Daily News Clips for August 7, 2013

FEATURED STORIES

Turnover at the top presents challenge for Scott administration
By John Kennedy
Palm Beach Post
Following two weeks in which his social services chief and education commissioner resigned, Gov. Rick Scott defended himself Tuesday against sharpening attacks from Democrats over his leadership.

Scott, Cabinet sign off on forms outlining cost of health care law
By Tia Mitchell
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott and the three-member Florida Cabinet have signed off on a controversial new disclosure form that critics say is intended to posture Floridians against the health care law.

Marco Rubio and the saboteurs
By Jeffrey C. Billman
Orlando Weekly
Despite four years of ginned-up apoplexy over the Affordable Care Act – the noxious town halls of 2009; “death panels”; Scott Brown’s election; the 2010 midterms; the 40-odd dead-end House repeal votes; the Supreme Court ruling; the presidential election of 2012 – it’s the law of the land.

Cabinet agrees to let USF researchers exhume bodies at Dozier
By Ben Montgomery
Tampa Bay Times
They call themselves the White House Boys, but they're old men now.

Legislature should make sensible retreat on ‘stand your ground'
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
As protests persist over Florida’s “stand your ground” law, state legislators are digging in.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Fasano appointment gets him out of Scott’s way
By William March
Tampa Tribune
The appointment of Mike Fasano as Pasco County tax collector removes from the state Legislature a populist maverick who occasionally has been a thorn in the side of his party’s legislative leaders and of the man who made the appointment, Gov. Rick Scott.

Residents back Gov. Rick Scott’s stance against Jesse Jackson
By Jim Turner
News Service of Florida
Gov. Rick Scott and other Republicans have repeatedly expressed indignation about critical comments made last week by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Apology? You first, governor
By Daniel Ruth
Miami Herald
How comforting it is to know that beneath his robotic exterior, Gov. Rick Scott is a man of tender sensibilities.

Florida Reps. Frankel, Murphy join trip to Israel that raises questions of influence
By Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Florida Reps. Lois Frankel and Patrick Murphy are in Israel for the week along with more than 30 other Democratic House members -- trips paid for by an arm of a powerful lobbying group.

Miami Lakes and Sweetwater mayors ‘stung’ by FBI for taking alleged kickbacks
By Jay Weaver, Christina Veiga and Joey Flechas
Miami Herald
In March, Sweetwater Mayor Manuel Maroño and lobbyist Jorge Forte dined at a local restaurant with a couple of supposed Chicago businessmen.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Political accusations, intrigue nag medical-marijuana group
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Libertarian political consultant Roger Stone has had a falling out with a Florida medical-marijuana group and accused it Tuesday of acting like a front for Democrat Charlie Crist if he decides to run for governor next year.

EDUCATION

State virtual school cuts teachers, support staff
By Kathleen McGrory
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
Florida Virtual School, the state's online public school, shed 177 full-time positions on Monday, spokeswoman Tania Clow said.

Virtual Schools Are Spending Millions of Taxpayer Dollars On Advertising
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
A new report from USA Today found that virtual school operators are dealing with low enrollment numbers by spending public funds on advertising.

Education event stirs questions about Common Core standards
By Khristopher J. Brooks          
Florida Times-Union
Mark Gotz came all the way from Port Saint Lucie to tell local and state educators that Florida should halt the Common Core State Standards.

Time for Florida lawmaker worried about Muslim teachings in textbooks to go back to school
By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post
In case you’re already tired of Shark Week and are looking to be afraid of another imaginary menace — maybe something more land-based — I have a suggestion.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

State economists boost revenue estimate for next year; Scott hails debt reduction
By Gray Rohrer
Florida Current
Florida economists Tuesday increased their projection for general revenue collections during the 2014-2015 fiscal year by $62.5 million for a total of $28.9 billion.

Florida pension plan posts strong year
Associated Press
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida's main retirement account for state workers, teachers and other public employees is growing by a double-digit margin.

Fewer furloughs means Fla. National Guard will be at full strength for hurricane season
Staff Report
Orlando Sentinel
The Defense Department announced today that its civilian employees -- and National Gaurd troops -- will have to take off only six unpaid days this summer, down from the 11 previously ordered by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel when congressionally mandated budget cuts took effect earlier this year.

Report: Apalachicola oysters may need 5 years, 'significant' funding to recover
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
Apalachicola Bay's oyster population may need five years to recover under ideal conditions and will require significant financial resources for restoration, according to a disaster report sent to federal officials this week.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

State let Florida Blue but not public see who commented on hearing
By Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Post
Florida regulators refused to let the public see who was commenting on a public hearing for a proposed reorganization of the state’s largest health insurer, but Florida Blue had complete access to names and email addresses.

Obamacare Questions Answered on 'Florida Matters'
By Lottie Watts
Health News Florida
We asked our readers to tell us what they thought was confusing about the Affordable Care Act, and you called, e-mailed and Facebooked us with questions.

KidCare touts enrollment growth
By James Call
Florida Current
Florida KidCare announced Tuesday that an additional 62,500 children have enrolled in the government-financed health insurance program during the past year.

IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Immigrants' stories underscore Rep. Castor's call for reform
By Dan Sullivan
Tampa Bay Times
They stood donning collared shirts and suit jackets, flashing shy smiles before the gaze of half a dozen TV cameras. All told stories of sacrifice in pursuit of a better life.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Judge: Pam Bondi does not have to answer Internet gambling casino questions
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
A Sanford judge today ruled that Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi does not have to answer defense attorneys' questions under oath in a mammoth Internet casino gambling case pending in Seminole County.