PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
Confusion about perpetrator of Norway attack ensnares Florida congressman
By Travis Pillow
Florida Independent
Excerpt: As those reports spread across social networks and the global media (including reliable outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post), U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, offered this reaction from his Twitter account: Our thoughts and prayers go out to a steadfast ally and friend – the Norwegian people. We stand with you against Islamic terror. That post has since been deleted, but has been captured — and broadcast repeatedly — by activists at Progress Florida.
FEATURED STORIES
Jesse Jackson coming to Florida to rally against new voter law
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In another sign of the national implications of Florida's new voting laws, the Rev. Jesse Jackson is holding rallies in Tampa and Orlando next week to criticize changes approved by the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott.
In 2012 election, expect more attack ads with rise of Super PACs
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
Hard-hitting political ads against President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Allen West are popping up across Florida in a scramble to define the message of the 2012 elections, still 16 months away.
What Gov. Scott could learn from Lawton Chiles
By John Coggin
Miami Herald
Lawton Chiles, future Florida U.S. senator and governor, knew how little he knew of the 1970 Florida that lay beyond his small and secluded hometown of Lakeland.
Charters get $55 million for upkeep, other schools get zero
By Dave Weber
Orlando Sentinel
Traditional public schools in Florida will get no money from the state this year for additions or needed repairs to thousands of aging buildings, but charter schools will score big.
Protections for Florida's city workers are 'unacceptable,' federal agency says
By Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
It has been more than five years since the explosion of a methanol tank nearly killed Michael Martin, but the memories still haunt the former Daytona Beach city employee.
New consumer advocate worked closely with insurers
By Paige St. John
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater last week named someone he deemed a “watchdog” to champion consumers on insurance issues.
Blocking needed funds
Editorial
Tallahassee Democrat
Healthy Families Florida, which is one of the most successful prevention programs in the state, is at risk of losing portions of a $50 million grant because Republican legislative leaders are of a mind to reject all things federal.
EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK
By Jeff Parker
Florida Today
Artist's commentary: Bad Hair Day
FLORIDA POLITICS
Think you have a tough job? Try being Rick Scott's lawyer
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Charles Trippe had been on the job as Gov. Rick Scott's top attorney less than a day when two state senators walked into his office and handed him a lawsuit filed in the Florida Supreme Court.
Lax Regulation Not a Good Lure
By John Rehill
Bradenton Times
It was just over a year ago the global oil and gas company, BP, managed to cap a catastrophic oil well leak in the Gulf of Mexico.
How to draw minority seats is crux of redistricting controversy
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown was being facetious when she described her meandering congressional district stretching from Jacksonville to Gainesville, Sanford and the outskirts of Orlando as the "most popular" in America.
Redistricting meetings come to Tampa Bay, Polk County
By Ashley Porter
WTSP 10 News Tampa Bay
This week is your chance to speak out about Florida's redistricting process, with state lawmakers holding public meetings in our area on Monday and Tuesday.
Voting Rights Groups Fight Voter Suppression In Florida
By Robert Lorei
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
The changes passed by the state legislature to Florida’s voting laws have proved quite controversial.
West wows local GOP, doesn't mention Wasserman Schultz exchange
By William March
Tampa Tribune
U.S. Rep. Allen West stirred up a friendly, conservative crowd with a partisan speech Saturday night, making no reference to his flap this week with fellow Fort Lauderdale-area Congress member Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Florida first lady Ann Scott relishes role as advocate for children
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
Former first lady Carole Crist rarely attended official functions or took on public causes during the two years she was married to former Gov. Charlie Crist.
Former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla faces arrest over dogs in divorce dispute
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Former Miami state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla is now a wanted man in Florida because he failed to obey a judge's order that he turn over a Weimaraner dog to his ex-wife in a messy divorce case.
Lawmaker faces question about living in district
By Nadege Green and Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald
State Rep. John Patrick Julien — a married father of five — owns a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in a secluded street in North Miami Beach.
POLITICAL RACES
Hasner, LeMieux battle over roles in Senate race
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Mike Haridopolos' exit from the Florida Republican U.S. Senate primary is putting the focus on two men who aren't even in the race – Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist.
Ex-Florida House Speaker Allan Bense won't rule out U.S. Senate run
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
Former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense is considering entering the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, after "very high-profile" Republicans urged him to in the wake of Mike Haridopolos quitting the race.
Challenge for Scott?: S. Florida senator has chance
By Antonio Fins
South Florida Sun Sentinel
All eyes are on the 2012 presidential race.
Rep. Allen West's rant prompts Lois Frankel to register pithily named website
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Four months into her high-profile Democratic congressional bid, former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel's campaign is still working on a website to outline her positions on issues.
Why did Haridpolos drops out of Senate race?
By Sascha Cordner
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
Why did Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos drop out of the U-S Senate race?
The challenge of a tough incumbent and bad judgment helped torpedo Haridopolos' bid for U.S. Senate
Editorial
TC Palm
Politics rarely is what it appears to be on the surface.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Rep. Scott Randolph Applauds Legal Challenge of HJR 1471
By Merab-Michal Favorite
Bradenton Times
The Florida Education Association, the largest teachers' union in Florida, joined the American Civil Liberties Union and several rabbis and ministers seeking to halt a 2012 ballot measure they say falsely pushes to allow school vouchers in the name of religious freedom.
