Daily Clips for August 30, 2011

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS

Bachmann's Everglades drilling comment leaves Floridians scratching their heads
By Catharine Richert
Minnesota Public Radio
Excerpt: ...oil drilling in the protected Everglades isn't typically a topic of discussion, said Mark Ferrulo, who is executive director of the left-leaning advocacy group Progress Florida. "There's no debate or discussion among the most conservative, pro-drilling people about opening up the Everglades to drilling," Ferrulo said. "It would be as crazy as saying, 'let's drill under Space Mountain' in Disney World."

FEATURED STORIES

Bachmann sparks furor by calling for oil drilling in the Everglades
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
Related editorial: Drill, baby, drill
Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has reignited an intense debate over energy exploration by calling for oil drilling off the shores of Florida and in the Everglades.

Florida GOP's Presidency 5 straw poll lacking strong campaign support
By Adam C. Smith
St. Petersburg Times
What if you threw a big mock election and nobody bothered to campaign?

Lawmakers get an earful in Tampa on redrawing districts
By Laura Kinsler
Tampa Tribune
Legislators charged with redrawing Florida's political districts got an earful Monday from Tampa Bay as dozens of voters chided them for waiting too late to start the actual mapping process.

PSC begins hearings across state on politically-charged water rate hike requests
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Current
The Public Service Commission this week begins a series of 10 public hearings around the state on politically charged rate hikes requested by Aqua Utilities Florida Inc.

FLORIDA POLITICS

Rubio's vague positions haven't hurt his appeal
By William E. Gibson
Orlando Sentinel
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio seized the torch of a new generation of conservatives this month when he escorted former first lady Nancy Reagan into the Reagan Presidential Library and delivered a stirring speech sure to inspire Republicans across the country.

Dozens of speakers have their say as legislative redistricting tour comes to Tampa
By Bill Varian
St. Petersburg Times
Vera J. Chapman stood before 40 of the most powerful people in Florida on Monday and told them she'd like to take them to the woodshed.

In Tarpon Springs, activists criticize redistricting process during meeting
By Josh Holton
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Next year Florida will redraw its political boundary lines, and last night Tarpon Springs residents voiced their opinions about the process at a public meeting.

Scott transition e-mails: Budget, politics and prayers
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post
One of Gov. Rick Scott’s closest advisors wanted to keep the newly-elected governor out of meetings about the state budget, a recently released batch of e-mails from Scott’s transition team revealed.

Add sincerity to your shopping cart, Scott
By Anna Eskamani
Central Florida Future
On a sunny Friday afternoon, I, along with some of my colleagues, waited at a local Walmart to meet Gov. Rick Scott.

What does the FL Senate have lined up so far for next session?
By Kathleen Haughney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
With lawmakers set to be in Tallahassee in only a few weeks for a round of committee meetings, lawmakers are starting to file legislation that will be seen in the 2012 legislative session.

POLITICAL RACES

Analysis: Support dips for key Obama vote blocs
Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
Whites and women are a re-election problem for President Barack Obama. Younger voters and liberals, too, but to a lesser extent.

Bachmann defends stance on drilling in Everglades if done without environmental damage
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post
Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann says she'd consider drilling for oil and natural gas in the Everglades if it can be done without causing "environmental degradation."

Bachmann barnstorms Florida, explains controversial comments in Miami
By Marc Caputo
Miami Herald
Michele Bachmann became the first major Republican presidential candidate to barnstorm the state this year, capping a six-city tour Monday in Miami where she sipped cafecitos, paid homage to Cuban Americans and kicked off a month of intensive GOP politicking in the state.

In Senate Campaign, A Search for ‘Colonel’ of Truth
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Mike McAlister is campaigning for the Republican nomination to be a U.S. Senator from Florida.

GOP Senate candidate campaigns in Pensacola
By Katie McFarland
Pensacola News Journal
Adam Hasner, Republican candidate for United States Senate vying to take current Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson’s seat, made a campaign stop in Pensacola today.

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Fierce dispute over EPA water rules continues
By Virginia Chamlee
Florida Independent
A recent string of opinion columns proves just how intense the debate over new water rules proposed by the EPA have become in Florida.

The Florida Black Bear: A Conservation Success Story
By Kathy Barco
WCTV News Tallahassee
This is my first column as Chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Bacteria killing sabal, date palm trees in Florida
By Tamara Lush
Associated Press
An insect with a disgusting habit is killing palm trees in the Tampa Bay area and experts are worried the disease transmitted by the bugs will affect trees around the state.

Hunters' claim to new Florida lands is dubious
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
A bid by hunters to gain access to more public lands owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District should be treated with extreme caution.

LGBT

A Teacher Is Back in Class After Anti-Gay Diatribe, but Did He Really Win?
By Tim Padgett
Time Magazine
Jerry Buell is back in the classroom, as he should be. Or, perhaps, shouldn't be.

Military prepares for end of 'don't ask, don't tell'
By Franco Ordonez
Charlotte Observer
In less than four weeks, openly gay men and women will be able to serve in the U.S. military.

