Daily News Clips for January 22, 2013

FEATURED STORIES

President Barack Obama's inaugural tone aggressive as he calls for unity, change
By Alex Leary and Adam C. Smith
Tampa Bay Times
Related AP story: Time to act, Obama declares, taking oath 2nd time
Related editorial: Obama's unifying words to live by
Summoning the nation's sense of unity as he stood before its symbol of partisan gridlock, Barack Obama was sworn in for a second term as president Monday, using the moment to outline an ambitious agenda from climate change to immigration and equality for gays.

Floridians inspired by Obama's inauguration
By William E. Gibson
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Mohamed Abdalla, a student from Boca Raton, was so inspired at the presidential inauguration on Monday that he's thinking about getting into politics and maybe running for president.

Gov. Rick Scott's ex-dog Reagan bit mansion employee, records show
By Lucy Morgan
Tampa Bay Times
Reagan, the now famous dog that once belonged to Gov. Rick Scott, was banished from the Governor’s Mansion after biting an employee who moved his water bowl.

Ethics reform is long overdue in Tallahassee
By Steve Bousquet
Tampa Bay Times
Every state legislator has to attend a class to learn the don'ts of holding office.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Online chat Tuesday to lead up to town hall on legislative session
By Elaine Chen
Miami Herald
Tallahassee is 480 miles away, and for many in South Florida it might as well be on another continent.

Charlie Crist a special guest at inauguration
By Amy Hollyfield
Tampa Bay Times
Times political editor Adam C. Smith caught up with former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist after the inauguration.

Invocation set tone for Obama’s second inauguration
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
It was altogether fitting and proper that Myrlie Evers-Williams spoke first at Monday’s presidential inauguration.

Public records watchdog sues several Tampa Bay agencies
By Jessica Vander Velde
Tampa Bay Times
Joel Chandler is obsessed with public records.

LGBT

President Barack Obama's second inaugural speech references Stonewall riots, gay marriage
Associated Press
Miami Herald
President Barack Obama referenced the Stonewall gay-rights riots in his inaugural address, classing them as a civil rights watershed along with key moments in the struggles for blacks and women.

Benefit costs: Boca estimates how much to extend health insurance to domestic partners
By Anne Geggis
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The cost of extending benefits to Boca Raton city employees' domestic partners and their children could total $2.4 million over the next 10 years, according to city officials' estimates.

EDUCATION

State plan to help charter schools irks Palm Beach County School Board
By Jason Schultz
Palm Beach Post
Some Palm Beach County School District officials are incensed at a state proposal to offer once again millions of dollars next year for capital improvements at charter schools — and none at traditional public schools.

Time for a discussion on testing in Florida?
By Jeff Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
Teachers and lawmakers around the country are setting the bar for a conversation about the role tests play in American education.

Government Watchdog Recommends Tougher Bright Futures Requirements
By Gina Jordan
StateImpact Florida
Bright Futures money is being targeted again, this time by a government watchdog group that says the state should raise requirements for the merit-based scholarship program.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Pension proposal gets cool reception
Staff Report
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A proposal that could help cities and counties pay down their massive liabilities for police and fire pensions is getting a cool reception from both the unions and from local governments.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

It's time for pols to start respecting the abortion law
By Jenna Tosh
Orlando Sentinel
It's been 40 years since Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in the United States, protecting a woman's most fundamental right to make decisions about her own health.

State to begin one-size-fits-all Medicaid payments
By Kristine Crane
Gainesville Sun
Medicaid reimbursement at hospitals throughout Florida aims to be more equitable, and implementing Diagnosis Related Groups for Medicaid reimbursement is intended to be a nudge in that direction — by replacing a hospital's per-diem rates with procedure-based rates.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Will Democratic bill reviewing Stand Your Ground even get a look in the Florida Legislature?
By Mitch Perry
Creative Loafing Tampa
Last week, the mother of Trayvon Martin called on Florida legislators to support a bill that would repeal Florida's extremely controversial Stand Your Ground law.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Lawyers update judge in Greer case
By Mike Schneider
Associated Press
Attorneys are providing a new judge an update in the case of former Florida GOP leader Jim Greer, who is set to be tried next month on charges that he funneled party money to his private company.