FEATURED
STORIES
Gov. Rick Scott embarks on education ‘listening’ tour
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau
After a summer of snafus over the state’s public school testing system, Gov. Rick Scott hit the road Monday on the first day of a week-long education "listening tour" designed, he said, “to hear ideas for improvement."
A Tight Election May Be Tangled in Legal Battles
By Ethan Bronner
New York Times
The November presidential election, widely expected to rest on a final blitz of advertising and furious campaigning, may also hinge nearly as much on last-minute legal battles over when and how ballots should be cast and counted, particularly if the race remains tight in battleground states.
Bill Clinton to campaign for Obama in Orlando, Miami
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Former President Bill Clinton will be campaigning for President Barack Obama in Florida.
Sen. Rich rallies support against GOP-backed constitutional amendments
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich met with several organizations Sunday to gather support against two constitutional amendments placed on the November ballot by the GOP-led Legislature.
Both sides mobilize before hearing in Orange sick-time fight
By David Damron
Orlando Sentinel
Related editorial: Let voters make the call on mandatory sick leave
Business and workers' groups rallied Monday to mobilize support in a ferocious political and legal fight over sick time — an issue headed for a showdown before the Orange County Commission on Tuesday.
FLORIDA
POLITICS
Charlie Crist’s Next Act
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Voices
Charlie Crist has been called an idealist, a turncoat, an opportunist and, more importantly, the Democratic Party's best hope of a Florida comeback two years from now.
From mouths of Democrats, Tampa's RNC story had a negative sound
By Peter Jamison
Tampa Bay Times
After dominating national news the last week of August, when it hosted the Republican National Convention, Tampa experienced a curious half-life in the spotlight last week at the Democrats' convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Obama visit makes for 'frantic' day at West Tampa Sandwich Shop
By Joe Henderson
Tampa Tribune
The lunchtime rush was slowing early Saturday afternoon when some guys came through the door of the West Tampa Sandwich Shop. Owner Willy Barrionuevo was tending to other things and didn’t notice them at first.
Md. Democratic congressional candidate withdraws after state party says she voted in two places — Maryland and Florida
By Brian Witte
Associated Press
Democrat Wendy Rosen dropped out of the race for a congressional seat Monday after the state party said she voted in both Maryland and Florida in the 2006 general election and the 2008 presidential primaries.
POLITICAL
RACES
Former President Clinton heads to West Palm to stump for Obama, Frankel, Murphy
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Former President Bill Clinton, who in 2010 asked South Florida voters to give Democrats two more years to prove themselves in a tough economy, will be in the state Tuesday and Wednesday stumping for President Obama and raising money for Democratic congressional candidates Lois Frankel and Patrick Murphy.
Hype-doubting Dem pollster: Alex Sink (31%) and Charlie Crist (29%) are likely tied in '14 gov. race
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
A new poll showing former Republican governor Charlie Crist utterly destroying former state CFO Alex Sink, a Democrat, in the 2014 Democratic primary is at best an outlier.
After more than 20 years away from office, South Florida Democrat running again
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times
In a year when a record number of term-limited former lawmakers are seeking their old jobs, the story of Tom Gustafson is the strangest of them all.
BALLOT
INITIATIVES
Orange County on sick-time: We’ll show you, grass-roots folks
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
Related: Former Mayor Chapin to Jacobs: hold ‘fair, open’ vote on sick time
Long before I started writing a column , I used to cover the Orange County commission.
Central Florida Public School Boards Say No to Amendment 8
By Nicole Creston
WMFE Orlando
An association of school boards met Monday in Orlando to pass a resolution opposing Amendment 8, which will go before voters on the November ballot.
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY
DEP permit for wetlands mitigation bank is challenged by Florida Wildlife Federation
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The Florida Wildlife Federation is requesting an administrative hearing to challenge a revised wetlands mitigation bank permit in Clay County.
DEP again argues no law violation in Secretary Vinyard's prior jobs
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is telling federal officials again that DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. in prior jobs did not work for a pollution permit holder in violation of federal law.
