FLORIDA DIGEST - March 01, 2009

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Gallery | Winter Party Festival events on Lincoln Road
Several Winter Party Festival community events by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Friday night on Lincoln Road: shopping sprees at Diesel and Kiehl's Since 1851, happy hour at Halo and a media reception for members of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association at Van Dyke Cafe.
Here are pictures I took (click to enlarge):
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/



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Sunshine Cathedral - Ft. Lauderdale
http://www.SunshineCathedral.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Lecture Series: The Future of Peace in the Middle East
Our next Peace in the Middle East Lecture will be in the Graham/Fasana Chapel at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 4. Our guest lecturer will be Altaf Ali, the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. There is no charge for this lecture series. [Ray's note: This is an outstanding series!]
www.sunshinecathedral.org


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Small mind-sets: Florida needs an attitude adjustment
Stephen Goldstein | Columnist
Florida is a titanic clash of small mind-sets. Too many of us spew Neanderthal notions that consign us to specious conflict. We may think that we are talking to people when we have conversations and that they are listening with open minds.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/sfl-sgcol01sbmar01,0,4817858.column


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

-No paycheck pain for top officials in Crist budget
By Marc Caputo and Breanne Gilpatrick
As mass layoffs claim Floridians' jobs and health care, state lawmakers aren't planning to cut their free health insurance premiums or the salaries of more than 1,100 state workers who earn more than $100,000 a year. Gov. Charlie Crist's budget plan proposes to increase by $13.1 million the amount taxpayers pay to subsidize state worker insurance. About 26,111 top-level employees - including those in Crist's office, the entire Legislature and its staff - have their premiums completely paid by taxpayers.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article980135.ece

-Democratic governors' chief says Crist would be hard to beat
By Anthony Man
The political leader in charge of recruiting Democratic candidates for governor around the country said Saturday that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist would be hard to beat if he decides to run for re-election. Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana was in Coral Springs for the Broward Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdems0301sbmar01,0,7069008.story

-Push is on to halt gerrymandering in Florida
By Janet Zink
State Sen. Dave Aronberg's District 27 stretches coast to coast from West Palm Beach to Fort Myers. State Sen. Arthenia Joyner's District 18 represents an area that covers East and South Tampa, south Pinellas County and a sliver of Manatee County. Pat Kemp, chairman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee, calls those oddly drawn districts crazy.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article980153.ece

-Session: Hold your nose and hope for the best
By Howard Troxler, Times Columnist
I used to be outraged at the Legislature constantly, one bill at a time. You can tire yourself out that way. One year I wrote a bunch of stuff about a lobbyist who was pretty much getting his way in Tallahassee. "Lobbyist's fingerprints all over bill," a headline might say, then, "Lobbyist's client list grows," "Lobbyist writes his own laws," and "Lobbyist close to top legislators."
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/article980112.ece


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