Thursday, March 27, 2008

FLORIDA DIGEST March 27, 2008

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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Florida Legislature makes formal apology for slavery
TALLAHASSEE - In a watershed moment in Florida's race relations, a solemnstate Legislature on Wednesday apologized for the Florida's long history ofslavery, expressing "profound regret for the shameful chapter in thisstate's history."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0326slavery-resolution,0,5482563.story

-Activist offers formula to end Florida primary dispute
WASHINGTON SANTA ANA, Calif. GREENSBURG, Pa. - Some Florida Democraticactivists have come up with a new political equation that they hope willcount at least half the state's delegates at the party's nationalconvention. But the new math could be a problem for Sen. Hillary Clinton. Itwould shrink her presumed delegate lead in Florida to 6, from 38.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flacampaignwatch0326sbmar26,0,7428945.story


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-State House OK's $1.2M for cleared inmate
The state House unanimously voted to pay $1.24 million to compensate AlanCrotzer, who spent 24 years in a Florida prison for two rapes he didn'tcommit.
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/471709.html

-Church-state battle heads to the ballot
A state tax panel approved a plan to remove the constitutional ban on usingstate money to help religious groups, igniting a church-state ballot fight.
TALLAHASSEE -- Wading into a church-state fight, a powerful Florida taxcommission decided Wednesday to ask voters if the state should become thefirst in the nation to remove constitutional language that clearly prohibitsspending public money on religious institutions.
http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/471730.html

-Proposed ban on gay marriage sparks debate
The main sponsor of a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage saidWednesday all "aberrant forms of marriage" might become legal unless Floridavoters adopt his proposal at the polls next November.
http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080327/CAPITOLNEWS/803280310

-House cravenly caves in to NRA
The National Rifle Association does not take no for an answer, and theFlorida House meekly surrendered Wednesday. Without a word of debate,lawmakers voted to give gun owners an absolute right to take their weaponsto work and to the store. By caving in to the NRA after two years of holdingfirm, legislators trampled on the rights of private property owners. Asimilar bill has been filed in the Senate, and it probably will be left toGov. Charlie Crist to restore sanity and veto this affront to public safety.
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article432666.ece


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Jeb, via proxies, finally wins voucher fight
The state's Taxation and Budget Review Commission entered the centuries-oldbattle of church versus state Wednesday, narrowly agreeing to give votersthe chance in November to remove the constitutional ban on using taxpayermoney for religious-based institutions.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080326/BLOG29/187518206/1006/SPORTS

-Evolution Dissent Advances
TALLAHASSEE - It's not about letting religion creep into science classrooms,Sen. Ronda Storms insisted.
It's about protecting the rights of students and teachers who don't agreewith the science behind Darwinian evolution, the Republican from Valricoargued before the Senate's pre-k through 12 education committee voted 4-1Wednesday to approve the bill.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/27/me-evolution-bill-moves-forward/?news-politics

-Hundreds dying annually in Florida due to lack of health insurance
Six Florida adults die every day because they lack health insurance andFlorida appears to have one of the highest death rates due to its uninsuredpopulation, according to a national healthcare consumer group.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/mar/26/report-lack-medical-insurance-spells-doom-6-florid/


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Palm Beach Human Rights Council
http://www.pbchrc.org/
www.pbchrc.org

-Record Number Sponsor Florida Gay Rights Legislation
A record number of Florida lawmakers are asking their colleagues to considerlegislation prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians in publicand private employment, housing, and public accommodations. "For the firsttime in Florida's history, thirty-seven legislators are seeking to insurethat gay men and lesbians living and working in our state be afforded thesame rights as all other Floridians," said retired judge Rand Hoch. Hochserves as President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, anon-profit organization which has been in the forefront of Florida's gayrights movement since 1988. Senator Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) hasintroduced S. 572 which would amend the Florida Civil Rights Act andFlorida's Fair Housing Act to include "sexual orientation."


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From Mark's List
http://frontpage.jumponmarkslist.com/index-1.html

-The 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards will take place on Saturday, April 12,2008, from 5:00 PM to 11:59 PM - 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Cocktail Reception &Silent Auction; 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM - VIP Dinner; 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM - MediaAwards Show; 10:30 PM - 12:00 AM - VIP Celebrity After Party, at theSeminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood. $250.00General Admission; $350.00 VIP; $1,500.00 Patron. For further informationplease go to www.glaad.org/mediaawards. Wilson Cruz will receive theVisibilidad Award.

-The next Women's Business Networker takes place on Thursday, April 3rd from6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. presented by MDGLCC and Ultra/Pandora Events. Thismonth they meet at Chamber Member Books & Books in Coral Gables (265 AragonAve. Coral Gables, FL 33134; 305-442-4408). Member Jessica Kizorek of TwoParrot Productions will be discussing her first book "Show Me" along withtheir friend Bruce Turkel from Turkel Marketing. Admission for Members is$5; potential members $10. For more information call (305) 573-4000 or(305) 495-6969

-Compass of the Palm Beaches presents the 15th Annual Pride Festival of thePalm Beaches on Saturday and Sunday March 29th and 30th from 12 to 6pm bothdays at Bryant Park in Lake Worth.

-Peter Burke's monthly Gay Tea Cruise! will set sail once again Sunday,April 6th (3 - 6 P.M.) aboard the newly renovated "Musette" Yacht. Asalways, there will be surprises keeping it a new experience every month.
Just to view the beauiful homes and yachts on the intracoastal makes this aworth while experience, not mention the friendly "gay" crowd of all agesincluding monthly regulars, new sailors and visitors from all over theworld. This cruise will star Joe Posa as Liza, featuring Deja, Rod Stephensand the other hot boys. DJ Izzy will be spinning the perfect mix of dancevocals while Chef Sherri promises to mix up a variety of sumptuous HorsD'oeuvres. Tickets on line at www.GayTeaCruise.com or call Peter954-649-1107.

-United Way of Broward presents "All That Jazz & More on the Drive" onSaturday, March 29th from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 P.M. at Hagen Park, 2020 WiltonDrive, Wilton Manors. For information please call: Jennifer Storey at954-462-4850, ext. 115 or email her at jstorey@unitedwaybroward.org UnitedWay's traditional wine tasting event has been given a new name and locationto attract the entire community.


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