Daily News Clips for August 28, 2012

FEATURED STORIES Convention officially opens as delegates stay away By Steve Bousquet Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahasee Bureau Related: Gov. Rick Scott gives Florida delegation a storm update Related: RNC Notebook: Convention-goers get 'No Apology' with regretted line Related: Schedule for Tuesday at Republican National Convention Republican Nat­ional Committee chairman Reince Priebus rapped a gavel six times at 2 p.m. Monday and formally opened the 2012 Republican National Convention to a largely empty Tampa Bay Times Forum — a muted start caused by Tropical Storm Isaac. Mitt Romney's convention speakers belie GOP reality with Hispanics By Adam C. Smith and Alex Leary Tampa Bay Times Related editorial: Still looking for what Romney stands for Tune in to the Republican National Convention at 9 tonight and you'll see the face of the GOP is Hispanic. Protesters in Tampa march on the RNC with a host of complaints By Janelle Irwin WMNF Tampa Related: Code Pink members dressed as vaginas protest Republican convention in Tampa Hundreds of activists rallied at a park in downtown Tampa this morning against the Republican Party. Former GOP Gov. Crist, rejecting far right, to speak at Democratic convention By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post Related: Crist, Romney two sides of the same political coin One day after he endorsed President Obama for re-election, Florida’s former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday took his political conversion one step further and agreed to speak at next week’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Florida: Prepare for another voting fiasco By Bob Graham Tampa Bay Times Only 12 years ago, Florida was embarrassed by a voting tornado. As the nation became familiar with hanging chads and butterfly ballots, Florida was the State That Couldn't Vote Straight. FLORIDA POLITICS Can Charlie Crist really beat Rick Scott? By Gary Fineout The Fine Print The signs that Charlie Crist could run for governor in two years appear to be everywhere, both figuratively and literally. Fla. delegates housed at resort far from GOP convention site By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald Florida’s convention delegates and party faithful streamed into the Innisbrook Golf and Spa resort over the weekend, right on schedule, as the hurry-up and wait for convention activities began. They were handed white bags with blue trim, loaded with Republican National Convention goodies, from water bottles to a beach towel. Seven Floridians get main-stage moment at GOP convention By John Kennedy Palm Beach Post Seven leading Florida Republicans get a turn on the main stage at the GOP National Convention this week — each sent from the wings with a different mission, but each facing similar questions. Some absentee voters’ stories conflict with investigators’ beliefs By Melissa Sanchez, Enrique Flor and Alfonso Chardy Miami Herald Olga Roqueta, 77, and her husband say they filled out their absentee ballots without help and put them in their mailbox weeks before the Aug. 14 election. POLITICAL RACES If voters don't like Mitt Romney, will they leave him? By John Harris and Alexander Burns Politico Related: Mitt Romney opens up a little in interview: 'I am who I am' Related: Ann Romney's job tonight is to help her husband's image Mitt Romney signaled in weekend interviews that he is brushing off advice that he attempt a public image makeover this week to make himself more likable and more connected to voters at the human level. Romney to be officially nominated tonight at RNC Staff Report Tampa Tribune Related: Storm-shortened RNC puts pressure on Romney After a day's delay, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney is set officially to be named the Republican presidential candidate tonight. Black Republicans: Lack of Romney outreach to blacks ‘shameful’ By Joy-Ann Reid The Grio Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign website includes a category for “Communities,” under which you’ll find nearly every kind of demographic group: “Catholics for Romney,” “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Romney,” farmers and ranchers, lawyers, Jewish and Polish Americans, veterans and military families, young Americans, even Hispanics, under the banner “Juntos for Romney” — which may or may not be ironic given Romney’s stance on “self-deportation.” Ghost of Katrina hovers over Republican National Convention in Tampa By Alexander Burns and Maggie Haberman Politico The official message couldn't be clearer: The Republican National Convention will proceed this morning, period. Storm or not, GOP convention’s big task is unity behind Romney By John Kennedy Palm Beach Post Florida Republicans said Sunday the storm-delayed start of the GOP National Convention should not cloud its carefully planned stagecraft, designed to blister President Obama, buff up Mitt Romney and unify a still-fractious party. GOP: Florida, we need you By David Royse News Service of Florida The Republican Party’s decision to gather in Tampa to officially nominate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president underlines what is quickly becoming an imperative for Romney: carrying the Sunshine State. Connie Mack airs new ad in Senate race Associated Press Tampa Tribune U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV's first television ad since winning the primary isn't about his record or history, isn't about issues and isn't an attack on the man he's trying to unseat, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Long-Grayson contest is an apparent mismatch By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel Todd Long won an improbable victory in the Aug. 14 Republican primary, but he may have to hit the political equivalent of the lottery to beat Democrat Alan Grayson when the two congressional candidates face each other in November. BALLOT INITIATIVES Amendment 8 Could Revive Vouchers for Religious Schools, Lawyer Says By Rick Stone StateImpact The battle over Amendment 8 — the Religious Freedom Amendment — is being fought on several fronts: civil rights, the maintenance of vital social services and, recently, public education. Orange leaders push plan to upend sick-leave ballot measure By David Damron Orlando Sentinel Orange County leaders on Tuesday will consider a last-minute measure designed to snuff out a ballot initiative requiring paid sick leave for many employees. EDUCATION Jeb Bush for U.S. education secretary? By Jeff Solochek Tampa Bay Times Love him or hate him, you can't deny that former Florida governor Jeb Bush has had outsized influence on education policy both in the state and throughout the country. Fewer Students Receiving Scholarships By Whitney Ray Capitol News Service Thousands of Florida college students are back to class today with fewer scholarship dollars to pay for school. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Citizens preps for Isaac claims By Gray Rohrer Florida Current Tropical Storm Isaac was expected to strengthen into a hurricane Monday as it took aim at the northern Gulf Coast, but its outer bands have already strafed South Florida, spurring insurance claims for state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. HEALTH AND SENIORS Medicaid Expansion Costs Start at $79 Million and Climb By Jim Saunders News Service of Florida Looking for the price-tag of the federal Affordable Care Act, analysts have released a report estimating that an expansion of the Medicaid program would cost the state $79.2 million during the 2016-17 fiscal year and that the costs would grow to $337.6 million by 2022-23. Health Law Has Gaps In Men's Care By Michelle Andrews Kaiser Health News The federal health care overhaul greatly expanded women's access to free preventive services, particularly for sexual and reproductive health. Men didn't fare nearly as well. Allstate Sues Fla. Brain Injury Rehab Center For $7.6 M In Insurance Fraud By Jessica Palombo     WFSU Tallahassee A South Florida brain injury rehab facility, already being cited for improperly keeping non-brain-injured patients and being investigated for abuse, is now being sued for alleged widespread and intentional fraud.