doomed just two weeks into the legislative session, done in by election-year politics and the threat of a veto by Gov. Charlie Crist.


Rep proposes hiring preference for Floridians

By Bill Kaczor

The Associated Press

Photos of vehicles with license tags from Texas, Louisiana and other states, but nary one from Florida, flashed on viewing screens in a Senate committee room Wednesday.


Committee votes 8-5 to pass 911 bill

By Jim Ash

Tallahassee Democrat

What started as a powerful lawmaker's attempt to help a grieving father has become another example of the pitfalls of legislating by tragedy.


Florida Ban on Texting and Driving Gets Going

By Martin Merzer

The Associated Press

Here's a new reason to keep your thumbs on the wheel and your eyes on the road: Action to outlaw texting while driving is off to a speedy start in the Legislature.


Proposal puts restrictions on teen drivers

By Ron Hurtibise

Daytona Beach News-Journal

Enjoy that new driver's license, happy teen.


Florida bill would curb kids' tanning-salon use

By Fernando Quintero

Orlando Sentinel

Nancy Evans of Mims used to be a devoted sun worshipper.


Lawmakers look for a quick buck with sponsored license plates

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

Anything to make a quick buck -- and avoid a tax.

POLITICAL RACES

Jeb's son: 2012 run by dad unlikely

The Associated Press

Miami Herald

The eldest son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a North Carolina political appearance that he doesn't expect his father to make a run for president in 2012.


With a huge lead in Florida polls, Marco Rubio dazzles Jacksonville Beach crowd

By David Hunt

Florida Times-Union

Marco Rubio walked into a Beaches community hall Wednesday seeming anything but the underdog he was just months ago.


Crist's Conundrum

By Tom Jensen

Public Policy Polling

An independent Charlie Crist bid for the US Senate would work to Marco Rubio's advantage, because Crist would win more Democratic votes than Republican ones.


Fingerprint matches increase, but not arrests as Crist claims

By Aaron Sharockman

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact

"Florida's new fingerprint identification system is improving our rate of solving cold cases by 300 percent."


McCollum slams Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Sink, health care overhaul

By George Bennett

Palm Beach Post

Attorney General and GOP governor candidate Bill McCollum dropped by tonight's Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee powwow and sounded at first like a federal candidate before throwing his likely Democratic opponent, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, into the mix.


Lawsuits pull the plug on voting-machine monopoly

By Marc Caputo

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

The nation's largest voting-machine company probably won't be called a monopoly for much longer in Florida and other states.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

McClash, Thaxton debate Amendment 4

By Richard Dymond

Bradenton Herald

Related: Biz group urged to fight against Amendment 4

After listening to Joe McClash and Jon Thaxton debate Hometown Democracy for an hour Tuesday night in Town Hall, an audience of 64 seemed split.


Trust the public on Amendment 4

By Diane Brown

Panama City News Herald

It is not surprising that Bay County commissioners want to stop passage of Amendment 4, a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.


Group to display oversize abortion photos at South Florida intersections

Staff Report

TC Palm via South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Personhood FL anti-abortion organization has announced it will bring its "Spring Break Tour" to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Fla. gov fights for Everglades amid US Senate race

By Brian Skoloff

The Associated Press

Gov. Charlie Crist's grand plan to revive the dying Florida Everglades by buying back the land, a key part of his legacy, could be on the cusp of collapsing and dealing another blow to his Senate hopes.


American Petroleum Institute says conflicts with the military can be worked out

By Dusty Ricketts

Northwest Florida Daily News

With Senate Bill 2622 filed in the Florida Legislature, drilling for oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico has become one of the major issues this session.


Let's See Who Votes for Oil and Who Votes for Florida

By Dave Rauschkolb

Florida Thinks!

Florida is on the brink of decisions that could forever endanger our clean waters, our clean beaches and our valuable tourism-based economy.


Florida lawmakers wrapped up in ban on pythons and other animal legislation

By Robert Samuels

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

As a bill banning the sale and trade of Burmese pythons and other invasive reptiles came up for a vote at a House committee hearing Wednesday, sponsor Rep. Trudi Williams made a mockingly stern request: "No hissing, members."


