FLORIDA DIGEST - September 11, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

From Transgender Equality
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-Miami Light Project's Filmmakers Workshop Series Presents a
free screening of Southern Comfort -
Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 12:00pm
The Light Box, 3000 Biscayne Blvd #100, - Miami
As part of our Filmmakers Workshop Series, Miami Light Project is proud to present a free film screening of Southern Comfort, a film by Kate Davis. This moving documentary chronicles the last year in the life of Robert Eads, a female-to-male transsexual dying of ovarian cancer. We're introduced to several people who figure prominently in Robert's life -- most importantly, Lola Cola, a transsexual who's become Robert's life partner and cares for him full-time. The two prepare to lead a panel at the annual Southern Comfort conference, a yearly event created for transgender individuals. A panel discussion with director Kate Davis, Lola Cola who was featured in the film and Tobias Packer of Equality Florida will follow the screening. The discussion will be moderated by Rhonda Mitrani.


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Justin Flippen for Wilton Manors City Commission
Justin@justinflippen.com
954-620=9100

-Justin Flippen Earns Endorsement of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz
Wilton Manors City Commission Candidate Justin Flippen has secured the endorsement of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz's endorsement is yet another boost to Flippen's candidacy for the city commission which includes endorsements from County Commissioner Ken Keechl, County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, Former Wilton Manors Mayors Jim Stork and Tracy Stafford , Former Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Sue Olson and Former Wilton Manors City Commissioner Joe Angelo. "Having the support of past and current officials speaks well of the quality and strength of my candidacy," said Flippen. I am honored to now carry into my race the endorsement of my Congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whose district includes our Island City of Wilton Manors."


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Wilton Manors: Alibi's Wet 'N Wild Weekend Benefiting Care Resource
Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 8pm to Midnight and
Sunday, September 14, 2008 from Noon until 6:00pm
Join the Alibi as they kick off their second annual Wet 'N Wild Weekend benefiting Care Resource of South Florida. On Saturday, September 13th, the parking lot will be transformed into a tropical oasis, complete with Stage, Runway, State of the art sound and lighting featuring a "FOAM" party under the stars (1st of it's kind ever in Wilton Manors) with DJ/Remixer Scott Mann and performances by Daisy D, TP Lords and her house of lords, Go-Go Boys, Wet and Dry Dance Floors, Outdoor lounges, pools & bars, Night Time Fashion Show and much more.
On Sunday, September 14th, the party continues with Stage, Runway, State of the art sound and lighting for under the sun and shade T-Dance with DJ/Remixer Scott Mann and performances by International Recording Artist Sean Ensign, Ivanna Du & Special Guest Entertainers, Go-Go Boys, Wet and Dry Dance Floors, Outdoor lounges & bars, swim wear fashion show and all new wet attractions featuring: Robo Surfer, Celebrity Dunk tank, swimming pools, an obstacle course using water cannons instead of paint guns and "Water Wars" balloon battle arena. There will be local businesses, bars and restaurants competing against each other, having fun and coming together as a community while raising funds for Care Resource. Raffles and shot proceeds to benefit Care Resource. This is sure to be a weekend you won't want to miss.



~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Palm Beach County voting foul-up prompts bipatisan cries for help
Coalition of political groups asks governor for emergency actionA meltdown at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office is stoking concerns of even bigger problems for November's presidential vote. With fingers pointing now at Gov. Charlie Crist, a coalition of political groups from across the county held a rare, joint news conference Wednesday to demand "emergency action" by Crist and other top state officials.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpelection0911pnsep11,0,5690475.story

-Judicial election do-over suggested as remedy to hotly contested race
But opponent wants election results to stand
Palm Beach Circuit Judge Richard Wennet and his attorney want Gov. Charlie Crist to order a re-do in the hotly contested race for Wennet's seat. Supporting their position is County Commissioner Mary McCarty, a member of the county's canvassing board, who penned a letter on Tuesday to Secretary of State Kurt Browning.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flprecount0910pnsep10,0,2419426.story

-Political groups call on the state to help ensure a fair election
Norma Leardi, of Boca Raton, wrote Palm Beach County commissioners with a simple question: "What can we do to make sure our votes count?" Citizens like Leardi who worry if their vote will be counted accurately aren't alone. On Monday, major area political groups called on state officials and county leaders to take steps to fix the county's voting problems before the Nov. 4 election.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpelexmess0909pnsep09,0,4497057.story


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

-MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS: Dade's pick for school superintendent weighs 2 offers
A respected top Miami-Dade school administrator was offered the superintendent's job -- but will he accept? He has another job offer from Pinellas County. The man the Miami-Dade School Board wants as its next chief has a knack for winning grants, 18 years experience with the district and a reputation as a sharp dresser.
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/681541.html

