The Miami Herald ''obtained'' an advance copy of Gov. Charlie Crist's state of the state speech, which he is scheduled to deliver Tuesday at the start of the annual 60-day lawmaking session. Bucking his own party, the Republican governor has embraced the Democratic administration's economic stimulus plan as the panacea to the state's budget shortfall.

No abstinence

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board writes today that the "'just say no' approach isn't working in public-school sex education." "Sex-ed beyond abstinence".

'Ya think?

The Miami Herald editorial board thinks Florida should "Stanch the rate of wetlands destruction".

Will the flock stand for this?

"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.''

The Midwestern transplant who voted twice for George W. Bush and backed religious conservative Mike Huckabee in last year's GOP primary isn't accustomed to overtures from Democratic politicos and the celebrities who come with them. But in keeping with Obama's unprecedented outreach to the religious right during the campaign, the White House plucked Hunter to serve on a 25-member advisory council that also includes a reform rabbi, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is an extension of Bush's office directing tax dollars to faith-based social service agencies. The difference: Obama's group will actually weigh in on policy matters.

''President Obama's vision is so much broader. How do you engage churchgoers and people of faith to be part of the solution?'' Hunter asked during a recent interview in his office at Northland Church.

Charlie's California connections

"$5,000 in donations to Charlie Crist called illegal by feds".

But is it limited to five grand? "A federal indictment released this week claims Gov. Charlie Crist received 10 illegal campaign contributions of $500 each from these 5 homes in Southern California in 2006. But campaign finance records show that Crist received a total of 40 $500 contributions on the same day from nearby neighborhoods, as shown in the map below." "More questionable Crist contributions?".

More McCarty

"Former Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty finally has a date for her planned guilty plea to a federal fraud charge - the same day her husband is to be sentenced." "Former Palm Beach county commissioner plans to plead guilty to federal fraud charge".

"A dramatic way to try to fix Florida's property insurance market"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "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. Their goal is to draw private insurers to Florida and eliminate the need for state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida's biggest home insurer." "A tough task: Legislators seek to fix Florida's property insurance problems during session".

"In an ideal world"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida is at a crossroads."

Growth has stalled, and 300,000 homes sit vacant. A record number of homeowners face foreclosure. One in 13 Floridians is out of work, and one in 10 is receiving food stamps. The state is staring at a $6 billion budget shortfall. Universities have frozen enrollments, teachers are facing pay cuts and public defenders are closing offices some days to save money.

In an ideal world, Florida would create a reasonable personal income tax that would establish a more progressive, stable source of revenue.

It also would scrap the terribly unfair Save Our Homes, which limits property tax increases and benefits longtime homeowners at the expense of businesses, snowbirds and newer homeowners.

Stacking

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "In December, The Post unsuccessfully editorialized that Gov. Crist should name Jane Kreusler-Walsh to one of two vacancies on the 4th District Court of Appeal. There are two more vacancies, Ms. Kreusler-Walsh again is a finalist, and our opinion hasn't changed." "Stack court the right way".

No shuttle

"Obama backs Bush plan to retire shuttle in 2010".

A special kinda' guy

"A personal chauffeur and bodyguard, multiple airplanes and three sport utility vehicles stationed around the state are all part of an elaborate network used in transporting Florida's lieutenant governor, Jeff Kottkamp." "Floridians paid $700,000 over two years for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp's travel, protection".

"As more trips on state planes are revealed, the lieutenant governor no longer can fly under the state’s budget radar. 'At a time when we're struggling to balance our (budget), everyone needs to tighten the reins on spending and travel,' says state Sen. Mike Fasano." "Kottkamp's flights under scrutiny".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "More outrage from the lieutenant governor begs for change".

Crystal Ball: Florida Senate 2010

Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: "Never very popular, Martinez stunned his state by deciding to step down after just one term, creating a rare open seat opportunity in this mega-state."

The pent-up ambitions of dozens of politicians are on display. Nonetheless, one politician had the ability to shut down the contest on the GOP side, and also become the instant November favorite: former Gov. Jeb Bush.

The Sunshine State is one of the few where it is still possible for a Bush to be elected to a top spot because Jeb Bush carved out his own legacy in eight years as Governor (1999-2007), and voters understand the difference between Jeb and George. But after sending signals that he might run, Jeb Bush said no in early January.

Republicans would love to get popular Gov. Charlie Crist to forgo a second term as chief executive and run for the Senate instead. Like Bush would have, Crist would very likely win the seat. On the other hand, the open Senate seat is good news for Crist in another way: Most ambitious Democrats are going to make a beeline for an open Senate seat rather than challenging an incumbent Governor. Crist has sent contradictory signals about his intentions, and the GOP field will be essentially frozen until he decides whether he'd rather continue being Governor or prefers the Senate seat.

In her stead, a cluster of U.S. House members is now hungrily eyeing the Senate seat, including Kathy Castor, Kendrick Meek, and Ron Klein. State Sen. Dan Gelber, an early Obama supporter, is also in the hunt, as is Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

It isn't immediately obvious which second-tier Republicans will launch a candidacy but a couple of GOP congressmen are making noises ... If Crist runs, this is LEANS REPUBLICAN HOLD. Otherwise, it's a TOSS-UP.

Publix

"Top Publix Lobbyist Dies".

The indictment alleged Ali conspired with others to recruit Southern California residents to contribute to the campaigns with promises they would be reimbursed. Ali was said to have reimbursed them with cash or checks.

Good luck with that

"Florida lawmakers should use a two-year allotment of federal stimulus money to stave off painful budget cuts while they make overdue changes to the state's inequitable tax system, a speaker from a Tallahassee policy group told about 40 people Thursday at the United Way of Volusia/Flagler Counties." "DBNJ: Speaker: Use stimulus money; change Florida's tax system".

Blame the teachers ...

When a Zell Corporation newspaper screws up, it blames the teachers: "Outraged teachers: Spam campaigns counter-productive".

Cuba travel

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Lawmakers in Washington are showing once again how difficult it is to change U.S. policy toward Cuba in meaningful ways."

