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Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush headline Hispanic gathering

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:58:27 +0000

Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush will be the featured attractions at a Miami conference on Jan. 27 hosted by the Hispanic Leadership Network, which calls itself a center-right advocacy group. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida The conference begins on Jan. 26 with a presidential candidates’ debate co-hosted by the group along with CNN and the Florida Republican Party. Senator Rubio of Florida is often mentioned as a vice presidential prospect, largely because the Cuban-American Republican would help draw Hispanic voters to his party’s presidential ticket. Former Florida Governor Bush has long tried to draw Hispanics into the Republican fold. Rubio will speak at the “Inspiring Action” conference. Bush and former Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez will co-chair the gathering. Rubio foreshadowed his remarks, saying: "The Hispanic community understands the American Dream and have not forgotten what they were promised -- that in the U.S., a free market system, allows us all to succeed economically, achieve stability and security for your family and leave your children better off than yourselves."

Romney launches TV ad in Florida

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:48:56 +0000

Looking well beyond Tuesday’s Iowa caucuses, Mitt Romney announced plans to launch a television ad in Florida to try to consolidate his image as the leader of the Republican presidential hopefuls. The ad, dubbed “Leader,” promotes Romney’s claim that he’s “a man of steadiness and constancy.” “I don’t think you’re going to find somebody who has more of those attributes than I do,” Romney says in the spot, which already has run in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The ad seems designed to counter criticism that Romney is a flip-flopper who panders to voters. Democratic leaders – notably South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee – accuse Romney of being anything but constant in his political views. But Romney asserts his constancy in personal matters. “I’ve been married to the same woman for 25 – excuse me, I’ll get in trouble – for 42 years," he says. "I’ve been in the same church my entire life. I worked at one company, Bain, for 25 years. And I left that to go off and help save the Olympic Games." “If I’m president of the United States," he says, “I will be true to my family, to my faith, and to our country, and I will never apologize for the United States of America.” Florida's primary is set for Jan. 31.

2 dead in shooting, suspect arrested

Beach Blogger — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:06:48 +0000

Police have arrested a gunman who opened fire on his family members inside a South Florida home, killing two and injuring another.

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Today in the State Capitol: ALFs and Foreclosures

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:45:49 +0000

TALLAHASSEE -- It's the last committee day of the week and lawmakers are eager to return home for the Thanksgiving holiday week. So here are some of the highlights of the last day. * The S enate Health Regulation Committee and the Senate Committee on Children, Family and Elder Affairs meet jointly to discuss the ongoing issues facing assisted living facilities. * The Senate Judiciary Committee is looking at an interim report on foreclosures. The banking industry is pushing the state to go toward a non-judicial foreclosure system to start moving foreclosures faster. * The Senate Criminal Justice Committee is looking at legislation on inmate reentry and the early release of certain elderly inmates.

Thursday Morning Reads: Scott is a grandpa; Broward comes out again

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:41:11 +0000

TALLAHASSEE -- It's almost the end of the week and we have five stories for you to read this morning. And we're off. * Broward County has passed a new ordinance prohibiting the county from doing business with companies that don't treat same sex couples as spouses, the Sun-Sentinel reports. From the story: Broward has come out — again — as gay friendly, passing a law preventing the county government from doing business with companies that don't treat same-sex couples the same as spouses. Earlier this month, Broward became the first county in Florida, and one of just a few in the country, to pass a law that requires companies doing business with the county government to offer benefits to their employees' domestic partners if they offer them to husbands and wives. * 1st DCA Judge PaulHawkes has resigned, the News Service of Florida reports. From the story: Hawkes' decision to step aside on Jan. 4 essentially shuts down the Judicial Qualifications Commission hearing that was scheduled to begin Jan. 30. That case had drawn attention for the sharply critical legal briefings filed by both sides, which had included quotes from former Gov. Jeb Bush , Alice in Wonderland and Shakespeare to highlight their points. The crux of the dispute, though, was Hawkes role in the construction of his court's lavish new building on the outskirts of Tallahassee and what Special Counsel Wallace Pope characterized as Hawkes' browbeating and demeaning style of leadership. * The St. Petersburg Times reports that a state appeals court does not agree with a U.S. District judge's ruling on the state's drug law. From the story: Miami-Dade's 3rd District Court of Appeal said it did not agree with a ruling by U.S. Judge Mary Scriven of Osceola County, which said Florida's drug law was "draconian" because prosecutors don't have to prove that the accused actually knew they were carrying drugs. Scriven's ruling, in Shelton vs. Department of Corrections, has sparked thousands of requests statewide from defendants seeking their freedom. * The Florida Current reports that the Government Efficiency Task Force wants to merge tollway collection services. From the story: Under recommendations made Wednesday by the Government Efficiency Task Force, all toll collection functions of local expressway authorities would come under the Florida Turnpike Enterprise. The proposal is short of the full consolidation considered last year in the Senate, but does urge lawmakers to contract for a study to consider the issue further. * The Palm Beach Post writes that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is trying to pitch his bipartisan jobs bill. From the story: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., set out this week to prove wrong Americans who believe that Congress can't agree on anything. With Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., Rubio has sponsored a jobs bill, written essentially by compiling a list of the job-creating provisions embraced by both parties. Bonus Blogs * Gov. Scott is a grandpa * Arduin: Fla's sales tax base is eroding

Theater needs new digital equipment

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:08:11 +0000

One of the oldest movie theaters in the Bay area held a fundraiser on Sunday as part of an effort to remain in business. The Ruskin Drive-In Theater Car Show & Family Fun day began at noon and lasted over four hours.

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Female passenger seriously injured

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:19:45 +0000

An 88-year-old Citrus County man was killed Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Road 700 and Lone Pine St. in Homosassa. Delbert Kuhns was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, 84-year-old Betty Kuhns, was airlifted by helicopter to St. Joseph’s Hospital Read More

Correction: Air Race Crash-Lawsuit story

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:41:00 +0000

In a story Nov. 1 about a lawsuit filed in Texas by the family of a man killed when a racing aircraft crashed into spectators in Reno, and in previous reports about the Sept. 16 crash, The Associated Press erroneously reported that crash victim Craig Salerno was an air racing pilot. Salerno was Read More

Correction: Air Race Crash-Lawsuit story

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:41:00 +0000

Deputy hit while directing traffic

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:21:00 +0000

Authorities say a central Florida deputy was hit by a car while directing traffic at Full Sail University.

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