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.