Daily Clips for November 30, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Eleven Florida lawmakers get subpoenas in election law case
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
Eleven state legislators have been hit with subpoenas in a federal lawsuit involving four controversial provisions of Florida's new election law.

Ethics promises unkept
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
On the campaign trail, Rick Scott, a self-described outsider, claimed he would clean up Tallahassee's corrupt culture.

Dem chair Smith blasts redistricting plan
By Kathleen Haughney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
It didn’t take Florida Democratic Party chair Rod Smith to respond to the redistricting maps drawn up by the Republican-controlled Senate Reapportionment Committee.

Senator Marco Rubio’s healthy investment
By Miguel Sarmiento
Tucson Citizen
In matters of housing, 2005 was a great year for Senator Marco Rubio.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Senate maps help and hurt Republicans, pack Democrats into minority seats
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
Despite creating political maps using no political data, two redistricting proposals by Florida’s Republican-led Senate favor Republicans, consolidate voters in Democratic districts and compress minority seats, a Herald/Times analysis shows.

War of the maps begin
Editorial
Miami Herald
Drawing lines on a map may seem like child’s play, but once every 10 years it’s more like the war to end all wars.

Dreaming of a New Vegas in Miami
By Arian Campo-Flores and Alexandra Berzon
Wall Street Journal
A Malaysian gambling company wants to build what could be the world's largest casino on prime land along Miami's waterfront. It has spent about $450 million on real estate, pledged to help rebuild part of an interstate highway and hired 23 lobbyists to press for a new Florida law.

New political maps shore up Republican incumbents
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Maps for new congressional and legislative seats released this week don't just make it more likely that minority candidates – especially Hispanics -- will get elected. They also shore up the re-election chances of a host of Central Florida incumbents.

Rubio opposes diplomats; cites ‘appeasement’
By William Gibson
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida Senator Marco Rubio said on Tuesday he will oppose three diplomatic nominees to protest the Obama administration’s "appeasement" policy on Latin America.

POLITICAL RACES

Mitt Romney stumps in Florida with focus on President Barack Obama
By Adam C. Smith and Marc Caputo
St. Petersburg Times
Stagnant in the polls and under withering assault for flip-flopping, Republican Mitt Romney campaigned Tuesday in Tampa Bay and South Florida with a simple message: President Barack Obama has failed and he won't.

Mack comes out swinging at GOP rivals, Nelson
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
U.S. Rep. Connie Mack on Tuesday dismissed his Republican U.S. Senate primary rivals as too weak to defeat incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson.

Poll: Newy Gingrich soars in Florida
By Walter C. Jones
Florida Times-Union
Newt Gingrich is the current favorite in Florida’s Jan. 31 Republican presidential primary, picking up supporters who fled Herman Cain to claim 41 percent in a poll conducted Tuesday night for the Florida Times-Union.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Groups support bill that would brighten horizons for small solar energy providers
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A diverse coalition of groups is backing a bill that would exempt small solar power producers from being classified as utilities under state law.

Why We Need to Protect the Soul of South Florida
By Frank Mazzotti
Huffington Post
The Everglades are the economical and ecological soul of South Florida. Our lives, our health, well being and economic prosperity are all linked to restored and functioning Everglades's ecosystems.

Steube says Manatee jail needs $1M in fixes
By Richard Dymond
Bradenton Times
There’s moisture seeping into the 16-year-old Manatee County Central Jail building near Port Manatee due to failing stucco and the need for a total repaint.

EDUCATION

Lawmaker wants more oversight of disabled student scholarships
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
In response to an expose from the Miami New Times this summer detailing abuses of the John M. McKay Scholarship funds, Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, is pushing for greater oversight of the program.

Proposal emerges to create adult charter schools
News Service of Florida
Ft. Myers News-Press
Nudged by a Tallahassee-based non-profit group, two lawmakers are poised to file bills that would allow charter schools and non-profits to offer adult education.

No accreditation by intimidation
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
A key step in the quest to make the University of South Florida's Lakeland Polytechnic campus an independent university is for it to achieve accreditation. It now is accredited only because of its tie to USF.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Poverty grips 1 in 4 Alachua County kids, Census reports
By Jackie Alexander
Gainesville Sun
One in four Alachua County children lives at or below the poverty line, an increase of 10 percentage points in as many years, according to data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Scott says he won’t raise taxes
Staff Report
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott told the editorial board of The Daytona Beach News-Journal on Monday that he's not going to raise taxes but left the door open to require collection of sales taxes on Internet commerce.

