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From Paul Harris
Publisher
The Independent
pharris@ourindependent.com
The Independent is delighted to announce "The Indy Lunch." The first onewill be this Thursday - March 15 - at 12 noon at the wonderful Thairestaurant Galangas which is at 2389 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Galangaswill be offering us a varied and interesting menu.
Our guest speaker for the first lunch is Ken Keechl. He is the newly electedCounty Commissioner for the district that incorporates a large part ofEastern Broward including large chunks of Wilton Manors, and Oakland Park.Ken Keechl, with his election last November against a veteran Republicanpolitician, became the highest ever elected 'out' gay official in the Stateof Florida. He was recently presented with an Award by the GLCC at their"Stars of the Rainbow Evening" and is a former president of the DolphinDemocrats.
To make reservations call 954 732 3529 ASAP. The lunch costs $25 andincludes the meal and beverage. There is also a bar from which beers andwines can be purchased. Please have your credit card ready when you makeyour reservation.
We look forward to presenting this monthly series and offering people anopportunity to meet leading members of the GLBT community as well as hearingfrom a series of interesting speakers during the course of the year.
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Just for him
Men's HEALTH Issues Conference
Free Conference; INVITATION FOR HEALTH RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS.
This conference will address the roles and perceptions of the Hispanic men
in today's society and their effects in the decision making process, as it
relates to health issues including HIV/AIDS/STDs.
WHEN Friday, March 16TH, 2007
TIME 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
(Breakfast and Lunch are included)
WHERE Florida International University, North Campus
Kovens Conference Center
3000 NE 151 Street, Miami FL 33181
RSVP REQUIRED - Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the application.
CONFERENCE COORDINATOR
Sandra Colón
Hispanic AIDS Awareness Program
Phone (305) 860-0780
Toll-free (888) 246-7432
Fax (305) 860-0580
haap@emservices.com
www.HispanicAIDS.org
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/569/v-print/story/39806.html
Posted on Tue, Mar. 13, 2007
Tax revenue shortfall: $1 billion
BY GARY FINEOUT
Florida's big-time budget boom, sparked by a flurry of rebuilding afterdevastating storms and soaring property values, has ended, leading to thefirst time in more than 30 years that the state is expected to collect lessin taxes than it had the previous year.
State economists said Monday that tax collections for the current budgetyear, which ends June 30, continued to drop below previous estimates andwould force the state to dip into reserves in order to balance the budget.They also projected that things may get better next year, but only slightly.
The bottom line: Florida lawmakers will have nearly $1 billion less to spendin the coming year when drawing up a new state budget. Legislators won'thave to resort to steep budget cuts, because the state has nearly $3 billionin reserves it can use.
But the bad news puts lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist on a collisioncourse. There probably won't be enough to pay for everything Crist wants,which includes a $1.3 billion increase for public schools, millions for newprison construction, a freeze on tuition increases and millions for taxcuts.
The new forecasts show that the state will have only about $1.6 billionavailable for new spending on most programs.
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The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-electionsbroward,0,663674.storygallery
Candidate profiles for the March 13 elections in Broward County
West Park candidates upbeat on the future
West Park · They want many of the same things. A City Hall. A welcome signemblazoned with the city's name. A fair contract with the Broward Sheriff's Office.
A permanent city attorney. A thriving commercial strip on State Road 7. Acommunity where different ethnic groups get along.
Oakland Park race for Seat 2 stays calm
Oakland Park · Residents who may be used to highly contested elections areexperiencing an unusually calm race between two candidates who want to win aCity Commission seat.
In serene Sea Ranch Lakes, 4 candidates seek 3 seats in first race since '97
Sea Ranch Lakes · For the first time in a decade, voters will hit the pollsto choose their Village Council members.
Sunrise candidates want to take city down different paths to the future
Sunrise · With varied political experience, the three candidates competingfor a seat on the Sunrise Commission promise starkly divergent approaches towriting the next chapter of the city's history.
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MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Election Day: March 13
Polling hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
. Cities in Broward County: Cooper City, Dania Beach, Davie, DeerfieldBeach, Hallandale Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Miramar, Oakland Park, PompanoBeach, Sea Ranch Lakes, Sunrise, West Park
. Cities in Palm Beach County: Briny Breezes, Delray Beach, Juno Beach,Jupiter, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Park, Lake Worth, Loxahatchee Groves,North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, South Palm Beach, Tequesta, West Palm Beach
. Elections previews for Broward.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-electionsbroward,0,663674.storygallery
. Election previews for Palm Beach County
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-electionspalm,0,7158482.storygallery
. Editorial Board endorsements for Broward
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-browardendorsements,0,4949128.storygallery
. Editorial Board endorsements for Palm Beach County
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-palmendorsements,0,754723.storygallery
. Web site for Broward County supervisor of elections: www.browardsoe.org
. Web site for Palm Beach County supervisor of elections: www.pbcelections.org
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Palm Beach Post
http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Crist+looks+to+make+global+warming+a+hot-button+issue&expire=&urlID=21514278&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.palmbeachpost.com%2Fstate%2Fcontent%2Fstate%2Fepaper%2F2007%2F03%2F13%2Fm1a_xgr_warming_0313.html&partnerID=494
Crist looks to make global warming a hot-button issue
By Kristi E. Swartz
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - After Jeb Bush listened to researchers make a case last yearfor the theory that global warming is causing an increase in the number ofstrong hurricanes, he remained noncommittal about what he thought of theconcept.
