FLORIDA NEWS May 31, 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:

-Gov. Crist's girlfriend more than arm candy
Could a 38-year-old businesswoman who has been quietly dating Gov. Charlie Crist since September be adding Florida first lady to her resume?
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flbguvsgirlfriend0531sbmay31,
0,4087761.story

-Fort Lauderdale's ex-police chief got $90,000 package to leave immediately
New deal allows severance benefits for Bruce Roberts
Former Police Chief Bruce Roberts had a job contract that gave him no severance pay if he were to voluntarily resign, which he did on Wednesday, giving 90 days' notice. But City Manager George Gretsas agreed to pay Roberts a package of about $90,000 to get him out the door immediately, city records show. "The city would prefer to not pay this money out," city spokesman Ted Lawson said. "Unfortunately, preserving the performance of the Police Department is just too vital." Within 24 hours of Roberts' sudden resignation, Gretsas appointed a permanent replacement, promoting 28-year employee Assistant Chief Franklin Adderley to the top job on Thursday. With the appointment, Adderley becomes the city's first black police chief.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbseverance0531sbmay31,0,303
864.story

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

-Hispanics a challenge for the GOP
One sign the Republican party has work to do in the Hispanic community:
Country music singer Lee Greenwood got more applause than President Bush at the citizenship ceremony. The roughly 3,000 immigrants at the Miami Beach Convention Center clapped politely when Bush, via videotape, greeted ''my fellow Americans.'' But they leaped to their feet and waved miniature American flags during a music video of Greenwood's hit God Bless the USA.
''You have to respect him because he's the commander-in-chief, but I don't agree with the policies he has put in place,'' said 26-year-old Juan Salas, a Florida International University graduate from Nicaragua. This is the most ominous political climate facing the GOP in 2008, and it partly explains why the number of Hispanic Democrats recently surpassed the number of Hispanic Republicans in Florida. Since January 2006, when the state began identifying voters as Hispanic, Democratic registration has increased 18 percent.
Hispanic Republicans grew by only 2 percent. Hispanic voters choosing neither party are up 14 percent.
http://www.miamiherald.com/467/story/552888.html

-Orioles may leave Fort Lauderdale over rent hike
The city of Fort Lauderdale likely will lose its spring training tenant, the Baltimore Orioles, unless the Federal Aviation Administration were to reverse a decision that significantly increases the fee to use the Fort Lauderdale Stadium land, Mayor Jim Naugle said Friday. Barring a reversal, the city would be left without spring training baseball for the first time since 1962, when the Yankees began a 34-year stay at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. Although the Orioles have an agreement to return to the 8,340-seat ballpark next season, Naugle said he would not stand in their way if they decide to move to a new site next spring. According to several media reports in recent months, the Orioles have an option agreement to move to the spring-training facility in Vero Beach, which is losing the Los Angeles Dodgers to a new ballpark in Arizona. The Orioles, in a statement, said they ``are obviously very disappointed, especially considering how diligently the city has worked to resolve this matter with the FAA and how patient the Orioles have been during this process.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/467/story/552888.html


=
Ft. Lauderdale: STONEWALL'S NEW EXHIBITION OPENS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
A new exhibition "Out of the Shadows: Gay America from Kinsey to Stonewall" opens at the Broward Main Library on Wednesday, June 4. The exhibition is Stonewall Library & Archives' latest examination of gay and lesbian history and it will be on view until June 28. Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public. The exhibition opening reception, free and open to the public, will take place Wednesday, June 4, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Broward Main Library, in conjunction with the ArtsUnited exhibition "United and Proud." AND. JOIN us on June 4 for a pre-opening 1950s-style cocktail party at America's Backyard, 200 West Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (behind Revolution Live!) 5:30 -7:00. $20 donation to Stonewall at the door.
On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots--an event commonly cited as the beginning of the gay rights movement-- the 22-panel exhibition will use period photographs, archival documents, artifacts and video to look at what might be described as the pre-history of the gay and lesbian rights movement. This exhibition will present the story of how the country sought to define what it meant to be gay and lesbian in post-World War II and pre-Stonewall America.For further information contact Jack Rutland,
Executive Director
Stonewall Library & Archives 954-763-8565
jack-rutland@stonewall-library.org