Amendment Ballot Language: No Tricks For Voters
Editorial
Lakeland Ledger
The Florida Legislature can't resist the temptation to stack the deck on amendments it proposes to the state constitution.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
EPA triggers fierce backlash over attempt to force Florida to clean up waterways
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's attempt to force Florida to clean up its ailing streams, lakes and coastal estuaries has triggered fierce backlash, and the biggest controversy is over how much it would cost to implement new pollution limits.
Florida bicyclists object to plan that would stop funding sidewalks and bike lanes
By Larry Hannan
Florida Times-Union
Ken Bryan remembers a time when senior citizens rode bikes along U.S. 17 in Clay County.
Leave our state parks alone
Editorial
TC Palm
First came the idea to construct a golf course in several state parks, including Jonathan Dickinson State Park in south Martin County.
RESTORE the Gulf
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
Eventually, BP will be required to pay heavy fines — likely in the billions of dollars — for the damage caused by last year's Gulf oil spill.
LGBT
Boys have 2 moms: Now it's official
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
Lori Bott and Georgette LeMieux met at an Orlando Walmart 12 years ago and fell in love.
EDUCATION
Tilt toward charters deprives public schools
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
For two decades, the Florida Legislature has claimed the expansion of charter schools does not steal resources from public schools that serve most students.
Deep school cuts will not mean lower tax bills
By Christopher O’Donnell
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Some of the deepest cuts to Florida schools in history will likely mean only moderate or no savings in school property tax bills for area homeowners.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Aware of default's risks, U.S. Reps. Deutch, Rooney say they're prepared to act on debt
By Laura Green
Palm Beach Post
Even as they remained deeply divided about how to reach a deal on the debt ceiling, Democrats and Republicans joined together Sunday to try to assure the American people - and the financial markets - that this nation will not default on its debts for the first time in history.
Florida unemployment rate unchanged at 10.6 percent
By Jeff Harrington
St. Petersburg Times
Judging by the latest unemployment numbers, Florida's jobs market appears stuck in neutral.
Post investigation: Did stimulus money create jobs in Palm Beach County?
By Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Post
The largest stimulus-fueled road projects in Palm Beach County have created less than 20 percent of the jobs once promised, a Palm Beach Post analysis based on federal job-creation standards shows.
Corporate America has a chokehold on wages
By Harold Meyerson
Miami Herald
If you’re wondering why American consumers are still flat on their backs, rendering the economy similarly supine, the answer is both fundamental and simple: It’s not just that so many of them are unemployed.
Poor Shouldn't Bear the Burden
By Daniella Levine
Lakeland Ledger
Save lives, or save money for the rich?
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Florida politicians reject $52 million in Federal grants which could have helped prevent child abuse
By Chase Cain
WTSP Tampa Bays 10 News
The Federal government offered Florida more than $52 million. The money could've been used to prevent child abuse and assist the elderly, but state leaders rejected the money.
Jackson union decries “conspiracy” as it gets ready for bargaining
By John Dorschner
Miami Herald
Combative SEIU Local 1991 has launched an aggressive offensive, with newspaper and radio ads warning of a “conspiracy to rip apart Jackson,” as the union starts what its leader describes as “probably the fight of our lives.”
Balancing the budget on seniors’ backs
By Jeff Johnson
Ocala Star-Banner
In February 2011, an AARP survey showed that 44 percent of Floridians age 50 and up were so concerned about the state's struggling economy that they planned to delay retirement.
Proposed Medicare cuts make Florida medical schools worry about doctor training
By Kim Wilmath
St. Petersburg Times
One part of the national debt debate has medical schools in rapt attention.
Planned Parenthood will petition AHCA, feds to remove family planning opt-out from Medicaid reform
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Planned Parenthood is scaling a full-fledged attack on a provision in Florida’s Medicaid bill that allows providers to opt out of providing family planning services.
Medicaid's promise of care erodes
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
In a case the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to hear this fall, the Obama administration has taken a wrong turn by claiming that Medicaid beneficiaries are without legal recourse if states cut Medicaid payments to providers.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Orange Park boy’s death serves as grim reminder of Florida's 'gun gag rule’
By Wayne Ezell
Florida Times-Union
The so-called accidental shooting of 11-year-old Seth Lasater came only a few days after a federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of 11,000 of Florida’s physicians who might have disturbing insight into why the Orange Park youth was killed.
Legal battle pits part of medical profession against gun-rights advocates
By Andres Viglucci
Miami Herald
Four years ago, an experienced gun owner in Pembroke Pines named Reynaldo Gonzalez made an exception he will forever regret.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Judge's effort to dismiss 'Taj Mahal courthouse' charges rejectedBy Lucy Morgan
St. Petersburg Times
The Judicial Qualifications Commission Friday refused to dismiss charges pending against 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Paul M. Hawkes in connection with the "Taj Mahal" courthouse scandal.
As privatization of state prisons expands, questions rise on who's watching the door
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
When state corrections investigators showed up at South Bay Correctional Institution in the middle of the night last month to conduct a drug sweep of the prison, they couldn't get in.
Tallahassee, the Litigation Capital
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Lakeland Ledger
The state capital has become a lollapalooza of litigation.
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