EDUCATION

Senator wants voters to pick Florida's education commissioner
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
Saying education is just as important as agriculture or the state's finances, a state senator wants voters to choose Florida's education commissioner.

Changes in state rules lead to cramped classes
By Laura Isensee
Miami Herald
At Miami Beach High, it takes 20 minutes for Nadia Zananiri to take attendance in a college-prep World History class.

Students Start the School Year with Less Money, Higher Tuition
By Mike Vasilinda
Capitol News Service
Forty-one thousand students began a new year today at Florida State University.

JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY

Scott's top priorities: jobs, jobs, jobs
By Peter Guinta
St. Augustine Record
Gov. Rick Scott presented his vision Monday on how he hopes to attract hundreds more jobs statewide.

Fewer Florida businesses mean fewer Florida jobs
By Robert Trigaux
St. Petersburg Times
If small businesses are the lifeblood of the Florida economy, maybe it's time for a transfusion.

Florida insurance rates could rise as Hurricane Irene adds to yearlong disaster tally
By Jeff Harrington
St. Petersburg Times
Florida was spared Hurricane Irene's wrath, but that doesn't mean homeowners here won't have a price to pay down the road.

Attorney general investigating lawsuits pitched to distressed homeowners
By Kimberly Miller
Palm Beach Post
The Florida attorney general's office is investigating the use of mass joinder lawsuits marketed to homeowners facing foreclosure, a new practice that got a California lawyer with ties to a prominent Tallahassee lobbyist shut down earlier this month.

Florida Senate bill would tax bottled water
News Service of Florida
Florida Times-Union
A proposal to tax bottled water was filed Monday in the Florida Senate, re-igniting a water war that has pitted Sen. Evelyn Lynn against bottlers and business groups.

NASA's smaller programs could be at risk
By Mark K. Matthews
Orlando Sentinel
The cost of NASA's two flagship programs — a new space telescope and its next rocket — is poised to devour much of the agency's shrinking budget in coming years, putting at risk everything from efforts to develop futuristic spacecraft to returning rocks from Mars, scientists and congressional insiders warn.

HEALTH AND SENIORS

How the Legislature eliminated the state’s prison health care watchdog
By Travis Pillow
Florida Independent
In January 2007, a woman was diagnosed with vulvar cancer while she was held in a Florida jail.

Elders on waiting lists could wait longer under privatized Medicaid
By Lynn Hatter
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
Supporters of privatized Medicaid say it will help keep more seniors in their homes.

Lawsuit seeks to help VA pension beneficiaries wrongly purged from Medicaid rolls
By Adam H. Beasley
Miami Herald
Irene Czajkowski, 84, is the widow of a military veteran, living in a St. Petersburg nursing home with a fixed income of roughly $20,000 a year.

Two-thirds of Americans agree with feds’ birth control decision
By Ashley Lopez
Florida Independent
According to a recent Kaiser Health Tracking Poll conducted by Public Opinion and Survey Research Program, 66 percent of Americans agree with the federal government’s recent decision to include birth control in its list of preventative services.

Hospital sues law firm for legal malpractice
By Christine Jordan Sexton
Florida Current
A merger negotiated behind closed doors between a private hospital and public facility spawned a controversy in the Florida Legislature last year and helped lead to the creation of a gubernatorial committee on taxpayer-funded hospital districts.

CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

'Penny a Pound' Protestors to Bike 200 Miles to Confront Publix CEO
By Dennis Maley
Bradenton Times
Planning to arrive on the first day back to work after Labor Day, a group of farm workers will make a 200-mile trek from Immokalee to Lakeland where they hope to get an audience with Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw, who they intend on inviting for a visit to the fields where Publix tomatoes are picked in hope of finally convincing the supermarket chain to join the “penny a pound” movement.

Whatever NRA wants, it gets
By Fred Grimm
Miami Herald
You might not have figured sleepy little Groveland, Fla., to be a hotbed of pointy-headed-liberal anti-gun predilections, with local laws restricting patriotic Americans’ God-given right to pack heat anywhere and anyhow they the damn well see fit.

JUSTICE AND THE COURTS

Change in Florida drug law under legal fire
By Jay Stapleton
Daytona Beach News-Journal
When Volusia County sheriff's agents raided a house on Oleander Place in Ormond Beach looking for drugs, a man living in the house said he knew nothing about illegal activity.

