FLORIDA DIGEST - July 25, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Tagged and Targeted
Prevalence of anti-gay incidents alarm residents
The television news crews are long gone from the 2800 block of NW 7th Avenuein Wilton Manors, and most traces of the anti-gay epithets that were sprayedin black paint on houses and cars there are washed away or painted over.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/7-24/news/localnews/4887.cfm

-Firefighters endorse LaFontaine
Two Florida-based professional firefighter associations announced theirsupport for Mark LaFontaine, the openly gay candidate who is running forState Representative in District 92. The Broward County Council ofProfessional Firefighters and the Florida Professional Firefighters madetheir endorsements July 16. The BCCPF represents more than 2600 firefightersin Broward, while the FPF has more thatn23,000 members across the state.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/7-24/news/localnews/4889.cfm

-Boxers and briefs bring in big bucks
Two fundraisers result in more than $30,000 benefiting gay charities
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/7-24/news/localnews/4895.cfm


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-66,000 South Floridians fail to file for stimulus checks
66,000 locally fail to file returns to get stimulus cash. With Tax Day longgone and the final deadline for filing fast approaching, there are stillmore than 5 million Americans who have yet to put in the proper paperwork tocollect their economic stimulus checks. More than 66,000 of them live inPalm Beach and Broward counties.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flptaxhelp0725pnjul25,0,4038339.story

-Despite rainy summer, S. Florida still has water shortage
After another lawn-soaking, puddle-producing summer storm rolls through,familiar taunts rain down on the top forecaster for the South Florida WaterManagement District. "Nice drought!" neighbors tease Geoff Shaunghnessy,lead meteorologist for the agency that is imposing Water restrictions onSouth Florida.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flpwater0725pnjul25,0,3505986.story

-Senator wants review of plan to lease Alligator Alley to investors
A South Florida senator wants an independent review of the state's plans tolease Alligator Alley for 50 to 75 years. With an estimated value as highas $1.3 billion, Sen. Dave Aronberg, D- Greenacres, said the lease proposalneeds to be thoroughly vetted.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flballey0725sbjul25,0,6252645.story

-Hutchinson, Seiler lead way in fundraising for Fort Lauderdale mayor race
The race to be the next mayor of Fort Lauderdale might be more than half ayear away, but already five candidates are raising money and campaigning.The latest campaign finance reports show that two candidates - CityCommissioner Cindi Hutchinson and state Rep. Jack Seiler - are taking therace seriously, raising the lion's share of $89,000 in contributions.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbmayor0722sbjul25,0,5391489.story

-Medicare Part D a boon for drug companies, House report says
Taxpayers pay up to 30% more for prescriptions under the privatelyadministered program than under Medicaid, the House Committee on Oversightand Government Reform finds. U.S. drug manufacturers are reaping a windfallfrom taxpayers because Medicare's privately administered prescription drugbenefit program pays more than other government programs for the samemedicines, a House committee charged in a report Thursday. The HouseCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform found that taxpayers are payingup to 30% more for prescription drugs under Medicare's privatized Part Dprogram for seniors and the disabled than under the government's Medicaidprogram for the poor.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/la-na-medicare25-2008jul25,0,6138626.story

-Broward home prices fall 20 percent in June:
Home prices fall 20 percent in Broward
Price cuts still ruled in June as South Florida's housing slump trudged intoits 30th month.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzhousingbr0725pnjul25,0,904035.story

-Palm Beach County School District to categorize 83 troubled schools
Plans comply with new federal rules on progress
Eighty-three Palm Beach County schools will receive various levels ofsupport and corrective measures this year to comply with changing AdequateYearly Progress requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Theschool district on Thursday released its restructuring plan, whichincorporates a pilot program announced early this month by the stateDepartment of Education.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpschools0725pnjul25,0,1436394.story


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

-CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Prison program working wonders with inmates
As far as graduations go, it was a modest affair: About 75 men in foldingchairs under fluorescent lights, no big speech, no refreshments becausethere was no money for that. The ''band'' was four of the guys, singing acapella. And one harmonica wizard, solo, testament to the talents that canlie hidden away in prison.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/617169.html

-DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Foster transplant case sparks DCF policy revamp
Among the lessons learned by welfare bosses when a foster child needed a newliver: Kids in care often need a 'champion' to fight for their cause.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/615840.html

-FIU gives Marco Rubio a $69,000 job
Outgoing state House Speaker Marco Rubio got a $69,000 part-time job atcash-strapped FIU. School officials said the hiring made good sense.Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio has landed a part-time job at FloridaInternational University that pays $69,000, amid layoffs and tuition hikescaused by what the university president called ``the most serious budgetcrisis in our history.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/617215.html


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Palm Beach Post
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Self-insured condo fund may forfeit state license
State regulators are worried that a new self-insurance fund lacks enoughmembers to spread its risk and say it hasn't submitted all the paperworkneeded to keep its license.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/business/epaper/2008/07/24/a8b_condoinsure_0725.html

-Guv's birthday haul: $1 million, and a tie
They may as well be an old married couple. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist'ssexy betrothed gave him a tie for his 52nd birthday Thursday.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/07/24/a2a_jose_0725.html

-State to consider compensation for tomato industry
Tomato growers and packers nationwide would be compensated for their lossesdue to the recent salmonella outbreak according to a bill introducedThursday. The bill by U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, a Democrat from Palm BeachGardens, would authorize $100 million to make payments to growers andhandlers - the amount the Florida Tomato Exchange estimates was lost due tothe Food and Drug Administration's June advisory.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/07/24/0724tomatoes.html


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

-State official admits felons worked in mortgage industry
The head of a state agency that allowed thousands of criminals to sell homeloans in Florida has acknowledged that his office did not follow a screeninglaw, but blamed legislators for failing to provide money to enforce it.That's one of the explanations in a 40-page response to a Miami Heraldinvestigation, which found that more than 10,000 people with criminalrecords were permitted to work in Florida's mortgage industry between 2000and 2007.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-mortgage2508jul25,0,26681.story

-Our view: Asleep at the wheel
Stop lax oversight of Florida mortgage professionals that adds to housingwoes
Even more proof Florida should be known as the rip-off state when it comesto consumer protection. That's because it fails to regulate its mortgageindustry to shield homebuyers from felons running scams, according to areport by The Miami Herald.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080725/OPINION/807250320/1004&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL

-6 teams want to lease Alligator Alley in the Everglades
Six teams are competing to lease Alligator Alley for the next 50 to 75years. The Florida Department of Transportation received their statementsof qualification Wednesday. In June, eight teams responded to the state'sfirst call for the information.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-alley2508jul25,0,7170012.story

-At least 15 seek 2 Fla. Supreme Court openings
At least 15 judges and lawyers have applied to replace two of the mostconservative members of the Florida Supreme Court. The deadline forapplications is 5 p.m. Friday.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_SCOFLA_JUSTICE_APPOINTMENTS_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

-Pahokee mayor will ask for acreage from sugar deal
On a hot, dusty morning in July, Larry Wright sweeps the space in front ofhis Pahokee Flower Shop. The small cloud of dust disturbs no one since thesidewalks of East Main Street are deserted.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2008/07/24/a8b_pahokeesugar_0725.html

-Energy analysis can help residents save money on bills
Lisa Polak Edgar of the Florida Public Service Commission has sat throughmany hours of state hearings, meetings and workshops about energy use andconservation. But she learned Thursday during an energy audit of her homethat there's plenty she can do to conserve energy and lower her monthlyelectric bill, such as fixing the leaking air-conditioning ducts in herattic.
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807250321

-Mysterious disease taking toll on Florida's palm trees
A silent killer is stalking Florida, leaving dead sabal palms in its wake.The official state tree, also called the cabbage palm, is under attack by amicroscopic killer that is hard to stop.The mass killer has spread throughSouth Florida, Sarasota and Tampa, and into Polk County dropping trees up to50 feet tall. But there are no reports of the bacterial threat yet inVolusia or Flagler counties, said Karen Stauderman, University of Floridaextension agent in DeLand.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD04EASTGAR072508.htm

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