The latest legislative proposal moving through Congress would kill enforcement of regulations that restrict travel to Cuba by Cuban Americans. This is an objective we have long championed, but Congress has picked the worst way to go about it -- making it impossible to enforce existing regulations without tackling the regulations themselves.

Deportees

"Haitian officials say the struggling country can't handle the return of deported citizens while it copes with the lingering effects of last year's tropical storms and food riots." "Ambassador: Review Bush-era decisions for Haitians".

Another fine Jebacy

"Pre-kindergarten test results declined from a year earlier".

Up to Charlie

"Crist is the only person who stands between a hungry group of high-speed-train enthusiasts and a shot at as much as $2 billion in federal tax dollars. Crist's backing is key to the hopes of the Florida High Speed Rail Authority, which met for the first time in more than four years Thursday and wants to apply for some of the nearly $800 billion Congress is making available to reinvigorate the failing economy." "High-speed rail depends on Crist, board says".

Yaaawwwnnn

"Fundraising and social networking have converged as Tallahassee politicians embrace Facebook, texting and instant messaging." "Social networking, fundraising converge in Tallahassee".

Protecting Florida's "ceremonial infrastructure"

Frank Cerabino: "The fact that Al-Qaeda hasn't attacked the Florida lieutenant governor proves that his rapper-like security entourage is working. As any intelligence expert will tell you, terrorists frequently target lieutenant governors as a way to paralyze our nation's ceremonial infrastructure." "Lt. Gov. Kottkamp worth every privilege taxes can buy".

"Lt. Gov.'s travel, protection cost $700k over two years". See also
"FHP plane, SUVs add to Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp's travel bill".

Why bother

"Worried expressions spread through the room Thursday night when Tim Moran suggested that the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County call it quits after 59 years." "Future in doubt for League of Women Voters' Hillsborough chapter".

Florida's Bobby Jindal wannabe

"Mario Diaz-Balart: Not a big fan of Obama's budget proposal".

Family planning

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Publicly financed family planning services prevent nearly 2 million unintended pregnancies and more than 800,000 abortions each year, according to a new Guttmacher Institute report. And for every $1 spent on those services, taxpayers save $4 - $24 in Florida - that would have been spent on those unintended births." "Prevent the pregnancies".

Manny versus The Excorcist

"Manny Diaz rebukes Bobby Jindal".

Prepaid fight

"The man behind Florida's prepaid college program is ready to spend his own money to fight higher tuition, saying it could kill the program." "Plan founder opposes tuition hikes".

"The press of dense development"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board writes today: "Drive the slender finger of land bearing State Road A1A through northern Flagler County, Marineland, across Matanzas Inlet and into St. Johns County. The press of dense development is at times suffocating for how it blots out what less than 20 years ago were panoramic views of the ocean to the east and the vast and pristine estuary to the west." "Matanzas basin".

Tolls

"Tolls to increase 25 cents on Orlando-area expressways".

"Wrong -- twice -- in one week"

"Deltona Mayor Dennis Mulder got it wrong -- twice -- in one week when he sought to use the city's legal department and taxpayer dollars to go after his and Deltona's critics. He got it right by the ninth day, admitting his mistake almost without qualifications. It's more than can be said of most politicians who develop an affinity for misjudgments. " "Advice behind Mulder's apology".

Brain dead budget

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "" "Crist’s budget proposal sounds like a return to the good old days. More money for schools and health care. No new taxes or layoffs. There’s even money for new prison guard radios. What economic hard times? Then the fine print explains why it’s too good to be true and why the governor’s optimism is a close relative to denial." "A shortsighted budget".

Way-to-go, Brownie!

The New York Times: "Florida, which struggled with balloting problems in the 2000 presidential election, switched virtually all voting to paper ballots and optical scanners for the 2008 election. A study has found, however, that twice as many ballots were rejected as invalid in 2008 as in 2004. ... Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning said he was not surprised by the jump in invalid ballots in 2008" "Invalid Ballots in Florida Doubled in 2008".

"Idiot"

... is the only word that seems to fit.

"The leader of state House Republicans is sounding the alarm about a group of activists who want to host Florida Muslim Capitol Day."

''By now, I can't imagine you haven't heard about this upcoming lobbying day for Muslims in Tallahassee,'' Rep. Adam Hasner of Delray Beach wrote in an e-mail forwarded to more than a dozen Tallahassee lobbyists who are Jewish.

``Do you all intend to be part of an information campaign in opposition to it?''

Hasner speculated the group, United Voices for America, will ''push back'' against a resolution he proposed calling for solidarity with Israel. Hasner is Jewish.

Not so, said the group's founder, Tampa native Ahmed Bedier. He said the group plans to talk to state lawmakers about education, healthcare and the economy during the March 10 visit.

In an e-mail to the Herald/Times, Hasner suggested Bedier had ties to Hamas because he once led the Tampa office of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. ...

Hasner pushed for a meeting of a ''Jewish Caucus,'' which doesn't yet exist, to determine a response to the Muslim lobbying effort.

Other Jewish lawmakers said they're not sure it's a problem. ''They have as much right to represent themselves as anyone else,'' said Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek.

Death Penalty

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "As the Florida Legislature looks for ways to save money, the state's public defenders have an idea worth considering: Suspend the death penalty. It would save the state a fortune." See what they mean here: "Death penalty: a price too high".

A bit much

The South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Pulling blood at DUI stops a heavy-handed fishing expedition".

Prepaid fight

"The 80-year-old mastermind of the successful Florida Prepaid College Program says he is willing to spend a half-million dollars to fight proposed legislation that would allow universities to increase their own tuition, fearing it will kill the prepaid program by making it too expensive for parents." "Creator of Florida Prepaid plan declares $500,000 war on tuition increase, says it will kill 'legacy'".

'Glades

"Money, White House pick revive Everglades restoration hopes" "Money, White House pick revive Everglades restoration hopes".

Mass layoffs

"Employers have been dismissing more workers in mass layoffs in recent months, both nationally and in South Florida." "Mass layoffs on the rise in South Florida, across U.S.".

