Daily Clips for July 8, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

Neglected wells' danger unknown

By Jeff Donn and Mitch Weiss

The Associated Press

Related: Snugger `top hat' could be the clincher

Related: Out of the gushing oil, the scammers swirl

Related: Case for claims puts oil czar on the spot in Fla.

More than 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells lurk in the hard rock beneath the Gulf of Mexico, an environmental minefield that has been ignored for decades.

Rick Scott sues to block public funds from going to rival campaigns

By John Frank, Marc Caputo and Steve Bousquet

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

Rick Scott, the deep-pocketed Republican front-runner for governor, is suing the state in an effort to prevent his personal wealth from helping his primary rival, Attorney General Bill McCollum.

In Florida governor's race, 527s play hardball

By Brandon Larrabee

Florida Times-Union

In what campaign finance watchdogs say is the natural extension of last summer's hard-hitting war in Senate District 8, both Republican candidates for governor have set up political groups that are supposed to be independent to handle at least some of the mudslinging in the GOP primary.

Are Democrats Really Lining Up Behind Charlie Crist?

By Tim Fernholz

American Prospect

Rumors are flying that Florida Democrats might line up behind an independent Senate candidate this fall, but appearances may be deceiving.

Crist, NRA at odds on Kagan's Supreme Court nomination

By William March

Tampa Tribune

Gov. Charlie Crist, who has long courted a reputation as a gun rights supporter, has ended up on the opposite side from the nation's top gun rights group on the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Florida Public Service Chair Nancy Argenziano on the Power Of Special Interests Over the PSC

By Robert Lorei

WMNF Community Radio Tampa

Our next guest is a former state legislator and now the chair of the Florida Public Service Commission - Nancy Argenziano.

POLITICAL RACES

Meek speaks in west Delray Beach, gets endorsement of Democratic leader

By Andrew Abramson

Palm Beach Post

Kendrick Meek has a message to Florida Democrats: If he's the party's Senate nominee, defeating Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio might not be such a long shot.

Meek haul bested by Greene self-funding

By Shira Toeplitz

Politico

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) raised slightly more than $1 million in the last three months of his Senate race, keeping up his fundraising pace so far but banking far less than what real estate billionaire Jeff Greene has shown he's willing to spend to win the Democratic nomination.

Rubio feeling less heat these days

By David Hunt

Florida Times-Union

In a small but packed auditorium Wednesday on the University of North Florida campus, Marco Rubio had an estimated 225 people locked on everything he said.

Chiles says he can take pressure

By Jeremy Wallace

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Independent candidate for governor Lawton "Bud" Chiles III is showing no signs of a candidate about to cave to the pressure to give up his campaign.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Lights out: Renewable energy push has limited minority involvement

By Bruce Ritchie

Florida Tribune

Related: Chiles wants 20-percent renewable energy standard

This summer has seen a big push for renewable energy from statewide candidates, incoming legislative leaders and environmental groups.

Nutrient standards for Florida waters remain in limbo

By Virginia Chamlee

Florida Independent

Algal blooms in the St. John's River are killing dozens of fish and possibly other animals, and some activists are pinning the blame on nutrient runoff from large companies like Georgia-Pacific and JEA.

At Mote, Sen. Nelson announces bill to probe spill's effects

By Robert Napper

Bradenton Herald

In a visit to Mote Marine Laboratory, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson announced he will be filing a bill next week calling for a plan to investigate the scope of any long-term harm to the Gulf of Mexico created by the BP oil spill.

EDUCATION

Class-size juggling: Seminole County disruptions are blueprint of what's to come

By Dave Weber

Orlando Sentinel

Seminole County parents are being told to expect the unexpected this fall -- including a lot of students and teachers on the move -- as public schools carry out the final step of Florida's controversial class-size law.

Feds indict Florida A&M officials for embezzling

The Associated Press

Tampa Tribune

Two Florida A&M officials have been indicted by the federal government for conspiring to embezzle Housing and Urban Development money.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Threatened cutbacks to state's early retirement plan prompts many to sign up

By Lee Logan and Steve Bousquet

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

Related editorial: Florida finally fixes double-dipping abuse

Thousands of public employees across Florida have flocked to a lucrative retirement program in advance of a new law making it harder for employees to draw pensions while still working.

What the Senate's failure to pass unemployment benefits means for Florida

By Travis Pillow

Florida Independent

Last week, Annie Lowrey reported on the Senate's failure to extend unemployment benefits, which are now expiring for millions of Americans.

45 percent of South Florida home sales are for a loss

By Kimberly Miller

Palm Beach Post

About 45 percent of South Florida homes that sold in May did so at a loss, according to data released Wednesday by real estate analysis firm Zillow.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

AG wants to police Medicaid

By Jim Saunders

Health News Florida

Florida's attorney general says he's close to getting federal approval to look for over-billing in Medicaid.

Bidding hits FL company hard

By Mike Wells

Health News Florida

Medicare's new competitive bidding system, which offers taxpayers and beneficiaries better deals on home medical equiment, has already dealt a blow to at least one Florida firm even before the bid-winners are announced.

Colonoscopy mix-up at Miami VA hospital spurs call for hearings

By Fred Tasker

Miami Herald

Last month, a veteran walked into the Miami Veterans Administration hospital with a question: Why hadn't the hospital contacted him for testing after a 2009 colonoscopy since the VA admitted it had used improperly cleaned equipment?

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Federal Appeals Court Sides with Orlando on Homeless Feeding Ban

The Associated Press

Lakeland Ledger

A federal appellate court is siding with the city of Orlando in its fight against activists who feed the homeless in a public park.