FLORIDA DIGEST September 14, 2007

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Please Don't Forget! We need to hear from you!

Florida Red And Blue!!!!

Do your part to fight the right-wing state-wide anti-gay initiativeto amend the Florida constitution.

Friday, September 28, at the GLCC, Ft. Lauderdale - 11:45am to 1:30pm.

Michael and I promised to get a minimum of 10 people to attend thislow dollar boxed lunch - only $25 - to learn about Florida Red And Blue andthe multiple efforts to overcome this hateful amendment. Florida Red andBlue has already raised over $1 million, but our work is only beginning.

Will you support us with this? Every GLBT person in Florida needs to be apart of this effort.

Boxed Lunch Series
$25
Friday, September 28
Noon - 1:30pm
Networking 11:45am
GLCC - Ft. Lauderdale

Send us an e-mail and let us know if you'll join us on the 28th.

And...... If you can't attend, we'll be glad to accept your check made outto "Florida Red and Blue."

Ray and Michael
rays.list@comcast.net



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The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/us/14cops.html?pagewanted=print

September 14, 2007

Florida Gunman Kills Officer and Is Later Slain

By TERRY AGUAYO

MIAMI, Sept. 13 - A Miami-Dade County police officer was killed, and threeother officers were wounded Thursday by a driver who then fled the scene,the authorities said, setting off a manhunt that ended with the suspectbeing killed shortly before midnight.

After a search by land and air that closed streets and locked down an entireneighborhood, the police tracked the suspect, a 25-year-old man theyidentified as Shawn S. Labeet, to an apartment in Pembroke Pines. Fewdetails were available. Cmdr. Linda O'Brien, a police spokeswoman, said Mr.Labeet was armed and had extra ammunition.

Mayor Carlos Alvarez of Miami-Dade County earlier described Mr. Labeet as"an extremely violent individual that we don't need out there in ourcommunity."

The officers who were shot were working on burglary surveillance in CutlerBay, a suburb about 20 miles south of downtown Miami, when they tried topull over Mr. Labeet around 11 a.m. for driving erratically, the policesaid. Mr. Labeet stepped out of the car and opened fire with an assaultrifle, hitting all four, they said, then drove off.

The officer who was killed was identified as Jose Somohano, 37, who wasmarried and had two children. The wounded officers were identified as JodyWright, 31; Christopher Carlin, 34; and Tomas Tundidor, 37.

more . . . . .



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MiamiHerald.com

http://www.miamiherald.com/775/v-print/story/236633.html

Posted on Thu, Sep. 13, 2007

Legislature to meet Oct. 3-12 to cut budget

BRENT KALLESTAD

The Florida Legislature will try to balance the state's checkbook during arescheduled special session in Tallahassee next month after Republicanleaders said Thursday they're close to an agreement that would eliminate a$1.5 billion shortfall.

Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio announced jointlythat the agenda for the Oct. 3 to 12 session will be set next week, butnoted "significant progress has been made to establish a general frameworkfor reducing state spending."

However, Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller, D-Cooper City, said he wastold no parameters had been agreed to but that GOP leaders were confidentthey were close enough to a deal to call the session.

"It's very clear to me they have not reached any final decisions," Gellersaid. "To my understanding, this is a legislative agreement that has beenreached that has had minimal input from the governor."

Geller also said Republicans must also find some more money, becauseDemocrats will not agree to any deal that just cuts services.

more . . . . .



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FortReport.com

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/OPINION/709140325/1004/opinion&template=printart

September 14, 2007

Our view: Don't slash colleges

BCC would be hurt under Crist's plan to load budget cuts on higher ed

Higher education in Florida is in a battle for dollars that doesn't bodewell for the state's economic future.

Or for the kind of education Brevard County students will receive at stateinstitutions.

That's because Gov. Charlie Crist is targeting universities and collegeswith a proposal for painful cuts.

All state agencies know they have to tighten their belts this year becauseof revenue losses from the stagnant housing and construction industries.

But Crist wants to single out higher education for a $272 million hit -- a6.2 percent cut that's nearly double the 3.6 percent cuts he proposes forthe state budget overall.

more . . . . .



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Sun-Sentinel.com

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-editgssheriffnbsep14,0,7842995,print.story

Elect, don't appoint, a sheriff

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board
September 14, 2007

ISSUE: Some want sheriff to be appointed.

Imagine there are a couple of interesting candidates for sheriff of BrowardCounty.

One is a career politician. Smooth, good connections, fine administrator,maybe a tad too slick, but knows how to get things accomplished.

The other is a career cop. Street officers love him. He knows firsthand thedangers cops face every day. He's not a schmoozer, but has paid his dues.

Do you have the smarts to analyze these candidates and make a decision onwho should be sheriff? If so, you should be very much against any effort tomake the sheriff an appointed position. This should definitely remain anelected position.

In the wake of the Ken Jenne debacle, there is a growing clamor for anappointed sheriff - somebody with professional experience, somebody whowouldn't be campaigning for your vote, somebody who wouldn't be beholden tospecial interests. Some officials and residents wanted the Charter ReviewCommission to consider putting the question of an appointed sheriff to thevoters next year. That apparently won't happen, although County MayorJosephus Eggelletion said he will have county attorneys explore the idea.

But remember this - an appointed sheriff would be employed at the bidding ofthe County Commission, not the voters. If you think you are going to removepolitics from the equation, you are mistaken.

more . . . . .



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Next week is Thank GLAAD It's Friday - Miami - September 21

Thank GLAAD It's Friday - October 19

http://www.glaad.org/events/detail.php?event_id=126

Check it out!!


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