-THE EVERGLADES: Florida slows sugar buyout for Everglades restoration
Water managers don't expect to meet their optimistic goal of completing the state buyout of Big Sugar by November, saying the deal is too complicated to be rushed. The state has tapped the brakes on its fast-track $1.75 billion bid to buy out Big Sugar and revive its Everglades restoration efforts.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/681488.html

-Biased law must go
OUR OPINION: GAY ADOPTION CASE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW
It is a sad state of affairs that Florida's official policy is to discriminate against gay people who want to adopt children. In Florida, it is OK for gays and lesbians to be foster parents and guardians -- but not to adopt. That not only sanctions bias, but compounds it with hypocrisy.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/681534.html

-ELECTION: Nasty congressional race begins
Between the hurricanes and political conventions you may have missed the opening shot in South Florida's marquee congressional race, the one pitting Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart against former Hialeah mayor Raul Martinez. It was a nasty salvo from the Republican incumbent that probably set the tone for the contest.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/679572.html


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

-Judge's Ruling Reopens Debate On Gay Adoption Ban
A South Florida judge's ruling that Florida's ban on gay adoption is unconstitutional could help convince legislators it's time to change an antiquated law, gay advocates say. Monroe County Circuit Court Judge David J. Audlin ruled Wednesday that the state's 31-year-old ban is unconstitutional because it singles out a group for punishment.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/11/me-gay-adoption-ban-unconstitutional/news-metro/

-Florida Democrats try to keep oil-gas drilling away from state shores
Florida Democrats persuaded their party leaders in the House on Wednesday to try to preserve the current ban on oil and gas drilling near the state's west coast, according to U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler. The emerging deal on energy legislation would allow expanded drilling in other parts of the country but forbid oil and gas exploration within 125 miles of the Gulf Coast of Florida. "We have a unique ecosystem in Florida which deserves special treatment," said Wexler, D-Boca Raton, one of several House Democrats struggling to preserve the drilling ban.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flaenergy0911sbsep11,0,3167937.story

-Fla. panel votes to tap $672M in budget reserves
A select panel of lawmakers tapped $672 million from a reserve fund Wednesday, but Florida's still facing a potential budget deficit that could force the Legislature into special session after the November election. The Legislative Budget Commission unanimously approved the transfer recommended by Gov. Charlie Crist.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/679960.html

-Feeney named to 'most corrupt' list
A Washington watchdog group once again named U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, to its list of "most corrupt" lawmakers, citing his ongoing association with the Jack Abramoff investigation. This is the third fourth time that the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has named Feeney to its "most corrupt" list, all stemming from the same investigation. This year, Feeney was among 14 Republicans on the list of 20 members. Critics have accused CREW of a left-leaning agenda. The CREW bio of Feeney is available here. A previous version of this blog said Feeney was named twice before to the CREW list, citing the group's own numbers. But CREW made a mistake on its own website; this is his fourth time on the list. An Orlando Sentinel analysis of how Abramoff affects Feeney's election chances is available here.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/09/feeney-named-to.html

-Palin pushes McCain ahead in FL
Voters smitten with Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin helped John McCain pull away from Democrat Barack Obama in Florida by 7 percentage points. In the Quinnipiac University poll, 50 percent of Florida voters favor McCain, compared to 43 percent for Obama. Obama is ahead in Ohio and Pennsylvania, the other states in the survey, but his lead in Pennsylvania has narrowed.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/09/palin-pushes-mc.html

-Bad omen: lost ballots
PALM BEACH COUNTY STILL BUMBLING THROUGH ELECTIONS
More than two weeks have gone by since Florida held its primary election, but in Palm Beach County one contest is far from decided. A close judicial race is in limbo because the county's election department lost 3,500 ballots during a recount and still can't locate them. Palm Beach County, with its butterfly ballot and recount delays, was the fly in the ointment in the 2000 presidential election.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/681514.html

-Our views: Dig hard, dig deep
Governor's probe should be thorough and aggressive in Property Appraiser scandal
The clouds of alleged corruption continue swirling around Brevard County Property Appraiser Jim Ford in a scandal that's worsening.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080911/OPINION/80910031/1004/capitolnews

-MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS: Miami-Dade School Board cuts 370 jobs to balance budget
The Miami-Dade School Board's decision to slash 370 jobs will save $18.5 million -- but it still doesn't guarantee an end to the district's financial woes. The Miami-Dade School Board balanced its $5.5 billion budget Wednesday, putting to bed a monthslong effort to slash millions in spending.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/681493.html

-Florida Schools lose 37,000 pupils
Florida schools lost close to 37,000 students in the past year -- enough children to fill a medium-sized district. While the drop was larger than expected -- last year Florida's enrollment fell by just 10,000 -- school administrators were not surprised after watching a slow exodus of students from their classrooms for the past two years.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080911/ARTICLE/809110405/2076/NEWS&title=Schools_lose_37_000_pupils


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