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Palm Beach lawmakers hope to add gun restrictions to day care, gov’t buildings

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:07:25 +0000

TALLAHASSEE -- Two Palm Beach County lawmakers are pushing for the Legislature to reexamine a law that they passed last year that forced local governments to strike local gun ordinances from the books. The new law now allows people carrying concealed weapons to carry firearms into a day care and some government buildings. They are still banned from schools, universities, court houses and prisons. The measure proposed by Rep. Lori Berman , D-Delray Beach, and Sen. Maria Sachs , D-Delray Beach, would prevent the carrying of concealed weapons in childcare facilities and most city, county and school buildings in Florida "There is no reason, justification to carry a firearm into a child care center or into an office where citizens are serving their county or their city or their state," Sachs said. Palm Beach County Commission Chair Shelley Vana also appeared with the lawmakers at the press conference with the lawmakers to lend her support for the proposal. "We are 100 percent behind the bill that would take another major step in rectifying a tremendous wrong and helping local governments keep their citizens safe," she said. The measure is HB 1087 and SB 1340. Watch the press conference below:

Ethics committee probes Hastings sex harassment allegations

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:55:23 +0000

South Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings faces further investigation by the House ethics committee, which is looking into allegations that he harassed a former staff member of a human-rights group under his supervision. Alcee Hastings The announcement on Wednesday unleashed a report from a separate advisory body, the Office of Congressional Ethics, which found enough reason to think a rule might have been violated to recommend an investigation. The office, which conducted its own review of the case, did not make conclusions and said it was not able to obtain testimony from some witnesses. Because of that, “and in view of the seriousness of the allegations,” the advisory office recommended a review by the committee, which has more power to demand testimony from witnesses. The former staff member, Winsome Packer, has accused Hastings of unwanted touching and crude comments while he co-chaired a group known as the Helsinki Commission. She says he in effect threatened her job if she complained. Hastings, a Democrat from Miramar, reaffirmed his denial of the allegations and accused Packer of having a personal agenda, including selling a novel. “As I have said repeatedly since this matter first came to my attention, I unequivocally deny the allegations made by Ms. Packer,” Hastings said on Wednesday. “The acts alleged are contrary to my character and to the main objective of my career in Congress, advancing the civil rights of all people. “Furthermore, Ms. Packer’s allegations are completely false. I never had a romantic or sexual interest in her, nor did I ever express or otherwise suggest that I had any such interest. Here’s the rest of his statement:

WPB going green for $6.8 million

Beach Blogger — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:19:27 +0000

All the city owned lights in West Palm Beach are set to get an upgrade for $6.8 million. The commission is looking to replace all of the city lights with LED lights to save money in the long run.

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Teen found in Philadelphia back in WPB

Beach Blogger — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:04:23 +0000

The 15-year-old West Palm Beach girl who was found in the midst of a bizarre Philadelphia abuse case is back home.

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Investigation of deadly crash difficult

Beach Blogger — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:57:39 +0000

2 people died when the plane crashed in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

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Howard hosts exhibition as gift to ‘our city’

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:21:00 +0000

Dwight Howard says he hosted an Old-School-New School Orlando Magic exhibition game as a way to uplift the city where he has spent his entire NBA career.

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Pepperidge Farm to expand Richmond plant

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:11:00 +0000

Pepperidge Farm has decided to expand its Richmond plant that makes Goldfish crackers, a move expected to create 54 new jobs.

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In Lake Worth, Election Day Is Never Boring

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:23:58 +0000

Today is Election Day, and in case you were tempted to stay home because the candidates are all local nobodies, the City of Lake Worth is here to change your mind.

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Hybrid cars in Florida to get solar charging – with shade

Beach Blogger — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:18:55 +0000

A Nissan Leaf charges at a electric vehicle charging station this summer in Portland, Ore.

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WPB: consultant to study managers’ pay?

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:03:51 +0000

Commissioners want the city to pay for its first in-depth study of managerial pay in six years, with the economic conditions quite different than last time.

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