AWAKE THE STATE IN THE NEWS
Occupy Orlando, Awake the State hold joint rally
By Jon Busdeker
Orlando Sentinel
Related: Occupy Orlando bristles over curfew, chamber lease
Occupy Orlando joined forces tonight with Awake the State for a meeting to speak out on voters' rights, corporate greed, government corruption and the upcoming legislative session.
Awake Tampa Motivates People to Go to the Polls
By Steve Newborn
WUSF Public Radio Tampa
A group called Awake Tampa met in downtown last night to kick off its one-year program to motivate people to go to the polls. One of the speakers was former candidate for governor Alex Sink.
Related: Florida Today: Protesters rally in front of Brevard schools offices
Related: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Dozens protest Rick Scott in Sarasota
Related: Daytona Beach News-Journal: Protest rallies in Daytona Beach, Palm Coast urge Florida residents to vote
Related: FlaglerLive.com: Small Crowd, Loud Responses as Awake the State Demonstration Occupies Palm Coast
Related: Pensacola News Journal: Unions, students to rally in Gulf Breeze
FEATURED STORIES
Sen. Bill Nelson wants investigation of election law changes
By Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is asking that Congress investigate whether restrictive new voting laws in more than a dozen states — including Florida — are part of an "orchestrated effort to disenfranchise voters," according to a letter released Tuesday.
Tea Party to Chris Dorworth: ‘Come clean or resign’
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
Establishment leaders in the Republican Party have remained silent about the growing questions surrounding aspiring House Speaker Chris Dorworth’s personal finances – particularly as they relate to his role as a public official.
Florida's legislative black caucus asks Gov. Rick Scott for more diverse judges
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott was urged Tuesday by the Florida Legislative Black Caucus to appoint fewer "Scott clones" and more African-Americans to judicial openings.
Think Occupy protesters are unemployed slackers? Maybe these folks from Occupy Sarasota will change your mind
By Doug Driscoll
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
The Occupy movement is often stereotyped as being made up of lazy students or unemployed slackers.
Florida's new election laws deliberately make it more difficult for people to register and vote
Editorial
TC Palm
New Smyrna Beach High School teacher Jill Cicciarelli didn't realize she was running afoul of the law when she attempted to give her students a lesson in democracy.
FLORIDA POLITICS
A Heartwarming Update on Rick Scott's Dirtiest Deeds
By Lisa Rab
Broward New Times
Four months ago, we brought you a sobering catalog of Rick Scott's dirtiest deeds as chief executive of this fair state.
Voting mistake could cost Pace teacher $1,000 under new law
By Richard McVay
Pensacola News Journal
A Pace teacher could face up to a $1,000 fine for allegedly failing to turn the voter registrations of 76 students in to the state on time.
Gov. Scott willing to reconsider felon rights policy
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Rick Scott told black lawmakers on Tuesday that he is open to revising the restoration of felon rights process seven months after pushing clemency changes that now require a minimum five-year wait.
Central Florida will be ground zero for minority districts
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
It is literally the most divisive issue in the politically charged process of redrawing the face of Florida politics: dividing minority groups among new congressional and legislative districts so that their representation is not diluted.
Religious groups to oppose Florida casinos
Florida News Service
Pensacola News Journal
A coalition of faith-based groups said today they are beginning an aggressive campaign to oppose a legislative proposal to allow massive luxury casinos in South Florida.
POLITICAL RACES
Fla poll: Romney 25%, Cain 24%, Gingrich 11, Perry 9
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
Suffolk University Oct. 26-30 telephone poll (MoE +/- 3.5%)
Poll: With Marco Rubio as VP, Republicans could win Florida
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio could provide the juice needed for a Republican presidential candidate to win Florida, according to a new poll by Suffolk University.
RNC pushes for lower hotel room rates for 2012 convention
By Ray Reyes
Tampa Tribune
Hotel managers from the Tampa Bay area will meet Thursday to further discuss a request by a GOP committee to lower room rates during the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Unconventional Negotiations Between Republicans and Hoteliers in Tampa
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
The 2012 Republican National Convention is still 10 months from landing in Tampa, but it’s already making plenty of local headlines.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Personhood USA spokesperson admits Mississippi amendment would affect birth control
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Despite past statements to the contrary, some “fetal personhood” supporters are now admitting that, if enacted, their legislation would likely not only outlaw abortion, but some forms of birth control, as well.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
On Everglades, can Feds, Florida get along?
