FLORIDA DIGEST - September 16, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Florida's shameful gay adoption ban takes another hit
No, the embarrassing law hasn't been overturned. Yet. Florida remains one of
two states in the nation - Mississippi is the other - to ban gay adoption.
But when a circuit judge in Monroe County ruled the 31-year-old ban
unconstitutional, thus allowing a gay foster parent to adopt a teenage boy
he has raised since 2001, it chipped another hole in the shameful ban. The
fact that gay adoption is allowed virtually everywhere else tells you plenty
about this anachronistic, mean-spirited Florida law.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editgsadoptionpnsep16,0,5311245.story

-Amendment 2 anti-gay
We thank Michael Mayo for his courageous stand in support of extending the
right of non-related adults to marry. He is correct that the only reason for
Amendment 2 is to perpetuate discrimination against gays. My friend,
Ambrose Smith, and I are gay. We just celebrated 56 years of living together
without any of the legal safeguards our married friends enjoy.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-brmail575pnsep16,0,3112613.story


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Will You Help Florida Red and Blue?
Please volunteer and join me @ the GLCC (1717 N. Andrews Ave) this Thursday
(9/18) from 6-8pm
Start to "say no to 2" by saying yes to one volunteer shift. We hold
weekly phone banks on Thursday evening from 6-8pm, and Saturday afternoon
from 12-2pm. Florida Red and Blue is committed to educating voters on the
hurtful and harmful impact that ballot initiative "Amendment 2" will have
on the rights of millions of Florida residents in non-traditional families.
If you are interested in volunteering you can simply respond to
bishop@bishopmahee.com or call 954-775-2310.
In The Unity For A Whole Community,
Bishop Ma-Hee`
Broward Field Coordinator
Florida Red and Blue/Say No 2


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GLBT SURVEY FOR THE PALM BEACHES
To assist the South Florida Blade in making decisions concerning coverage of
Palm Beach County news and events, the Palm Beach County Human Rights
Council is seeking GLBT and GLBT-supportive residents to complete a ten
minute survey. Please go to: www.southfloridablade.com and place your
cursor in the top right corner of the page. When the corner peels back,
click on the word "PRIDE", and the survey will appear. Thank you in advance
for your help!
PBCHRC Board of Directors
www.pbchrc.org


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GLAAD is again presenting a series of Thank GLAAD Its Friday happy hours in
South Florida. According to Elliot S. Elsner, GLAAD's Membership Event
Coordinator, the Absolut Vodka sponsored gatherings are a fun and creative
way to bring awareness of the GLAAD organization and educate the GLBT
community about the work the non-profit does.
Link For Complete Story: http://www.gaysofla.com/content/view/387/50/





~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Yet Another Election Drama Swirls in Palm Beach County
A nonpartisan race on Aug. 26 for a county court judgeship remains
unresolved. One candidate held a small lead when ballots were tabulated on
election night; then, officials declared his opponent the victor when he
appeared to seize the lead by 60 votes after a Labor Day weekend recount.
The big discrepancy: Roughly 3,500 ballots that disappeared between Election
Day and the recount, and an additional 176 that, officials said on Friday,
do not appear to have been counted at all.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/us/16florida.html


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

-Florida to subpeona 16 oil companies after surge of gas price-gouging
complaints
The state on Sunday issued subpoenas to corporate offices of Valero, Dodge's
Gas Stores, Flying J and Pilot Travel Centers, seeking financial
documentation relating to the pricing of gasoline. The Florida Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services received more than 2,300 price
gouging-related calls and 816 complaints over the weekend, said Terence
McElroy, a department spokesman.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flhlpgas0916sbsep16,0,3395394.story

-Judge rules Riviera 'saggy pants' law unconstitutional
RIVIERA BEACH - A judge says Riviera Beach's "saggy pants" law is
unconstitutional in the case of a 17-year-old who spent a night in jail for
showing his underwear. And a public defender said her office wants to get
the law tossed altogether. Julius Hart was charged Wednesday when an officer
spotted him riding his bicycle with 4 to 5 inches of blue-and-black boxer
shorts sticking out of his black pants. A first offense carries a $150 fine
or a requirement of community service; only habitual offenders face jail
time.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flppostsaggy0916pnsep16,0,4917885.story


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

Bad news on Wall Street could ripple through state pension accounts, but
damage may be minimal.
http://www.miamiherald.com/todaysextras/story/688005.html

-Leaders tackle hot topic: Are iguanas friend or foe?
Broward County will discuss whether to take action against a growing
population of wild iguanas.
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/687973.html