Daily Clips for October 27, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Sink forced to defend herself after she's accused of cheating during debate By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate for governor, was forced on Tuesday to explain why she broke the debate rules during her nationally televised debate with GOP candidate Rick Scott. Debates ignore big health issues By Jim Saunders Health News Florida Florida's next governor will face overhauling the $20 billion Medicaid program. Rubio, Meek push Crist on leaving GOP in last debate for Senate seat By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Facing tough questioning about the no-party candidacy that has rocked Florida's U.S. Senate race, Gov. Charlie Crist tonight defended his shifts on issues as "heartfelt" and proclaimed himself "liberated" since abandoning the GOP six months ago. Midterms will reshape Congress, but question is how bloody the GOP takeover will be By Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Two years after Barack Obama promised change in Washington, it's coming in a dramatic final torrent of campaign money, nasty commercials and voter rebellion that will answer not whether Nov. 2 will reshape Congress but how bloody the takeover will be. FLORIDA POLITICS Outspoken Skop bypassed for PSC chairmanship By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday passed over outspoken Commissioner Nathan Skop as chairman, naming new Commissioner Art Graham by a 3-1 vote. POLITICAL RACES GOP leads Democrats in early-voting turnout By Aaron Deslatte and John Maines Orlando Sentinel The Florida Democratic offices in a crowded storefront in Ybor City look like a bunker lined with relics from the last war. Cheating flap grows as Alex Sink's campaign winds down By Marc Caputo and Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In a campaign season of wall-to-wall negative commercials, Democrat Alex Sink's worst television moment came during a commercial break. Debate debacle hot topic as far away as the UK By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Barnstorming through Republican regions where Florida elections are largely decided, Rick Scott said Tuesday Democrat Alex Sink "broke the rules" in their final debate and tried to duck responsibility by firing an aide who sent her a message. Alex Sink fires aide who text-messaged during debate By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott began a six-day tour of the state Tuesday by blasting Democratic foe Alex Sink for cheating during their Monday night debate by looking at a phone with a message from a top adviser during a commercial break. Education, no new taxes Sinks' top pledges By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Sticking to retail politics with only a little more than week to go before Election Day, Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee for governor, flew to Jacksonville on Tuesday to meet with a handful of business and community leaders. Alex Sink back in bishop’s good graces By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink today won the support of one of Miami-Dade County’s most influential blacks, a week after Bishop Victor Curry blasted her for taking the African-American vote for granted because she blew off an NAACP candidate forum. Sink holds roundtable with First Coast business leaders By Dan Scanlan Florida Times-Union The Democrat who wants to occupy Tallahassee’s statehouse for the next four years brought her business plan to Northeast Florida executives and small business owners Tuesday afternoon. Scott bus tours across Florida in final seven days of campaigning By Bob Rathgeber Ft. Myers News-Press The final week of campaigning for the governor's job is an all-out sprint to capture Florida's undecided voters. Rick Scott, the Republican from Naples, has embarked on a whirlwind 30-city odyssey from Pensacola to Miami, meeting voters at events from pancake breakfasts to barbecues to black-tie affairs. Senate debate more civil, substantive By William March Tampa Tribune In the most substantive and civil debate so far, Florida's three Senate candidates refined their messages but stuck to the themes that have dominated the race. Governor is target as Crist, Meek and Rubio square off for final debate in U.S. Senate race By Beth Reinhard St. Petersburg Times The portable fan that Gov. Charlie Crist insists on at every public appearance could be seen and even heard during Tuesday's televised debate, but it didn't keep the independent U.S. Senate candidate out of the hot seat. Health care law's Medicare trims altering seniors' views By Marilyn Serafini USA Today Until this spring, life-long Democrat Carolyn Land never had a second thought about voting for Rep. Allen Boyd, a Democrat who has represented her area since 1997. Caution may cost