By Bob King
Politico
Billions of dollars into a mammoth ecological overhaul of the Everglades, the Obama administration is finding itself in a mix of cooperation and potential confrontation with Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
Third time no charm for Florida parks
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Florida was passed over Tuesday for an unprecedented third gold medal for its state park system by the National Recreation and Park Association.
State officials accuse EPA of exaggerating water pollution threat
By Staff
Florida Current
Florida officials said in a court filing Monday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "manufactured" the basis for intervention in setting Florida's water quality standards and exaggerated the threat of nutrient pollution to Florida waterways.
If we must subsidize nuclear power in Florida so much, is it worth it?
By Robert Trigaux
St. Petersburg Times
It's time to drink the Tallahassee Kool-Aid.
LGBT
Legislators roll out bills to end employment discrimination
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Florida lawmakers have crafted a slew of new bills that would outlaw hiring discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, whether someone is unemployed and whether an applicant has a criminal history.
EDUCATION
After decade of gains, Florida students stall on national reading, math tests
By Ron Matus
St. Petersburg Times
Florida's decade-long climb out of the national cellar in education has hit a snag.
Report Card: Fla. math, reading scores remain flat
By Christine Armario and Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Fewer than 40 percent of Florida's fourth- and eighth-grade students have scored at the proficient or advanced levels in math and reading, according to a national assessment released Tuesday.
Florida legislators skeptical of spending more for reading coaches
By Matt Dixon
Florida Times-Union
A panel of lawmakers met a request for an additional $40 million for 600 reading coaches with skepticism Tuesday, saying the state has already sunk a billion-plus dollars into the program with lackluster results.
New role for universities: Luring jobs to Florida
By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
While the schools in Florida's state university system have traditionally studied business, some are now taking it further — luring industries to the state and even hiring business recruiters to assist in the effort.
Dockery and Fasano call again for USF Poly audit, this time from leader of the campus
By Kim Wilmath
St. Petersburg Times
The two state senators who a couple weeks ago called on the University of South Florida to audit its branch campus in Lakeland are now appealing to USF Polytechnic's leader to make it happen immediately.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
No leadership on shortfall
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
Once again, Florida state government is facing a major budget deficit — as much as $2 billion next year.
Gov. Rick Scott’s job czar: Divulge details of tax incentive deals after deed is done
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Rick Scott's jobs czar said Tuesday that he supports a quicker release of information about the secret tax incentive deals the state gives some of the largest companies in the world.
Scott wants to keep insurance commissioner and pension fund chief on their jobs
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
About 10 months after he was sworn in Gov. Rick Scott gave a glowing endorsement Tuesday to the work done by two top state officials.
Wasserman Schultz: GOP ‘rooting for’ economic failure ‘in order to win an election’
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
In an op-ed, Florida congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz writes that the GOP is hoping the economy will fail, giving the GOP an edge against President Obama in the upcoming national election.
Gov. Scott to push Citizens Property Insurance reforms
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Citing concerns that Citizens Property Insurance won’t have enough money to pay claims in the event of a catastrophic storm, Gov. Rick Scott called for reforms Tuesday to help move its customers into the private market and to charge higher rates to make other companies more competitive.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Unpaid fines to DOH: $5M
By Carol Gentry
Health News Florida
Doctors, nurses and other health professionals owe the state of Florida more than $5 million in unpaid fines and fees imposed over the past five years, according to state records.
Florida's premature birth grade rises from F to D
By Jackie Alexander
Gainesville Sun
Florida is making strides in giving babies the best chance to be born healthy, but the state still has much work to do, according to the March of Dimes.
Get a tighter grip on rising hospice costs
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
Recent news reports in the Sentinel have addressed troubling allegations leveled at Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Demeaning, unnecessary test
Editorial
Miami Herald
It would be easy to praise Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for the laudable goals of curbing drug use among welfare recipients by testing applicants and saving money by denying users aid.
Fla. women earning nearly 84% of male workers’ income
By Donna Gehrke-White
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida women continue to catch up on earning what men do in the Sunshine State, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
Lawmakers vow to put judicial system on steady financial groundBy Travis Pillow
Florida Current
Senate budget writers said Tuesday they intend to overhaul funding of the state's judicial system, but have work to do before they arrive at a specific plan.
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