Thanx Charlie

"A new property-tax plan proposed by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist would shift the tax burden away from first-time buyers and onto the backs of existing-home owners, according to an analysis by Orange County's property appraiser." "Own home? Tax burden shifts to you in Crist plan".

Junk jobs

"New Wal-Mart to create 400 jobs in Jacksonville".

Mel can't help himself ...

"The House on Wednesday approved language that would allow Cuban-Americans to visit their relatives on the island more frequently and also ease some U.S. restrictions on trade with Cuba."

But opponents of more-normal ties with Cuba, including Florida's Cuban-born GOP Sen. Mel Martinez, say they will work to block final passage of the House's proposed shifts to U.S. policy when the spending bill comes to the Senate, likely next week.

"I am very concerned about any efforts to modify our policies toward the Cuban government so long as the authoritarian regime continues to deny basic human rights to its people," said Martinez.

All about the cash

"In 2009, candidates and their consultants are texting, instant messaging and Facebooking their way into lobbyists' attention zones." "High-tech fundraising hits Florida politics".

"Jeb!" spreads his cheeks ...

... and The Palm Beach Post editorial board inserts its nose: "Scripps: Jeb's real legacy".

Desperate

"Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is endorsing Lakeland lawyer Dennis Ross' run for the 12th Congressional District seat being vacated by Adam Putnam, according to local Republican Party sources." "Dennis Ross Gets Jeb Bush's Support".

Tuition

"The Board of Governors is set to vote on an agreement designed to protect the future financial stability of Florida's public universities and the state's prepaid tuition program." "Fla. board takes up prepaid tuition agreement".

"Rub out what's left"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board:

Days before the start of the legislative session, Tallahassee's resembling a MASH unit, trying to restore the state's health by stabilizing services ranging from education to transportation.

If state government's triage neglects the environment — typically ignored or mistreated during dire economic times — it can forget about any chances of a full recovery.

Unfortunately, efforts are under way that essentially could rub out what's left of the state's efforts to manage growth. And building on the progress the state has made in the fight against climate change is no longer certain, either.

Sansom death spiral

"A Leon County grand jury began digging into House Speaker Ray Sansom's dealings with Northwest Florida State College on Tuesday." "Grand jury resumes Sansom probe".

The best he could do?

Bill Cotterell: "As a news source, the Internet needs an editor".

Ethics

"First step in an ethics case: The citizen".

Chillax

"An election mix-up that had some voters confused about where to vote next month was not a conspiracy. Just plain old human error, the city clerk said."

Voters in a precinct of northeast Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here.'s District I had to vote in Pompano Beach for the Feb. 10 primary. But they got letters from the city recently saying they'd be voting in Fort Lauderdale at Cardinal Gibbons High School for the March 10 runoff between Commissioner Christine Teel and Bruce Roberts, her challenger.

Garbage

Joel Englehardt: "Has the county ignored plasma arc gasification? No. Has the county thoroughly studied the the technology's potential? No. Should the county commit to a study before committing to a $2''billion future? Yes."

McCarty

"No McCarty replacement for 2 weeks, Crist's office says".

Don't be calling the police chief

"A state judge says Orlando Commissioner Daisy Lynum misused her authority when she called the police chief in the middle of her son's late-night traffic stop three years ago. But Lynum doesn't deserve the maximum $10,000 fine — the punishment recommended by the lawyers prosecuting the ethics case, Administrative Law Judge Daniel Manry wrote in an order released Wednesday. Rather, Orlando's longest-serving commissioner should be publicly censured and reprimanded, Manry says." "Judge: Orlando commissioner Daisy Lynum misused authority in son's traffic stop".

At a time when Tallahassee needs to think years ahead, Gov. Crist is focused on his next office. He would use the federal stimulus money not to position Florida for the future but to position Charlie Crist in Washington, where he would think about running for president while those back home deal with the budget mess he left behind.

No one in Tallahassee believes that is possible. Gov. Crist probably doesn't believe it. But his budget would allow him to look like the good guy long enough on spending, and he also proposed another round of tax-cutting constitutional amendments that would appear with him on the 2010 ballot. "We don't have to raise taxes," the governor bubbled. "We might be able to cut property taxes some more. We have more money for education funding. We can spend more money on our roads and our infrastructure; we can provide health care for our people. That's remarkable."

No, that's delusional, at least as Gov. Crist envisions it. And there's more.

Adult supervision needed

"Fiercely opposed to the idea of raising taxes, Republican leaders in the Florida House urged finding other ways to combat Florida's $5 billion-plus budget deficit."

House Republicans face a billion-dollar challenge: addressing a severe budget shortfall without raising taxes.

Even some veteran antitax hawks in the Senate acknowledge something needs to give in light of the $5 billion or more hole. They are seriously looking at a higher cigarette tax and removing sales tax exemptions.

Anything can change in the fast-moving 60-day session, which begins Tuesday. And the $4.7 billion in federal stimulus money Gov. Charlie Crist wants to use could alleviate some pressure, which would be ironic given how many Republican lawmakers have scoffed at the ''bailout'' package.

Isn't the answer obvious?

Michael Putney in the The Miami Herald:

All this hyper-Crist exposure has me asking: Is Charlie the genuinely concerned Republican moderate/populist he professes to be ("I work for the people, they're my boss'')? Or is he a slightly ditzy, disconnected lightweight who has succeeded on the strength of great political instincts ... .

"Dead in the water"?

"A historic land deal aimed at helping restore the dying Everglades, and lauded by Gov. Charlie Crist as 'monumental as the creation of our nation's first national park,' may end up dead in the water."

The state is currently working to secure financing so it can buy 180,000 acres of land in the Everglades from U.S. Sugar Corp., the nation's largest producer of cane sugar, for $1.34 billion.

The company agreed last year to sell its nearly 300 square miles of farmland to Florida, which wants to use some of it for environmental restoration and do away with acres of agriculture that have long been blamed for polluting the Everglades ecosystem.