Why judge blocked Citigroup’s sweet deal
By Wayne Ezell
Florida Times-Union
Finally, a judge with the courage to say no -- no to a settlement designed to gloss over and obscure a big bank's misdeeds that contributed to the housing meltdown.

Florida relying on luck with hurricanes
Editorial
Florida Times-Union
Are you feeling lucky?

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Report: Florida has made the most progress in reducing number of uninsured children
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
A new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families found that Florida led the nation in reducing the number of uninsured children during a three-year period.

Quality Health Plans HMO to close doors Thursday
By Tish Osborne
Hernando Today
Quality Health Plans, once touted as the No. 1 Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization in Pasco and Hernando counties, will cease operations Thursday, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Ex-Fla. nursing home ombudsman’s lawsuit expanded
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Florida's ousted long-term care ombudsman on Monday added new accusations to his lawsuit alleging that Gov. Rick Scott forced his resignation at the urging of the nursing home industry.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Florida unemployment program faces federal complaint
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is facing a complaint filed against the state’s unemployment compensation program with the U.S. Department of Labor’s office of civil rights.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Judge refuses to halt Fla. barrel racing challenge
By Bill Kaczor
Tampa Tribune
A judge on Tuesday refused to halt an administrative challenge to a new form of betting - quarter horse barrel racing - in a complex case that could affect efforts to expand gaming at pari-mutuel facilities across Florida.

Daily Clips for November 29, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

First redistricting maps for Florida create new Hispanic seats and retain GOP strength
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Florida legislators released the first two of their proposed redistricting maps Monday, creating new Central Florida seats designed to elect Hispanics while carving up the rest of the state in a way that gives Republicans an electoral edge.

Florida to host first statewide Occupy gathering
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
A collective of 15 Occupy Wall Street-inspired groups from around the state of Florida will hold a convention next month to create a resolution that will be sent to Florida Speaker of the House Dean Cannon on the first day of the legislative session.

Lawmakers keep trying to amend Florida Constitution
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
It's not easy to amend the Florida Constitution, but that never stops the Legislature from trying.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Haridopolos' selective amnesia
By Daniel Ruth
St. Petersburg Times
It appears one of the three most powerful political figures in Florida, overseeing a nearly $70 billion budget, has an attention span rivaling an oat bag.

Proposed redistricting maps retain sprawling boundaries
By Mike Salinero
Tampa Tribune
Last year, 63 percent of Florida voters approved Amendments 5 and 6, which called for compact voting districts that are as politically neutral as possible.

Democratic chair: New redistricting proposals ‘worsen’ Florida’s ‘malapportioned’ map
By Cooper Levey-Baker
Florida Independent
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith is already blasting the state Senate’s proposals for how to redraw Florida’s congressional and state Senate districts.

POLITICAL RACES

Rep Mack says he's running for Fla US Senate
By Brendan Farrington
Associated Press
Republican Congressman Connie Mack IV has announced he's entering the U.S. Senate race.

Romney picks up key South Florida endorsements
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Mitt Romney will pick up the ultimate Cuban-American endorsement trifecta Tuesday in South Florida: The support of U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, and his brother, former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

Florida's influence on GOP race may not be known until January
By William March
Tampa Tribune
When Florida Republicans go to the polls on Jan. 31 for their presidential primary, they'll award the winner a major coup, 50 convention delegates.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Florida lawmakers prepare bipartisan effort to aid Everglades
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
A bipartisan group of five state lawmakers announced the formation Monday of a new legislative caucus devoted to Everglades restoration efforts.

Scott defends environmental stance in new op-ed
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
In a new op-ed, Gov. Rick Scott touts his support for environmental safeguards, but argues against “one-size-fits-all solutions” to protect the state’s natural resources.

LGBT

Top Marine James Amos says service embracing gay ban repeal: 'I'm very pleased with how it has gone'
By Robert Burns
Associated Press
Since the lifting two months ago of a longstanding U.S. ban on gays serving openly in the military, U.S. Marines across the globe have adapted smoothly and embraced the change, says their top officer, Gen. James F. Amos, who previously had argued against repealing the ban during wartime.

