Daily Clips for August 20, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Major study says oil plume in Gulf of Mexico not going away By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Scientists on Thursday reported finding a plume of oil the size of Manhattan beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, a plume that's sticking around a lot longer than anyone expected and that poses a threat to marine life. Alex Sink introduces running mate Rod Smith By Amy Sherman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Sink takes lead in governor's race, poll says Related editorial: Smith adds appeal to Sink ticket Democrat Alex Sink's first opportunity to showcase running mate Rod Smith was both a cheerleading session for the party ticket and target practice on the bickering Republicans. Scott's campaign still hears echoes of whistle-blower By Zac Anderson Sarasota Herald-Tribune Related: McCollum campaign draws fire from whistle-blower John Schilling had never seen such opulence. Scott, McCollum's education plans nothing new or fresh, critics say By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union In the wake of one of the most bruising political fights over education in years and amid an equally sharp fight for the Republican nomination for the governor's mansion, both Bill McCollum and Rick Scott agree at least on the broad strokes of how to overhaul Florida's public schools. Ground Zero Mosque Fodder for Florida Politicians By Steve Newborn WUSF Public Radio Tampa The rumblings over the Islamic Center proposed near the site of the destroyed World Trade Center aren't confined to lower Manhattan. BEST OF THE BLOGS My Sister Worked for Rick Scott's Hospital and Here is Her Story By Geniusofdespair Eye on Miami Sis, a nurse for about 30 years, worked at Columbia University Hospital -- one of Rick Scott's Hospitals -- more than a decade ago as a Case Manager. Florida Primary Elections Test Voter Ethics By Daniel Tilson The Examiner Floridians have one week left in which to fully shake off the seductive influence of the Politics of Bribery and take a stand. The Florida AG Fight is the Best Campaign You're Not Watching By Benjamin Kirby The Spencerian If someone has done this, I haven't seen it, but it's a cool idea: poll the level of interest in the Florida elections by race for office. Bill McCollum Aligns With “Troops” Charity That Faced Scrutiny By Inkberries Beach Peanuts Over the weekend Florida Attorney General and candidate for governor, Bill McCollum, campaigned on his “Real Solutions New Jobs Bus Tour.” Corporate Money in Florida Politics By Bill Newton FCAN blog Steve Bousquet writes today that McCollum taps corporate money to fight self-financed millionaire Scott - St. Petersburg Times. FLORIDA POLITICS Crist gets PSC list of candidates By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Gov. Charlie Crist received his final slate of candidates for appointment to the Public Service Commission on Thursday, the last piece in the legislative effort to replace all but one of the commissioners who rejected the billion dollar rate increases sought by the state's largest electric companies. Florida lawmakers cold to another special session on oil By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union When it comes to the idea of a potential second special session of the Florida Legislature on the Gulf oil spill, most area lawmakers are reading from the same sheet of music. 2012 presidential primary may again trouble Fla. Democrats News Service of Florida Palm Beach Post Florida could have trouble abiding by proposed rules for the 2012 Democratic presidential primaries, state party Chairwoman Karen Thurman has warned the Democratic National Committee. Fla. judge resumes hearing in Sansom criminal case The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A judge is hearing more evidence on a motion to dismiss corruption charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom. Sluggish ticket sales move Palin event to smaller theater Staff Report Florida Times-Union Slow ticket sales have bumped Sarah Palin's appearance next week in Jacksonville to a smaller venue. POLITICAL RACES Smith: We have an opportunity to change Florida By Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun After expressing ambivalence about running for lieutenant governor, Gainesville attorney Rod Smith said Thursday he entered the race in part because of a message from a son-in-law bound for Iraq. Sink considered PB County state attorney for ticket, but sticks with Rod Smith By George Bennett and Michael C. Bender Palm Beach Post Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink ridiculed the "bickering" in the Republican primary race, but signaled Thursday she's eager to jump into that fight by announcing her running mate two weeks early. Meek sees doubt as encouragement in Fla. Sen. race The Associated Press Miami Herald Some people knock Kendrick Meek by saying he inherited his congressional seat from his mother, Carrie Meek, who held it for 10 years before him. Fla. Sen. candidate Greene has altruistic message The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Democrat Jeff Greene often says he's running for Senate so that his infant son will be able to have the same opportunities he had to succeed. Crist donors not flocking to Rubio By Scott Powers Orlando Sentinel Despite party anger over Gov. Charlie Crist's decision to leave the GOP and launch an independent run for the U.S. Senate, few early Crist donors have crossed over and contributed to Republican