The state is hoping to secure financing by the summer, but it must first win court approval to issue bonds after several opponents challenged the project. If the state does eventually get approval, it may then be difficult to find investors to finance the bonds, given the nation's tight credit markets. But state officials have said they're hoping the economy recovers a bit before they begin that process.

In the meantime, U.S. Sugar is still entertaining bids from competitors, putting the state deal in jeopardy.

Another failed privatization scheme

"The largest county in Florida's Medicaid privatization experiment wants out of the troubled program amid complaints that residents are getting shoddy medical treatment."

Two years into the pilot, residents "tell these terrible stories about how their medical treatment is so compromised that it is unacceptable," said state Rep. Elaine Schwartz, D-Hollywood. She worked with Broward County commissioners to draft a resolution that supports a repeal of the pilot in Broward and opposes expanding it into other counties.

When it passed in 2005, Gov. Jeb Bush touted the five-year pilot, which operates similar to an HMO, as a national model for improving care while limiting state costs. Since then, a flood of critics say the program is mired in bureaucracy, and patients complain they struggle to get doctor's appointments and medicines.

Hurry up with that concealed weapon permit backlog ...

"Gun-toting Miramar commissioner who drew weapon on teens wanted faster checkout at Winn-Dixie, witness says".

Charlie "in a fix"

"In the next week or so, Gov. Charlie Crist faces one of the toughest political decisions of his tenure as governor: A Supreme Court appointment that pits conservatives in his own party against a minority community Crist is courting."

Religious conservatives and the National Rifle Association are backing Judge C. Alan Lawson of the 5th District Court of Appeal, calling him the most qualified of the four candidates presented to Crist.

On the other hand, some liberal groups and black activists - including state NAACP President Adora Obi Nweze, whom Crist recently named as his minority affairs adviser - are ardently backing Seminole County-based Circuit Judge James E.C. Perry.

Good banker

"Leonard Abess Jr., the Miami banker who quietly gave $60 million of his own money to his loyal staff, was hailed Tuesday night by President Barack Obama as a symbol of hope in uncertain times." "Obama's praise makes Miami banker 'more than a little nervous'".

Where's the "outrage out of the Hannity-Limbaugh slur factories"?

Pierre Tristam: "Yet here we are, wasting on autopilot almost $16 billion a month -- no questions asked, no debate, no outrage out of the Hannity-Limbaugh slur factories -- while lawmakers closer to home agonize over rail projects, health plans, classroom teachers, mortgage rescues." "Railing about commuter rail -- why not waste for war?".

Med schools

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "It's vital to make sure Florida's new medical schools get the money they need".

"Smart legislation"?

The Tampa Trib editors: "State Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, is sponsoring smart legislation that would make county election supervisors nonpartisan jobs and, as in the case of trial judges, prohibit political parties or groups from endorsing or supporting candidates in their campaigns."

Anyone who doubts the necessity of the change need only consider former Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson, whose political affiliations got him appointed to a job he thoroughly botched - spending too much money, losing ballots and mangling election returns. His actions now are being investigated by the FBI.

There have been other attempts to make the elections supervisors nonpartisan, but they have failed. This year, however, the bill should move forward. It passed out of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee last week.

Ethics attack

Caught with ir hands in the cookie jar, "[t]he state GOP has distanced itself from a Panhandle developer involved in the Ray Sansom controversy, while the developer himself has stepped down from a state insurance board."

Jay Odom, a longtime friend and political contributor to Sansom, the ousted House speaker, had provided aircraft services to the Republican Party of Florida, but the party has decided to no longer use his companies.

Another lazy public employee ...

Broward Mass Transit bus driver Mary "Kilroy grabbed a beige sheet from her car - she uses it to hide packages - and laid it on the cement ground by the fuel pumps. Guided by a 911 operator, she encouraged Belizare to 'bear down.' When the baby appeared, his tiny neck encircled by the umbilical cord, she pulled it away. After a few moments came the lovely sound of his first cry." "Bus driver delivers baby at Tamarac gas station".

Kottkamp

"A Pinellas County activist said today he is filing an ethics complaint against Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp over the cost to the state of flying and driving Kottkamp between his Fort Myers home and Tallahassee. David Plyer, a retired engineer and part-time grocery worker from Clearwater, alleged in a letter mailed Monday to the state Ethics Commission that Kottkamp, a Republican, violated state law by misusing his position for personal benefit." "Activist Filing Ethics Complaint Against Kottkamp". See also "Ethics complaint lodged against Lt. Gov. Kottkamp".

"Florida has long skimped ..."

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors: "Florida has long skimped on need-based aid for low-income students."

Despite having some of the lowest college tuitions in the nation, Florida gained an "F" in affordability in a 2006 ranking by the National Center on Public Policy in Higher Education, due to a lack of support for low-income students and the proliferation of fees and other costs that aren't covered by Bright Futures scholarships or prepaid tuition. Students who don't qualify for Bright Futures -- either due to low grade-point averages, or an educational hiatus, are in even more desperate straits.

The bill approved by the Senate would make things worse.

A Florida thing

"A court case challenging the outcome of a judge's race in Monroe County has forced election officials to track down 69 voters scattered over seven states and four countries. " "Monroe County judgeship lawsuit tracks down absentee voters".

faith based ...

"DJJ program aims to link families, faith".

Does the contractor ...

... have health insurance? Will the workers come from Florida?

"The Florida Department of Transportation decided Tuesday to award a key SunRail construction contract for $163.3 million [to Atlanta-based Archer Western Contractors and New York City-based Railworks Track Systems] -- a number that's higher than a bid threshold the state established but within the project budget, DOT administrators said." "DBNJ: State OKs rail contract despite high bid price".

"Buried contaminants don't always stay put"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Florida's high water table means that buried contaminants don't always stay put. Dangerous chemicals can 'plume,' or spread from a dump site, turning up in wells miles away.". "City, state confront underground trouble from possible landfill pollution".