EDUCATION

Race to Top funds critical teacher programs
By Leslie Postal
Orlando Sentinel
Florida needs more math and science teachers for its middle and high schools and will use Race to the Top winnings to spur the education of more of these critical instructors, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Exclusive: Liberal arts programs in a fight for their lives
By Dave Breitenstein
Ft. Myers News-Press
Many academics in Florida believe if Gov. Rick Scott had his way, the liberal arts at state institutions wouldn’t merely be de-emphasized.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

VIDEO: Florida’s epidemic of homeless children receives national attention
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
60 Minutes aired a program this weekend shedding light on one of the little-discussed and truly heartbreaking aspects of the country’s persistent economic woes: an epidemic of homeless schoolchildren.

The GOP Will Let Your Taxes Go Up, But Not a Dime More From Millionaires
The Progress Report
Think Progress
In the wake of the super committee’s inability to reach an agreement because Republicans refused to make the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share, there are several very important items that Congress must deal with before leaving town for Christmas vacation.

On "Cyber Monday" lawmaker laments lost revenue
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Just as Floridians flocked to stores this past weekend for the start of the holiday shopping season, deal-hunters took to the Internet for “Cyber Monday” -- the post-Black Friday period designated for online holiday shopping.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Amid ‘pill mill’ crackdown, budget cuts hit programs for drug-addicted women, babies
By Ashley Lopez and Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
As legislators crafted new laws to shut down so-called “pill mills” around the Sunshine State, they also slashed funding for the public health programs positioned to help prescription drug-addicted women and babies.

Medicare back on the brink over cuts to doctors
By Ricardo Alsonso-Zaldivar
Associated Press
Politicians of both parties outdo each other vying for the approval of seniors, but their inability to compromise on the federal budget has put Medicare in the crosshairs again.

Nursing Home Cases: Supreme Court Judges Reject Limiting Legal Damage
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
In rulings on cases from Polk and Hillsborough counties that could have far-reaching implications, the Florida Supreme Court has rejected key parts of arbitration agreements that would have limited legal damages against nursing homes.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Ousted FAMU band director says he fought to end hazing
By Katie Sanders
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Ousted last week as director of Florida A&M University's marching band, Julian White made a case for reinstatement Monday, saying he worked tirelessly during his tenure to prevent the kind of hazing rituals that investigators believe led to a drum major's death after a football game.

Daily Clips for November 28, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Statement to Miami Herald writer haunts Senate President Haridopolos
By Steve Bousquet
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Testifying in a deposition, Senate President Mike Haridopolos admitted he didn’t tell the truth last year when he denied knowledge of a secret settlement that ended Jim Greer’s tumultuous tenure as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

Is Florida GOP's biggest prize? Maybe
By William March
Tampa Tribune
When Florida Republicans go to the polls on Jan. 31 for their presidential primary, they'll award the winner a major coup, 50 convention delegates.

Florida's brighter job picture obscures longer-term problems like low pay, lack of diversification
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Florida's overall employment picture is brightening after three lost years.

Florida owed more than $800 million by taxpayers, but many debtors don't pay
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Even as legislators struggle with a $2 billion budget shortfall, more than $800 million in debt is owed Florida taxpayers - IOUs piled up by businesses, individuals and even a few politicians.

Everglades restoration: Can this marriage be saved?
By Bob Graham
Miami Herald
The Everglades is in danger again.

EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK

By Andy Marlette
Pensacola News Journal

FLORIDA POLITICS

Tensions over minority redistricting divide legislators
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Racial divisions in Florida’s increasingly diverse state have become a tense undercurrent coursing through the redistricting debate in Tallahassee as lawmakers decide how far to go to carve out new districts for Florida’s growing ethnic minorities.

Fla. Senate set to release redistricting plan
Associated Press
Palm Beach Post
The Florida Senate is set to release its proposed plan for redrawing the state's legislative and congressional districts.

Haridopolos says Greer was ousted because of politics
News Service of Florida
Florida Times-Union
Senate President Mike Haridopolos said in a deposition last week that he believed ousted Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer was pushed out for political reasons -- not necessarily for the misuse of party funds, something RPOF officials had suggested was a major source of discontent.

