Daily Clips for August 3, 2010

FEATURED STORIES On Gulf, crews hope kill attempt will do the trick The Associated Press Palm Beach Post Crews hoped to begin pumping mud and perhaps cement down the throat of the blown-out oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday in what BP officials said could be the method of attack that finally snuffs the spill. Florida's top environmental regulator stepping down By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune After working nearly 20 years rising through the ranks at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Secretary Michael Sole told Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday he is leaving the department on Sept. 10 to pursue other opportunities. Bill McCollum, Rick Scott face off in TV debate By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Down in the polls and running out of time and money, Bill McCollum desperately needed a game-changing moment in Monday's debate with his surging rival for governor, Rick Scott. FLORIDA POLITICS Crist Makes Costly Public Events Out of Bill Signings The Associated Press Lakeland Ledger "Mazel tov," Gov. Charlie Crist told the crowd at a South Florida retirement village. He kissed cheeks and shook hands, fishing for tidbits of common ground. He and his wife are condo owners, too. She is a New York transplant, like many of them are. Mourners turn out to honor LeRoy Collins Jr. By Richard Danielson St. Petersburg Times About 700 mourners, many of them members of Florida's political elite, gathered at a downtown Tampa church Monday to honor the late LeRoy Collins Jr. POLITICAL RACES Barbs fly as Republicans Bill McCollum, Rick Scott debate in Miami for governor's race By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Attorney General Bill McCollum hammered Rick Scott for Medicare fraud at Scott's former hospital chain while Scott repeatedly labeled McCollum a "career politician," in the first debate between Florida's Republican primary rivals for governor. Rubio supports extending tax cuts but says 'they won't pay for themselves' By Beth Reinhard Miami Herald Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio called for Congress to continue the tax cuts begun under former President George W. Bush but acknowledged "they won't pay for themselves'' at a Fort Lauderdale town hall meeting Saturday. Florida Democrats focus on Bill McCollum's ADA votes By Cristina Silva St. Petersburg Times Gubernatorial hopeful Bill McCollum has been in politics for much of his adult life, charting a wide map of potential minefields for his enemies to use against him. Jeff Greene is a nightmare boss By Alex Pareene TPM Billionaire real estate investor Jeff Greene is running for the Democratic nomination for Senate, in Florida, because he can. Lohan's on the loose? Party's over for Greene By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post This has been a rough couple of days for Palm Beacher and U.S. Senate hopeful Jeff Greene. BALLOT INITIATIVES Posturing won't be on ballot: Florida can't opt out of federal health care law Editorial Palm Beach Post The Legislature voted to put six constitutional amendments before Florida voters in November. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Nelson blasts BP over 'toxic brew' of oil and dispersants in gulf By Cristina Silva St. Petersburg Times U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson called for a federal investigation Monday of BP's use of chemicals to break down oil as it spread across the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Oil Spill: Worst of Its Kind, Ever By Megan Friedman Time Magazine According to federal scientists, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the largest accidental release of oil into marine waters. Fla. environmental chief Mike Sole resigns The Associated Press Orlando Sentinel Mike Sole has resigned as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Questions on Dispersant Dangers By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida The dispersants used to break down the oil in the Gulf are no more toxic than the oil itself; that's the word from the second round of tests by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), released Monday. Florida owes $52.7 million in unpaid solar energy rebates By Cristina Silva St. Petersburg Times The state owes Floridians $52.7 million in unpaid solar energy rebates and has no immediate plan to honor its financial promise. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida employers could collect hiring credit for 304,000 workers By Marcia Heroux Pounds Orlando Sentinel Florida employers have hired 304,000 workers this year who were unemployed eight weeks or more, making the employers eligible for a payroll tax credit, according to a U.S. Treasury report on Monday. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Judge ends desegregation oversight in Orlando The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A federal judge has put to rest the public-school desegregation case for the school district in Orlando. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Debbie Wasserman Schultz helps launch sex offender probe Staff Report Miami Herald South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- who sponsored legislation to intensify and finance a nationwide child-pornography investigation targeting the 500 most dangerous sex offenders -- praised the Justice Department's implementation on Monday of the law passed by Congress in 2008. Confirm Elena Kagan Editorial Miami Herald Now that at least five Republican senators have said they will vote for her, Elena Kagan's confirmation to become an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is virtually assured.