Daily Clips for December 30, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Gov. Scott's latest target: Florida's taxing districts
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
One of Gov. Rick Scott's first moves in the new year will be to call for a sweeping review of some of the state's oldest governments - Florida's more than 1,600 special districts.

Fla.'s Economic Pain, Anger Could Shape 2012 Race
By Greg Allen
NPR
Florida is once again poised to play an important role in selecting the president in 2012. Its Republican primary on Jan. 31 is the nation's fourth nominating contest.

2012 Session Outlook: Redistricting and Reapportionment
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
As lawmakers head into an election year session during a tight budget year, the once-in-a-decade task of redrawing legislative and congressional boundaries could weigh more heavily on their minds than any other.

Bill tweaked to allow pari-mutuels to become casinos, give local voters veto over expanded gambling
By Nick Sortal
Orlando Sentinel
The co-sponsor of a bill that would bring destination casinos to South Florida is proposing significant changes, including measures that could turn existing pari-mutuels like racetracks and jai-alai frontons into full-fledged casinos.

Last shuttle flight is Fla.'s top story
By Mike Schneider
Associated Press
The end of the space shuttle program after more than three decades of flights to low-earth orbit launched past Gov. Rick Scott's shakeup of state government and the Casey Anthony murder trial as Florida's top story of 2011, according to a poll of newspaper editors conducted by The Associated Press.

BEST OF THE BLOGS

Rick Scott Made 2011 The Year Of The Train Wreck
By Inkberries
Beach Peanuts
Florida began 2011 with our new Governor Rick Scott, and it's been downhill ever since.

An Unlikely Year For Progress
By Ray Seaman
Progress Florida
It was springtime for Florida's extreme right in January 2011.

Ten reasons to champion the Affordable Care Act
By Darden Rice
St. Petersblog 2.0
How does the landmark health care reform legislation, called the Affordable Care Act, really measure up on the 2011 scorecard?

I Guess We Can’t Have An Honest Conversation About Unemployment
By Kenneth Quinnell
Florida Progressive Coalition
I asked last month if it were possible to talk about unemployment honestly in our political climate.

How the Moneychangers Have Deformed “Reform”
By Julie DeLegal
Folio Weekly
In the wake of a recent circuit court decision, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has rewritten a legislatively-composed ballot initiative that would, critics say, allow state money to go directly to private, religious school vouchers.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Some protesters think Tampa police are handing out too many trespass warnings
By Janelle Irwin
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Occupy Tampa activists and some advocacy groups are wondering why the City of Tampa is giving trespass warnings to so many protesters.

The 25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida, Part 1
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
They affect the taxes you pay and the schools your children attend.

Amid fundraising binge, Republican intrigue in FL Senate President race continues
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
It's almost session. Do you know who your Florida Senate president will be in two years?

Scott names new public records director, replaces external affairs chief
By Michael C. Bender
Miami Herald
Bonnie Hazelton, director of the Office of the Ombudsman and Public Services, will take over as director of Gov. Rick Scott's Office of Open Government, Scott's office announced today.

Florida Republicans staff up media shop
By Michael C. Bender
Tampa Bay Times
The Republican Party of Florida today announced Kristen McDonald, a former Gov. Rick Scott intern, and Dan Dawson, a former staffer for CFO Jeff Atwater, will join the party's communications team.

POLITICAL RACES

Not everyone’s buying Gingrich’s anti-Agenda 21 cred
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
One of the ways presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has been trying to gin up support in tea party and far-right conservative circles is by talking about Agenda 21 — a lot.

Rick Santorum, surging in Iowa, a test for future of retail politics
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Rick Santorum has spent more time campaigning for president in Iowa than any Republican, but he's like the annoying uncle at the annual holiday party, invited because he's family, not because he's funny or charismatic.

Where Fla fits into Obama's re-election strategy
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Jim Messina President Obama's re-election chief, shares 5 of 40 paths to victory in this video.

Poll: Mack holds big lead in GOP Senate race
By Brandon Larrabee
News Service of Florida
U.S. Rep. Connie Mack has a strong lead on his competitors for the GOP nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, according to a new poll by TelOpinion Research.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

BP Oil Spill: Prosecutors Reportedly Preparing Criminal Charges
By Jillian Berman
Huffington Post
Federal prosecutors are preparing the first criminal charges against BP in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the worst of its kind in U.S. history, the Wall Street Journal reports.

