FLORIDA DIGEST May 2, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


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

-Saturday: Community Flea Market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Gay and LesbianCommunity Center, 1717 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-463-9005.

-Friday: The Stonewall Library and Archives will host its monthly filmseries "Behind the Lavender Screen: Cinema Classics," featuring the romanticcomedy, Pillow Talk at 7 p.m. today. The screening will take place insidethe library, at 1717 N. Andrews Ave. Stonewall is one of the nation'sleading libraries on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender culture andhistory. The event is free and open to the public. Call 954-763-8565.

-Las Olas restaurant becomes third in Mark's group to close in recent weeks
Group recently shut down two other sites
Mark's Las Olas, a Fort Lauderdale foodie favorite since 1994, unexpectedlywent out of business Thursday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzmarks0502sbmay02,0,5417818.story

-Florida House slashes school funding to balance budget
The Florida House approved a $66.2 billion budget Thursday that carvesdeeply into school funding and an array of health-care programs as a resultof the biggest one-year drop in revenue in state history.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flfbudget0502pnmay02,0,3696820.story

-Deerfield commission resumes clergy-led prayers at meetings
DEERFIELD BEACH - Under heavy political pressure, city commissioners haveresumed clergy-led prayer during public meetings and will partner with theconservative Liberty Counsel, which will defend the city free of charge iflawsuits challenge the decision.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdeerfield0502sbmay02,0,7404729.story

-Finally, Florida has condo rules that make sense
ISSUE: Condo, HOA rules approved.
It's sad that Big Brother has to prescribe a code so people in condominiumand homeowner associations will know how to be neighborly. But, indeed,that's what it has come to
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editafhoaspnmay02,0,4666088.story

-At least 3 Broward judges face unusual election challenges
The genteel days of yore, when few dared challenge a sitting Broward Countyjudge for election, are crumbling.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbjudges0502sbmay02,0,3690996.story


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

-Partial step toward righting wrongs
OUR OPINION: PAYING FOR CONVICTION ERRORS GOOD, BUT NOT ENOUGH
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/516922.html

-HOLLYWOOD: No. 1 in math: Oakridge kids nation's tops
Students from Oakridge Elementary in Hollywood were feted for theirmathematic know-how.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/517914.html

-INSURANCE: Citizens rate is frozen for 1 more year
The Legislature passed an insurance bill that bolsters some consumerprotections and gives state regulators more power to keep the industry inline.
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/517926.html

-CONDOMINIUM OWNERS: New rules protecting condo owners become law
Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law a new set of protections for condominiumowners. The measures were pushed by two Miami-Dade legislators.
http://www.miamiherald.com/516/story/517908.html

-LEGISLATURE: Health plan for uninsured near passage
A bill to offer health insurance to Florida's 3.8 million uninsuredresidents appears close to passing the Legislature.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/517897.html


=
From Democracy for America
Florida Matters
You know how important this November's election is going to be for Florida.
We have opportunities up and down the state to pick up key seats in theFlorida House and Senate as well as the U.S Congress. We have a hatefulstate constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to defeat and aPresidential election to decide. Florida matters more than ever this yearand the DFA Campaign Academy has scheduled two campaign trainings in Floridathis year to help you win these crucial elections. The DFA Campaign Academybrings together dozens of local activists and candidates for two days ofintensive campaign training. Top campaign professionals give you astep-by-step guide to running a winning grassroots campaign. Sessionsinclude: field planning and targeting, voter contact, fundraising,communications, volunteer recruitment and much more.
Orlando - May 17th & 18th
www.democracyforamerica.com/orlando_training
Miami - July 12th & 13th
www.democracyforamerica.com/miami_training
Hope to see you there.


=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Charity art show to benefit returning veterans
Local gay artists included in 'Freud Amongst the Arts' exhibit
Works by several local gay artists will be on exhibition when the SoutheastFlorida Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology (SEFAPP) holds its 15thannual "Freud Amongst the Arts" fund-raiser on Saturday, May 3, from 5 to8:30 p.m. at ArtServe's main gallery, 1350 E. Sunrise Boulevard in FortLauderdale.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/5-1/locallife/pulse/4633.cfm

-Film festival tackles taboo topics
'Forbidden Love' series deals with underage sex, incest
Despite the sexual liberation of recent decades, underage sex and inceststill remain unacceptable - but not unthinkable.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/5-1/arts/film/4646.cfm

-Woman murdered in Lauderdale shooting
Black leaders cite need for gay awareness
Shanesa Conaway defied the daily obstacles she faced as an African-Americanlesbian living openly in Sistrunk, one of the most impoverishedneighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/5-1/news/localnews/4628.cfm


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

-Clock winds down on Florida lawmakers
As Florida lawmakers close the 60-day session today, proposals for majoreducation reform and a $650-million commuter rail plan for Orlando appearoff the track.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article484001.ece

-Florida House approves budget in party-line vote
The Florida House of Representatives just voted 75-44 for an election-yearbudget that cuts roughly $5 billion in spending, dealing big cuts toeducation, healthcare and other social programs.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/05/florida-house-a.html

-Abortion bill's close defeat leaves a chill
Putting aside our personal feelings about abortion - and, yes, that's a tallorder - we should all note something scary that almost happened inTallahassee this week.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article483729.ece

-'Green' energy bill heads to governor
An expansive energy bill headed for the governor's desk is just the firststep in making Florida a national leader in clean energy, a lawmaker saidWednesday.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080501/NEWS/805010613/-1/RSS01

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####