AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Awake the State will join Occupy Orlando Nov. 1
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The progressive coalition Awake the State will join Occupy Orlando protesters on Nov. 1 in an event focusing on voting rights in the state.
FEATURED STORIES
Democrats open 3-day state convention with lots of issues
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Ocala Star-Banner
Despite having a president in the White House and the largest share of the state's voters, Florida Democrats open their three-day state convention today facing some of the most serious challenges in the party's history.
Rick Scott's veiled threat to university professors
By Eric Ernst
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Parade magazine publishes an annual article looking at what people earn in a variety of jobs across the country.
Civics teacher tried to register kids to vote - and broke law
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
Florida's new voter suppression laws have claimed their first victim.
Muslim Activist Challenges Fla. Republican's Views
By Greg Allen
NPR
There's no member of the Republican freshman class in Congress more outspoken than Florida Rep. Allen West.
Survey Says: The Public Supports the 99% Movement
The Progress Report
Think Progress
As the Occupy Wall Street protest and growing 99 Percent Movement enters its second month, poll after poll shows public support for the movement.
BEST OF THE BLOGS
Conservatives defend Sen. Marco Rubio, yet remain silent about state Sen. Alan Hays?
By Peter Schorsch
St. Petersblog 2.0
Putting aside the issues of when Marco Rubio’s parents actually arrived in this country from Cuba, the concern to be had with the conservatives and Republicans, including Jeb Bush and Mel Martinez, who are so vigorously defending Rubio is very simple.
Florida's Hispanic Mosaic
By Steve Schale
Steve Schale
Twenty years ago, when Florida and Hispanic were mentioned in the same sentence, one word came to mind: Cuban.
Federal judge blocks Florida's law concerning drug test for welfare
By Jack Cole
The Examiner
Florida Governor Rick Scott’s campaign promise of drug testing welfare recipients is currently on hold.
The difference between the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Miami and everywhere else? Fear
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
The Occupy Wall Street'ers around the nation and the world have presented an awkward situation for the Tea Party, now primarily institutionalized as a wing of the GOP.
Magical Thinking: To Marco Rubio, Facts Don't Matter
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
Marco Rubio came to Tampa today to speak about job creation during a lunch at the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Rubio defends his stand against more Cuba flights
By Steve Huettel
St. Petersburg Times
Sen. Marco Rubio and Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce officials chose not to rekindle a fight over new flights to Cuba.
Three Occupy Tampa protesters arrested after scuffle with police
By Danny Valentine
St. Petersburg Times
Three more Occupy Tampa protesters were arrested at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park after a scuffle with police early Friday.
Central Florida Republicans demand apology from Sen. Alan Hays for comment about Hispanics
By Jeannette Rivera-Lyles
Orlando Sentinel
A coalition of Republican officials from three Central Florida counties have demanded a public apology from state Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, for comments he recently made about Hispanics.
POLITICAL RACES
First lady Michelle Obama makes first campaign trip to Tampa Bay area
By Elisabeth Parker and Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
First lady Michelle Obama made her first campaign trip to Tampa Bay on Thursday, promoting healthy eating, raising campaign money and acknowledging to supporters that change doesn't happen overnight.
Mack has pluses, minuses as he enters GOP primary for Florida's U.S. Senate seat
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Related: LeMieux calls Mack an earmarker; Hasner camp calls him ‘another Washington incumbent’
With the GOP's declared Senate candidates showing unimpressive polling and fundraising numbers so far, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Cape Coral, has decided to seek the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.
Analysis: Why Connie Mack's Senate candidacy may be game-changer, not game-ender
By Adam C. Smith and Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
Related Politifact: U.S. Rep. Connie Mack said he wouldn't run for U.S. Senate: Full Flop
By suddenly and unexpectedly jumping into Florida's Republican U.S. Senate primary, Connie Mack has at least made a lackadaisical race more exciting.
As Cain Promotes His Management Skills, Ex-Aides Tell of Campaign in Chaos
By Susan Saulny
New York Times
If Herman Cain feels his management skills are up to any challenge, some of his former staff members think he should have started with the disorder in his own campaign.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Court hears 'religious freedom' amendment arguments
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
The ballot title and summary of an amendment to the Florida Constitution that would alter the state’s definition of “religious freedom” is misleading and should be thrown out, a Florida Education Association attorney argued Thursday in Leon County Circuit Court.
