FLORIDA DIGEST December 18, 2006

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Palm Beach Post

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2006/12/18/m1a_crist_1218.html


Lawmakers applaud governor-elect's fresh views
By S.V. Date
Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
Monday, December 18, 2006


TALLAHASSEE - Still two weeks away from showing Florida how he will rule,Gov.-elect Charlie Crist already has dropped hints as to how he will not: inthe style of his predecessor and fellow Republican Jeb Bush.

In a series of moves, Crist has surprised both Republicans and Democratswith his willingness to depart from positions and attitudes that Bush helddear through eight years in office.


Not just new but different

Gov.-elect Charlie Crist's recent moves hint that his style will differ fromGov. Jeb Bush's. Here's one example:


Access to public records

Crist: Announced plans for a new Office of Open Government within hisadministration to ensure 'full and expeditious compliance' with the state'spublic records and open meetings laws.

Bush: Administration and agencies often added barriers and costs to publicrecords.


Shaping his own identity


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The Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-ssubs18dec18,0,4211966.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines


Turnover of substitute teachers in Broward County linked to low pay
By Douane D. James
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

December 18, 2006


When teachers know they're going to be absent, they often request theirfavorite stand-ins by name.

The most popular substitute teachers, like Herrick Rowan, almost become partof a school staff.

"I call myself the utility man," said Rowan, who regularly subs at PinesMiddle School in Pembroke Pines. "I come onto campus everyday, and whateverthe subjects are, I adjust."

In Broward County schools, a superior substitute teacher is always indemand. Schools use as many as 2,000 subs a day, with a peak period comingbefore FCAT testing, when some teachers get burned out.



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The Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-rxstemb18dec18,0,3726725.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Risk vs. hope: South Floridians go overseas for stem cells
By Nancy McVicar
South Florida Sun-Sentinel Health Writer

December 18, 2006


Kayce Barnes, of Margate, has taken her 7-year-old daughter Brianna to theDominican Republic twice for infusions of stem cells she hopes will keep heralive -- an experimental technique not yet approved in the United States.

Brianna has Batten's disease, a rare, fatal degenerative neurologicalcondition.

"If there's any chance to save my daughter's life," she said, "I'll do it."

Barnes said she made the trips because stem-cell treatments are unavailableor only in early stages in the United States.

Slowed by political opposition, embryonic stem cell research is limited to asmall number of cell lines that qualify for federal research dollars.Private companies have raised more than $440 million to advance their workoutside the confines of federal funding, but for the most part are still inthe early stages of laboratory work and animal experiments.



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From GLSEN South Florida
glsen@glsensouthflorida.org

The Miami-Dade Alliance for GLBTQ Youth is holding a contest for a new logo.See the flyer below. The contest is open to all GLBTQ youth and theirallies (including families, friends, classmates, etc.

Please forward this to your lists. You can download the flyer fromhttp://www.gaypowernet.net/Temp/LogoFlyerdcSmall.jpg.

Please circulate widely. Happy Holidays to all!



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ArtsUnited's Erotic Art Exhibit Opens December 18th

ArtsUnited will produce its third annual Erotic Art Exhibit and benefitat Dudes Bar on December 18, 2006. The one night only exhibition will bringtogether over a dozen local visual artists to show and sell their originalworks. Fabulous prize raffles, paintings, photographs and mixed media artmake this a must-see event!

Dudes is located at 3270 NE 33rd Street in Fort Lauderdale. Exhibit hoursare 6:00 to 8:00 PM only. Admission is by $5.00 donation to ArtsUnited, anonprofit arts organization. Complimentary hors d'oeuvers and 2 for 1 drinksare being offered during the event.




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