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Tuesday Morning Reads: Guns in hospitals, Evelynn Lynn and redistricting

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:09:25 +0000

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and welcome to this edition of the morning reads. It's a full day today in Tallahassee with the Senate looking at redistricting on the floor today. So to get you read, here are five stories you should be reading this morning. * The Orlando Sentinel writes that the Legislature's redistricting work is likely headed to the courts. From the story: After more than two years of bickering over reforms meant to curb political abuses, the Florida Senate on Tuesday plans to debate maps for congressional and legislative districts that preserve Republican majorities and, its authors say, meet legal muster with Fair Districts. But it will be far from the final word. * Should guns be allowed in hospitals? The Miami Herald reports that the South Florida hospital association is asking the Legislature to ban them. From the story: In Florida, it’s against the law to carry a gun into a school, an athletic event, a jail, a police station or a local government meeting. Not so with hospitals, where it remains perfectly legal to pack heat. For years, Linda Quick of the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association has wanted to change that. Just before each session of the Legislature, when her group publishes its agenda, it includes a talking point: “Add ‘licensed hospitals and nursing homes’ to the Safety Zone provisions of the Concealed Weapons Law.” * The Daytona Beach News-Journal has a profile on state Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach. From the story: Lynn, who turns 82 next month, has been an integral part of a Republican-dominated Legislature for so long, it's easy to forget that it wasn't always this way. But before she was the undefeated dean of Volusia County lawmakers and a standard-bearer for women in Florida's Republican Party, Lynn was an upstart city commissioner who was given almost no chance of becoming the first woman to be elected to state office from Volusia County. * The Republican presidential primary is overshadowing the state Senate race, AP writes. From the story: Republicans say their top two goals this year are defeating President Barack Obama and defeating Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. But until Florida goes to the polls Jan. 31 for the presidential primary, the Senate race is an afterthought. Former Sen. George LeMieux and former state Rep. Adam Hasner acknowledged it's hard to break through to voters while they're focused on picking a presidential nominee. * The Tampa Bay Times has a story on Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam's entrance into the debate over energy policy. From the story: Putnam is pushing 11 proposals that he says will start the state on a path to energy diversity by reducing its dependency on natural gas. But he's moving with caution. The last person to push for energy reform in Florida was former Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist called for sweeping reform in 2007 when attacking climate change was more politically popular. A year after he left office, Crist's policies lie dormant in statutes or have been repealed. Bonus Blogs * Maps of new districts could reshape Broward legislative districts * If Reagan doesn't, Bennett says he'll run for elections post

NY Times: Genting — an instant force in gambling

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:34:40 +0000

The New York Times has a piece this morning on Genting's aggressive approach in entering the New York market and notes its similar strategy in Florida. ***** Now, as Genting pursues multibillion-dollar projects in New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack and in Miami, its lobbying offers a primer on how a well-heeled newcomer can make up for its lack of experience and connections in the United States. Because casino gambling is highly regulated, the industry has long drawn swarms of lobbyists promising to help navigate state capitols. Casino gambling is banned in New York, with the exception of casinos on Indian land and electronic slot machines at nine racetracks. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has proposed legalizing the industry, though such a move would require action by the Legislature and a referendum. ******* Read the story here .

"Daily NewsMakers with Jeff Lytle" … FGCU Wilson Bradshaw; Bob…

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:24:01 +0000

‘Daily NewsMakers with Jeff Lytle’ … FGCU Wilson Bradshaw; Bob Graham, the former governor and U.S. senator – first guests of new year Florida Gulf Coast University President Wilson Bradshaw and Bob Graham, the former governor and U.S. senator, are the first guests of the Read More

Sen. Mike Bennett says companies that take tax incentives and run are ‘prostitutes’

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:03:16 +0000

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, told Gov. Rick Scott’s jobs czar this morning that the state should not pay companies for the “privilege” to relocate to Florida.

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Aaronson asking voters to approve slots

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:55:29 +0000

County Commissioner Burt Aaronson this morning said he plans to ask his fellow commissioners to approve a ballot question for the county’s next election, asking voters to approve slot machine gambling at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.

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Condo evacuated in South Palm Beach

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:49:15 +0000

Heavy police presence at Palmsea Condominium

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NTSB: Chopper to recover plane wreckage

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:37:19 +0000

Today, authorities will try to find the bodies of the pilot and passenger of a crashed single-engine plane half-buried in muck in the middle of a swampy wildlife refuge.

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Gator judge tells attorneys for Jim Greer and RPOF to schedule a proper hearing on lawsuit dismissal

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:09:50 +0000

Three attorneys for the Florida GOP traveled 200 miles to be in Sanford this morning for a five-minute hearing at which nothing was decided.

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Joe Sanchez’s Car is Covered in Five Gallons of Feces in Gruesome Crime Photos

Beach Blogger — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:38:22 +0000

When former mayoral candidate and commissioner Joe Sanchez announced this morning that his Florida Highway Patrol cruiser had been vandalized with human feces — possibly the latest salvo in a … Continue reading “Joe Sanchez’s Car is Covered in Five Gallons of Feces in Read More

Sanford cop arrested on bribery charge

Beach Blogger — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:03:16 +0000

A Sanford police officer accused of demanding that a driver pay him $400 or be arrested surrendered this morning at the Seminole County Jail.

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