BP money buys sports towels, Xmas lights, jingles
Staff Report
Naples Daily News
Sports towels and fleece blankets.

Everglades Restoration: Parties Produce Miracle
Editorial
Lakeland Ledger
Thanks to a pre-Christmas political miracle, some well-needed — and much-delayed restoration of the Everglades is likely to occur.

LGBT

Both lesbian moms have parental rights, Daytona court rules in custody dispute
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
They fell in love, moved in together in a house in south Brevard County and had a baby girl.

EDUCATION

Mavericks charter schools don't live up to big promises
By Lisa Rab
Miami New Times
Before the songs, chanting, and heartfelt tears, the ceremony next door to a strip mall begins with speeches.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

2012 Session Outlook: Economic Development
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Gov. Rick Scott helped usher in a whirlwind of changes in the state’s economic development strategy when he came into office early this year, calling for the merger of major agencies, streamlined rules and regulations, and more money for incentives for companies to move to Florida.

Many Florida lawmakers want internet sales tax but some want to divert revenue to tax cuts
By Janelle Irwin
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
With the 2012 legislative session just around the corner, state lawmakers are facing some tough decisions.

Fla. may let you buy Lotto tix with clicks
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
The push to expand gambling in Florida has received an extra shove from the U.S. Department of Justice's decision to allow online sales of lottery tickets - a venture that some states are considering to ease deficits.

North Florida Broadband Authority: A Lawyer's Dream. A Look At The Numbers
By Stew Lilker
Columbia County Observer
Related: North Florida Broadband Authority: Money Is No Object
The evening NFBA Chairman Fulford approved the $10,000 retainer, Patton Boggs (the Firm) had already burned through $7,056 of it in two days.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Connecticut drops insurers from Medicaid
By Phil Galewitz
Kaiser Health News
Connecticut's decision stands out at a time when a growing number of states are requiring more people in Medicaid to join managed-care plans. Florida, Texas and California are among nearly two dozen states planning expansions in 2012.

Panel echoes governor's call to overhaul Medicaid reimbursement system
By Tia Mitchell
Miami Herald
A panel created by Gov. Rick Scott to analyze the state's taxpayer-funded hospital districts is echoing the governor's call for changes to how hospitals are reimbursed through Medicaid.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Lift gun law's cloak of secrecy
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Five years after Florida's Legislature voted to cloak the names of people holding concealed weapons permits, the number of permits issued has more than doubled.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Education programs in Florida would reduce recidivism, costs to taxpayers
By Tabitha Cohen
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Prisoners are unpopular. We are all aware of this fact – politicians most of all.

Rothstein turns on the 'dear friends' he once spoiled
By Jon Burstein and Peter Franceschina
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Being Scott Rothstein's friend could mean huge benefits: VIP seating at Heat and Dolphins games, jaunts on private jets, black-tie charity events and "Boys' Night Out" excursions featuring strippers and hookers.

Daily Clips for December 29, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Reapportionment, gambling highlight session agenda
By Brent Kallestad
Associated Press
For most lawmakers, drawing new boundaries for legislative districts that help keep them in office will be priority No. 1 in the once-a-decade session devoted to reapportionment.

Graham tries to fire up enviros before session begins
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham has sent out an end-of-year call from the newly created Florida Conservation Coalition, urging environmental activists to buttonhole their legislators before the Jan. 10 session begins.

Fla GOP wants to limit questions of party accountant in Jim Greer case
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Lawyers for the Republican Party of Florida are trying to limit testimony from a party accountant in a Seminole County lawsuit filed by former Chairman Jim Greer.

Leadership smudged by the fudge
Editorial
Miami Herald
Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ boyish charm and leadership are so smudged by the fudge he has spread over his legislative career that his colleagues would do better without him.

FLORIDA POLITICS

The campaign to recall Rick Scott
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Democratic state Rep. Rick Kriseman of St Petersburg and state Sen. Gwen Margolis have made little headway in their efforts to allow Floridians to recall elected state officials.

Is the Florida GOP hiding info in Jim Greer case?
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Lawyers for the Republican Party of Florida are trying to limit testimony from a party accountant in a Seminole County lawsuit filed by former Chairman Jim Greer.