Wetlands

The Miami Herald editorial board: "There was a time when wetlands were considered useless -- places too wet for growing crops or building homes. We know better now, but that hasn't stopped us from continuing to destroy wetlands at a record rate. The results of a study issued this month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report a high rate of wetlands decline along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, with a net loss of 59,000 acres each year between 1998 and 2004, and no slowdown in sight." "Stanch the rate of wetlands destruction".

A Deltona thing ... what else is there to say?

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Deltona Mayor Dennis Mulder isn't getting it. ... Mulder still wants the city to take legal action against critics. That alone is a bizarre, gratuitous step for any city to take at any time, let alone during an economic crisis when elected officials should be worried about public budgets and public services, not private reputations. And where will Mulder, who also intends to spend his own money in his defense, draw the line between his and the city's business, when he claims that 'If I weren't mayor, no harm would have ever come to my reputation'?". "Mulder's misguided crusade".

These programs are among the dozens that Gov. Charlie Crist wants to fund with up to $7.9 billion in federal stimulus money over the next two budget years.

Not all of Crist's spending appears to be a surefire way to create jobs or boost the economy. And the Republican governor's euphoria over the federal money is sure to refocus attention on one of his perceived shortcomings in the Florida Capitol -- as a leader more focused on the here and now than on the long term.

For Crist, the $12.2 billion in stimulus money over three years is a massive shot in the arm that he can use to avoid raising taxes ... .

Heaven help us

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Having helped to make sure that marriage in this state is off-limits to gays and lesbians, the Florida Family Policy Council wants to set marriage standards for everybody else in Florida. If the group has its way, some of those standards would be written into law." "Divorced from reality".

"Oooh, that wascally wabbit, Charlie Crist!"

Mike Thomas: "He became Barack Obama's new best friend, severed all ties to the conservative wing of the Republican Party and "

all but took himself out of the 2012 presidential race.

It all makes perfect sense.

Charlie is your buddy when Charlie needs a buddy. ...

Crist faces a multibillion-dollar hole in school funding next year. At the same time, he is pushing for populist tax cuts, which would deplete schools even more.

Federal stimulus money is the only solution. It plugs the budget hole through 2010, long enough for him to presumably run for the U.S. Senate.

When the money dries up, it won't be his problem.

The Republican governor of Florida is in favor of the stimulus bill. He even went on Meet the Press to say so.

He was actually nice to President Obama in Florida. He stood on stage with him.

He says: "I want my president to succeed."

To which some outraged Republicans are saying, what's wrong with this man?

They sputter. They snarl. They call him a sellout. Even Jeb Bush's son went after Crist the other day.

They question whether his Political Career is Over.

As T-shirt sales jobs dry up ...

"More than 408,835 new recipients were added to Florida's list in the past year, bringing the total in January to 1.82 million and prompting state leaders to look for help in paying for the increase." "Food Stamp Demand Soars As Economy Sours".

Angry Greens

"Bill encouraging growth angers environmentalists".

"Mouthful of much obliged"

Charlie

raised the ire of fellow Republicans for enthusiastically backing the stimulus package, said outside the White House that he's eager for the bill to work.

"The guy's right," Crist said of Obama. "I mean, you've got to stay focused on the big picture. Everybody has a right to have their opinion. . . . But we are in an economic crisis." ...

Crist said he would welcome any dollars from states that don't take their entire share.

"We can use it. Florida's a mega-state," he said. "We can always use more roads and more rail."

"'For many it's a life or death situation'"

The "values crowd is at it again. They rubbed their thighs with glee as the intangibles tax was eliminated. Today we read: "Florida legislators are expected to trim services for the elderly, even as demand skyrockets in a weakened economy."

"For Jose Rodriguez, the twice-a-day visits from a home health aide are a godsend. The retired accountant has been caring for his wife, Ana, since 1999, when her erratic behavior and memory loss were diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease. It is the only respite he gets from his round-the-clock job."

''I cannot handle my wife by myself,'' said Rodriguez, 70, of Miami. ``She doesn't walk. She doesn't talk. And she needs two people to move her. Doing it alone is mission impossible.''

Rodriguez, however, may lose that help soon. Legislators already trimmed 4 percent of the $13.3 million budget for the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative, which provides in-home help for caregivers like Rodriguez. Legislators trimmed funding for other programs during January's special session cuts, but Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed cuts to the popular Community Care for the Elderly and limited others to a 2 percent trim.

More cuts -- perhaps as much as 15 percent, depending on revenue projections -- are expected when the Legislature convenes March 3.

''This is a tough year. We have less money, so everybody should expect that they'll have less,'' said Rep. Marcelo Llorente, the Republican House budget chief who oversees health spending.

Advocates, however, warn that thousands of Florida's elderly will be left without services, from adult day care to free meals.

''What we have been saying is that you cannot continue cutting these programs without deeply affecting the population,'' said Leslie Spencer, lobbyist for AARP in Tallahassee. ``For many it's a life or death situation.''

Sansom death spiral

"A grand jury resumes its investigation today into House Speaker Ray Sansom's dealings with a Panhandle college that briefly employed him after he helped steer some $35 million in state funding to the campus." "Grand jury resumes investigation into House Speaker Ray Sansom".

"Quietly stepping up negotiations to cut itself in"

"If you can't beat them, buy them. That sums up the emerging dual strategy of Florida Crystals, the most formidable foe of Gov. Charlie Crist's controversial land deal with rival grower U.S. Sugar. At the same time its lobbyists and lawyers are working to derail the $1.34 billion proposal, Florida Crystals is quietly stepping up negotiations to cut itself in." "Sugar shift: Rival seeks a cut in deal". See also "Florida Crystals joins the bidding for Glades acres".

The road goes ever on

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "It’s bad enough Lt. Gov. Kottkamp has charged taxpayers more than $400,000 for air travel the past two years. Now it turns out there is a considerable added cost for his state trooper’s travel." "Kottkamp's commute".