GOP Latinos face questions over immigrant pasts
By Russell Contreras
Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is forced to research and clarify her late grandfather's immigration status.

Thrasher pushes bill to benefit Jacksonville company, client of his former lobbying firm
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
Since joining the state Senate in 2009, John Thrasher has tried to add a Jacksonville financial company represented by his old lobbying firm to a list of providers for a lucrative state retirement system.

Bennett takes last shot at extending term limits
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
State Sen. Mike Bennett is putting one final charge into trying to pass legislation that would extend the terms of state legislators from 8 years to 12.

POLITICAL RACES

Rick Scott may shape fate of 2012 election
By Joy-Ann Reid
The Grio
Unlike other high profile tea party governors like Rick Snyder of Michigan, Ohio's John Kasich and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has largely flown under the national media radar.

Once again, GOP hopes this is their chance to defeat Nelson
By William March
Tampa Tribune
In a state dominated by Republicans, Bill Nelson stands out like a sore thumb.

A year before election, new strategy could change outcome
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The outcome of next year's election could be decided far from the polls and long before Election Day.

As rumors fly, Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer denies that he would quit to run for governor
By Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
Buddy Dyer wants voters to give him another term as Orlando's mayor in an election next spring. But if they do, can voters count on him to stay?

Underachiever Connie Mack IV perfect for Senate seat
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
First of all, congratulations, Mr. Mack. You haven't even officially declared yet to run for a Florida seat in the U.S. Senate and you're already the front-runner in the polls.

Tampa police prepare for anarchist attacks at Republican National Convention
By Jessica Vander Velde
St. Petersburg Times
Up to 15,000 protesters are expected to descend on Tampa next summer for the Republican National Convention. Many will wave signs and march peacefully.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

As task force prepares oil spill report, questions arise on who will pay to restore the gulf
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
More than a year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster dumped nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, a federal group stands ready to unveil an ambitious plan to repair the damage.

BP set to keep cleaning beaches
By Kimberly Blair
Pensacola News Journal
As BP wraps up its oil spill cleanup phase and shifts into its restoration phase, one looming question remains: What about the tar mats still believed to be submerged along the shorelines of local beaches?

Utilities, water districts join to map Florida water's future
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
The state's most-powerful water bureaucrats and the Orlando area's biggest water utilities have met several times this year, in near-secrecy, in an attempt to dole out the last drops of cheap, clean and highly coveted water from the giant Floridan Aquifer.

Nelson effort to ban interstate python trade concerns Fla. wildlife officials
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
The good intentions of Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson to help control the invasion of Burmese pythons in the Everglades has Florida wildlife officials slightly cringing.

Heads butt over plan to thin bison herd at Paynes Prairie State Park in north Florida
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Florida's state parks are a haven for all sorts of wildlife — roseate spoonbills, bats and black bears, to name a few. But only Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park can claim to have a herd of bison.

LGBT

St. Petersburg women find love, marriage — and legal tangles
By Stephen Nohlgren
St. Petersburg Times
Rachel Jolley, 25, and Charlotte Lambert, 28, merged into Lambert-Jolley on a cool Connecticut evening in September.

EDUCATION

Florida Courts Closer to Answering: Are State’s Education Cuts Unconstitutional?
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Things could be getting very interesting for Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida legislature, and their push for education by charter school, private school and the Internet.

Florida college students rallying against Rick Scott's "attack on higher education"
By Kristal Roberts
ABC Action News Tampa
Students from seven Florida universities are joining forces to rally against what they’re calling, an "attack on higher education".

Rising tuition, 'Occupy' spark new campus activism
By Lindsay Peterson
Tampa Tribune
Dani Leppo planned to keep her head down, study and finish as fast as possible when she transferred from St. Petersburg College to the University of South Florida this year.

Florida universities say they've passed the performance test
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Gov. Rick Scott had a lot of questions about the state's 11 universities. Now he has received answers that rival "War and Peace" in their size.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Missing middle class imperils American Dream
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Among the disturbing economic trends in America is the sharp decline over the last four decades of families living in middle-income neighborhoods. Instead there is increasing segregation into enclaves of wealth and poverty.