The ‘Personhood’ Initiative
Editorial
New York Times
A ballot measure going before voters in Mississippi on Nov. 8 would define the term “person” in the State Constitution to include fertilized human eggs and grant to fertilized eggs the legal rights and protections that apply to people.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Feds announce plan to speed Everglades restoration
By Erika Bolstad
Miami Herald
A new fast-track planning effort could shave years off the next phase of Everglades restoration, putting more fresh and clean water into the central and southern portions of Florida's "River of Grass" more quickly.
Renewable industry: State going backward
By Beth Kassab
Orlando Sentinel
We've heard plenty of lip service when it comes to renewable energy in this state, and the talk at the Florida Energy Summit this week starring Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wasn't any different.
Conservationists criticize changes to new Florida water regulations
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
The federally mandated “numeric nutrient criteria,” a set of standards to govern water pollution in the state of Florida, have been harshly criticized by industry, agriculture and even lawmakers — who argue the criteria are too stringent and would result in job losses and stymie business growth.
Researchers: BP oil spill may have contributed to Gulf of Mexico dolphin deaths
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Five of the more than 500 dolphins that have washed ashore dead along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas over the past two years died from a bacterial infection called Brucella, federal scientists announced Thursday.
LGBT
Gay and lesbian service members sue government
By Jay Lindsay
Associated Press
A group of gay active and retired military personnel who are married sued the federal government Thursday for the same benefits as straight military couples, arguing it's a matter of justice and national security.
EDUCATION
Florida union challenges amendment that would allow state funding of religious schools
By Kathleen Haughney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The statewide teachers union, backed by other school and religious officials, challenged a proposed constitutional amendment Thursday that would pave the way for state lawmakers to direct tax dollars toward school vouchers or religious-affiliated institutions.
Machen offers governor his plan for assessing UF
By Nathan Crabbe
Gainesville Sun
As Gov. Rick Scott pushes for accountability from state universities, University of Florida President Bernie Machen is proposing his own ways to assess the institution.
State test changes = lower scores?
By Jeff Schmucker
Hernando Today
A recommended scoring system for the more rigorous FCAT introduced last year — called FCAT 2.0 — might result in fewer students assessed as performing at grade level in math and reading.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Haridopolos' tax pledge
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
If schools lose more funding…If the needy lose key services…Blame Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who last week said, what's important is that there "not be an increase in taxes."
Florida Chamber of Commerce says it ‘will fight’ unemployment taxes
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
In its agenda for the 2012 session, The Florida Chamber of Commerce has said that it will “will fight to stabilize and ultimately lower the cost of the unemployment compensation tax increases for Florida employers.”
Critics say Disney wields too much influence in the Florida Chamber of Commerce
By Jason Garcia
Orlando Sentinel
When the Florida Chamber of Commerce unveiled its legislative agenda this month, it included some interesting additions.
Insurers float plan to whack attorneys fees and license health care clinics
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
An insurance trade group -- building on information first released this year by state regulators -- came out on Thursday in favor of far-reaching and likely controversial changes to the state's no-fault auto insurance system.
Don't be suckered by casino bill
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
If the Legislature approves HB 487 in anything close to its initial draft, the state might as well put a sign at the border: Welcome to Las Vegas East.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Court to take up Florida's health care case Nov. 10
Staff Report
Florida Current
Florida's challenge of the federal health care law remains on the fast track for a Supreme Court decision, with justices set to review the case Nov. 10, according to the legal resource SCOTUSblog.
40% of FL drug plans sub-par
By Brittany Davis
Health News Florida
Nearly 40 percent of Medicare drug plans currently on the market in Florida received federal quality ratings of below average.
Study finds Florida's Medicaid woes part of national trend
By Regan McCarthy
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
Kaiser Health released a nationwide Medicaid Budget Survey today.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Movement of the century
By James Harper
Florida Courier
Civil rights icon Andrew Young, speaking exclusively to the Florida Courier, says he sees similarities in ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests and the 20th century’s civil rights movement.
Extremists must not hijack our political discourse
By Hassan Shibly, J.D.
Tampa Tribune
It is very concerning when mainstream politicians openly advocate for positions that are antithetical to our core values and constitutional principles.
Unreasonable drug testing
Editorial
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A federal judge this week shot legal holes through Florida's requirement that all welfare applicants undergo drug testing.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Red light cameras in Cocoa Beach spark challenge of 2010 state lawBy Jim Saunders
News Service of Florida
As Florida lawmakers gear up for another debate about red-light cameras, a Brevard County citation has led to a class-action lawsuit about the constitutionality of the devices.
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