Battle over pari-mutuel loopholes prompts new bills from lawmakers
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
As state administrators continue to issue licenses for barrel racing, summer jai alai, card rooms and slot machines, lawmakers filed a pair of bills this week aimed at closing the loopholes detractors say never should have been used to allow the licenses in the first place.

POLITICAL RACES

Space key for GOP contenders in Florida
By James Dean
Florida Today
After the space shuttle's retirement this year, frustration over the decline in the nation's human spaceflight capability may leave President Barack Obama open to attack in the 2012 campaign.

Volatile presidential primary season not helping Republicans
By Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Iowa Republicans are just days away from kicking off the presidential nominating contest, and Republicans ought to hope the primary ends sooner rather than later.

‘Stealth’ campaign promotes Ron Paul in Florida
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, the grumpy old man of the Republican presidential field, is benefiting from a stealth campaign in Florida that could make him a surprise contender in the Jan. 31 primary, especially if he wins Tuesday's Iowa caucus.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

2012 Session Outlook: Utilities and Energy
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Speaking at the 2011 Florida Energy Summit, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam invoked the failures of recent legislative sessions to pass energy bills while calling for support in the upcoming 2012 session.

New shark fishing limits set for Florida waters
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The harvesting of some sharks will be prohibited in Florida state waters in 2012.

Rid Florida of the Burmese python menace
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Perhaps if the federal Office of Management and Budget had its offices based in South Florida it would act with greater haste in approving a much-needed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule banning the importation and interstate trade of nonnative and deadly animals such as Burmese pythons, which have wreaked havoc throughout the state.

LGBT

Gay couples eager to sign Orlando partner registry
By Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
Gay advocates expect a rush of same-sex couples at City Hall when the city's new domestic-partnership registry opens next month.

EDUCATION

Bill would allow sale of naming rights to public school cafeterias
By Ron Matus
Tampa Bay Times
Florida school districts will be able to sell the naming rights for public school cafeterias under a bill filed this week.

Tougher FCAT: Florida gambles on Students
Editorial
Lakeland Ledger
The state Board of Education has approved new passing scores for standardized tests, raising the ante in its already high-stakes student assessments.

Destroying higher education
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
When two members of the Florida Board of Governors pummeled University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft last week for removing an insubordinate administrator, they revealed a higher education system in shambles.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Florida's economy slowly improving, state report shows
Staff Report
Florida Current
A report from the Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research indicates that Florida's economy is on a slow mend after declining for two consecutive years, the Financial News & Daily Record reports.

Holiday sales up across nation, Florida, locally
By Hilary Lehmen
Daytona Beach News-Journal
From mom and pop shops to big-box stores, retailers are tallying up the sales numbers this week for what they call a "pretty good" holiday season with national sales on track to rise 3.5 percent over last year.

Report: Internal bank papers show worry over Florida pursuit of pension fraud
Staff Report
Tampa Bay Times
An informer in a state fraud case against Bank of New York Mellon Corp. offered prosecutors an inside look at how the bank allegedly scrambled to contain a government investigation into whether the bank overcharged Florida's state and local pension funds, among others, to execute currency trades.

Minimum wage rises Sunday
Staff Report
Florida Current
Florida's lowest-paid workers will hava an extra reason to cheer the new year as the minimum wage rises 36 cents -- about 5 percent -- to $7.67 an hour beginning Jan. 1, according to First Coast News.

Bondi can go after banks: Appellate rulings have shielded lawyers, so target lenders
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi should look to Nevada, California and Massachusetts for guidance on handling foreclosure fraud.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Despite years of cutting, Florida’s safety-net services grow
By Aaron Deslatte
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Throughout the recession and economic hangover, Florida social-services advocates have warned that budget woes could unravel the safety net that supports millions of low-income families, seniors trying to stay in their homes, and people with debilitating illnesses or disabilities.

Let voters decide on tax-backed hospitals and health districts, review panel urges
By Stacey Singer
Palm Beach Post
Hospital and health care taxing districts throughout Florida would have to seek re-approval from voters every eight to 12 years under draft recommendations to be finalized today by a panel convened by Gov. Rick Scott.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Maitland senator aims to toughen state’s cyberstalking law
By Walter Pacheco
Orlando Sentinel
Tech-savvy stalkers using social media, texting and email to track or threaten their victims could face stiffer penalties under changes to the state's stalking law proposed by a Central Florida lawmaker.