Gov. Scott helps feed hungry at East Naples shelter, gets fed some advice
By Aisling Swift
Naples Daily News
Gov. Rick Scott joined a legion of volunteers Thursday at St. Matthew’s House in East Naples, doling out Thanksgiving dinners, taking orders for desserts – and getting political advice from the jobless and homeless.

Some lawmakers say taxing internet sales will fill the state's budget holes
By Regan McCarthy
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
State Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, a Democrat from Tallahassee, is putting forward legislation once again that she says would increase the state's collection of internet sales tax.

Officials ignore our greatest needs
By Stephen Goldstein
South Florida Sun Sentinel
What do the recent Penn State sex scandal, Hurricane Katrina, and the sad state of America's — and Florida's — infrastructure have in common?

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Gov. Scott, federal officials at odds over Affordable Care Act
By Stacey Singer
Palm Beach Post
Related editorial: Ideology no cure for Florida
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a longtime foe of the Obama administration's health overhaul, says he will not allow the state to implement the 18-month-old health law for a fundamental reason: "It's not the law of the land," said Scott, an attorney and co-founder of the Columbia/HCA hospital chain.

State supreme court invalidates arbitration agreements in nursing home cases
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
The Florida Supreme Court ruled in two separate cases Wednesday that nursing home arbitration agreements that limit damages in ways that contradict state law are not valid.

Medicare’s drug coverage gap shrinks
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
Associated Press
Medicare’s prescription coverage gap is getting noticeably smaller and easier to manage this year for millions of older and disabled people with high drug costs.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

FAMU student death prompts probe of hazing practices
By Katie Sanders
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Fallout from the death of a Florida A&M University drum major intensified this week with the firing of the school’s band director, the suspensions of four students and Gov. Rick Scott ordering the state’s law enforcement agency to assist with the investigation.

Gun law shows Florida's political, cultural divide
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
To the mostly Democratic residents of South Florida's cities and suburban communities, it may seem like a common-sense move to prevent gun violence.

Immigration not state’s top priority
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
As the Florida Legislature prepares for its 2012 session, illegal immigration is sure to make headlines again.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

A New Twist in FL's Private vs. Public Prisons Feud
By Les Coleman
Public News Service Florida
When the Florida Legislature put a bill on Gov. Rick Scott's desk to partially privatize prisons, Department of Corrections officers filed a lawsuit to block it.

Fix the death penalty
Editorial
Miami Herald
In 2005, the Florida Supreme Court took the unusual step of begging the Legislature to clean up Florida’ s death-penalty statute.

Daily Clips for November 23, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Former GOP Chair Jim Greer adds Senate President Mike Haridopolos to lawsuit
By Lucy Morgan
St. Petersburg Times
Former Republican Party Chair Jim Greer expanded his lawsuit against the state party Tuesday to include Senate President Mike Haridopolos just days after taking a sworn statement from Haridopolos.

Report: ‘Super Committee’ failure could cut off unemployment benefits for almost 2 million
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
The failure of the congressional “Super Committee” to reach an agreement jeopardizes the federal unemployment benefits of almost 2 million unemployed workers, according to the National Employment Law Project.

Norquist's no-tax pledge is a plague
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
When the political autopsy on Congress' super committee is complete, a contributing cause of death must include the no-tax pledge that's infecting elected officials across the nation.

Gov. Scott gives up on new job training program
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
A week after including a new job training program for unemployed workers in a proposed committee bill, Gov. Rick Scott is giving up on the idea, at least for now.

Allen West Thinks a Lobbying Organization is a Government Agency
By Matthew Hendley
Broward New Times
Rep. Allen West is looking for cuts to make in the federal government to spare the defense budget, so he thinks there's no reason for the Department of Commerce to exist since there's a lobbying group with a similar name.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Atwater’s Christmas – err legislative – list
By Kathleen Haughney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has released his legislative wish list.

Gov. Scott still struggles in polls
Staff Report
Florida Current
Two polls show Florida Gov. Rick Scott still struggling for approval almost a year into his term.

Gambling groups spend millions on lobbyists
By Lilly Rockwell
News Service of Florida
The only winners so far in the effort to allow luxury resort casinos in South Florida, which has widespread implications for every form of gambling in the state, are lobbyists.

Stop raiding the housing trust fund
Editorial
Florida Times-Union
There’s a smattering of good news on unemployment.