Kosmas at the polls By Mark K. Matthews Orlando Sentinel By her own admission, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas is a "careful" lawmaker. Despite anti-union rhetoric, West voluntarily joined teachers’ union in ’04-’05 By Luke Johnson Florida Independent “We don’t need to see unions to come down here and pressure the abilities of our small businesses and our corporations and businesses to grow,” said Allen West, the Republican challenger in Florida’s 22nd congressional district, in an Oct. 13 debate with his opponent, Rep. Ron Klein, at Lynn University in Boca Raton. Lawyer seeks removal of Miami congressional candidate David Rivera The Associated Press Miami Herald A case involving the potential removal of a Florida congressional candidate from the ballot over questions about his financial disclosures is set to go before a judge days before the election. Spending by congressional candidates may reach $2 billion, watchdog says By Michael Muskal Los Angeles Times It was Mark Twain who dryly noted that Americans have the best government money can buy. Unlike 2006 and 2008, Republicans feeling good with one week to go By Anthony Man South Florida Sun-Sentinel Doug Blanz says his election-season task – knocking on doors, soliciting votes for Republicans – has been much more rewarding this year than it was in 2006 or 2008. Group run by writer claiming that atheists promote ‘religious cleansing’ endorses Republicans for Congress By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Republican candidates for Florida congressional seats David Rivera, Allen West and Dan Webster, as well as Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio have earned the endorsement of Government Is Not God, a political action committee for social conservatives. Sarasota NAACP president: Voting glitch a concern as election day approaches By Cooper Levey-Baker Florida Independent Questions about the voting machine glitch that struck an early vote location in Sarasota’s largely African-American community of Newtown Sunday evening continue to linger. BALLOT INITIATIVES Amendment 4 would give power to the people By John Hedrick Tampa Tribune On Nov. 3, Floridians will celebrate bright prospects for the Sunshine State. Amendments 5 & 6 empower voters, end office-for-life politics By Caroline Emmons-Schramm Orlando Sentinel This November, voters have the chance to improve Florida government for decades by voting yes on Amendments 5 and 6. Amendment 8 and Overcrowded Classrooms By Rick Stone WLRN Public Radio Miami Among the amendments facing voters on next week's ballot is a proposal to relax hard caps on class sizes. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Visit Florida fighting oil spill image By Grace Gagliano Bradenton Herald Proprietors for the White Sands Beach Resort are adamant about updating the hotel’s website and Facebook page with fresh content. PSC approves rate increase for Progress Energy customers to construct uncertain nuke plants By Sean Kinane WMNF Community Radio Tampa Today the Florida Public Service Commission elected a newcomer, Arthur Graham, to be chair, instead of outgoing Commissioner Nathan Skop. LGBT SAVE Dade: 'Don't Vote' By Steve Rothaus Miami Herald Video on SAVE Dade's YouTube channel. EDUCATION FL Prepaid College Plan: New Plans, New Prices, New Peace of Mind? By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida As families try to make ends meet, the Florida Prepaid College Plan helps some by providing greater options for higher education for those who plan early. HEALTH AND SENIORS Haridopolos wants a new Medicaid waiver By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune Florida -- which is already among a handful of states trying to derail the federal health care overhaul -- may ask for a waiver so it does not have to comply with some provisions dealing with the state's safety net program for the poor. Nursing Homes Regulations Fight Abuse and Neglect By Tom Flanigan WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Because Florida has such a large population of seniors, the state also has a large number of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Whose Standards? By Amy Keller Florida Trend Parents who want to adopt a child from another country face big expenses, piles of paperwork, long waits and a host of logistical challenges. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Fla. justices refuse to hear open meetings case By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press The Florida Supreme Court has refused to take an appeal from a lower court ruling that says citizens have no right to speak at meetings of government bodies. Florida to have all-female parole commission The Associated Press Florida Today Florida will have an all-female Parole Commission for the first time ever next year.

