PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS
U.S. probe sought into Bondi firings
By Catherine Whittenburg
Tampa Tribune
Excerpt: Progress Florida, a liberal advocacy group, is collecting petition signatures asking for an investigation by the attorney general's inspector general.
From Tampa to Tallahassee, this is Pam Bondi's life
By Doug Blackburn
Florida Today
Excerpt: Progress Florida, a liberal political group based in the Tampa Bay area, began an online petition campaign, seeking an investigation by the governor's chief inspector general. The petition said "influence of banks and the financial sector on political decision-making is far too prevalent" and that the firings of Clarkson and Edwards seemed "politically motivated."
Bondi Under Fire For Forced Resignations of Two Lawyers
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Excerpt: And Progress Florida, a St. Petersburg liberal activist group, also asked for an investigation of Bondi. The group alleges that Bondi is acting on behalf of groups such as mortgage processing companies Lender Processing Services and ProVest, which have contributed to her political campaigns.
FEATURED STORIES
To Escape Chaos, a Terrible Deal
Editorial
New York Times
There is little to like about the tentative agreement between Congressional leaders and the White House except that it happened at all.
Florida election law goes to court
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
Secretary of State Kurt Browning has asked a federal court to approve Florida's new election law, sidestepping the U.S. Justice Department on the most controversial portions of the voting overhaul approved by the GOP-dominated legislature in May.
Florida's Medicaid program heading to managed care system
By Stephen Nohlgren
St. Petersburg Times
As Washington grapples with debt ceilings and spending, another set of fiscal negotiations quietly begins this week that will impact Floridians for years.
Opposing the Health Law, Florida Refuses Millions
By Kevin Sack
New York Times
When it comes to pursuing federal largess, most of the states that oppose the 2010 health care law have refused to let either principle or politics block their paths to the trough.
On talk radio, Rick Scott finds an audience
By Michael C. Bender
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Rick Scott is in "Heaven."
Subverting the will of people with false claims
Editorial
Bradenton Herald
Honest Abe would be appalled. The party of Lincoln here in Florida has not been entirely honest with citizens in its zeal to consolidate control in Tallahassee.
Why Voters Tune Out Democrats
By Stanley B. Greenberg
New York Times
Barack Obama can’t catch a break from the American public on the economy, even though he prevented a depression and saved global capitalism.
EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK
By Clay Bennett
Chattanooga Times Free Press
FLORIDA POLITICS
Florida Sens. Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson debate nature of extremism in debt battle
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Florida's two U.S. senators debated the nature of extremism Saturday as Congress remained in partisan gridlock over the federal government's debt ceiling.
The push is on for political boundaries that make more sense
By Christopher Curry
Gainesville Sun
A drive north along Southwest 34th Street in Gainesville demonstrates the confusing, logistically maddening effects of some current political boundaries.
Redistricting Meeting Provides Political Theatre; Lacks Substance
By Dr. Susan Ruffin
Jacksonville Ledger
On July 11, members of the Florida Legislature were in Jacksonville for one of 26 public “hearings” on how the redistricting process will impact our community.
Taxpayers fund, get smacked by Bondi's 'revolving door'
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
Earlier this year, the Florida Attorney General's Office was in the midst of a pull-no-punches investigation into foreclosure fraud.
AG Firings Need to be Investigated
By Dennis Maley
Bradenton Times
The whirlwind of controversy surrounding Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's forced resignations of two attorneys serving in the state's economic crimes division is well deserved.
Gov. Scott to hold open house for reporters
Staff Report
Florida Capital News
First-term Gov. Rick Scott is campaigning to change the hearts and minds of Capitol reporters.
Mike Haridopolos is relaxed in front of critics
By Aaron Deslatte
Orlando Sentinel
Senate President Mike Haridopolos isn't afraid of much these days.
Haridopolos defends book deal that clouded U.S. Senate campaign
By Matt Reed
Florida Today
Sen. Mike Haridopolos wanted to talk about his book.
Deposition by Buchanan’s former business partner shines light on campaign finance allegations
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan is no stranger to controversy, but Sam Kazran, a former business partner now currently enmeshed in a campaign finance controversy with the lawmaker, is.