"Storming gun shops for ammunition"

The South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board: "It is time for many South Floridians to get a grip. Not on their weapons, but on their senses. First, there was the big run on guns, both locally and nationally, when it was feared the Obama administration would quickly enact tougher gun legislation that would make it difficult to own guns. Didn't happen. And doesn't figure to happen, particularly since the Supreme Court has reinforced the right of an individual to bear arms. But that hasn't deterred some South Floridians, who are storming gun shops for ammunition - particularly rounds for military-style assault weapons." "Hysteria fuels sales of guns and ammo".

Poor Buddy

"The FBI, which already is looking into the office of former Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson, has opened a parallel inquiry into Johnson's real estate finances." "FBI looking at real estate dealings by former Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson".

'Glades

"How worried are environmentalists that the Legislature may scuttle Gov. Charlie Crist’s $1.3 billion plan to buy U.S. Sugar and restore the Everglades? Well, it’s the middle of February and there are already campaign-style mail pieces seeking to pressure lawmakers." "“Breathtaking” Everglades mail assault".

Shell games

Bill Cotterell: "They're lined up like little tin soldiers, 80 uniform pieces of legislation that lawmakers are ready to play with when the 2009 session starts next week." "Legislature's shell bills keep everyone guessing".

Tweeter

"Gelber will bring his take on Tallahassee to Twitter, allowing us a nonstop stream of his musings. Gelber, a Democratic state senator from Miami Beach, is running for U.S. Senate in 2010." "Gelber to tweet session".

Whooppee!

"Florida unemployment benefits increasing by $25 a week".

"Don't drop f-bomb on royal visitors"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "We are not amused".

One trick pony embarrasses Florida

"Florida Sen. Mel Martinez lashed out at a Senate report today that there is little evidence to suggest a democracy will soon arise in Cuba's post-Castro era unless the United States changes its own policies toward that country."

Martinez differs with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's top Republican, who contends in his new report that it is time to rethink the 47-year-old U.S. trade embargo with Cuba and other policies toward that country.

SOE follies

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark is working hard to persuade voters to cast their ballots by mail rather than at the polls. But when her aggressive push results in a poorly informed electorate, it appears to be more for her benefit than for the voters or for democracy." "Early ballots deliver frustration".

Exceeding the maximum

"The cost of the planned commuter-rail train through Central Florida appears to have gone up by close to $7 million. The Florida Department of Transportation on Monday opened three bids for the project known as SunRail and discovered that the lowest proposed price was about $165 million to prepare the proposed 61.5-mile line to begin operations in mid-2011." "Bids for SunRail exceed maximum set by state".

Tuition increase

"Florida's current base tuition for a standard 30-credit year is $2,461 (though select universities are allowed to charge more.) Under legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Higher Education Committee, a year's tuition could climb as high as $6,743 by 2013." "For Florida students, hope will be more expensive".

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Florida's tuition for attending any of the 11 public universities is the lowest in the nation. That is not a ranking to be proud of when it means the none-too-gradual diminishing quality of the universities." "Budget puzzles".

There's the rub

"Central Florida commuter rail: Who pays if somebody gets hurt?".

"Action plan"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board' "series of editorials focusing on the upcoming legislative session". "Legislature 2009: Action Plan".

Previously: "Make ends meet", "Create safer streets" and "Get commuter rail on track". Today: "We think: Lawmakers need to approve SunRail, now more than ever".

Foreclosures

"A cash crunch caused by foreclosures is becoming a major problem for many condominium and homeowner associations statewide, according to an advocacy group's survey." "Foreclosures lead to budget problems for associations".

"Bad drivers"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Florida needs to get bad drivers off the roads, and make it stick." "Too many passes in traffic court".

Prepaid College program

"An uncertain future for Florida higher education costs has pushed a landmark agreement between the state's universities and the popular Prepaid College program that both sides hope will keep them fiscally afloat." "Universities and Prepaid College program reach agreement to insure solvency".

Abandon it ... and they will come

"Party causes $75,000 in damage at home".

The Forbes list is a combination of rental and homeowner vacancy rates for the 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas of the country based on fourth-quarter data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Each was based on rental vacancies and housing vacancies with the final list averaging the two, Forbes reported.

They want efficient public-transit systems. And strong schools. But they won't find them in abundance in Florida.

More people will decide to make Florida their next residence once the home-construction and mortgage crisis subsides. But Florida can make itself attractive to considerably more of them if it stops thinking of itself as an inevitable destination, and starts doing more to make itself a worthy one.

See you in Havana next year

"The U.S. policy of shunning communist Cuba by imposing a strict trade embargo has failed to prod the island nation toward democracy and should be re-evaluated, according to the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee." "Sen. Lugar Says US Must Rethink Cuba Embargo".

Tuition

The Palm Beach Post editorial board:

The national average for annual tuition and required fees at public universities is $6,585. The figure at Florida's public universities tops out at $3,919. That's quite a gap, and it can translate into quite a quality gap. That's why it makes sense for the Legislature to permit universities gradually to raise tuition toward the national average.

Out of control

Jane Healy: "Why can't Crist control Kottkamp?". See also "Kottkamp has $60,000 road bill on top of $400,000 air tally".

"Untapped"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "An estimated 22,000 low-income students at Florida's state universities are being shortchanged, leaving huge sums of federal grants on the table by not applying for them. " "Student aid going untapped".

"Losing even harder"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board writes today that "Attorneys for the Florida Legislature have been fighting hard to block a pair of proposed constitutional amendments designed to force lawmakers to draw fairer boundaries for legislative and Congressional districts. They've been losing even harder." "Court rules out alarmist math on gerrymandering amendment".

"Slam the door on unlicensed drivers"

The South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Take away the car. The reckless disregard for suspended and revoked license penalties warrants a much stronger punishment. That's long been clear." "Slam the door on unlicensed drivers — take their car".

The "other half"

"4 jump to flee burning yacht".

Good luck

"North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, who recently announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, courted about 80 people at the first gathering of a state gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democratic group in Southwest Florida." "Senate candidate fights for gay rights".

"'For a Governor you expect at least some level of education.'"