Daily Clips for October 26, 2010

FEATURED STORIES Anger, contempt flare in final Scott and Sink debate in Florida governor's race By Steve Bousquet and Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Related editorial: Sink shows grit, command Related article: Sink fires advisor who sent message during her televised debate with Rick Scott Related Politifact article: Governor candidates take national stage for CNN debate Related Video: Watch the debate Rick Scott and Alex Sink displayed contempt for each other in their final debate Monday and gave a nationwide TV audience a glimpse of the mounting tension in the close race for governor. Enthusiasm gap hits young voters, hurts Dems By Luis Zaragoza Orlando Sentinel Law student and staunch Democrat Rafael Nunez is worried. GOP poised to win Congress redistricting edge, too By Jennifer C. Kerr The Associated Press The Republicans' expected gains next week go way beyond Congress. 3 US Senate candidates set for for final debate The Associated Press Tampa Tribune Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek have one last opportunity to derail front-runner Marco Rubio in their final U.S. Senate debate. Bullet train money not enough to start project By Alfonso Chardy Miami Herald Florida on Monday got the news it will receive an additional $800 million from the federal government to build a bullet train line from Tampa to Orlando -- but the grant is $300 million short of the amount the state needs to start construction. FLORIDA POLITICS Florida's Campaign Finance Laws Under Fire By Lynn Hatter WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Florida's campaign finance laws are under fire. There are two pending lawsuits challenging the state's rules on political advertising. Crist Gets The Old PSC Nominee List For Next Year's Chairs Staff Report Lakeland Ledger Gov. Charlie Crist is getting a familiar list of candidates to chair the Public Service Commission for the rest of the year. Braman: Signatures in place for recall By Matthew Haggman Miami Herald In his bid to recall Miami-Dade's first strong mayor, billionaire businessman Norman Braman announced Monday he has collected 90,000 signatures from registered voters, more than enough to put Mayor Carlos Alvarez's fate with the voting public. POLITICAL RACES Sink, Scott spar over issues, slam each other's character in final gubernatorial debate By George Bennett and Dara Kam Palm Beach Post Rick Scott and Alex Sink sparred on the economy, Florida's budget, abortion and other issues tonight but continually returned to slamming each other's character in a testy final gubernatorial debate before the Nov. 2 election. Sink, Scott have heated exchanges in final debate By William March Tampa Tribune Accusations of fraud, lying and incompetence flew thick Monday night in the last public confrontation between Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott in the too-close-to-call Florida governor's race. Gubernatorial hopefuls hurl mud in last debate By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink called Republican Rick Scott a liar who knows nothing about government Monday and Scott called her "a failed fiscal watchdog" and an "Obama liberal" who supports costly big-government policies. Now that talk's over, it'll be fight to finish By Bob Rathgeber Ft. Myers News-Press The Florida gubernatorial debates have concluded, and for those who still haven't made up their minds between Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink, it's doubtful Monday night's argument at the University of South Florida did anything to help voters make a decision. Sheriff wary of Scott's plans for pensions By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News A Republican sheriff has written a memo to his employees urging them to consider how they vote this election while recounting a meeting with gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott and changes to the Florida Retirement System. Sink to seek forgiveness for skipping NAACP forum By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post After being blasted for ignoring black voters, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink on Tuesday is to expected to perform a mea culpa on a radio station owned by one of Miami-Dade County’s most influential African-Americans. Ausley hits campaign trail on her bicycle By Paul Flemming Florida Capital News Call her Spinnin' Loranne, the 2010 answer to Walkin' Lawton. Two outlooks, but only one state job By Lee Logan Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Adam Putnam and Scott Maddox both want to be Florida's next commissioner of agriculture, but their campaign rhetoric makes it sound like they're running for two separate jobs. Alan Grayson in danger of losing his seat in Congress to Daniel Webster says analyst By Sean Kinane WMNF Community Radio Tampa On Friday we brought you our interview with progressive member of Congress from Orlando, Alan Grayson. West’s campaign finance sheets link him to controversial figures By Dan Sweeney Florida Independent Congressional candidate Allen West‘s massive quarterly financial reports document donations made to the far-right Republican by a pair of controversial figures: an Ohio man accused of “racial vigilantism” and a soldier imprisoned for the unpremeditated murder of an Iraqi terror suspect. Rivera accuses opponent of promoting deceitful off-hours phone calls By Marcos Restrepo Florida Independent Republican David Rivera, running to represent U.S. congressional District 25 against Democrat Joe Garcia, posted today on his Facebook page the following statement. Miller: shoo-in or incumbent foe? Voters will decide By Tom McLaughlin Northwest Florida Daily News To hear U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller’s opponents tell it, the incumbent Republican from Chumuckla, who hasn’t been in a close political race since his first one nine years ago, is as susceptible to this cycle’s anti-incumbent sentiment as anyone. Political commercials: annoying but effective By Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel Political commercials pack the Orlando airwaves to such an extent that even TV executives acknowledge some fatigue. BALLOT INITIATIVES Florida's 60 percent rule may doom amendments on ballot By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times Floridians might have made the biggest decision of the 2010 election already — back in 2006. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY BP to give Fla. additional $20M By Jim Ash Florida Capital News Oil giant BP has agreed to give Florida $20 million for more aggressive seafood safety inspections and marketing. BP CEO hits back at media and politicians By Jane Wardell The Associated Press BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley accused some politicians and the media on Monday of being too hasty to pin all the blame on his company for the devastating Gulf of Mexico spill - and emphasized the need for deep-water drilling. EPA taps Florida's Hankinson as director of Gulf restoration panel By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com John H. Hankinson Jr., a Florida native and former regional U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator, was named Monday as executive director of the new federal Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. Protests Grow over New Septic Tanks Rules By James Call WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Two Panhandle lawmakers say after the November election they will begin work to repeal a law requiring septic tank inspections every five years. Builders, environmentalists at odds over wood stork's spot on endangered species list By Christine Stapleton Palm Beach Post The endangered wood stork — the pterodactyl-like bird that faced extinction in the 1980s, has made a comeback. BP's big plans Editorial Sarasota Herald-Tribune There's great uncertainty about the long-term impacts of the BP oil spill. LGBT McCollum folded bad hand: Attorney general had no case to fight gay adoption. Editorial Palm Beach Post On Friday, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced that he would not appeal a September court ruling that effectively ended the state's 33-year-old ban on gays and lesbians adopting children. EDUCATION Broward teachers say some schools creatively skirting class-size limits By Rafael A. Olmeda South Florida Sun-Sentinel Some of the math being used to measure class-size compliance in Broward County is getting an F from teachers at about two dozen schools, union officials said Monday. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Feds authorize additional $800 million for Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail line By Shelley Rossetter and Justin George St. Petersburg Times The high-speed rail line slated to run between Tampa and Orlando received an additional $800 million Monday. Banks continue to cancel hearings By David McLaughlin Miami Herald Banks are still canceling foreclosure hearings and sales in Florida, the state with the third-highest foreclosure rate behind Nevada and Arizona, after Bank of America said it was resuming efforts to seize homes.