POLITICAL RACES

(Mis)Truth in Advertising
The Progress Report
Think Progress
Did Mitt Romney actually say all of these things? Yes.

GOP Debate: In African-American city, crowd was mostly white
By Justin Sink
The Hill
Tuesday's Republican presidential debate was held in a city with a strong African-American population, but the audience was mostly white.

Cain signs Susan B. Anthony anti-abortion pledge
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Presidential candidate Herman Cain became one of the last GOP presidential candidates to sign an anti-abortion pledge created by the Susan B. Anthony List.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

PSC approves Progress Energy Fla. nuclear costs
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Customers will pay $140 million next year so Progress Energy Florida can buy electricity from other sources while a nuclear plant remains shut down for repairs.

State regulators approve nuclear costs paid to FPL
By Susan Salisbury
Palm Beach Post
The Florida Public Service Commission today unanimously approved $20 million in nuclear costs that Juno Beach-based Florida Power & Light Co. customers will begin paying in January.

Water limits change, again
Editorial
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The dry season has arrived, and in South Florida, that means another shift in the yo-yo world of water management.

BP to release $500 million in first phase of environmental projects
By Tom McLaughlin
NWF Daily News
Northwest Florida cities, counties and organizations should learn by the end of the year whether environmental improvement projects they want to fund with $100 million from BP are worthy.

Is the FL Black Bear Still at Risk?
By Glen Gardner
Public News Service Florida
The state's black bear management plan was the topic of discussion Tuesday night at a public workshop here.

EDUCATION

Officials: Raising FCAT standards necessary but may reduce graduation rates
By Annie Martin
Daytona Beach News-Journal
More Florida schools may receive F's and more students may fail to graduate as state officials seek to ratchet up the passing scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Higher ed council wants changes to Bright Futures program
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Florida’s Bright Futures program might see some changes in coming months, according to a new report by Capitol News Service.

New fees drive down adult education enrollment
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Many of Florida's high school dropouts are giving up the chance to go back to school because they now are required to pay tuition.

Florida needs less grade inflation, more legitimate education
By Donn Graham
Fort Myers News-Press
As a newcomer to Lee County with a grandson enrolled in the Lee County school system, I am appalled at the low level of student achievement here compared to where he attended school last year, Jefferson County, Ky., which contains Louisville.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Florida House Speaker: Every ‘major policy area’ will see ‘reductions’ in new budget
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
The Palm Beach Post reports that Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon says it is “certain that another round of belt-tightening is in order when lawmakers reconvene Jan. 10.” State economists have predicted a $2 billion shortfall for the upcoming year.

Rejected rail funding becomes California’s gain
By Burgess Everett
Politico
High-speed rail funding rejected by Florida Gov. Rick Scott officially became California’s gain Tuesday as the Department of Transportation granted nearly $1 billion to the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Can Rick Scott’s jobs czar bring business back to Florida?
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times
Gray Swoope pulls his hands from his pockets long enough to hold open each door he crosses in the state Capitol for anyone who might want to pass through first debate.

Exploiting addicts
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
State lawmakers are betting big that even more gambling — resort casinos, slots, whatever the market will bear — is the answer to Florida's revenue problems.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Healthy habits are the best incentive
Editorial
Florida Times-Union
Austere circumstances often lead to creativity and innovation, even in health insurance.

Women’s health advocates fear Obama will cave in to Catholic bishops’ demands
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
With the final decision on whether the Obama administration will keep its original policy requiring health insurers to cover contraception without co-payments looming, women’s health advocates fear the president will capitulate to the demands of one of the biggest opponents to the policy: Catholic bishops.

Florida ‘Medicare Patrol’ gets funds to fight fraud
By William Gibson
South Florida Sun Sentinel
While enlisting senior-citizen volunteers to help fight fraud, federal officials doled out $9 million on Tuesday for Senior Medicare Patrols, including $400,000 in Florida.

Advocacy group says toxic toys still a problem
By Tom Flanigan
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
In recent years, the United States has done much to improve the safety of children's toys.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Judges should carry gavels, not tin cups
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
Much like the federal government, Florida's court system has been staggering from one financial crisis to the next.

Restore due process to drug cases
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Due process should not be tossed aside for the sake of expediency.