Daily Clips for December 28, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Fla. legislators likely to cut budget again
By Gary Fineout
Associated Press
It's almost becoming an annual rite each year in Tallahassee: Another year, another billion-dollar plus budget shortfall.

This session, social issues are low on Florida lawmakers' list
By Kathleen Haughney
Orlando Sentinel
Anti-immigration rhetoric flared up on Florida's 2010 campaign trail and became a winning wedge issue for Gov. Rick Scott, who used it to woo the tea party and help win election.

Clean energy group to challenge PSC decision on nuke funding
By Jim Saunders
Miami Herald
An advocacy group will ask the state Supreme Court to reject a regulatory decision that would allow Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida to collect about $282 million from customers next year for nuclear-power projects.

Florida Political and Governmental Newsmakers in 2011
Staff Report
Florida Trend
These government and political leaders were exceptionally notable during the past year.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Q&A with: Speaker Designate Will Weatherford
By Travis Pillow
Florida Current
There already have been rumblings from the legislative and executive branches that changes are coming to Florida's higher education system.

Associated Industries of Florida lobbyist group in running for 'what were they thinking?' award
By Robert Trigaux
St. Petersburg Times
That disgraced ex-Florida House Speaker and former congressman Tom Feeney was picked just before the Christmas holidays as the new chief of Associated Industries of Florida -- the pushy business lobbying group in Tallahassee -- is not exactly breaking news does not mean I can't express dismay now.

Measure filed in Florida House to curb claims bills
By Jim Saunders
News Service of Florida
A South Florida Republican has proposed placing new restrictions on claims bills, limiting which lawmakers can file the bills and barring lobbyists from collecting contingency fees for getting the measures passed.

R txt msgs a loophole in Florida's public records laws?
By Brittany Wallman
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Florida public records laws are often called among the toughest in the nation. But that was b4 txt msgnging.

S. Florida elected officials richer than those they represent
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Come campaign time, politicians love to portray themselves as men and women of the people.

POLITICAL RACES

Act fast to participate in Florida's Republican presidential primary
By Anthony Man
South Florida Sun Sentinel
If you think Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul or Mitt Romney is the solution to the nation's problems, you've got to be a registered Republican to express your support in Florida's primary.

GOP candidates jostle to find tough-enough stance on immigration
By Bob Rathgeber
Ft. Myers News-Press
When Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich recently suggested showing compassion toward some illegal immigrants, his GOP challengers went after him as if he were offering amnesty to al-Qaida.

NASA no priority for most presidential candidates
By Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
Of all the presidential candidates, the election of Newt Gingrich likely would have the greatest effect on NASA for one simple reason.

Ron Paul's surge prompting a new look from GOP voters
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Ron Paul wants to legalize pot and shut down the Federal Reserve.

UNF tapped as site for next month’s Republican debate
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
The Florida Republican Party said Tuesday that its pre-presidential primary debate will be held Jan. 26 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

2012 Session Outlook: Environment and Natural Resources
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
A Nov. 30 rally outside the Capitol demonstrated just how far apart state leaders and environmentalists have drifted on key issues.

Looking for Ways Panthers and Ranchers Can Coexist in FL
By Glen Gardner
Public News Service Florida
A new study in Florida is aimed at helping determine the best ways for cattle and panthers to coexist.

For Florida voters, oil spill's hurt still stings
By Kimberly Blair
Pensacola News Journal
Before black, gooey and stinky crude oil from the BP rig explosion in the western Gulf of Mexico washed up on the beaches of Escambia County last year, Northwest Florida residents seemed mildly concerned about expanding drilling for natural gas or oil in federal waters.

EDUCATION

Six Education Bills to Watch in the Florida Legislature
By John O'Connor
StateImpact
Here’s six bills that could set the tone on education for the Legislative session.

Broward Biggest Violator of Class Size Requirements
By Gina Jordan
StateImpact
When Florida voters implemented the class size amendment in 2002, they mandated that public schools limit the number of students in core classes like math and science.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

South Florida Poised for Birth of Casino Gambling
By Fred A. Bernstein
New York Times
When the Florida Legislature returns from its holiday recess, it will consider a bill to allow three Las Vegas-style casino resorts to be built in the southern part of the state.