Daily Clips for October 25, 2010

FEATURED STORIES U.S. Senate candidates spar in debate at USF By William March Tampa Tribune Related: Watch the debate Related: Some Democrats thinking strategically on Senate vote Related AP story: Fla. gubernatorial hopefuls to debate for last time Monday night In a debate marked by crosstalk and verbal jabs, Florida's three U.S. Senate candidates tried to stake their territory and sharpen their images, mostly on familiar issues, in a Sunday morning debate on CNN. TCPalm.com/Zogby poll: Sink opens lead over Scott in governor's race By Ryan Mills TC Palm Related: TCPalm.com/Zogby poll: Rubio pulling away from Crist, Meek Driven by the overwhelming support of independents and moderates, Democrat Alex Sink has opened a nearly 5-point lead over her Republican opponent, Rick Scott, in the race to be Florida’s next governor, a new TCPalm.com/Zogby poll shows. Rick Scott and Alex Sink diverge on environment By Craig Pittman St. Petersburg Times Related editorial: Scott's development policy bad for Florida Related editorial: Scott's Florida is grim place for average citizen If you don't think humans cause global warming, offshore drilling might still be a good idea for Florida and growth management should be left to local governments and not state bureaucrats, then Republican Rick Scott is your candidate for governor. Are Democrats taking black voters for granted? By Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink was quietly jeered at a NAACP candidate forum last week in Miami. Six House seats could help tip balance of power By George Bennett Palm Beach Post In two months of TV advertising, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein has kept mum about his record in Washington, where he supported the health care and stimulus bills and went along with his party on 98 percent of votes. GOP leader faces tough Senate race in Jacksonville By Brent Kallestad The Associated Press Florida legislators rarely lose re-election, but the Democrats have one powerful Republican they hope to defeat: Sen. John Thrasher, who doubles as state GOP chairman. EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE WEEK By Chan Lowe South Florida Sun-Sentinel Artist’s commentary: Buying the midterm election FLORIDA POLITICS Ethics panel spells out who McCollum can lobby By Gary Fineout Florida Tribune Calling it a model for the future, the Florida Commission on Ethics on Friday adopted a detailed opinion that spells out who Attorney General Bill McCollum can and cannot lobby once he leaves office. Rep. Miller in line for veterans committee post By Bart Jansen Pensacola News Journal If the Nov. 2 elections give Republicans control of the House as expected, Rep. Jeff Miller could become chairman of the committee that oversees issues vital to veterans living in Florida's Panhandle. A recap of how Tampa Bay's legislators voted By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times For the past few weeks we've been looking at how our Tampa Bay legislators voted on a series of controversial bills since the last election. POLITICAL RACES Marco Rubio takes huge lead in Senate race, a new Times/Herald/Bay News 9 poll shows By Adam C. Smith and Beth Reinhard St. Petersburg Times Related: Republicans appear headed to sweep Cabinet races Related: Voters unlikely to approve constitutional amendment proposals Republican Marco Rubio is on the verge of delivering one of the biggest political knockouts in Florida history, as a new St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll shows him barreling into Florida's open U.S. Senate seat 15 percentage points ahead of Gov. Charlie Crist. Aggressive Crist plays role of "heckler" in Senate debate By Beth Reinhard St. Petersburg Times Related: Transcript of the "heckler" exchange from U.S. Senate debate Related Politifact rulings: CNN/St. Petersburg Times debate brings attacks old and new Related editorial: Rubio’s rigid ideology Gov. Charlie Crist tried to turn himself into a human speed bump to stop U.S. Senate front-runner Marco Rubio from racing into the last week of the campaign, frequently rising up out of turn during Sunday's nationally televised debate with sweeping accusations against Rubio's politics and character. 'Welcome to the NFL': Charlie Crist, Kendrick Meek hit hard in Senate debate with Marco Rubio By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek cited their football-playing pasts during a nationally televised debate this morning as both Senate candidates tried to deliver a helmet-jarring hit against Republican frontrunner Marco Rubio with time running out in the campaign. Crist hammers Rubio in debate By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News With time running out in the U.S. Senate race, Gov. Charlie Crist fought so hard to depict Marco Rubio as a right-wing extremist Sunday that the Republican nominee called him a "heckler" in their nationally televised debate. Hardscrabble past in Miami powers Kendrick Meek By Zac Anderson Sarasota Herald-Tribune The news was not good last week as Kendrick Meek brought his campaign for U.S. Senate back to this poor Miami neighborhood where he grew up. The Apprentice: Jeb Bush, the man behind Marco Rubio By Joy-Ann Reid The Reid Report If, as the pundits and prognosticators expect, Florida voters elect Marco Rubio to the U.S. Senate, the tea party may get the credit from the media, but Rubio will owe a much greater debt to someone else: former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Democrats' chances with Alex Sink may ride on black voters turning out to support Kendrick Meek By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel In Florida's three-way race for the U.S. Senate, Congressman Kendrick Meek is stuck in third, 20 points behind frontrunner Marco Rubio and facing almost certain defeat. Rick Scott, Alex Sink campaigns spent $5 million in single week By Michael Peltier Miami Herald Candidates for governor combined to spend more than $5 million in their respective bids last week as they saturated the air waves and amped up efforts to finish strongly in a race set to end in less than two weeks, the state Division of Elections reported on Friday. Sink, Scott promise jobs are top goal By Jeff Ostrowski Palm Beach Post In a close and unusually nasty governor's