News Around The State

FEATURED STORIES Fired prisons chief Ed Buss still talks; Gov. Rick Scott not happy By Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Ed Buss had a lot to say in the short time he ran Florida's prisons, and even though he was fired, he's still talking. GOP sends in the clowns By Daniel Ruth St. Petersburg Times Let's suppose for a moment that you are a Republican and in a moment of experiencing a massive brain lapse, you think it might be a peachy idea to run for public office. Protesters at CPAC Convention in Orlando want to Pink Slip Rick Scott By Jean Henry Telcy WMNF Community Radio Tampa The group Pink Slip Rick protested Florida’s governor outside while he delivered the keynote address at the CPAC Convention in Orlando. Florida Lt. Gov.: Jesus Is Under Attack By Adam Weinstein Mother Jones In all the hubbub over Hermain Cain's surprise victory at the Florida GOP jamboree last weekend, most national media missed a shocker from the festivities: Gov. Rick Scott's low-profile lieutenant came out of hiding to speechify against the persecution of Christians. Judge expected to rule soon on request to halt welfare drug testing By Rene Stutzman Orlando Sentinel An Orlando federal judge on Monday hammered attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union and their opponents – lawyers for Gov. Rick Scott and the Department of Children and Families – with questions about whether she should order the state to stop mandatory drug tests for Florida welfare applicants. FLORIDA POLITICS Scott's draft legislative priorities could include olive branch to police, firefighters By Mary Ellen Klas Miami Herald Rick Scott and police Gov. Rick Scott said Monday he is "getting close" to finalizing his legislative agenda, which he promised to have ready after the Presidency 5 events last week. The Hidden Hands in Redistricting: Corporations and Other Powerful Interests By Olga Pierce, Jeff Larson and Lois Beckett ProPublica Their names suggest selfless dedication to democracy. Broward GOP blocks Muslim activist from party membership at raucous meeting By Marc Caputo Miami Herald Islam and tea-party activism clashed at a raucous meeting Monday night when a group of Broward County Republicans blocked a Muslim activist from becoming a member of the party’s executive committee. Fla. Sen. Rubio to write autobiography By Marc Caputo Miami Herald From Florida House speaker to U.S. senator to vice-presidential short-lister to…best-selling author? POLITICAL RACES Straw poll vaults Cain as Perry fizzles By Mike Thomas Orlando Sentinel "I personally believe whoever wins that straw poll, they will be the next president of the United States." — Gov.Rick Scott. The facts on Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax reform plan By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times Herman Cain stunned the Republican political establishment Saturday, easily winning Florida's Presidency 5 straw poll by trumpeting a platform of tax reforms he calls the "9-9-9 Plan." Senate candidate Craig Miller injured in motorcycle crash By Scott Powers Orlando Sentinel Republican U.S. Senate candidate Craig Miller got off with minor injuries after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Altamonte Springs on Sunday, according to his campaign. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Continued investment in water infrastructure necessary for Florida's future By Eric Draper TC Palm Recently it was reported that after Florida's water management districts budgets were cut by about 40 percent, Gov. Rick Scott urged more cuts. Republicans urge EPA to eliminate Florida water regulations By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Several members of Florida’s Republican congressional delegation penned a letter last week to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, urging her to withdraw the agency’s “job-killing” water regulations in Florida. National Solar Power picks Gadsden County for $1.5 billion solar facility By Bruce Ritchie Florida Current National Solar Power of Melbourne said Monday it has chosen Gadsden County for a $1.5-billion solar power project that will create 120 permanent jobs and 400 construction jobs. FPL customers to prepay for nuclear plants? By Susan Salisbury Palm Beach Post Should FPL customers pay for the licensing and planning for a nuclear power reactor even if it's never built? EDUCATION Florida backs Obama plan for No Child Left Behind Act By Linda Trimble Daytona Beach News Journal After years of waiting for Congress to act, local education leaders are glad to see President Barack Obama stepping forward with a plan that will allow states to opt out of sanctions imposed under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Charter school liberties intrigue district By Allison Ross Palm Beach Post Practically since the first charters were authorized in Florida in 1996, school districts have grumbled about the flexibility charter schools have compared with traditional public schools. A nurse in every school? Not in Florida — not even close By Lauren Roth Orlando Sentinel Nancy Mooney doesn't just hand out Band-Aids at Winter Park High School. Tampa parents dispute scathing single-sex school study By Kim Wilmath and Marlene Sokol St. Petersburg Times Seventh-grader Geralyn Leath was laying out her uniform Sunday night, getting ready for another day at Ferrell Girls Preparatory School, when she said something surprising: "Mom, I really want to do well this year in school." Student loan default surge begs for state action Editorial Orlando Sentinel Gov. Rick Scott and state legislators are pondering big changes in higher education, including limits on tenure for professors at public universities. It's not his job Editorial Gainesville Sun It looks like Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature are going to make higher education reform a priority next year: If you call eliminating tenure "reform." JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Postal service workers to rally outside Florida delegation’s offices By Ashley Lopez Florida Independent Groups of postal service employees will protest the possible downsizing of the U.S. postal service at rallies all over Florida tomorrow. Partial FEMA shutdown would have little or no effect on Florida, Palm Beach County By Dara Kam Palm Beach Post A possible federal government shutdown this week should have little if any impact on emergency management operations in Florida, state officials said Monday. PIP's cap set in 1979 is far below 2011 realities, insurance industry says By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Current The second meeting of Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott’s personal injury protection work group picked up where the first meeting left off: with members taking jabs at one another. HEALTH AND SENIORS Florida's challenge to federal health care reform moves a step closer to U.S. Supreme Court By Travis Pillow Florida Current Florida's legal challenge of a key part of the federal health care reform law moved one step closer to a final resolution Monday when the U.S. Department of Justice did not seek a rehearing from a federal appeals court. New ‘Offenses Against Unborn Children’ bill written by Florida Catholic Conference By Ashley Lopez Florida Independent State legislators have introduced a new bill that has been popular among anti-abortion advocates for years. McClatchy/Kaiser: Lawmakers straining budgets of children’s hospitals By Ashley Lopez Florida Independent McClatchy and Kaiser Health News are reporting that recent decisions by Florida lawmakers have leaders of the state’s children’s hospitals worried about their budgets. Indictment, fines didn’t stop ALF operator By Carol Marbin Miller and Michael Sallah Miami Herald When Florida’s Statewide Grand Jury charged Arturo Godinez with taking part in a conspiracy that sold counterfeit and diluted drugs to unsuspecting cancer patients, state health regulators say they had no authority to strip him of ownership of some of South Florida’s largest assisted-living facilities. Residents complain about abuses in Tampa Bay nursing homes By Andrea Lypka WMNF Community Radio Tampa Recent reports of abuses in nursing homes have put Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) under a spotlight.

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