FLORIDA DIGEST December 17, 2008

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

-Florida Water Board, Voting 4 to 3, Approves U.S. Sugar Deal in the Everglades
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/us/17everglades.html


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

-Fort Lauderdale beach parking to change
Brittany Wallman
Fort Lauderdale commissioners have given tentative approval to expanding parking hours and changing the rates for the popular South Beach parking lot a few blocks south of Las Olas Boulevard at 700 Seabreeze Blvd. Beachgoers enjoy public restrooms, playground equipment and picnic tables there.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-parking1217,0,2502273.story

-Fort Lauderdale approves Air & Sea Show's return for 2010
By Brittany Wallman
Two promoters given task of reviving annual beach weekend event for 2010
When the Air & Sea Show was new to Fort Lauderdale captivated spectators and happy business owners called it a "shot in the arm," a huge success, Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports's Mardi Gras.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flbairshow1217sbdec17,0,1480001.story


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

-THE EVERGLADES: U.S. Sugar land deal is approved -- with an escape clause
BY CURTIS MORGAN
South Florida water managers approved the controversial purchase of U.S. Sugar land considered essential to Everglades restoration. Water managers on Tuesday narrowly approved the $1.34 billion acquisition of U.S. Sugar's sprawling fields -- but added a crucial ''out'' clause that buys time to see if they have enough money to complete the deal.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/815979.html

-Ms. Sink goes to Washington
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the only Democrat serving in Florida's Cabinet, met recently in Washington with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, the chamber's point man for the 2010 election. She's clearly the national party's top choice to run for the seat to be vacated by Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. Two other potential Democratic contenders, U.S. Reps. Kendrick Meek and Allen Boyd, made sure to make appearances yesterday in Tallahassee when party leaders officially cast Florida's 27 electoral votes for Barack Obama. Still another would-be candidate, Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, a state representative who recently joined the Florida Senate, hasn't taken down his ambiguously titled "Dan Gelber for Senate'' web site.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/12/ms-sink-goes--1.html

-Sansom's credibility gone
Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, just doesn't know when it's time to quit. Seriously.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/12/14/a12a_sansom_edit_1214.html

-POLITICS: Florida political party leaders to keep jobs
With no change in leadership expected, Florida's Democratic and Republican activists will meet soon to determine their agendas.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/815968.html

-Broward Republican Party re-elects leaders
Vice Chairwoman Cindy Guerra - will run the local party for the next two years. Republican committeemen and committeewomen elected in the August primary voted overwhelmingly Monday night to re-elect LaMarca and Guerra. Republicans also re-elected Richard Stark treasurer.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbrepublicans1217sbdec17,0,7010392.story

-Rep. Castor to Obama: Let families visit Cuban kin
By Justin George, Times Staff Writer
Florida congressional leaders are wasting no time asking President-elect Obama to roll back hard-line Bush policies against Cuba. In a letter sent Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, asked Obama to lift restrictions limiting Cuban-American visits to the island.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article940371.ece

-It's time for Ray Sansom to leave the House - or be thrown out
Scott Maxwell | TAKING NAMES
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/orl-maxwell0708dec07,0,234856.column

-Miami: PORT TUNNEL PROJECT:
Mayors want answers about Port of Miami tunnel project
Leaders of Miami and Miami-Dade County want to meet with the governor about the state's decision on the port tunnel project.
BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/815969.html

-Alligator Alley bid proposals to be announced Jan. 12
The Florida Department of Transportation in January will announce the bid proposals it has received from firms regarding the possible leasing of the Alligator Alley toll road.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20081216/BUSINESS/81216075/1014/BUSINESS


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