FLORIDA DIGEST - February 28, 2009

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

From Anthony Niedwiecki Campaign for Oakland Park City Commission
WE NEED YOUR HELP- the $10 challenge in the final two weeks of the Campaign
We are in the final stretch of the campaign to get Anthony Niedwieckielected to the City Commission in Oakland Park, but we need your help! Weare asking all of our online supporters to donate just $10 to the campaignto help with final costs as we move forward to Election Day! Each dollar you give will help reach another voter and make sure we bring real change to Oakland Park and all of Florida!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://anthony09.com%2Fcontribute


=
Gay & Lesbian Community Center of South Florida
2009 STARS OF THE RAINBOW GALA
Tomorrow! Sunday, March 1 - Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six
Last Chance For Tickets
Saturday, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM at the GLCC
1717 N. Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale
954-463-9005
Tickets Can Also Be Purchased At The Door
http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001Q2Adiqq9HW_atYxvkN9391iBVpmIJTFGArbK5wF1IAU3rvgVJv5wkeCVNLovy15cS1UfBLc68CWkIiivrOtLaB0khGDRGMBxuNgGKO3n9UQrvPqWyAtApQ%3D%3D


=
Equality Florida]
Polk County: Ryan Skipper's Killer Found Guilty
Today, Joseph Bearden, one of the two accused killers of Ryan Skipper, was found guilty of second-degree murder and robbery. On March 15, 2007, Ryan Skipper was stabbed 19 times and left to die on a dirt road in Polk County, Florida. His death is a bloody reminder of the anti-gay hatred faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in our state. Just days ago, a prosecution witness revealed that shortly after the killing, Joseph Bearden, the defendant, said, "He felt he was doing the world a favor by getting rid of one more faggot." The 19 stab wounds that Ryan Skipper suffered are what the FBI calls 'overkill'. That's when the violence in an assault is beyond what would be necessary for a robbery and more than would even be required to take someone's life. [...]
No action. No public acknowledgment of what has happened. No commitment to ensuring this never happens again. Their silence is as terrifying as the violence itself. Take action. Tell Gov Crist and Attorney General McCollum that they must refuse to be the second-step in the cycle of anti-gay hate violence. Tell them to speak out, to turn the tide and declare that gay and transgender people are valued members of our society and that hate violence will not be tolerated against any group.
http://ga4.org/campaign/hate_crimes_2009


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Special magistrate: Broward teacher raises should not be guaranteed
By Kathy Bushouse
The Broward County School District should not have to guarantee teachers a raise for the 2009-10 school year, but should modify contracts for 243 teachers to give them full credit for their teaching experience, according to a special magistrate's recommendations issued Friday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/schools/sfl-flbsalary0228sbfeb28,0,3424245.story

-A tough task: Legislators seek to fix Florida's property insurance problems during session Legislators seek solutions for property owners
By Julie Patel
A group of leading state legislators is considering a dramatic way to try to fix Florida's property insurance market: have the state cover the hurricane portion of virtually all homeowner policies statewide.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flzinsurance0228sbfeb28,0,3481809.story

-Saturday is deadline to move
Davie mobile home park resident's plight tugs at heartstrings
Public responds to evicted Palma Nova resident
By Susannah Bryan
DAVIE - One of the town's largest mobile home parks is set to close today,forcing hundreds from their homes.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-0227-palma-nova,0,4221029.story


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

-Florida is No. 3 in nation for identity-theft complaints
Florida is a hotbed for identity thieves, according to newly released national statistics. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area ranked 21stin the nation for complaints.
BY NIRVI SHAH
Identity theft continues to be the chief complaint reported to the Federal Trade Commission, data reported this week shows, and identity-theft incidents in Florida climbed about 25 percent in 2008. Overall, the report ranks Florida third in the country for identity-theft complaints per capita.
http://www.miamiherald.com/486/story/925526.html

-Miami judge blasted for scolding runaway girl
A Miami judge, trying to scare a neglected child into making better decisions, may have gone too far with his tongue-lashing.
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER
cmarbin@MiamiHerald.com
A Miami child-welfare judge drew the ire of his chief and local children's advocates when he told a 15-year-old runaway foster child she would end up a''toothless, dead crack whore'' if she didn't mend her ways. Exasperated that the girl was refusing to return to a home where she said her caregiver hit and cursed at her, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Spencer Eig lectured the sobbing teen about making bad choices during a hearing Tuesday.
http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/925739.html

-Florida pastor joins Obama's religious advisory council
BY BETH REINHARD
Joel Hunter -- Christian evangelical, pastor of a Central Florida megachurch and lifelong Republican -- gave the benediction at the Democratic National Convention. He prayed with Barack Obama on Election Day, and rode to the inauguration with Oprah. At the swearing in, he sat in the 12th row, next to Muhammad Ali. 'I'm like, `What am I doing here?' '' said Hunter, who recounted his experience before leading his fifth service in three days.``It's surreal.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/front-page/story/925699.html


=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Alibi's Land Sharks softball opener Sunday in Fort Lauderdale
News release from Adam Sanders:
The Alibi Land Sharks will take the field for a doubleheader this Sunday, March 1 at Fort Lauderdale's Mills Pond Park to begin the South Florida Amateur Athletic Association's (SFAAA) spring season. The Land Sharks will take on Bill's Bombers at 2:00 p.m., and conclude with a 3:00 p.m. game against the Sluggers. Both games are scheduled to take place on Field 2.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-Equality Florida bulletin: Ryan Skipper's killer found guilty
Ryan Skipper's Killer Found Guilty Today, Joseph Bearden, one of the two accused killers of Ryan Skipper, was found guilty of second-degree murder and robbery.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/


=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####