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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cdockets07oct07,0,1309957.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
272 Broward County felony cases were kept from the public
Chief judge has them reinstated to county's record
By Jon Burstein
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 7, 2006
Dozens of felony cases in Broward County -- ranging from burglary tomurder -- had their existence wiped from the public record until recently,the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has learned.
All traces of 272 criminal cases dating back to 1988 vanished from citizens'view. The defendants' names and their criminal charges became public againlast month after Broward Chief Judge Dale Ross issued an order instructingBroward Clerk of the Courts Howard Forman on how to handle the records.
Before the order, anyone checking those defendants' backgrounds foremployment, housing or other reasons, would not have been told about thecases by the Clerk of the Courts' Office.
Forman said any mention of those cases had been removed from his publiccomputer system after judges issued orders sealing them. That was theoffice's policy long before he became clerk of the courts in 2001 and it hadbecome clerical procedure, he said.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.democracynow.org/print.pl?sid=06/10/05/1429248
Palm Beach Gardens to Study Domestic Partner Benefits
Press Release
Rand Hoch
Palm Beach County Human Rights Council
www.pgchrc.org
Oct 6, 2006
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL-Palm Beach Gardens is considering offering City employees with domestic partners the same health insurance, sick leave, bereavement leave, family medical leave and other family benefits currently available only to married employees.
Last month Rand Hoch, Founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) was invited by the City Council to make a presentation at tonight's meeting.
PBCHRC is a nonprofit organization which has been successful in encouraging public employers through out the County to offer domestic partner benefits.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-sisteroct07,0,2479232.story
Foley's loyal sister crushed
E-mail scandal `is killing her family,' husband says
By Liz Doup
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 7, 2006
She was always by his side.
At news conferences, on the campaign trail, even at the Lake Worth ChristmasParade.
And when her brother, former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, resigned from thepolitical post they fought so hard to win, she was there.
Donna Winterson, Foley's oldest sister, helped push him up the politicalladder during his nearly three decades in public office. She was hiscampaign manager, travel companion and confidante.
And now ...
"I don't think she can even talk about it," says her husband, Stu Winterson,a retired police sergeant who steps from their Lake Worth home to explainhis wife isn't doing interviews. "She has a heavy heart. The whole thing iskilling her family."
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-dobama07oct07,0,2767786.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Jim Davis gets a little help from Illinois' star senator Barack Obama
By Madeline Baro Diaz
Miami Bureau
October 7, 2006
MIAMI GARDENS · U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, a rising star in the DemocraticParty, brought some celebrity power to South Florida on Friday to boost hisparty's gubernatorial candidates.
Obama, of Chicago, energized a crowd of about 400 at a rally held forgubernatorial candidate Jim Davis and running mate Daryl Jones at FloridaMemorial University. Former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek of Miami and otherDemocratic dignitaries joined them.
"He's real young," said junior Bill Walls, 20, who registered to vote thisweek. "I love the way he speaks. I just look at him like, `Man, I hope oneday I can speak as well as he does.'"
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600937_pf.html
Victim Advocates, Fla. Diocese Urge Foley to Name Alleged Abuser
By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 7, 2006; A06
The Roman Catholic diocese of Palm Beach, Fla., and national advocacy groupsfor victims of sexual abuse called yesterday for former representative MarkFoley (R-Fla.) to give police the name of the clergyman who allegedly abusedhim as a teenager.
"He should absolutely report the perpetrator, living or dead," said DavidClohessy, national director of the 7,000-member Survivors Network of ThoseAbused by Priests. "He should do it now, not when his civil lawyer says itis convenient. Every day that a molester walks free is a day when he canhurt other kids."
Foley's attorney, David Roth, told reporters Tuesday that the formercongressman, who was raised as a Catholic, was molested by a clergyman whenhe was 13 to 15 years old. But Roth did not name the clergyman, and Palm Beach police said they have not received any report of the abuse.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pwarrant07oct07,0,6801209.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Delray priest admits taking Easter collections and other church money, says warrant
Retired cleric claimed he was not paid properly, police say.