High water levels bar access to some parts of Everglades, Taylor Wildlife Management Area
By Julius Whigham II
Palm Beach Post
High water levels in parts of the Everglades and the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in western Palm Beach County have led the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to restrict public access to certain sections temporarily.
Duke Energy executive: Levy County nuclear plant will be built
By Ivan Penn
Tampa Bay Times
Duke Energy executive Jeff Lyash told state regulators Monday that the $24 billion Levy County nuclear plant will get built and come online in 2024.
LGBT
Better Know An Anti-LGBT Senate Candidate: Rep. Connie Mack IV (R-FL)
By Josh Israel
Think Progress
Last month, fourth-term Rep. Connie Mack IV (R) won the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D).
EDUCATION
State Investigating Virtual Schools Provider K12
By Trevor Aaronson and John O’Connor
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting/StateImpact Florida
The Florida Department of Education has launched an investigation of K12, the nation’s largest online educator, over allegations the company uses uncertified teachers and has asked employees to help cover up the practice.
Governor hears ideas from Duval teachers, parents to improve education system
By Teresa Stepzinski
Florida Times-Union
Accountability is essential but teachers at one Duval County elementary school told Gov. Rick Scott that Florida’s students would be better served if high-stakes testing was replaced by other methods of gauging their academic skills and progress.
Scott likely to face tough questions from teachers, parents on FCAT, merit pay during Boca visit
By John Kennedy and Allison Ross
Palm Beach Post
Palm Beach County educators are ready to give Florida Gov. Rick Scott an earful when he stops at Boca Raton High School today as part of his 10-city education “listening” tour.
Rick Scott: Re-education, reboot or road to victory?
By Gary Fineout
The Fine Print
If there appears to be one thing that Gov. Rick Scott did during his first 18 months in office that he probably wishes he could take back it is his decision to recommend a major cut to education funding shortly after he was sworn into office.
Chicago teachers strike on issues that resonate with Florida educators
By Jeff Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
The big breaking news in education for Monday is the teachers strike in Chicago.
JOBS,
BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Denying unemployment benefits is now good news?
By John Romano
Tampa Bay Times
There's a nifty little fact on Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity website.
Fla. Gov. orders probe on soured economic deal
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is ordering a probe into the state's decision to award millions in economic incentives to a company that is now closing its Florida facility.
Average Florida mortgage reduction tops $114,000
By Kimberly Miller
Palm Beach Post
More than 1,000 Florida homeowners have seen an average debt reduction of $114,015 on their primary mortgage since the February approval of the settlement between leading lenders and state attorneys general.
State Spends 50 Million on Gasoline
By Whitney Ray
Capitol News Service
If you think your gas bill is high, check out what the state spends on fuel. 50 million dollar from July 2011 through June of this year.
HEALTH
AND SENIORS
Romney Says Health Law Isn't 'All Bad'
Staff Report
Kaiser Health News
In Sunday news appearances, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said that if elected, he would dismantle the health care law, but retain some of the more popular provisions, including coverage of pre-existing conditions for those who had had continuous health insurance.
Romney's clumsy pivot on health reform
Editorial
Tampa Bay Times
Mitt Romney, who was for health care reform before he was against it, now sounds like he's for it again.
Rick Scott Rejects Health Care Funds That Would Keep Disbled Kids Out of Nursing Homes
By Stephanie Mencimer
Mother Jones
Florida's Republican governor Rick Scott loathes Obamacare so much that he turned down $40 million in federal health care funds that would keep hundreds of disabled kids at home with their parents, rather than warehoused in nursing homes.
WUSF Public Media acquires Health News Florida
By Brittany Davis
Tampa Bay Times
WUSF Public Media has acquired Health News Florida, reporter Carol Gentry's hard-hitting non-profit health news website.
CIVIL
RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Group highlighting plight of farmworkers in Florida
By Katherine Kallergis
Gainesville Sun
Slavery was abolished in 1865 in the United States, but advocates say instances of it still remain for farmworkers.
JUSTICE
AND THE COURTS
FAMU faults Champion in his hazing death
By Denise-Marie Ordway and Stephen Hudak
Orlando Sentinel
Florida A&M University is not responsible for drum major Robert Champion's hazing death, according to a court document filed Monday night.
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