-Miami: Jewish voters report calls disparaging Obama
Jewish voters in Florida and at least one other state are being targeted by
a telephone survey tying Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama to
Palestinian causes, an advocacy group alleged Monday. The Jewish Council
for Education in Research says at least two women in separate states were
push polled, or asked questions intended to influence voters while
pretending to take a poll, on Sunday afternoon from a caller who said he was
from Research Strategies. Joelna Marcus says she became uncomfortable when
the caller asked if she was Jewish, whether she was Orthodox and how often
she attends synagogue. The caller then asked if Marcus would be influenced
if she learned that Obama had donated money to the Palestine Liberation
Organization. The caller also asked how she would vote if she learned that
someone on the Illinois senator's staff had close ties to Palestine.
Marcus, a 71-year-old former college professor, said she was furious.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/campaign-2008/story/687850.html

-ALLIGATOR ALLEY
We'll pay the cost of private toll road
Faced with desperate budget deficits, Gov. Charlie Crist has proposed a
number of privatization deals to build or operate roads. Private investors
would borrow upfront cash to pay the state and then charge decades of
escalating tolls to Florida drivers. Furthest along among these deals is
Alligator Alley, which runs from Fort Lauderdale and Naples and is already
at a second stage of bidding by toll companies. Not far behind is a proposal
to lease the Sunshine Skyway bridge along I-275, the BeachLine Expressway in
Orange and Brevard counties and the Pinellas Bayway System in Pinellas
County. Also under consideration is a long-term toll concession to connect
I-10 on the western side of Jacksonville and I-95 in northern St. Johns
County. ... Much like the recent spate of no-money-down mortgages, private
toll-road deals are driven by a profitable new industry that offers a quick
solution to short-term cash-flow problems. The new highway merchants offer
politicians upfront cash, innovative financing and tolls that typically
start low and grow steeply over time. Profits increase with greater traffic,
higher tolls and less investment in the roadway -- interests at odds with
those of the public.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/687985.html


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

-McCain Rides Poll Surge Into Tampa Rally
Now going his separate way from his running mate, Sen. John McCain of
Arizona will appear at a rally in Tampa this morning without Sarah Palin but
still riding the surge in polls and excitement he got from adding her to his
ticket. Since his convention and his choice of Palin, polls have shown
McCain moving ahead of Sen. Barack Obama in Florida.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/16/na-mccain-rides-surge-into-tampa-rally/news-politics/

-Obama comes to Jacksonville on Saturday
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama will have his first public
event in Jacksonville on Saturday, campaign officials said Monday. A place
and time have yet to be determined. The announcement came the same day
Republican nominee John McCain kicked off a Florida campaign swing with an
appearance at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/091608/met_332725310.shtml

-Supreme Court trims tax initiative from the ballot
The state Supreme Court delivered a message Monday to drafters of amendments
to Florida's Constitution: Quit trying to mislead voters. Justice Fred
Lewis, in a 15-page opinion explaining the court's unanimous decision to
strike a multibillion-dollar tax initiative from the ballot, said the case
is the latest example of "misleading 'wordsmithing.' "
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-flfballot091608sep16,0,7136748.story

-House to vote on offshore drilling Tuesday
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on Tuesday on a
comprehensive energy package that would open most of the U.S. coastline to
offshore drilling, a Democratic aide said on Monday. The package proposed
by Democrats would give states the option to allow drilling between 50 and
100 miles (80 and 160 km) off their shores. Areas more than 100 miles from
the coast would be completely open to oil exploration.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1533340920080916

-Big Coal vs. Renewable, Cleaner Energy
The federal government is in bed with the coal industry. A prime example is
the $2 million spent in advertising at both the Democratic and Republican
conventions by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE).
Founded this year, the ACCCE combined the Center for Energy and Economic
Development and Americans for Balanced Energy Choices. Already the ACCCE has
spent $4.7 million on lobbying, according to a Center for Public Integrity
analysis.
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/38180

-Sink to outline Wall Street fallout for Florida
A day after one of the worst meltdowns in Wall Street history since the 1929
Depression, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is ready to review the fallout
for Florida. Sink will discuss the state of Florida's treasury this morning
at a 9 a.m. Cabinet meeting at the Capitol.
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=5a7ac6f4ef954e89af555631b0a3fc79&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a5a7ac6f4ef954e89af555631b0a3fc79Post%3a1fb18883-ff06-48bc-8ce0-4893c59f7bf5&sid=sitelife.tallahassee.com


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