By Jerome Burdi and Chrystian Tejedor
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 7, 2006
Delray Beach · Greeted by police set to arrest him on grand theft charges atPalm Beach International Airport last month, the Rev. John Skehan "blurtedout that he had misappropriated money" from St. Vincent Ferrer CatholicChurch, a search warrant released Friday shows.
Skehan admitted several times that he misdirected money from the church, buttold investigators he saw himself as the CEO of a multimillion-dollarcompany who wasn't properly compensated, the warrant shows.
"Skehan gave his opinion that he was never properly paid by the diocese, hewas running a big business and getting nothing for it," the search warrantsays. " ... He took what he had coming to him, as the diocese was cheap andnever paid for his education."
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http://www.browardsoe.org/VoterRegistration.aspx?
Link to Broward Voter Registration Form
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/15700669.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
IN MY OPINION
GOP's hoping Foley mud bath won't sink Shaw
By BETH REINHARD
breinhard@MiamiHerald.com
The nation's electricity bill must be going through the roof, consideringthe amount of light and heat expended on former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley'stransgressions.
Democrats wrench their backs stretching to broad-brush Foley's wrongdoingover the whole GOP. Republicans throw each other under the bus to steerclear of any blame. Gay bashers point to Foley as evidence ofhomosexuality's dark side.
And everyone gets on TV.
There's not a shower out there long enough or hot enough to counter the mudbath, between Foley's lurid Internet messages to teens, check-in to alcoholrehabilitation, and claim that he was molested by a clergy member. Now thequestion is who else gets dirty -- besides Speaker of the House DennisHastert, accused of sweeping hints of Foley's conduct under the rug.
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http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061007/NEWS01/610070341/1010/NEWS01&template=printart
Davis works the fundraising circuit
By Aaron Deslatte
FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU
When Charlie Crist didn't show for a forum at the Florida Children's SummitFriday, Democrat Jim Davis quickly chided theRepublican was more "committed to finding enough money for his TV ads."
But Davis has been no slouch himself on the fundraising circuit.
The Democratic nominee for governor reported on Friday that he raised justmore than $419,000 last week.
Crist, the Republican nominee, raised $548,000 for the same period, but theshowing is the closest Davis has come to matching his better-funded opponentsince the first week after the primary.
Republicans control all the levers of power in Florida politics andtraditionally have had deeper-pocketed supporters.
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/columnists/orl-owens0706oct07,0,6129520.column?coll=orl-news-col
COMMENTARY
Harris attack on Nelson is insult to faith
Darryl E. Owens
COMMENTARY
October 7, 2006
Legend has it that just before the battle at Mulvian Bridge near Rome, afiery cross blazed in the sky above Constantine the Great.
Constantine saw it as a sign and adopted the cross as his insignia.
In a skirmish that historians view as the turning point for Christianity,Constantine triumphed.
Maybe U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris was going for some of that Constantinekarma this week. The Republican senatorial candidate took up a cross and setafire the notion that incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson was truly a manof faith.
Nelson "claims to be a Christian," she told a Christian news service, sayinghe must answer for a voting record that is "completely contrary to what wesay we believe."
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/15699476.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Posted on Sat, Oct. 07, 2006
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 22
Around Broward County
Shaw, Klein to debate at open forum Tuesday
A debate between two congressional candidates in one of Florida's tightest races is scheduled for Tuesday in Coral Springs. U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, the Republican incumbent, will go head-to-head with Democratic state Sen. Ron Klein.
The District 22 seat includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The debate is open to the public and is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Michael Putney, a reporter for WPLG-ABC 10, will moderate.
It will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Dr.
For information, call 954-735-1311 or log onto
http://www.lwvfla.org/election2006.html.