candidate Marco Rubio, records show. Senate hopeful Rubio takes campaign to seniors The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Senate hopeful Marco Rubio is taking his campaign to seniors. CNN, St. Petersburg Times and USF to host U.S. Senate debate on Oct. 24 Staff Report St. Petersburg Times CNN and the St. Petersburg Times are partnering with the University of South Florida to present a live, nationally televised debate nine days before voters choose a new U.S. Senator to represent Florida. Congressional candidate David Rivera fights off old attacks By Scott Hiaasen, Patricia Mazzei and Carrie Wells Miami Herald As he seeks to jump from the Legislature to Congress, Republican state Rep. David Rivera is fighting off a nasty attack from his GOP rivals — an allegation that he was accused of domestic violence in the 1990s. BALLOT INITIATIVES High court parsing the ballot By Mark Lane Daytona Beach News-Journal The Florida Supreme Court is deciding how long November's ballot will be. And it may be in the mood for trimming. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Oil Plume Is Not Breaking Down Fast, Study Says By Justin Gillis and John Collins Rudolf New York Times New research confirms the existence of a huge plume of dispersed oil deep in the Gulf of Mexico and suggests that it has not broken down rapidly, raising the possibility that it might pose a threat to wildlife for months or even years. Energy group urges PSC to put off nuclear charges By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com An environmental group is calling again on the Florida Public Service Commission to reject requests by utilities to charge customers now for proposed nuclear power plants. LGBT Fla. primary could yield gay milestones By Chris Johnson Washington Blade Primary elections set for Tuesday could yield two milestones if Florida voters elect a gay candidate to Congress and another man to become the first openly gay member of the state’s legislature. EDUCATION Florida's failing schools consider desperate measures until they make the grade By Rebecca Catalanello and Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times Related editorial: Turning around a failed school Kevin Gordon knew he had no time to waste. State places two Broward schools on critical list By Marc Freeman South Florida Sun-Sentinel Two Broward County schools have landed on the state's list of the lowest-performing campuses, while Palm Beach County schools avoided the bottom category assigned by the state Department of Education on Thursday. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida Weighs Billing BP More Than $1 Billion to Plug Fund Gap By Jim Snyder Bloomberg Businessweek Florida may send BP Plc a claim for more than $1 billion to close a budget gap after the largest U.S. oil spill as neighboring Gulf Coast states weigh their options. Dispute could slow down Orlando commuter rail The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A dispute over insurance between the state of Florida and Amtrak is delaying one of the most critical steps in creating the SunRail commuter train in Orlando. HEALTH AND SENIORS Health reform puts health insurance agents in the crosshairs By Stacey Singer Palm Beach Post Jupiter-based insurance agent Neil Primack says he works hard to help people find health insurance policies that work for them. Faced with rising health costs, large employers plan to shift burden to workers By Mike Lillis The Hill Faced with skyrocketing healthcare costs and new insurance rules under healthcare reform, more of the nation's biggest businesses are planning to hike premiums and cost-sharing measures on their employees next year, according to a survey of those companies released Wednesday. Community Health Centers Plan for Expansion Due to Federal Health Law By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida Community Health Centers are often referred to as the "family doctors." Health care, immigration — baby, do we have issues! By Scott Maxwell Orlando Sentinel Today's column is all about babies — those who are fighting to keep them alive, those who are leading a political charge to take away their rights and a budget cut that could put thousands of them at risk. Setting Jackson on healthy course Editorial Miami Herald What a colossal mess! That first sentence in the Miami-Dade Grand Jury report on what's wrong with Jackson Health System summed up the community's frustration with Miami-Dade's ailing safety net hospital. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Florida immigration bill is anti-American, advocates say By Victor Manuel Ramos Orlando Sentinel Dozens of immigration and civil rights advocates from throughout Florida gathered in Apopka on Wednesday to repudiate an Arizona-style immigration bill touted by Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum. Fla. church vows to burn Korans on 9/11, despite fire dept. objection Staff Report Gainesville Sun A Florida church says it will go ahead with plans to burn copies of the Koran on Sept. 11, despite the city refusing to issue a burn permit, Orlando's Fox35 TV reports. The First Amendment applies to Muslims as well By John M. Cox Naples Daily News On Aug. 6 the Connecticut Post reported that "about a dozen right-wing Christians, carrying placards and yelling ‘Islam is a lie,’ angrily confronted worshippers. Constitutionalists trip up over prospect of mosque near World Trade Center By Dan DeWitt St. Petersburg Times So what happens when strict constitutionalists run into constitutional rights they don't like?