Florida Commission on Ethics writes off almost $160,000 in fines
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital News
The state's Ethics Commission wrote off nearly $160,000 in fines against public officials Friday, but did decide to try dunning 19 public employees to make good on $22,050 in civil penalties now nearly nine years old.
GOP agenda puts too much in greedy private sector
By Ray Clasen
Ft. Myers News-Press
Tax cuts and small government: Sounds appealing, doesn’t it?
GOP's war of words with Lois Frankel lands U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney in awkward spot
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
After a few political ricochets, a Christian home for young unwed mothers in Tequesta emerged last week as an unlikely beneficiary from the feud between U.S. Reps. Allen West, R-Plantation, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston.
POLITICAL RACES
For Adam Hasner, past doesn't always match campaign trail pitch
By Alex Leary and Marc Caputo
St Petersburg Times
Adam Hasner is branding himself in Florida's Republican U.S. Senate primary as the perfect trifecta: an anti-establishment, principled conservative who was among the first to confront Charlie Crist's moderate ways.
Crossroads GPS attack ad targets Sen. Bill Nelson
By Alex Leary
St. Petersburg Times
It was a tough week to be Sen. Bill Nelson.
Democrats have the eyes on Buchanan's 13th District seat
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
If Vern Buchanan needs encouragement to run for the U.S. Senate, he need only talk to local Democrats.
Pawlenty looks to Florida to bolster his standing in GOP primary race
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is hoping an influential organization in Florida and signs of life in Iowa will revive a presidential campaign that isn't yet showing the grassroots excitement he needs.
How will Tampa police handle Republican National Convention protests?
By Kate Bradshaw
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
In fewer than thirteen months, Downtown Tampa will be swarming with protesters, politicos, and news teams from across the country who will be in town for the Republican National Convention.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Voucher backers pervert past, hurt future
By Hans Johnson and David K. Johnson
Tampa Tribune
Religious conservatives who dominate the Florida Legislature are taking chutzpah to biblical proportions.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
Florida falling behind on renewable energy development
By Ivan Penn
St. Petersburg Times
Two years ago, the Sunshine State seemed poised to assume its natural role as a national leader in renewable energy.
Algae Blooms Plaguing Gulf Coast
By Steve Newborn
WUSF Public Radio Tampa
Several fish kills have been connnected to a dark blob of water sitting off the Gulf Coast of Florida.
The surprising link between mercury in seafood and inland agriculture
By Eve Samples
TC Palm
Everyone in the room appeared to be doing some mental math.
Growth management as we know it in Florida is now history; it's a whole new ball game
By Tom Fullman
TC Palm
The change in Florida's growth management laws recently signed by Gov. Rick Scott has moved state oversight and control to local government.
Proposal in U.S. Senate would weaken efforts in Florida, nationwide to clean up waterways
Editorial
TC Palm
Is it in the state of Florida's best interests to weaken the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate water quality standards?
EDUCATION
Education takes a beating nationwide
By Stephen Ceasar and Teresa Watanabe
Los Angeles Times
After a particularly brutal budgeting season this summer, states and school districts across the country have fired thousands of teachers, raised college tuition, relaxed standards, slashed days off the academic calendar and gutted pre-kindergarten and summer school programs.
Researchers warn of school 'accountability shock'
By Bill Kaczor
Associated Press
Math teacher Antoine Joseph already had been thinking of leaving Miami Norland Senior High School, so when its annual grade from the state dropped from a D to an F nine years ago that just solidified his decision.
Florida's children owed a high quality education
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
It is time for an open and honest discussion about funding for Florida's public schools, which are suffering from cuts in per-pupil spending and the Legislature's obsession with charter schools and vouchers.
Hillsborough schools ponder how the charter school revolution will affect them
By Marlene Sokol
St. Petersburg Times
Picture Wharton High School with 400 fewer students, or Jefferson High with 200 fewer.
Schools of education thriving despite the market
By Perry Stein
Miami Herald
When Jodi Bell enrolled in Miami Dade College’s bachelor in education program, she thought she had chosen a recession-proof career and expected to land a job in special education upon graduation.