race, there's one thing rivals Alex Sink and Rick Scott can agree on: Florida desperately needs jobs. Palin helps rally Orlando Republicans as election nears By Jim Stratton Orlando Sentinel With former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin leading the charge, Florida Republicans sought to rally their base Saturday, telling a cheering crowd of activists and party officials that a GOP wave was poised to wash over Tallahassee and Washington. Palin stumps for GOP candidates in Orlando By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News Lampooning Tallahassee's "turtle tunnel" as an example of wasteful stimulus spending, Sarah Palin told fired-up Republicans on Saturday that Florida can change the country's direction by electing GOP congressional challengers next month. Candidates for governor, Senate keeping an eye on states' unemployment figures By Michael A. Memoli Orlando Sentinel The national unemployment rate has long been identified as an important electoral metric, particularly so this year for Democrats seeking to hold majorities in Congress. Few ideological stances by Sink By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union For more than a year now, Alex Sink has been running for governor, unveiling positions on issues ranging from the economy to public safety. Alex Sink turns attention to I-4 corridor as governor’s election nears By Leslie Williams Hale Naples Daily News In a tight, unpredictable race, Alex Sink is hoping to turn the tide one Silly Band and Facebook photo at a time. Following the footsteps of Walkin' Lawton. Alex Sink campaigns in North Florida By Michael C. Bender St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Alex Sink quickly identifies the bulldog mascot on Wanda Kemp's denim shirt and asks about the Friday night high school game. Sink Courting Rural Voters By John Kennedy News Service of Florida With campaign stops across North Florida, Democrat Alex Sink tried to woo support Friday from rural voters - rallying a loosely defined, but potent swing bloc that once powered late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles to a hard-fought second term. Ignoring her black base Staff Report Florida Courier Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink turned down an offer no other Florida politician running for statewide office would consciously refuse. Secrecy envelops Scott campaign By Jeremy Cox Florida Times-Union Ousted as the leader of a hospital chain amid a federal fraud probe, unsuccessful in his bid to defeat Democrats' larger-government solution to health care, Rick Scott nevertheless struck a familiar theme as he began the third chapter of his public life. Nurses say former hospital exec Rick Scott not best prescription for Florida By Eloisa Ruano Gonzalez Orlando Sentinel While supporters gathered Saturday in Apopka to rally for Rick Scott, a group of nurses held their own event to oppose the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Corrections workers weigh gubernatorial candidates By Jim Ash Florida Capital News In the heart of North Florida prison country, where corrections jobs are handed down like a birthright and mistrust of government runs high, picking a governor has become more complicated than marking Democrat or Republican. Rod Smith says Rick Scott is using Obama to paint the Democratic ticket as liberal By George Bennett Palm Beach Post Barack Obama was a symbol of hope and change only two years ago. Law-enforcement ties, bipartisan reach seen in Rod Smith's appeal By Bridget Murphy Florida Times-Union When Rod Smith argued for a serial killer's execution in 1994, more than just Gainesville was watching. From stammering to spot-on: Jennifer Carroll's abrupt evolution By Matt Dixon Florida Times-Union It was not a smooth roll-out. Scott, Sink Differ in Environmental Policy Stances By Tom Palmer Lakeland Ledger Environmental issues usually don't play a large role in gubernatorial campaigns, according to veteran Audubon lobbyist Charles Lee. Gubernatorial candidates get big bucks from different donors By Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel With hundreds of thousands of ballots already cast in the governor's race, Alex Sink was scrounging for votes in small North Florida communities Friday with a style reminiscent of Democratic candidates of decades past — appealing to fiscal conservatism and promising to help bring jobs. Stark policy differences separate attorney general candidates Pam Bondi and Dan Gelber By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In the cozy confines of a cable TV studio, Pam Bondi and Dan Gelber exchanged light banter, but when the lights went on the tone changed dramatically. Dan Gelber says attack mailer is insulting and inaccurate By Paula McMahon South Florida Sun-Sentinel A round of political mailers and newspaper ads, targeting Jewish voters in South Florida, is attacking Democratic attorney general nominee Dan Gelber's criticism of the state's school voucher program. Interview with US Rep Alan Grayson who faces uphill battle for reelection By Sean Kinane WMNF Community Radio Tampa One of the most progressive members of the U.S. Congress represents parts of the Orlando area…and his seat is in danger. Shady Florida PAC continues to spend big in national races By Luke Johnson Florida Independent The Ending Spending Fund, a recently incorporated “super PAC” registered to CPA Nancy Watkins at a Tampa address housing 32 other active political committees in Florida, spent $555,562 in media buys Thursday in three close House races as well as the deadlocked Nevada Senate race. Getting lowdown on judges on the ballot not easy By Chad Smith Gainesville Sun With no campaigning, fundraising or opponents, Florida's Supreme Court justices and appellate court judges are undefeated in that voters have never rejected one. Republicans pick Rob Wallace as state Senate candidate in District 12 By Janet Zink St. Petersburg Times Republican Party leaders on Saturday chose former state Rep. Rob Wallace to replace Jim Norman on the November ballot as the state Senate candidate in District 12. BALLOT INITIATIVES Former Florida Secretary of State Browning leads Republican-bankrolled anti-Fair Districts group By Bianca Fortis Florida Independent One particularly heated debate during the current