State to share in $538 million electronics price-fixing settlement
Staff Report
Florida Current
Florida and seven other states will share a $538.5 million settlement reached with manufacturers and sellers of thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels along with $14.7 million in civil penalties, the South Florida Business Journal reports.

Florida can't afford Internet sales tax loophole
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon have been all too happy to stand by and let the nation's Internet-only retailers reap huge competitive advantages over Florida merchants, thanks to a giant loophole in sales tax policy.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Health reform opens the door for small business to succeed
By Rep. Geraldine Thompson
Orlando Sentinel
It is a sobering fact that many small businesses are unable to provide adequate health-care coverage for their employees and also remain competitive in providing a product or service in the marketplace.

America’s failing healthcare system
Editorial
Miami Herald
Practically every day this year brought some alarming news about America’s failing healthcare system, whether it’s the hundreds of millions of dollars thieves are stealing from Medicare or losses pouring from the Jackson Health System.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Florida report: hate crimes steady, but below high numbers of a few years ago
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
The number of hate crimes reported last year in Florida held mostly steady at a two-decade low, mirroring what analysts say is a national decline in violent crime.

6 fired over teen’s death in lockup
By Carol Marbin Miller
Miami Herald
Five months after an 18-year-old youth died at a West Palm Beach lockup after waiting in vain for medical care, Florida juvenile justice administrators grew tired of waiting for law enforcement authorities to act: On Tuesday, they announced their decision to fire six employees they believe share responsibility.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Wrong convictions spur Florida to rethink using jail informants
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
Chad Heins, a Jacksonville man, spent 11 years in prison for a murder he did not commit based solely on the testimony of two jailhouse informants who lied to jurors, saying Heins had confessed.

Daily Clips for December 27, 2011

FEATURED STORIES

Controversy in Rick Scott’s jobs pledge
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Ending his first year in office, Gov. Rick Scott points to the creation of more than 120,000 new jobs in the state in 2011 as a significant step toward fulfilling his signature campaign promise to create 700,000 new jobs over seven years.

Courts Push Back Against GOP Agenda
By Brandon Larrabee
News Service of Florida
When Republicans returned to Tallahassee in 2011 with the Legislature firmly under control and a solidly conservative governor taking over for the moderate Charlie Crist, they were emboldened to push an aggressive agenda.

Florida GOP to judge: Don't make party CFO answer Greer's questions
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
The Republican Party of Florida is asking a judge to bar ousted party chairman Jim Greer from asking wide-ranging questions of its chief financial officer, Richard Swarttz, saying he's an accountant and as such, the information he knows about party finances is privileged.

Big Florida political stories to watch in 2012
By Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
It's a journalistic tradition to recap noteworthy stories of the year in the final week.

While focus is now Iowa, GOP can't sleep on Florida
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
The attention may be focused on the Republican presidential contests around the corner in Iowa and New Hampshire, but the candidates ignore what's under way in Florida at their peril.

EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK

By Jeff Parker
Florida Today
Artist's commentary: Be All The Earlier

FLORIDA POLITICS

Fla. Gov. Scott has same goals, new approach
By Brendan Farrington
Associated Press
Gov. Rick Scott is going into his second legislative session with the same priorities - creating jobs and making the state more business friendly - and a new approach.

Gov. Rick Scott and Republican leaders may be moving toward political middle
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
After an amped-up year of major policy changes, Gov. Rick Scott and Republican leaders may be moving toward the political middle - a stance many say is a sure sign that a major election season is approaching.

Bondi's meteoric ascent
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Related: Poised to make a move?
In September, when Mitt Romney opened his Tampa campaign headquarters, one other speaker shared his stage, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Election law changes may be confusing absentee voters
By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
Absentee ballots for the Republican presidential primary will start hitting the mail Tuesday, but thousands of Florida voters who think they've signed up to get one may be surprised.

Despite calls for clarity, some state laws remain muddled
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
A series of “gray areas” in Florida’s statutes have left some issues in a state of legal limbo, causing confusion among residents and local governments trying to abide by and enforce the law, respectively.

POLITICAL RACES

Political insiders say Sen. Bill Nelson likely to win third term
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
One reason Florida's U.S. Senate race has yet to capture much attention and excitement?

