FLORIDA DIGEST - July 02, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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Please join AVER (American Veterans For Equal Rights)
3rd annual Fundraiser
July 4th Independence Day
Noon to 5pm at the
New Moon Bar
2440 Wilton Dr.
Wilton Manors, FL
954-563-7660
Hamburgers $5.00, Chicken Sandwiches $5.00, Hotdogs $2.00
2-4-1 Drinks all day! / Raffles, prizes and give-a-ways


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-SunPass adds ability to pay cash on toll accounts
Motorists without credit cards or bank accounts or those with privacyconcerns will be able to buy SunPass and replenish their accounts with cashby the end of the year. Turnpike officials plan to introduce a cash optionfor SunPass at Publix stores.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbsunpass0702sbjul02,0,3186361.story

-Crist praised for veto of flawed bill on homeowner associations
Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of a bill to overhaul homeowner associations washailed on Tuesday by those who wanted even greater accountability fromboards. "We're happy because this opens the door for a good, solidhomeowner association reform bill next year," said Jan Bergemann, presidentof the Deland-based Cyber Citizens for Justice, a volunteer organizationthat represents owners.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbcondolaw0702sbjul02,0,1991749.story

-Top Fort Lauderdale officials get 5% raises
Three of the city's top officials came asking for a raise Tuesday night, andthey got it - 5 percent. City attorney Harry Stewart, city auditor JohnHerbst, and the city clerk, Jonda Joseph, work directly for the CityCommission. And that group of five elected officials agreed Tuesday night bya 4-1 vote to reward the trio. All three get cost-of-living raises everyyear. Those amounted to five percent last year, and another five percentexpected this year.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbraise0702sbjul02,0,3500120.story

-Parkland vice mayor wants city to ban plastic bags
Move called good for environment; cost concerns citedPaper or plastic may not be an option anymore in this city. Vice MayorJared Moskowitz plans to ask the city attorney tonight to draft an ordinancebanning the use of plastic bags for businesses in the city.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbplastic0702sbjul02,0,3348394.story

-Our retirement savings not enough, study says
Fewer than one in five workers will be able to maintain their lifestyle uponretirement, with women being at a disadvantage because of their longer lifespans and lower pay, according to a study released Tuesday. On average,employees are projected to replace just 85 percent of their income inretirement, compared with the 126 percent they would need when factoring ininflation, longer life spans and medical costs, the study by HewittAssociates found.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzretire0702sbjul02,0,2228439.story

-Hundreds flock to shelter to adopt puppy mill dogs
Willie Nelson, the Yorkie, found a new home. So did Muskrat, the cockerspaniel-poodle mix. Even Pig Pen, an aptly named half-Maltese, half-poodlethat looked as if he had never met a grooming brush in his life, found amaster who saw beyond his matted white coat and sad past. [...] The HumaneSociety of Broward County is at 2070 Griffin Road. For more information,visit www.humanebroward.com or call 954-989-3977.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdogs0702sbjul02,0,1423731.story

-Crist praised for veto of flawed bill on homeowner associations
Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of a bill to overhaul homeowner associations washailed on Tuesday by those who wanted even greater accountability fromboards. "We're happy because this opens the door for a good, solidhomeowner association reform bill next year," said Jan Bergemann, presidentof the Deland-based Cyber Citizens for Justice, a volunteer organizationthat represents owners.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbcondolaw0702sbjul02,0,1991749.story

-Planned Parenthood expels South Palm Beach, Broward chapter
Planned Parenthood has expelled its struggling Boca Raton chapter, citing apattern of substandard finances, management, medical controls and clinicconditions, national office leaders said Tuesday. The rarely seenpunishment was imposed by the group's national board Monday evening, and itmeans the local family planning agency born 33 years ago as PlannedParenthood of South Palm Beach and Broward Counties can no longer use thegroup's name.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flrxparent0702pnjul02,0,7310542.story

-Florida law to safely give up babies marks eighth anniversary
Lori and Michael Lewis had never heard of Florida's Safe Haven law when theyreceived a call asking them to take a newborn into their Fort Lauderdalehome in June 2003. The couple already had taken in four foster children,ranging in age from 4 months to 5 years, but they couldn't turn away a babyin need.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flpbabylaw0702sbjul02,0,4022142.story?track=rss


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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Crist praised for veto of flawed bill on homeowner associations
Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of a bill to overhaul homeowner associations washailed on Tuesday by those who wanted even greater accountability fromboards. "We're happy because this opens the door for a good, solidhomeowner association reform bill next year," said Jan Bergemann, presidentof the Deland-based Cyber Citizens for Justice, a volunteer organizationthat represents owners.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/us/02everglades.html


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

-Teacher-pay contract talks get heated
Tensions are expected to rise further as the Miami-Dade teachers union anddistrict administrators do battle over salary increases. [...]Superintendent Rudy Crew on Tuesday made a conciliatory gesture, turningdown his own raise, which would have started the same day. Crew also toldboard members he would not seek a bonus this year. He received a $41,000bonus last year.
http://www.miamiherald.com/548/story/590485.html


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

-Anti-dumping law for ships in effect
More than three years after it was introduced, a bill prohibiting gamblingships from dumping semi-treated sewage into the ocean is Florida law. Gov.Charlie Crist signed Senate Bill 1094, The Clean Ocean Act, on Monday. Thebill went into effect Tuesday, affecting about a dozen gambling ships inFlorida, including the newest one at Port Canaveral, Liquid Vegas, which isset to launch later this month.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/BUSINESS/807020314/1006/news01

-A peek at Charlie Crist's bottom line
Gov. Charlie Crist's net worth grew 4 percent during 2007. "The people'sgovernor," in his required annual statement of assets and liabilities, listsa net worth of $457,262, slightly higher than last year's figure of$438,938. He lost a little money in an investment account and qualified fora federal income tax refund of $1,793. (Crist filed a copy of his tax returnin lieu of a complete financial disclosure form. It was prepared by aClearwater accounting firm, Kirkland, Russ, Murphy & Tapp).
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/07/a-peek-at-charl.html

-Solar power's day has dawned
Finally, solar power seems to be gaining traction in Florida, where therooftops ought to be blanketed with this hugely promising technology. Florida Gulf Coast University announced in April the striking goal ofbuilding a first-of-its kind 16-acre solar field that would power thecampus, with some help from Florida Power & Light during the peak summerheat. The project will need a major state start-up subsidy, but FGCU couldsave $22 million in energy bills over 30 years, recouping initial costs andsubsidies.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/NEWS0103/807020315/1015/OPINION


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Ft. Lauderdale: ArtsUnited Features Artist Rick Esposito in July Exhibit

-ArtsUnited will feature the paintings of local artist Rick Esposito in a solo exhibit at the Stonewall Library and Archives from July 7 through August 1, 2008. The library is located at 1717 N. Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. The exhibit opens with a reception to meet the artist from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on Monday, July 7th. Admission to the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. For more about the artist, go online to www.richardesposition.com
For more about ArtsUnited, go online to www.artsunitedonline.org

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