election is the battle over Amendments 5 and 6, which, if passed, would create stricter rules for legislators to follow while redrawing state districts. It's about control: 'Yes' on Amendment 4 puts it in your hands By Byron Keesler Florida Independent In recommending a vote against Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution (Editorial Board recommendations, Oct. 9), the PNJ suggests that amendments to local comprehensive plans are "exactly the sort of thing representative government is supposed to handle." Class-size limits again up for vote By Linda Trimble Daytona Beach News-Journal Linda White and Amy Nowell both voted in 2002 to amend the Florida Constitution to limit the size of classes in the state's public schools. Stand and deliver for students: Vote no on 8 By Karen Aronowitz Miami Herald The Legislature has painted a bull’s eye on our school districts, expecting that parents and teachers will back down from their support of the class-size amendment. Amendment 8: Bait and switch is being used By Rocky Hanna Florida Tmes-Union As a high school principal, I'm charged with ensuring the highest quality education possible to nearly 2,000 students every year. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Should BP’s Money Go Where the Oil Didn’t? By David Segal New York Times In late April, a week after the BP oil spill began, Keith Overton had an alarming encounter with one of his employees here at the TradeWinds Resort. Learn from oil spills or be doomed to repeat them By Chasidy Fisher Hobbs Pensacola News Journal BP has another deepwater rig, Atlantis, in even deeper water than the Deepwater Horizon, with a similar record. So much for the oil spill's impact By Fred Grimm Miami Herald Not only did that giant horrible plume of oil seem to disperse in the Gulf, it disappeared from politics. LGBT Gay adoption ban officially ends, state won't appeal court ruling By Mary Ellen Klas and Mimi Whitefield Miami Herald Frank Martin Gill and his partner breathed a big sigh of relief after learning that Attorney General Bill McCollum on Friday had announced he would not appeal last month's appellate court ruling striking down Florida's 33-year law banning adoptions by gay couples. End of Florida's gay adoption ban increases pool of prospective parents By Georgia East South Florida Sun-Sentinel For 33 years, Florida forced them to hide behind a veil of secrecy. Anti-bullying efforts must specifically address gays Editorial South Florida Sun-Sentinel Out of tragedy often comes progress. EDUCATION Parents say FCAT an unreliable measure of student, school performance By Rebecca Catalanello St. Petersburg Times Related: Poll shows high school parents want AP classes open to all students Tampa Bay parents overwhelmingly believe the state-required FCAT standardized test is an unreliable measure of student and school performance, according to a recent St. Petersburg Times-Bay News 9 poll. Pell Grants popular again By Dave Breitenstein Ft. Myers News-Press Southwest Florida is leading a statewide resurrection of Pell Grants, a historically underutilized program that pays tuition bills and buys textbooks for college students. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Florida's unemployment rate rose to 11.9 percent in September By Jeff Harrington St. Petersburg Times Government was in job creation mode a year ago, in hope that new public sector positions and federal stimulus jobs would lead Florida out of the Great Recession. Stimulus jobs program falls short By Rebecca Basu Florida Today Ten months ago, a stimulus-funded jobs program designed to spark the hiring of low-income citizens filled more than 750 jobs in Brevard County among the 5,500 jobs it generated statewide. HEALTH AND SENIORS Health care on voters' minds By Barbara Peters Smith Sarasota Herald-Tribune Just seven months after President Barack Obama signed into law a historic plan to reform the nation's health care system, Florida's Nov. 2 election is turning into a virtual referendum on whether the state welcomes the new law, or fights it every step of the way. Poll: Americans split on health care repeal By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Jennifer Agiesta The Associated Press An AP-GfK poll finds likely voters split on whether the health-care law should be scrapped or retooled. Cities start employee clinics to keep health care costs down By Bill DiPaolo Palm Beach Post When 12-year-old Anna Koeser hurt her right ankle dancing a few weeks ago, the Delray Beach resident went to the city's health clinic on Northeast Third Avenue. She was X-rayed and fitted with a brace. Halloween Costumes "Mask" Dangers for FL Kids By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida Halloween costumes can be scary - although Florida parents may not realize just how scary. CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES Report: Tea Party Movement Racist By Ralph De La Cruz Florida Center for Investigative Reporting Devin Burghart and Leonard Zeskind have made careers out of ferreting out white nationalists and extemist anti-immigrant groups. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS New Approach to Prison Costs Coming - But Whose? By Margie Menzel WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Republican candidate Rick Scott roiled the governor's race by proposing to slash $1 billion from the Department of Corrections budget - nearly half. Champion of Florida's palatial court once preached frugality By Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Four times Paul M. Hawkes tried to become a judge, four times without success. Inmates' health costing millions By Jay Stapleton Daytona Beach News-Journal The state won't have the expense of trying a man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death, but Christopher Jodon -- who died after he hanged himself in jail -- left behind a medical bill of more than $51,000. Broward School Board won't say why it gave up $507,942 to help developer By Megan O'Matz South Florida Sun-Sentinel Six Broward School Board members voted unanimously in 2007 to forgo $507,942 in fees from a developer without question, without debate. Medicare money paid for posh life, court files show By Jay Weaver Miami Herald Lawrence Duran and Marianella Valera loved spending taxpayers' money.