PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
Aspects of 'Reinventing Rick' tend to be disturbing
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
Related video: Rick Scott: Twitter Q: health care costs
Editor's note: The question was submitted via a Progress Florida organized Twitter campaign.
Excerpt: But (Gov. Scott) is woefully out of touch with the common man. The best (worst) example of that came when editorial board chief Mike Lafferty read a question submitted by a reader via Twitter: "How can you justify having taxpayers pay for your health care while you oppose the same type of coverage for them?" Scott responded: "I get the same health care every other state employee gets." That is simply untrue.
FEATURED STORIES
Gov. Rick Scott's original transition e-mails were accidentally deleted, state now says
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The e-mail accounts of Rick Scott and most of the governor-elect's transition team were deleted soon after he took office, potentially erasing public records that state law requires be kept.
Gov. Rick Scott defends jobs, school agendas
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
Related: Scott: All new jobs count toward 700,000 goal
Related: Gov. Scott blasts jobs agencies
Gov. Rick Scott visited the Sentinel's editorial board on Thursday. Answered what was asked of him. Said he'd return.
Rep. Webster sent out 'watch list' of local activists
By Mark K. Matthews and Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
U.S. Rep. Dan Webster said he simply wanted to share some friendly advice with other members of Congress about how to manage town-hall meetings and the sometimes-raucous crowds they attract, by passing along a "Town Hall Primer" put out by an activist group that had disrupted one of his meetings in April.
Our dumb state Vol. 8: Attack of the banana cream Republicans
By Billy Manes
Orlando Weekly
It’s so easy to get distracted in the Sunshine State.
Draw the line on arrogance
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Without a change in schedule, the Legislature will turn redistricting into the Incumbency Protection Act of 2012.
BEST OF THE BLOGS
The Republican Party’s ‘Traveling Medicine & Redistricting Hearing Show’
By Daniel Tilson
St. Petersblog
The Republican Party of Florida’s Traveling Medicine & Redistricting Hearing Show pulled in & out of Palm Beach & Broward Counties yesterday, kicking up dust, taking prolonged testimony from weary, woebegone citizens, offering the distant hope of better Election Days, Ways & Means…coming soon…well, someday…somewhere over the rainbow…sort of. Maybe.
The Courtney Nash Act: Force children of Florida legislators who oppose EPA, to swim in St. John’s River
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
Better than words, an unnecessary death-- the tragic loss of a teenager for example -- can spark new legislation protecting children.
Rick Scott’s Explanation For Turning Down Health Reform Grants Doesn’t Make Any Sense
By Igor Volsky
Think Progress
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) explained why he had turned away millions of dollars in federal grants from the Affordable Care Act, during an appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal this morning, arguing that the federal dollars were committing the state to implement an unconstitutional law and then spend its on dollars once the funding expired.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott Unveils New, Faux Human Looking Image
Trish Ponder
Pensito Review
The guy on the left looks familiar but Florida voters can't quite place him Florida residents could hardly be blamed for gazing at the photo shown on the left and exclaiming, “Hey, I like that guy! He looks a little familiar. Wonder who he is?”
Grayson's Re-Entry
By Jake
Rantings from Florida
A Daily Kos diary by Alan Grayson shows most of all that he is doing his homework on what it will take for Democrats to win in Florida in 2012. Without an actual Congressional district to run in as of yet, that's the most we can expect.
FLORIDA POLITICS
New court documents shed light on congressman’s legal dispute
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Newly filed Hillsborough County court documents offer a more detailed glimpse into the ongoing legal dispute between Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, and a former business partner who has alleged that Buchanan pressured employees at a car dealership the two owned to donate to Buchanan’s 2006 and 2008 campaigns, and then reimbursed them with company money.
Sweepstakes offers prize of time with Rick Scott
By Janet Zink
St. Petersburg Times
An e-mail blast on Thursday from Gov. Rick Scott through the Republican Party of Florida boasted this intriguing subject line: "Better Check Your Inbox Tomorrow AM."
West stands by comparing self to Harriet Tubman
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
A South Florida congressman is being criticized for comparing himself to an abolitionist hero of the Underground Railroad and the Democratic Party to a slavery-era plantation.
Stealth ALEC courts Tallahassee Republican lawmakers
Editorial
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Everyone knows what the legislators who run Tallahassee generally want: lower taxes, fewer regulations, weaker unions and a state that leans right on social issues like abortion and immigration.
POLITICAL RACES
P-5 to feature Senate forum
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Florida’s Presidency 5 event already has a Fox News nationally televised debate slated among the Republican presidential candidates.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Gulf of Mexico oil crew ignored warnings: probe
Staff Report
AFP
The crew of an oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico last year causing one of the worst oil spills in US history ignored warning signs a disaster was imminent, an investigator said Friday.
In Florida Keys, Human Pathogen Killing Coral
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Anyone who visited the Florida Keys in the late 1980s and then recently revisited would know: the coral are dying. Live Caribbean elkhorn coral, in particular, are almost nonexistent.