Extend U.S. Sugar deal deadline

Editorial

Miami Herald

Like everything involving the Everglades, the state's agreement to purchase 72,800 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land for $536 million has its share of champions and critics.

LGBT

Same-Sex Partners' Health Care Covered In Kissimmee

Staff Report

13 News Central Florida

City commissioners have voted to allow same-sex spouses of city employees to apply for health and dental benefits.


Local heads to DC to testify for adoption rights

Staff Report

WSVN 7 News South Florida

A South Florida man in a legal battle to adopt his foster children is set to take his fight to Capitol Hill, first thing tomorrow.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Florida receiving $61 million for jobs stimulus program

By Jeff Harrington

St. Petersburg Times

"Back to Work" money will finally be flowing back to Florida.


Insurance execs address Senate budget planners

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Two insurance executives told Senate budget planners Wednesday the state could save millions and have a healthier workforce if state employees are moved into high-deductible "health savings accounts" that give workers a financial stake in their health care.

EDUCATION

Extra Students, Less Stimulus Money Hamper Education Budget

By Lynn Hatter

WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee

Related: Advocates Say Cuts to Early Learning Would Cost More in Long Run

When lawmakers start to work on the education budget this week, they will have some issues working against them.


Senate panel passes GOP bills requiring teacher merit pay, new grad standards

Staff Report

Palm Beach Post

A Senate panel approved two bills Wednesday that would overhaul Florida's public education system, creating a system of merit pay for teachers and increasing the amount of math and science a student needs to pass to graduate.


Schools pinching pennies as Fla. hashes out budget

By Harriet Daniels

Gainesville Sun

The Alachua County Public School District is facing the unknown when it comes to state educational dollars, and district officials say it has been a challenge working on the budget for the 2010-11 school year.


Teachers carry on as state, unions battle

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

A lot of today's students probably won't relate to the cover of the current Newsweek magazine, showing a chalkboard with "We must fire bad teachers" written on it repeatedly.


County sees 'glitches' with FCAT program

By TaMaryn Waters

Tallahassee Democrat

Some Leon County high-schoolers had minor issues while taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or FCAT in an online pilot program Tuesday.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Grayson unveils public option bill; targets 'greedy' insurance biz

By Mark Matthews

Orlando Sentinel

Frustrated with the drag-out fight on healthcare, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson on Tuesday introduced legislation that would allow every American citizen to buy into Medicare.


Premiums $3,000/mo.? It's legal

By Mary Jo Melone

Health News Florida

First, Jeanne and Randal Wills sold one of their cars. Then they sold some property they needed for retirement.


Hospitals to compete with HMOs

By Jim Saunders

Health News Florida

Florida hospitals are gearing up to compete with health-maintenance organizations in a possible expansion of Medicaid managed care.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

North Florida activist Stetson Kennedy finalist for award

Staff Report

Florida Times-Union

Journalist and civil rights activist Stetson Kennedy is a finalist for a national honor presented by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Governor Appoints Lakeland's Charles T. Canady as Next Chief Justice of State

By Eric Pera

Lakeland Ledger

Charles T. Canady of Lakeland was named Wednesday as the next chief justice of the Supreme Court of Florida.


Appeals court rejects public comment time

By Paul Flemming

Pensacola News Journal

Government meetings have to be open to the public, but that doesn't mean citizens have a right to speak at them, a Florida appeals court ruled Wednesday.


Change is coming to Dozier, officials say

By John Frank

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

With lawmakers questioning its future, a top official with the Department of Juvenile Justice made assurances Wednesday that change is coming to the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.


Suit tries to recover $1M from Scott Rothstein's wife

By Amy Sherman and Jay Weaver

Miami Herald

Kim Rothstein, the wife of convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein, was sued in federal bankruptcy court Wednesday by a team of attorneys trying to recover more than $1 million from the purported shopaholic.

No comments:

Post a Comment