FLORIDA DIGEST - August 28, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

-DNC Convention Party - Watch Obama Accept Nomination
Tonight, Thursday, 8/28/2008 - 7:00 PM
Rosie's Bar and Grill - 2449 Wilton Dr. - Wilton Manors, FL
Join HRC South Florida at Rosie's on August 28, to watch as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic Party nomination for President. We will have food, drink specials and more! This event is open to the community, no No RSVP required, no ticket purchase required.
Questions? Email us at: HRCsfla@bellsouth. net


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Sweet Thursdays @ Halo Lounge
Grand Opening August 28th, 2008 and every Thursday their after - 7pm to 3am
1625 Michigan Avenue · South Beach, FL 33139
Pandora events presents an evening for fabulous and sexy women who lovewomen. We are bringing sexy back to South Beach. Sassy women, hipsters, edgygirls, sexy fashionistas and their friends are welcome. 7-9pm Happy Hourwith half priced drinks, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and music videos thenthe party kicks into full gear with DJ Jennie Foxx spinning the funkiestblend of 80s & 90s. VIP Tables are available with delicious bottle prices.21 and over with proper ID. No cover. For more information visitwww.pandoraevents.com or to reserve a table call 305.495.6969


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NEWS FROM "THE DEAN TEAM"
DEAN TRANTALIS SUPPORTERS COME "OUT"
FIRST FUNDRAISER A HUGE SUCCESS
Ft Lauderdale, FL (8/20/08) -- Neighbors curiously poked their heads aroundthe corner to see what all the excitement was Wednesday night at PineapplePoint Guesthouse in Victoria Park. Dozens of supporters gathered in thelush tropical paradise to hear what Dean Trantalis had to say. And theygave generously. The mayoral candidate bringing in several thousand dollarsat his first official fundraiser. The former City Commissioner spoke to hisconstituents for the first time as well. Trantalis addressed issues such ascrime, development and the environment. "What has happened in the threeyears since I've been gone, is the police and fire departments are totallydemoralized and over development on the beach is knocking at our door again.Huge high rises are appearing and crime is up as well. What's happening?"Trantalis asked. Trantalis telling supporters "We need someone who's goingto bring the city back." "Ladies and gentlemen" he said," I am back toserve you and make Ft. Lauderdale a better place." Wednesday's event drewsupporters from not just from the gay community, but neighbors andsupporters eager to hear his message. The candidate is holding more thantwo dozen fundraising events over the next few months. Trantalis is alsoplanning a ribbon cutting event for his Ft. Lauderdale campaign office inSeptember. To donate, supporters can go to Deanformayor.com and click oncontribute.

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White Party News
JENNIFER HOLLIDAY TO PERFORM AT WHITE PARTY AT VIZCAYA
Original Dreamgirl to be celebrity guest
Miami, FL; August 27, 2008 - White Party Miami today announced that theoriginal Broadway Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday as the special guest performerat this years White Party at Villa Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on Saturday,November 29, 2008. Jennifer Holliday has been proclaimed by both criticsand fans alike as one of history's greatest Broadway legends. MissHolliday's show-stopping, heart-wrenching performance of the torch ballad"And I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going" in the smash hit Broadway musical,Dreamgirls, made her a household name and introduced her big soulful voiceto the world. White Party Week Miami is one of the oldest and largestHIV/AIDS benefits in the world this year celebrating 24 years. It is aweeklong festival of events beginning on Wednesday, November 26 and endingon Monday, December 1. For a full list of all the events during the week andto purchase tickets/passes, please visit http://www.whiteparty.org


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Gustav turns westward, S. Fla. not in 'cone'
Gustav stalled offshore Wednesday and poured more misery onto Haiti afterlandslides and flooding killed 23 people. Oil workers began leaving theirrigs and New Orleans drew up evacuation plans as forecasters warned thestorm could plow into the U.S. Gulf coast as a major hurricane.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-hurricane-gustav-2,0,5001907.story

-Broward voting results: Boring day, troubling delays
Yikes. If there was this much confusion and delay sorting out results from aprimary with just over 11 percent turnout in Broward, what's going to happencome Election Day? This wasn't a good beginning at all for the new paperballot system.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flbmayocol0828sbaug28,0,5714601.column

-Incumbents, women had their day at polls in Broward races
Two things are clear from this week's voting in Broward: It helped to be anincumbent. And in a race without an incumbent, it helped to be a woman.Gender was especially pronounced in three-way races with two men and onewoman. Unless there was an incumbent, the woman won.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbelection0828sbaug28,0,6816068.story

-Court approves payouts for improper Broward Sheriff's Office strip searches
More than 1,000 people improperly strip-searched by the Broward Sheriff'sOffice are about to get paid, taxpayers and insurance companies will get offcheaper than expected and lawyers will hit the jackpot.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbstripped0828sbaug28,0,567167.story

-Wilton Manors police chief appointed to Florida law enforcement department
WILTON MANORS - City police chief Richard E. Perez, 56, has been appointedto the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards andTraining Commission, Gov. Charlie Crist announced this week. Perez'responsibilities will be to establish uniform minimum standards, trainingand discipline for all law enforcement and correctional officers in Florida.The 19-member commission meets four times a year. Perez become WiltonManors police chief in January 2006. His four-year term on the statecommission begins immediately and ends August 1, 2012.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-0828-perez-chief,0,7252963.story


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

-LAKE OKEECHOBEE: Corps to start draining swollen Lake Okeechobee
With Lake Okeechobee still rising, the Army Corps of Engineers will begin toslowly drain water to protect the levee.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/661805.html


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

-Supreme Court moves up oral arguments on constitutional amendments
The Florida Supreme Court announced today it's moved up oral arguments onwhether two controversial constitutional amendments should be allowed on theNov. 4 ballot. Arguments had been set for Sept. 8; they'll now be heard nextWednesday, Sept. 3.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/08/supreme-court-1.html

-Three Hispanic judges trail in their Broward County races
Winning election in Broward County with a Spanish-sounding surname is nearlyimpossible, minority lawyers said Wednesday, pointing to all-but-completeelection returns that show three incumbent judges - all Hispanics - oustedfrom the bench.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbjudges0828sbaug28,0,409604.story?track=rss

-Crist speeds up voter registration for ex-felons; likely won't help in thegeneral
Gov. Charlie Crist is trying to make it easier for felons to vote. Cristissued an executive order today demanding that the Parole Commission includevoter registration applications with each restoration of civil rightscertificate mailed to former felons.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/floridapolitics/entries/2008/08/27/crist_speeds_up_voter_registra.html?cxntfid=blogs_q_florida_politics

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