But there have been reports of the former governor joking with reportersthat he refused to see Al Gore's movie on global warming.
Last week, Gov. Charlie Crist made it clear the state's attitude on thatissue is going to change.
Not only is An Inconvenient Truth the last movie he saw, but he said Fridayin West Palm Beach that Gore's Oscar-winning movie helped convince him thatglobal warming is a problem that "I think we have a duty" to help solve.
He doesn't care who contributed to the rising sea levels along Florida'scoastlines or the slight rise in the Earth's temperature - he just wants itto be stopped.
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Palm Beach Post
http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Ex-Army+officer+may+challenge+Klein&expire=&urlID=21514359&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.palmbeachpost.com%2Fpbcsouth%2Fcontent%2Flocal_news%2Fepaper%2F2007%2F03%2F13%2Fs3b_congress_0313.html&partnerID=494
Ex-Army officer may challenge Klein
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
A retired Army officer who drew national headlines in 2003 when he fired apistol near an Iraqi detainee during an interrogation is weighing aRepublican bid for the congressional seat of U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-BocaRaton.
Retired Lt. Col. Allen West, who is in Afghanistan as a private contractoradvising the Afghan army, said Monday he plans to decide in May when hereturns to South Florida on leave.
West, 46, was criticized by some and called a hero by others in 2003 when hefired a pistol into a barrel near the head of an Iraqi who was beingquestioned about his knowledge of plans to ambush U.S. forces.
The Army relieved West of his command and fined him $5,000 after theincident. He retired after 20 years of service as a lieutenant colonel withan honorable discharge and is receiving his full Army pension.
More than 140,000 people signed an online petition to exonerate him, andU.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and other lawmakers defended his actions. Westgot a hero's welcome in 2004 when he spoke to a packed Boca Raton RepublicanClub luncheon.
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Palm Beach Post
http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Crist+signs+pet+bill++all+over+Florida&expire=&urlID=21514301&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.palmbeachpost.com%2Fstate%2Fcontent%2Fstate%2Fepaper%2F2007%2F03%2F13%2FM10A_XGR_antimurder_0313.html&partnerID=494
Crist signs pet bill all over Florida
By Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist signed his priority crime bill into lawMonday, fulfilling a campaign pledge just one week into the 2007 legislativesession.
Crist held ceremonial bill signings throughout the state in the vicinitiesof several high-profile murders, including Tampa and Deltona, beforereturning to the Capitol to officially sign SB 146 into law.
He was joined during the day by lawmakers, law enforcement officers, cityofficials and John Walsh, father of murder victim Adam Walsh and host oftelevision's America's Most Wanted.
The new law, which went into effect when Crist signed it at the Capitolcourtyard, requires judges and sheriffs to keep violent criminals whoviolate probation behind bars until a judge deems in writing that they arenot a threat to the community.
"Doubtful any judge would do that," Crist said at a bill signing in FortLauderdale.
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TBO.com
http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=School+Bully+Bill+Needs+More+Teeth%2C+Group+Says&expire=&urlID=21516363&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tbo.com%2Fnews%2Fmetro%2FMGBBGW8T7ZE.html&partnerID=97476
School Bully Bill Needs More Teeth, Group Says
By JOSH POLTILOVE The Tampa Tribune
Published: Mar 13, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - A proposal designed to prevent bullying in Florida's schoolsis too vague to protect all students because it doesn't specifically addresssexual orientation, physical appearance or gender expression, a gay rightsgroup argued Monday.
Members of nonprofit statewide gay rights group Equality Florida, state Rep.Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, and a Miami educator spoke Monday of the need toadd those forms of bullying to the bill.
Sexual, religious and racial harassment are listed as examples of bullying.But the bill needs more examples of harassment and prohibited behavior,because leaving their interpretation to school administrators, counselors orteachers will allow bullying to continue, Miami high school guidancecounselor Lisa La Monica said.
Michael Freincle, who said he faced bullying because of his sexualorientation and religion while a Brandon High student, said lawmakers needto try harder to protect everyone in the bill.
"We can't shy away from the biggest problems," he said after Monday's newsconference. "If that means waiting one more year for the legislators towisen up, then it means one more year."
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=11520&z=3&p
New law to keep some teens off sex offender registry
David Sutta
Last updated on: 3/9/2007 9:10:30 PM
WMP 9 or higher required
LEE COUNTY: A new bill introduced in the Florida Legislature could keep
teens off the sexual offender registration list under certain circumstances.It has the support of many in the Southwest Florida law enforcementcommunity.
Right now there are more than 40,000 people of all ages on Florida's sexualoffender registry. Many are teens that were involved in consensual sex.
If someone is 17 years-old and their partner is 15 years-old - that personjust committed a crime and will likely have to register as a sex offenderfor the next 20 years. Meaning they will appear on the same online list aspeople like John Couey - the man who was just convicted of raping andkilling 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.
"I worry about us making criminals out of kids who made very bad choices.But are they really a threat to the community? Where one teenager happenedto be a couple of years older than the other. When they are put on thewebsite, the public sees this and they don't know the difference. They arelooking at all of them as dangerous individuals and many times they we'rejust two teenagers making very bad choices," said Detective Gary Chrisman,Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
Now some legislators are looking to change the sex offender law.
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