GOP convention's afterglow may linger
By Ted Jackovics
Tampa Tribune
Millions of dollars and months of preparation focus on four days in August when tens of thousands of delegates, media, protesters and hangers-on will join Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and friends at the 2012 Republican National Convention.

Gingrich's assault on divided powers
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
The prospect of Newt Gingrich as president grows more ominous each time the boisterous Republican candidate opens his mouth.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

In Florida, whose water is it, anyway?
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
The next time you go to your kitchen faucet for a drink, think about who owns that water.

2012 Session Outlook: Real Estate and Growth Management
By Bruce Ritchie and Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
During its 2011 session the Legislature eliminated the Florida Department of Community Affairs and made sweeping changes to growth management law.

Cuba’s oil plans raise red flags
By Melissa Bert
Miami Herald
Scarabeo-9 is en route Cuban to waters, 70 miles from Florida.

Plan for a cleaner Gulf of Mexico, healthier region
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
The Obama administration did the nation — and Florida in particular — a great service by putting forth an ambitious plan to restore the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida Looks for Curbs on Some Legless Invaders
By Lizette Alvarez
New York Times
To live in South Florida is to make peace with flying cockroach behemoths, brigades of lizards that dart across walls (bedroom and otherwise) and frogs the size of cannonballs that loiter on driveways.

LGBT

Many expected to register relationships in Orlando
Associated Press
Miami Herald
Gay advocates expect a rush of same-sex couples at City Hall when this central Florida city's new domestic-partnership registry opens next month.

EDUCATION

Bill would require transparency in charter school management
By Kathleen McGrory and Scott Hiaasen
Miami Herald
A Miami lawmaker wants public charter schools to be more transparent.

The end of P.E. in public school?
By Lynn Hatter
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
There's a move afoot in the legislature to do away with mandatory physical education classes in middle school.

State of Florida defends its denial of tuition waivers for homeless
By Jane Musgrave
Palm Beach Post
Last December, about 40 homeless people who were living at The Lord's Place were taking classes at Palm Beach State College. This year, there are eight.

Scott, FAMU rift only the latest incident in rocky 50-year relationship
By Kathleen Haughney and Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Gov. Rick Scott was furious about what was going on at Florida A&M University.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Upcoming PSC hearing on Progress Energy's $2.5 billion repair bill is unprecedented
By Ivan Penn
St. Petersburg Times
Over the next six months, five people will hear and weigh a decision that will determine how much of a $2.5 billion repair bill Progress Energy Florida's customers will have to pay.

Economic prognosticators foresee (somewhat) happy new year for Florida
Staff Report
Orlando Sentinel
Across the forecasting spectrum, from academics to some government watchers to industry groups, there's a cautious optimism about Florida's economy in the new year.

Tax Scam: The Florida Real Estate Connection
By Les Coleman and Deb Courson Smith
Public News Service Florida
The Miami Herald reports that Florida is the number one state in the country for international residential real estate sales, with almost one-third of the nation's foreign-backed property transactions.

Illegal workers pay taxes, won't benefit
By John Lantigua
Palm Beach Post
While many Americans believe that illegal immigrants don't pay taxes, the Social Security Administration sees billions of dollars flow into its coffers every year that have been deducted from paychecks issued to undocumented workers using false names and phony Social Security numbers - money those workers will almost certainly never see again.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

Loss of stimulus funds imperils social services
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Throughout the recession and economic hangover, Florida social-services advocates have warned that budget woes could unravel the safety net that supports millions of low-income families, seniors trying to stay in their homes, and people with debilitating illnesses or disabilities.

New 'med mal' reform proposal gets attention
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Florida has long been at the vanguard of state-level public policy innovations, so it's not surprising that a new group called Patients for Fair Compensation is pushing here for transformative changes to the medical malpractice system.

New polling suggests public can be swayed on health care reform mandate
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
According to new polling, the majority of Americans do not have definite positions on a health care reform provision requiring everyone to have health insurance.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

2012 Session Outlook: Justice and the Courts
By Travis Pillow and Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
As in previous years, lawmakers are coming into the 2012 session with a host of measures aimed at limiting civil lawsuits.

Rothstein says he bribed cops and politicians, associated with the mob
By Jon Bursein
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Convicted fraudster Scott Rothstein said he paid off law enforcement officers, judges and local politicians as he handed off about $1 million in bribes, according to attorneys who sat through his extraordinary testimony the past two weeks.