FLORIDA DIGEST November 4, 2007

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Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flb3bdigest11041nbnov04,0,1430543.story

This Tuesday: - Nov. 6

Davie: Legal rights for sexual minorities topic of speech

November 4, 2007

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force,will speak at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center onTuesday as part of the 2007 Goodwin Symposium on sexuality, morality and thelaw.

Foreman's speech, "30 Years After Anita Bryant's Crusade: The ContinuingRole of Morality in the Development of Legal Rights for Sexual Minorities,"will address how views about morality have evolved since Anita Bryant'santi-gay rights campaign in the 1970s and to what extent morality influencesthe laws impacting sexual minorities in the United States and abroad.

The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. in the Large Lecture Hall, 3305 CollegeAve. It is free but reservations are required. Visit www.nsulaw.nova.edu



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Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editgswaternbnov03,0,2380433.story?track=rss

Water crisis even worse elsewhere

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board
November 3, 2007

ISSUE: Southern states sharing water woes.

It's small consolation, but if you think South Florida's drought is bad, youonly have to look a bit north to find a worse situation.

The drought in Atlanta and the surrounding region is so bad, it is estimatedwater supplies for some cities in Georgia could be running out in 90 days.

Thus, following a summit with the governors of three states and the Bushadministration, Georgia gets the best of a temporary respite in the waterbattle between Florida, Alabama and Georgia that has been waged in courtsince 1990. For now at least, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommendssending less water to Alabama and Florida from Georgia reservoirs.

The plan to slow the flow from the reservoirs that eventually reach Floridais being criticized, particularly in North Florida, where oysters are dyingreportedly because of high salinity in Apalachicola Bay. Gov. Charlie Cristhad sent a letter to President Bush saying that low water flows arethreatening the commercial seafood industry in the Panhandle.

But the water needs of a major metropolitan area rightfully get precedenceat this time. And while the latest battle in the water wars is being foughtnorth of here, South Florida needs to learn from the crisis, and realize itcould get serious here, too, especially in terms of agricultural irrigationneeds.

more . . . . .



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Palm Beach Post

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/tcoast/epaper/2007/11/04/m4c_mccaneside_1104.html

Gas stations still out of compliance with generator law

By JASON SCHULTZ
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 04, 2007

As the state struggles to find the money to install generators atspecial-needs shelters, it continues to lag behind in the number of gasstations required under a 2006 law to be better prepared for hurricanes.

The law required large gas stations along evacuation routes to installgenerators, or at least be wired to use a portable generator, by this pastJune 1. As of last week, however, only 81 percent of the 978 retail gasstations statewide had complied, according to state officials.

In Martin County, 15 of the 17 required stations had complied, but in St.Lucie, only 17 of 28 had done so. Okeechobee was also lagging, with eight ofthe required 13 stations in compliance.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs spokesman Terence McElroysaid most stations that have not complied are in the process of havingwiring installed.

Failure to comply is a second-degree misdemeanor, but McElroy said the statehas not taken any of the stations to court.

more . . . . .



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Jupiter Courier

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/nov/04/ways-to-cheatbi/

Treasure Coast schools crack down on students' high-tech cheating methods

By Kelly Tyko
Sunday, November 4, 2007

Students still are using old-fashioned ways to cheat on exams, but now theyalso have an arsenal of high-tech devices at their fingertips.

Rather than hide cheat sheets in their sleeves, modern technology allowsstudents to download the answers onto an iPod. Students might still whisperto one another during the test, but they also can trade answers by typingtext messages with cell phones.

"At this school and probably at every school in the nation, both high schooland college, using electronic media of some sort to cheat happensperiodically and maybe even regularly," said Jack Valerio, an assistantprincipal at Martin County High School.

To combat the problem, Treasure Coast schools have banned iPods and otherMP3 players from their campuses. Schools have also warned students of theconsequences of getting caught with a cell phone -- especially during examtimes.

In the spring, when students throughout the state take the FloridaComprehensive Assessment Test, they risk their exam being invalidated ifcaught with a cell phone or other electronic device.

more . . . . .



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The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus of the Florida DemocraticParty has called on U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa to withdraw herendorsement of a St. Petersburg City Council candidate who expressed lack ofsympathy with gay rights causes.

The candidate, Gershom Faulkner, is outreach director for Castor.The caucus made its request in a letter Saturday to Castor from MichaelAlbetta, president of the Florida GLBT Caucus.

According to the letter, Faulkner said during an Aug. 16 appearance beforethe Pinellas gay Democratic group that he considers homosexuality a lifestyle "preference" or "choice"; he won't attend the annual St. PetePride celebration; he won't oppose the proposed state constitutionalamendment "that would write discrimination into Florida's Constitution" bylimiting marriage to men and women; that he won't support repealing Florida's ban on gay adoptions or gay foster parents; and won't oppose prohibitingstraight-gay alliance organizations in public schools.

Contact Castor At:
Washington Office
317 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202)225-3376
Fax: (202)225-5652

Tampa Office
4144 N Armenia Ave
Suite 300
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: (813)871-2817
Fax: (813)871-2864

To email Rep. Castor, please click here
http://www.house.gov/writerep/


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