"Crist horrified some guests for botching protocol last night at a dinner for 400 at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Crist left the dinner at 11.30 p.m., 10 mins before King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, leaving the Queen with an empty seat beside her. Total no-no." "Did Gov. Charlie Crist blow protocol with Spanish royalty?".

Another RPOFer hypocrite

"Allen ends appeals, maintains innocence".

Here's a suggestion ...

... cool it with the confederate flags in the office: "The grand opening of Duval County's black Republican headquarters - said to be the only office like it statewide - is scheduled for Thursday."

Local Republicans say they're trying to shake the stereotypical image that their ranks are made up entirely of white male capitalists, typically middle-aged or geriatric, and too rich to bother with regular people.

Sink

"Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink told dozens of local officials to explore ways to reinvent Florida's economy. The officials quizzed Sink, one of the Democrats' most prominent officeholders in Florida, on how to boost the state's economy and other issues." "Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink shares thoughts on economy in Lake visit".

'Glades

Robert E. Coker, senior vice president of U.S. Sugar: "U.S. Sugar was just as stunned as the public by Gov. Charlie Crist's bold proposal to acquire our company. We have farmed this land for nearly 80 years, and we have recently invested hundreds of millions of dollars in making our sugar manufacturing operations the most efficient in North America. Our citrus operations already were the best in the world."

Quantcast

However, the governor was serious, and our board members agreed to listen. Twenty years of fractious history of Everglades disputes may have prodded their interest. Over the many months of discussions and negotiations, our company committed to a major shift.

Gov. Crist's vision that U.S. Sugar's land could provide a lasting benefit for Everglades restoration and revitalize the landscape of South Florida appealed to our long-term interests in this area.

"Gorging at the public trough"

Scott Maxwell: "Charlie Crist and Co. racked up a $430,000 bill hopscotching their way around Europe. His second banana, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, spent the same amount jetting around Florida. And Orange County recently dispatched an entourage of political and nonprofit leaders on a high-class, high-cost trip to Dubai -- something billed as a trade mission, even though Dubai is on the verge of an economic collapse." "Scott Maxwell: No more gorging at the public trough".

Charlie's already in enough trouble with the RPOF "no" crowd

"Crist has emerged as one of the biggest Republican champions of President Barack Obama's economic-stimulus package, but he said Sunday he's not yet signed on to the administration's bid to rescue struggling homeowners. Making his debut on Meet the Press, Crist said he's looking at the details of the $75 billion plan that would include easier refinancing for people who owe more than their homes are worth." "Crist reserves judgment on Obama's plan for homeowners".

Run Charlie, run!

Poor Charlie; headlines like this won't help his national aspirations much: "Crist backs Obama but rejects 'Obama Republican' tag".

Charlie blathers that he's

"a Florida Republican," Crist said on NBC's Meet The Press after moderator David Gregory proffered the "Obama Republican" label. "In the Florida way, we work together in a bipartisan fashion to do what's right for the people."

•Several prominent Republicans are leaving Washington, including Sen. Mel Martinez and Rep. Adam Putnam, after finding themselves in a comparatively powerless minority. Why would Crist head north against the traffic?

•Crist has yet to deliver campaign promises on property taxes and insurance. Wouldn't it look bad to leave office with promises unfulfilled?

•For those with presidential ambitions, conventional wisdom is that it's better to be a governor, especially in a large state, than a senator.

•In Florida, Crist is "The Man," the decider. Why give that up to become a minority freshman among 100 senators?

Red lights

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Legislators can't continue to dawdle on red-light-camera bill".

McCarty fallout

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "McCarty resigned in January and soon will go to prison on corruption charges. To finish her term, which expires in November 2010, Gov. Crist reduced a field of 39 applicants to four. He interviewed them last week." "Three anti-Mary McCartys".

Sick turtles

"The Turtle Hospital wants Keys boaters to keep an eye out for floating turtles after admitting 20 injured ones in the past two weeks." "Florida Keys drop in temperature is making turtles sick".

21

"Blackjack addiction on rise in Florida".

And it was a real yawner ...

... "It's Crist vs. Jindal on 'Meet the Press'". More: "Video: Crist, Jindal on Meet the Press".

Wingnuts trash poor Charlie

"George P. Bush may not be ready to follow his father, grandfather and uncle into politics just yet, but he is trying to help the Republican Party regain a conservative message, which on Saturday included criticism of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist."

Bush, the son of former Gov. Jeb Bush, grandson of former President George H. Bush and nephew of former President George W. Bush, addressed a national conference of young Republicans and told them there is a rift in the party between fiscal conservatives and what he calls "D light" - Republicans who are trying to appeal to the political middle.

"I want to obtain success in my own right. I want people to look at a record of accomplishment that I've put together in my own right and not based on family name," Bush said.

Ugly visual: "under the skin of Republicans in Tallahassee"

"Good-government groups are starting to get under the skin of Republicans in Tallahassee".

The 1986 state law that helps finance statewide politicians willing to accept spending limits is under threat of repeal again this year, as legislators scrambling to close budget gaps take aim at the requirement designed to help poorly funded and unknown candidates compete with big-money politicians.

A report released Friday by the Los Angeles-based Center for Governmental Studies stated Florida's law "faces growing problems" thanks to the Legislature's changes in 2005 that more than doubled the amount of private cash a candidate could raise and still qualify for taxpayer funds.

"The current program allows candidates to raise and spend large amounts of private contributions and still receive public funds," the report says.

Gov. Charlie Crist is the poster child, raising $19.8 million for his 2006 gubernatorial race including $3.3 million in public financing. In the 2006 elections, Florida devoted $11.1 million to the campaigns of statewide candidates who still raised tens of millions of their own money from private contributors.

But government-watchdog groups want to reform the system without abolishing it.

Al Zell says ...

"Federal money shouldn't delay smarter state government".