A weekend interview with Florida Board of Education vice chairman Roberto Martinez
By Jeff Solochek
St. Petersburg Times
For several years, Florida leaders have had to balance budgets with declining revenue.
College students: Know your major or you may pay double
By Denise-Marie Balona
Orlando Sentinel
Here's a piece of advice for college freshmen in Florida who plan to earn a bachelor's degree at a public university: Know what you want to study in advance, or it could cost you a lot more on the tail end.
JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY
Congress moving quickly on debt and spending deal
By Andrew Taylor
Associated Press
Related: Mixed Florida reaction to debt deal
Congress is moving quickly on an agreement to avert a potentially devastating default on U.S. obligations, with legislation that mixes a record increase in the government's borrowing cap with the promise of more than $2 trillion in spending cuts.
Public Employees Retire in Droves as Florida Pension System Narrows Incentives to Work
By Lilly Rockwell
News Service of Florida
In the three months since the legislative session ended, the Florida Retirement System has seen a substantial uptick in the number of new retirees.
Jobless benefits change this week
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Today
Starting this week, laid-off workers collecting unemployment compensation in Florida will have to show that they are seriously looking for a new job.
Easy investments beat state's expert pension planners
By Sydney P. Freedberg and Connie Humburg
St. Petersburg Times
Related editorial: Florida pension funds still cloaked in secrecy
An ordinary investor who put $100 into an easy investment fund portfolio 10 years ago could have had $184 by the end of the decade — without combing through the stock listings, making lots of trades or hiring high-priced experts.
A new push to tax web sales
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida retailers are shifting strategy in their decade-old fight to force large, out-of-state Internet companies to collect sales taxes on Florida purchases.
State officials hope Lottery makeover will boost ticket sales
By Katie Sanders
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
The Florida Lottery is not aging gracefully.
Concerns arise over landline deregulation
By Regan McCarthy
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
The Public Service Commission has overseen the operation of land line telephones for years.
Real estate investors beat the banks to profit on foreclosures
By Kris Hundley and Susan Taylor Martin
St. Petersburg Times
In just eight months, Barry Haught and his business associates have acquired 71 properties in Hillsborough County with a market value of $8.2 million.
HEALTH AND SENIORS
Florida’s state-subsidized crisis pregnancy centers, by the numbers
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
As health care services in Florida face deeper cuts to their state funding, a network of crisis pregnancy centers has continued to maintain its $2 million in annual state funding, despite serving fewer patients and offering fewer services than either Planned Parenthood or Healthy Start.
Healthy State examines why Florida legislators rejected federal child abuse prevention dollars
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
Since federal health care reform was passed, Florida legislators have turned down millions in federal funds that would have gone to home visiting programs that aim to fight child abuse and neglect.
Advocates mark Medicare anniversary with protest at Southerland's office
By Tom Flanigan
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
As the debt debate drags on in Washington, several Florida groups were putting some pressure on their U.S. House member.
Rx for Danger: Number of Florida babies born addicted to drugs skyrockets
By Amy Pavuk
Orlando Sentinel
The number of babies treated at Florida hospitals for drug-withdrawal syndrome continued to skyrocket last year, further evidence of the far-reaching impact of the state's prescription-drug epidemic.
Public weighs in on recommendation to turn over Jackson Health System to nonprofit
By Marcos Restrepo
Florida Independent
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson told participants in a public forum Thursday night that she is open to all options to ensure that the publicly funded Jackson Health System keep its doors open, but she was clear that she will not support job cuts there.
Despite insurance, medical bills push family to bankruptcy
By Kate Santich
Orlando Sentinel
The day their daughter was born should have been one of the happiest of Simon and Marsha Sutherland's lives.
CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Community organizers campaign against modern-day slavery and for fair food at Publix stores in Pinellas
By Andrea Lypka
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Anti-slavery protesters and activists for fair-food took their demands to three Publix grocery stores in St. Petersburg Sunday.
JUSTICE AND THE COURTS
New state prison boss pushing big changesBy Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Rick Scott paid a lot for Edwin Buss' expertise, and Floridians are about to find out whether Buss is worth the investment.
