Daily Clips for August 24, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Time for Alex Sink to make up name-recognition gap with GOP opponent By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related: Bill McCollum, Rick Scott and other rivals criss-cross state in final scrum for votes Related: Bill McCollum's lead over Rick Scott narrowing, newest poll shows Related editorial: Elections matter, so vote Facing only token opposition in her primary, Democrat Alex Sink is expected to emerge victorious today, but with one big problem: In her quest to become governor, she is unknown to half of Florida's voters. Final day shows contrasts between Meek and Greene By Zac Anderson Sarasota Herald-Tribune They slammed espresso, bought chocolate chip cookies and shook a few hands, but mostly the two candidates vying for Florida's Democratic U.S. Senate nomination spent the last full day of campaigning talking to television cameras in two of the state's most critical media markets Monday. An early vote rush, a last-minute push by Florida's candidates By Mary Ellen Klas, Marc Caputo, Steve Bousquet and Beth Reinhard Miami Herald A record-setting 361,615 Florida voters participated in early voting through Sunday, although election officials cautioned that the number may reflect the convenience of voting before Election Day, not a higher-than-expected overall turnout. It's primary day: Your turn, voters By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel The most expensive primary in Florida history ends today as party voters go to the polls to narrow the field for a general election that will produce a new U.S. senator, a new governor and, possibly, shift the balance of power in Congress. FLORIDA POLITICS Greer's reimbursement check to GOP falls short, and bounces By Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times Indicted former state Republican chairman Jim Greer sued the state party for allegedly reneging on a promised $123,000 severance package. POLITICAL RACES Candidates rush to sway voters By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Related: Candidates rally before primaries With nearly 1 million ballots already cast, candidates rushed to put the finishing touches on their campaigns Monday. Senate candidates Greene and Meek go down to the wire By George Bennett Palm Beach Post While Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek's supporters waited in air-conditioned comfort for their candidate this afternoon, rival Jeff Greene's campaign seized the initiative. McCollum, Scott don't even exchange glances as they cross paths campaigning By Michael C. Bender Palm Beach Post As Republican gubernatorial candidates Bill McCollum and Rick Scott flew around the state today in the last day of campaigning before election day, they had a chance meeting at Tampa International Jet Center. For GOP, it's McCollum or Scott for governor The Associated Press Bradenton Herald Republican voters will decide Tuesday if they want a career public servant or a wealthy newcomer to get their party's nomination for Florida governor. Money for nothing in Fla. primaries By Jonathan Martin Politico Florida, the political cliché goes, is a state where TV is king. Florida poised to buck anti-establishment revolt By John Frank St. Petersburg Times Conventional wisdom for this election year is voters will exorcise incumbents, purge weak-hearted partisans and send an insurgent message to those in power. Florida's top lawyer seat is an open race The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Florida's next attorney general will take the lead on Gulf oil damage claims and a pending lawsuit over the federal health care program, but many voters were still undecided between three Republican and two Democratic candidates as Tuesday's primary election approached. 7 Fla. congressional incumbents challenged The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Seven incumbent U.S. House members- five Democrats and two Republicans - are facing challenges from within their own parties. GOP chairman has primary challenge for Senate seat The Associated Press Tampa Tribune State Sen. John Thrasher, who splits his time as chairman of the state Republican Party, will learn Tuesday if GOP voters in his Jacksonville-area district believe he can do both jobs well. Good riddance to the primary election; bring on the general By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times It's election day, and none too soon. Vote: Your primary duty By Derek Catron Daytona Beach News-Journal Marjorie Karlsson is ready for the election to be over. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Federal judge rejects Miccosukees' request to stop Everglades land deal with U.S. Sugar By Andy Reid South Florida Sun-Sentinel A federal judge Monday refused to stop the downsized, $197 million version of Gov. Charlie Crist's Everglades restoration land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. Could the Florida Panther refuge land triple in size? By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Several South Florida landowners are willing to sell enough land to the federal government to triple the size of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, according to four environmental groups pushing the purchase as a way to provide Florida's state animal with more protected habitat. Feinberg takes control of spill compensation fund, dismisses criticisms from McCollum By Andrew Restuccia Florida Independent Kenneth Feinberg today takes over the gargantuan task of distributing the $20 billion BP is setting aside to reimburse victims of the gulf oil spill. Feds to spill commission: Drilling ban stays The Associated Press Tampa Tribune The top federal offshore oil drilling regulator is telling the presidential oil spill commission that the temporary halt to deepwater drilling will remain in place for a few more months. Crowd queues up to make oil spill claims By Louis Cooper Pensacola News Journal Mark Stettner was first in line Monday at the Pensacola office of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, the new independent agency charged with compensating those who suffered damage from this summer's BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. FPL Cape Canaveral plant makes way for new energy center; similar plans for Riviera Beach facility By Susan Salisbury Palm Beach Post Florida Power & Light Co. demolished its landmark 45-year-old Cape Canaveral plant in less than 15 seconds Sunday morning, as two red-and-white stacks and boilers were imploded using dynamite. Fla. PSC hearing testimony on nuclear rates The Associated Press Tampa Tribune The Florida Public Service Commission is hearing testimony on whether to raise special rates for building new nuclear power plants. New recycling law allows counties to claim more than 100 percent recycling By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Six Florida counties could claim that they're currently recycling more than 100 percent of their waste under a bill signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist in May. But the Florida Department of Environmental Protection says it would reject any such claim. Crist, Georgia governor flirt with meeting on river dispute By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Gov. Charlie Crist says he would be pleased to meet again with the governors of Alabama and Georgia to discuss a water dispute -- after negotiators from the states meet to work on finalizing proposals. Questions About the Gulf Editorial New York Times The Obama administration owes the American people plain talk about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico — particularly about how much oil remains and the dangers to humans, wildlife and the environment. LGBT Gay South Florida voter's guide - August 2010 By Steve Rothaus Miami Herald Here’s a comprehensive list of recommendations from South Florida gay groups Equality Florida, SAVE Dade and Unity Coalition. EDUCATION Class Size Penalties Loom as Schools Open By Bobbie O'Brien WUSF Public Radio Tampa Florida’s Class Size Reduction Amendment is being fully enforced this year with rewards and penalties. Hillsborough aims for a windfall in costly class-size amendment By Tom Marshall St. Petersburg Times Teachers don't ordinarily need a reminder to check their attendance lists on the first day of school. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida hosts 3 percent more visitors in second quarter than last year despite BP spill By Doreen Hemlock Orlando Sentinel Florida hosted 20.8 million visitors in the second quarter this year, up 3 percent from the April through June period last year, despite the negative impact of the BP oil spill on travel, according to preliminary estimates released Monday by the state's tourism marketing arm Visit Florida. And the first major payout from the BP Oil Spill Fund goes to...realtors By Abel Harding Florida Times-Union The first major payout from the BP Oil Spill Fund has been announced and it will go to realtors who say the disaster has hurt their income. With loss of COBRA subsidy, newly unemployed face tripling of insurance costs By Annie Lowrey Florida Independent In the first week of July, Andie Davis’ husband, who worked in manufacturing, lost his job, as hundreds of thousands of Michiganders have since the onset of the recession. HEALTH AND SENIORS Federal government throws up roadblock to Florida's Medicaid reform By Jeremy Cox Florida Times-Union Federal health officials want changes to be made to the Medicaid experiment that has put private managed-care companies in charge of covering thousands of patients in Northeast Florida. Florida Healthy Kids teams with UnitedHealthcare to expand children's program Staff Report TC Palm Florida Healthy Kids Corp. has selected UnitedHealthcare of Florida as the state’s partner in an expansion of its public program for children’s health care. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Coalition opposes popular Arizona-like immigration bill for Florida By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post A coalition of state legislators, church leaders and immigrant activists on Monday denounced popular efforts to pass an "Arizona-style" immigration law in Florida, claiming it would spark racial profiling, violate civil liberties of legal citizens and undocumented residents, and hurt an economy dependent on immigrant labor. On speaking out Editorial Gainesville Sun University of Florida President Bernie Machen says it's important to speak out against the Dove World Outreach Center's plan to burn the Quran on Sept. 11.