Carrying

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Four of every 100 adult Floridians now has a permit to carry a concealed gun, and 95,000 are awaiting action on their application for one. But while the number of concealed weapons permit holders has jumped 56 percent in four years, no one knows their names. In 2006, the Florida Legislature exempted the concealed weapons permit database from public view. Permit holders may like that no one knows they may be carrying a gun. What about the other 18 million Floridians? The right to carry a concealed weapon should not trample the right to know who has a permit to carry one." "Guess which ones carry guns".

"Sansom Air"

"For years, Odom has navigated the higher reaches of Florida power, befriending former Gov. Jeb Bush, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and others. The connections have earned Odom spots on the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board, where he helped turn back a move to eliminate builders' risk coverage, and on a powerful transportation board Sansom helped create and that may be steering a highway near one of Odom's housing developments."

Odom also frequently lends his eight-seat Cessna jet to the state GOP. Sansom has used it so often some locals call it "Sansom Air.''

O ... Bama to the rescue ...

"Governors meet to discuss stimulus".

Worth the cost?

"Florida's lieutenant governor is racking up travel expenses by flying in a state plane and driving with a personal body guard, charging the brunt of it to taxpayers." "For Florida's No. 2, travel comes with cost".

Don't let the door hit you in the ass, Joe

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "It is time for state legislators, and the voters who elect them, to get serious about the business fixing of public education."

Then again, perhaps they've been serious all along. In June 2007, Rep. Joe Pickens, then chairman of the House education spending committee, publicized his unwillingness to support proper funding for education.

"Do they have the right to expect that they will be held harmless or made whole? No," he said.

Leon County Schools Superintendent Jackie Pons said it well: "There's a big difference between good politics and good leadership." The leaders will show themselves as the legislative season begins in earnest in nine days.

They will be the ones who will make education funding a top priority rather than choosing — through action or passivity — to systematically condemn our schools, and generations of Florida's children, to a legacy of failure.

As Charlie smiles ...

"Many South Floridians hoping for a chance at subsidized housing went home disappointed. Authorities said as many as 6,000 people were believed to have crowded outside the Robert P. Kelley building in Fort Lauderdale early Saturday, but police shut down the line at 8:15 a.m." "Huge crowd for subsidized housing applications".

Where's Charlie?

"It has been another tough week for Plant City, with the announcement Tuesday that Smithfield Foods is closing, meaning another 760 people without work. The meat processing plant, the city's largest private employer, will begin layoffs in June and close its doors in September." "Plant City Wonders If Closure Means The End".

Brain dead

Sleepy's dad, while on a junket in the mideast, is talking outa both sides of his ample derrierre:

Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty said he opposes the almost $790 billion stimulus bill Congress has passed -- of which Florida could get $12.2 billion, Gov. Charlie Crist says.

there's no chance the mayor is going to turn away any of it if it ever arrives.

Rail

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Legislature needs to trim the cost and shift CSX's liability back to CSX. But the project is still strong enough to warrant attention this legislative session." "Put commuter rail on the right track".

"Steely resolve"?

The Tampa Trib editors: "It's unfortunate Gov. Charlie Crist didn't possess the steely resolve of former governors Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush when it came to combating efforts by the Seminole Tribe to turn Florida into a casino-gambling state." "Don't Let Gambling Conquer State".

Heads I win ...

... tails you lose: "State transportation officials paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to companies that lost bids on big projects after they were denied authority to do so by the governor's veto. This year, they are again asking lawmakers to give them permission to pay losing bidders, a practice they have been doing for years without authority, spending nearly $6 million." "State bill again seeks to pay for losing bids".

What a bargain

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "In the past five years, Palm Beach County and the state have committed about $700 million to lure researchers and add a biotechnology component to the state's tourism/agriculture/construction economy." "Celebrate Scripps opening, then face the hard reality".

I stopped reading at the "chicken coop"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "In 2007, the state agreed to pay a former Boynton Beach couple $10 million for failing to tell them of the horrific abuse their three adopted children had suffered in state care."

Because the system that compensates victims of state negligence is itself negligent, the adoptive parents are still waiting for the money that will pay for their sons' mental-health treatment. The brothers were raped, beaten and caged in a chicken coop while in foster care. Since being adopted in 1998 - all are still under 18 - they have molested classmates and each other, attempted suicide, and terrorized their adoptive parents, threatening at one point to kill their adoptive mother. The middle child gave the adoptive mother a drink that he had poisoned with contaminated chicken blood.

Last year, legislators failed to act on a bill that would have given the couple $9.5''million, the balance owed after a payment of $500,000, the maximum without approval from the Legislature. This year, there's also no certainty.

Vacant

Randy Schultz: "In recent days, Gov. Crist has filled an opening on the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region. He's filled two slots on the Miami River Commission Policy Committee. He's chosen five people for the Children's Services Commission of Martin County. After nearly eight months, however, Gov. Crist still hasn't filled a seat on the South Florida Water Management District board." "Crist gives Glades empty feeling".

By one

"Palm Beach mayoral recount decided by one vote".

Now, had they come from Cuba ...

"Cecia and Ronald Soza tugged at the heart strings when the South Florida youngsters went on a ''hunger strike,'' hoping to keep their Nicaraguan mother from being deported."

The media -- particularly Spanish-language media nationwide -- loved the drama. Captured by the cameras were tears in between sips of Pedialyte, and 9-year-old Ronald's pleas to President Barack Obama to spare his mom because "she's not a criminal.''

That may seem like a debatable fine point for Congress and the new administration. But Obama owes much of his victory to strong support from Latino voters -- often in extended families that include U.S. citizens and undocumented immigrants.

Maricela Vallejo Soza, 32, didn't steal, hurt or kill anyone, but she did break U.S. immigration law. She's now back in Managua, unable to care for Cecia, a bright young lady who's in an international baccalaureate program at her middle school, and the rambunctious Ronald, whose playful nature has turned more melancholy.

No S*** Sherlock

"Auto industry and its workers worth saving".

Harmless

"Powdery letter sent to tabloid publisher in Boca Raton is harmless".

Getting ahead of the problem

"A client sticks feet, hands or other body parts in a bowl or pool, and the small fish chow down on soft decaying skin." "Fish pedicure is banned in Fla.".