=
Domestic Violence Panel Discussion
The Broward Health Foundation cordially invites to you attend a panel discussion on domestic violence within the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Learn how to help yourself, a friend or family member when faced with domestic violence. Topics will include the medical, legal and psychological aspects and resources available for help. Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 6:00 P.M at Broward General Medical Center. Limited seating.
RSVP required by June 23, 2008 to Traci Allyn Shur at 954-355-5148 or Tshur@browardhealth.org

=
Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton received the endorsement today fromthe Broward Teachers Union. The BTU represents educational, technicalsupport and charter school professionals that are 13,000 membersstrong. "I share their commitment to a quality public school education,where our teachers are valued and our students learn to the very bestof their abilities" said Newton upon receipt of his endorsement. "As aproduct and supporter of our public schools, my wife Cindy and I alongwith our 3 children graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School. Itmakes me proud to have the teachers support my campaign for StateRepresentative in District 92. I look forward to working with them onissues of great importance to our community."
votenewton.com


=
From Jim Dean, Democracy for America
Every four years, Florida pays a major role in electing our President. Why because the people of Florida are swing voters who sometimes vote for the Republican and other times vote for the Democrat. But you wouldn't know it if you looked at the Florida legislature. Democrats are hard to find in Tallahassee because Republican incumbents control re-districting. In other words, every ten years Republicans redraw political districts through out Florida to make sure they stay in power year after year. This results in bizarrely shaped districts that divide communities and reduce the voting strength of like minded groups. Think about it. Incumbents are almost never challenged - they draw the maps so they will not have any real competition.
We can stop this power grab from happening again! We can amend our Constitution to make the Legislature draw districts based on communities, not partisan politics. Click here to sign the petitions right now
http://www.fairdistrictsflorida.org/petition.asp

=
GLCC - Ft. Lauderdale

-GLCC Special Offer: Purchase a limited raffle ticket (only 50 tickets will be sold) to see the True Colors Tour on June 19. $50 for a chance for TWO Tickets near the stage. Winner will be announced on Friday, June 6.
Contact Robert Boo at 954.463.9005 or rboo@glccsf.org.

- HIV+? Stressed by dating, sex, relationships or disclosure?Join CHOICES!
The PALS Project at the GLCC will start the next five-week CHOICES program on Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. Dating, sex and intimacy prove stressful for many gay and bisexual men. Those living with HIV may face extra stressors. The CHOICES (Choosing Healthy Options & Improving Communication EffectivenesS) program at the GLCC helps men living with HIV build coping skills to handle some of these challenges. In small groups, men meet to discuss how to build healthy relationships, negotiate safer sex, lower stress and disclose HIV-status to family, friends and sex partners. The creative, interactive sessions use modern movie clips to launch fun small group discussions each week. [...] Interested participants should contact the PALS Project at PALS@glccsf.org or 954.463.9011. The PALS Project provides a safe, non-judgmental environment for HIV+ men to look at their own behavior and to make wise choices that benefit their health and the health of others.

-Volunteers are needed for Stonewall Street Festival. Ask Bobby Kyser how you can help the GLCC by volunteering your time. Call 954.564.8707 or email at bobby@stonewallstreetfestival.com


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

-Nothing is fair about Florida and Michigan
What the DNC rules committee should do, what they'll probably do
There are two nagging questions in the delegate dispute between the Democratic National Committee and the so-called aggrieved parties in Florida and Michigan: 1) What should the DNC do? and 2) What will the DNC do? Let's start with the first question. The fact is, the DNC will not be doing what it should do — or at least what members of the Rules and Bylaws committee would like it to do — which is sympathize with Florida and drop the hammer on Michigan.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24890836/

=

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