Hands-Off the Manatees in Kings Bay Please
By Glen Gardner
Public News Service Florida
Those working to protect Florida's manatees say fast-moving boats and visitors who want to get too close are threatening the animals in Kings Bay, home of the Crystal River Refuge.
Florida cities partner for new green energy collaborative program
By Olivia Kabat
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Some local governments in Florida are forming partnerships to help businesses save money by lowering energy costs.
Higher mileage standards are win for business, environment
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Such consensus is not often seen in Washington, but the deal forged by the Obama administration among disparate groups to significantly increase mileage standards for big trucks and heavy vehicles is a big win for business and the environment.
LGBT
Activists want recognition of gay communities in new legislative districts
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida has never had an openly gay state representative for senator, something a gay rights group says could change if gay and lesbian voters are considered as the Legislature prepares new districts.
Florida teacher reassigned for Facebook comments on gay marriage
By Melanie Whitley
CNN
A former "teacher of the year" in Lake County, Florida, has been reassigned while school administrators investigate comments posted on his Facebook page about same-sex marriage.
EDUCATION
Charter schools must improve, Gov. Scott says
By Dave Weber
Orlando Sentinel
Charter schools have to prove themselves worthy of existing, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday during a back-to-school rally for charter school teachers in Orlando.
State may test pre-K students
By Lilly Rockwell
News Service Of Florida
While K-12 teachers have come under increasing scrutiny over their performance, with student test scores now linked to their salaries, voluntary pre-kindergarten providers are skating by with little oversight and accountability, argues one prominent early learning advocate.
Official: School grading system needs revamp
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Test results show Florida is going backward in preparing students for college, yet the state's high schools keep getting high grades from the state, a former education commissioner told a higher education study panel Thursday.
Budget cuts will slow school marching bands to a crawl
By Joe Callahan
Ocala Star-Banner
Middle and high school marching bands are among the programs that will be affected by education budget cuts that eliminated $147,000 for band equipment replacement and repairs and $750,000 in discretionary money doled out annually to schools.
Haridopolos' comment absurd
Editorial
Winter Haven News Chief
Senate President Mike Haridopolos made an interesting comment to the Tiger Bay Club of Polk County Monday: "Every teacher should not have a guaranteed, lifetime job."
A challenging school year awaiting students
Editorial
Bradenton Herald
Florida continues to tighten the screws on the public school system with new laws intended to improve student achievement even with deep cuts in education spending.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Gov. Scott: Florida's 'open for business' but big relocations look slim
By Robert Trigaux
St. Petersburg Times
Florida Gov. Rick Scott visited the St. Petersburg Times on Thursday afternoon to discuss a broad range of topics that, he suggested, were all of secondary importance to one issue.
Florida Small Businesses to get a Boost
By Whitney Ray
Capitol News Service
For about two years small business owners have been complaining about tight credit lines.
Media Matters: Mica revising history on FAA shutdown
By Keith Laing
The Hill
A liberal media-watchdog group accused Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) of revising the history of the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration in his recent newspaper opinion pieces.
One more year on the road for no-fault auto insurance?
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
As calls for tackling Florida’s personal injury protection (PIP) program grow louder one influential lawmaker has made clear he doesn’t want to scrap the long standing system that pays $10,000 in health care costs regardless of which driver is at fault.
Associated Industries starts charting new era
Staff Report
Florida Tribune
The business group Associated Industries of Florida announced on Thursday that it is beginning the process to find a new leader.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Florida receives almost $2 million in federal grants to sign up children for health coverage
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Florida about $1.8 million to help the state sign up more children for health insurance.
$3.4 Million Home Visiting Grant Still Available To Florida
By Kimberly Vlach
HealthyState.org
The $3.4 million federal grant that funds home visits to new and expectant mothers has not been rejected by the state and is still available for use, confirms the Florida Department of Health.
How can doctors survive in an HMO world?
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Doctors who want to know how to survive in the new statewide Medicaid managed care marketplace in the coming years can listen to Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek at a meeting in Orlando next week.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS program turns 21 amid Drug Assistance Program funding crisis
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
The Ryan White program, named after a teenager who died of AIDS, is celebrating 21 years of existence while the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, one of its most important components, faces an ongoing funding crisis.
Autism renegade fights state boards
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
A doctor who claims that vaccines cause autism and who treats children with potent hormone-suppressing drugs has been suspended from practice in four states.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Announced immigration focus on felons eases deportation fears for thousands nationwide
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
One of the most visible immigration activists in South Florida, who has campaigned to win the right to stay in the U.S., had for weeks been awaiting nervously his final deportation hearing Sept. 1.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Gov. Scott shuts down shooting of 'Lockup' reality show at Florida prisonBy Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
More than a week after they began filming at a Panhandle prison, Gov. Rick Scott has sent MSNBC's Lockup crew packing.
No comments:
Post a Comment