AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Planned Parenthood to join Awake the State at rallies tomorrow
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Note: Awake The State rallies are being held in numerous cities today - click here to find one near you.
Excerpt: Awake describes itself as a movement created in response to Scott’s policies, involving “Floridians from every walk of life including educators, healthcare workers, police and firefighters, advocates for consumers, middle class families and more.” It is also a coalition of activist groups in Florida, such as Progress Florida, Florida Watch Action and America Votes.
FEATURED STORIES
Florida lawmakers to fight court ruling about way they tried to privatize prisons
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
After Gov. Rick Scott decided to let it stand, lawmakers have instead appealed a Tallahassee judge's ruling that the way they ordered the privatization of prisons in the southern portion of the state was unconstitutional.
The early states: Florida
By Adam C. Smith
Politico
Florida is so massive, diverse and ever-changing, it’s always risky to make assumptions and generalizations about politics in America’s biggest battleground.
LeMieux's wit and wisdom rings up at $150,000
By Daniel Ruth
St. Petersburg Times
Who knew George LeMieux was such a sage, such an oracle, such a diviner of wisdom?
Advocates accuse state lawmakers of blocking health reforms
By Marni Jameson
Orlando Sentinel
Advocates of President Obama's health reforms expressed concern Friday about the state's lack of action at a town hall meeting in Orlando.
Punishing Poverty
Editorial
New York Times
Being poor and needing public assistance is not a crime.
FLORIDA POLITICS
Teacher says no way to comply with Florida's voting law
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
A Florida Panhandle teacher who may be fined $1,000 for turning in student voter registration applications late says she was unaware of a new 48-hour deadline.
What States Are Doing To Restrict Voting Rights
By Scott Keyes
Think Progress
Perhaps the most nefarious legislation to pop up in states over the past year have been new laws intended to make it more difficult for people to vote.
Florida senator wants to end secrecy on tax incentives for businesses
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
A Republican state senator wants to end secrecy surrounding deals that use tax dollars to lure companies to Florida or that keep existing businesses from leaving.
Make NASCAR the official sport of Florida? State senator wants to
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
Florida has an official state beverage (orange juice), bird (mockingbird), pie (key lime) and reptile (alligator).
Children's Movement unveils agenda for upcoming 2012 session
By James Call
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
The Children's Movement of Florida Monday announced a five-point Legislative agenda for the 2012 session.
Scott, Rubio not attending this weekend’s Florida Tea Party Convention
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Representatives from the offices of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Gov. Rick Scott report that neither will be attending the Florida Tea Party Convention scheduled for this weekend, despite their inclusion on the event’s agenda.
POLITICAL RACES
Conservatives rush to defend Cain
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Conservative Palm Beach celebrities Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are among those leading a furious push-back from the right against an anonymously sourced Politico.com report that Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain was accused of sexual harassment in the 1990s.
The more Cain speaks, the more he stumbles
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
During the Republican presidential debates, candidate Herman Cain seemed at ease before the cameras dishing out his simplistic 9-9-9 tax plan to friendly audiences.
Lynn University will host presidential debate Oct. 22
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
One of the biggest single events of the 2012 presidential campaign will take place in Boca Raton — just 15 days before Election Day.
Fla. puts 9 GOP contenders on Jan. 31 ballot
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Florida Republican voters will get to choose between nine presidential contenders during next year's primary.
Even if Republican C.W. Bill Young is vulnerable, no Democrat is opposing him for reelection
By David DeCamp
St. Petersburg Times
U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young's district could tilt more Democratic after redistricting in 2012. His health has declined and he walks with a cane.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Energy Policy Could Mean Jobs
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
Out of date twentieth-century regulations are hampering job creation in the renewable energy market according top participants at last week’s energy summit in Orlando.
Koch Funding Climate Change Deniers: Mixed Success
By Kathleen Ryan/Dallas Heltzell
Public News Service Florida
The Koch family has funneled tens of millions of dollars into causes which support the oil and gas industry in an attempt to undermine the science of climate change, a new investigation finds.
Die-off reported in Pensacola's oyster beds
Associated Press
Miami Herald
State scientists will head to the Florida Panhandle this week to check on East Bay oyster beds where oystermen are reporting a die-off.
Environmental group publishes ‘Ten Scariest Facts About the Everglades’
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Environment Florida released its “Ten Scariest Facts About the Everglades” at a press conference coinciding with Halloween.
Support Florida Forever, despite budget woes
Editorial
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Florida Forever is facing tough times.
EDUCATION
Scott's tactics carry the stench of fear-mongering
By Andrew Starling
Gainesville Sun
While much of Florida's fiscal debate has been focused on Gov. Rick Scott's consistent refusals of federal stimulus money, another vital investment has been placed on Tallahassee's chopping block.
Merit pay era arrives for teachers
By Chris Umpierre
Ft. Myers News-Press
Part of Sara Kohlhauff’s evaluation will be on the line when her fourth-grade students take the reading Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test this spring.
UF proposes faculty raise, no sick leave payouts
By Nathan Crabbe
Gainesville Sun
University of Florida faculty would get a 3 percent raise in January but lose payouts for unused sick leave, under the university’s latest proposal to offset a requirement that state workers pay more toward their retirement plans.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Boeing to build spacecraft in Space Coast, bring jobs to Florida
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
The Boeing Co. will build its commercial spacecraft, the Crew Space Transportation-100, in the former home of the old space shuttle, the company announced Monday.
Wage gap for Florida women lower than national average
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
The wage gap median between full-time female and male workers in Florida is lower than in the U.S. as a whole, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Rick Scott, Cabinet to be briefed on PIP insurance coverage
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are receiving a briefing on the controversial personal injury protection insurance frequently called PIP.
Racetrack gets license for another Miami casino
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Miami could be home to South Florida’s ninth slots-and-poker casino, long before any destination gambling resort breaks ground, under a permit quietly sought by the owners of Flagler Dog Track and Magic City Casino and approved by state regulators.
State set to buy SunRail tracks for $150 million
By Dan Tracy
Orlando Sentinel
The much-delayed SunRail project could reach another milestone this week when the state buys 61 miles of track from the CSX railroad company for $150 million.
Tolls are the future for new roads and bridges
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
Repeat after me: Tolls are our friends. Tolls are our friends.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Doctors join forces to help poor patients
By William E. Gibson
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Amid hard times and big gaps in the health-care system, Dr. Emmanuel Isaac is seeing a growing stream of patients who were never treated or have long delayed the care they need for diabetes, cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program waiting list gets shorter, still longest in U.S.
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
With almost 3,300 names, Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program waiting list is still the longest in the United States, by far.
Family members plead guilty to U.S. pill-mill charges
By Jane Musgrave
Palm Beach Post
The infamous George brothers, their mother and one of the Wellington twins’ wives now share something more than family ties.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Bias against true FloridiansEditorial
Palm Beach Post
If you want to hear another tale of how stupid government rules can ruin lives, consider the case of 18-year-old Kassandra Romero.
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