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Early Voting - October 23-November 5
BROWARD COUNTY SITES:
African-American Research Library
2650 Sistrunk Blvd. (NW 6 Street)
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33311-8658
Davie/Cooper City Branch Library
4600 SW 82 Avenue
Davie , FL 33328-3708
Deerfield Beach North Regional Satellite Courthouse
1600 W. Hillsboro Boulevard, Room 170
Deerfield Beach , FL 33442-1655
Deerfield Beach , Percy White Branch
837 E. Hillsboro Boulevard
Deerfield Beach , FL 33441-3521
Hallandale Beach City Hall
400 S. Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach , FL 33009-6433
Hollywood Branch Library
2600 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood , FL 33020-4807
Hollywood Satellite Courthouse
3550 Hollywood Boulevard , Room 180
Hollywood , FL 33021-6893
Imperial Point Branch Library
5985 N. Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33308-2660
Lauderhill Mall
1241 N.W. 40 Avenue, Bay 80-K
Lauderhill , FL 33313-5894
Main Library
100 S. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33301-1830
North Regional Library/BCC
1100 Coconut Creek Boulevard
Coconut Creek , FL 33066-1647
Northwest Regional Library
3151 University Drive
Coral Springs , FL 33065-6134
Oakland Park Library
1298 N.E. 37 Street
Oakland Park , FL 33334-4569
Parkland City Hall
6600 University Drive
Parkland , FL 33067-2500
Pembroke Pines City Hall
10100 Pines Boulevard
Pembroke Pines , FL 33324-6037
Plantation West Regional Courthouse
100 N. Pine Island Road , Room 130
Plantation , FL 33324-7805
Pompano Beach Library
1213 E. Atlantic Boulevard
Pompano Beach , FL 33060-7405
Southwest Regional Library
16835 Sheridan Street
Pembroke Pines , FL 33331-2008
Tamarac Branch Library
8701 W. Commercial Boulevard
Tamarac , FL 33321-4310
Weston Branch Library
4205 Bonaventure Boulevard
Weston , FL 33332-2111
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http://www.browardsoe.org/AbsenteeRequest2.aspx
Link to request an absentee ballot - Broward County
Absentee ballots are mailed approximately 30 days prior to each election tothose voters who have requested an absentee ballot.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS CANNOT BE FORWARDED. If you will not be at your BrowardCounty address, please complete the MAIL BALLOT TO portion of this form withthe address to which you want the ballot mailed.
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http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061007/CAPITOLNEWS/610070339/1010/NEWS01
Stealth group gives GOP largest check of year
By Aaron Deslatte
FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU
Floridians for Truth and Integrity in Government, the stealth group that raised millions of dollars to blow Republican Tom Gallagher out of the gubernatorial primary, has cut state Republicans their biggest check of the year.
Known as an electioneering communications organization, the soft-money group whose biggest contributors included U.S. Sugar Corp., TECO Energy and Cape Coral developer Greg Eagle gave $1.1 million to the state Republican Party on Sept. 22, records show.
The largest single check the state party had previously received was $1 million from the Republican Governors Association on Sept. 6.
"We've gotten donations from thousands of groups across Florida, and we're enthusiastic about the support there has been for the party," GOP spokesman Jeff Sadosky said.
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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbccentral/content/local_news/epaper/2006/10/07/s1a_gopgay_1007.html
Foley, in closet, quietly championed gay rights
By Larry Lipman
Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau
Saturday, October 07, 2006
WASHINGTON - It was on a Wednesday night in July 2001 that then-Rep. Mark Foley brought the U.S. House to a screeching halt on a gay-rights issue.
The issue was whether faith-based initiatives should be exempt from local ordinances, such as those in Palm Beach County and West Palm Beach, that prohibit hiring discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation.
Foley opposed the proposed exemption and led a rump revolt of moderate Republicans that delayed the measure for more than a day, though ultimately it was unsuccessful.
Although it was widely seen as a gay issue, the Fort Pierce Republican portrayed it as a fight over local and state anti-discrimination laws. It was typical of how Foley sought to publicly obscure his sexual orientation.
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