Statewide Reports-September 1-15,2001

Statewide Reports-September 1-15/01

NOTE -
If the link to the on-line articles has changed, search the paper's archive section by date and title - Palm Beach Post links are only good for the day posted, and there is a fee to access archived articles. Same is true for some of the others although the time frame varies.

9/8 to 9/10/01

Sorry no News clips posted

9/7/01

	Revenue advisor eyes job as judge - TALLAHASSEE -- One of the four people who will decide next week the size of Florida's budget deficit -- a number that could have political consequences for Gov. Jeb Bush -- is an attorney who is hoping the governor will soon make him a circuit court judge....Hawkes' dependence on Bush for his career aspirations, and the fact that he is not an economist, has given ammunition to House Democrats, who formally requested Thursday that Hawkes be removed from the Revenue Estimating Conference. House Speaker Tom Feeney last week appointed Hawkes, his chief policy advisor, to the conference, which forecasts how much money the state is expected to collect from taxes and fees.
	Threats won't keep advocates from speaking for students If Gov. Jeb Bush wants to run government like a business, maybe his administration needs a refresher course in management - because if public education was a corporation, its CEO would be fired and the business would be in danger of going belly up.
	State may privatize personnel operation - ...In January, Bush hired a new "efficiency czar," Ruth Sykes, to help streamline government. She quit the $95,000-a-year post just three months later, saying she couldn't support Bush's rush to privatize. Among the initiatives on which she and the governor parted ways: turning the state personnel system over to a private company.
	Auditors critical of FSU finances Report says university hastoo many financial operations A top employee of Florida State University had the authority to transfer $5 million electronically without answering to anyone. That's the chief finding of eight problems outlined by the state auditor general in a report released Thursday.
	Capitol Corner: Steamed at sneaking, snookering Things that get sneaked into the budget. Part II: Gov. Jeb Bush was steamed. In addition to the secret felons purge law mentioned in this space last week (which, incidentally, the governor hasn't expressed an opinion on either way), lawmakers tucked not just one, but seven other "gotchas" into the 2001 appropriations bill.
	Davis won't be part of Democratic field- TALLAHASSEE -- U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa will forgo his expected campaign for governor, the first Democratic casualty of former Attorney General Janet Reno's entry into the race.
	Hispanics: Redistricting will steal our vote power Local Hispanics say they’re about to be cheated by Orlando’s once-a-decade reapportionment plan.
	Health care cuts reconsidered About 19,000 poor and low-income people have come to depend on the 10-year-old health care program.
	Health insurance increases may hurt The cost of health insurance is rising faster now than at any time in the past decade -- and this time around, workers insured through their employers are expected to shoulder a greater share of the expense.
	Panel fines Thrasher $500 Some on ethics board wanted higher penalty Despite last-minute calls for a higher penalty, state ethics officials Thursday fined former House Speaker John Thrasher $500 for violating the state's lobbying laws, his second offense in seven years.
	Ex-House speaker fined for violation of lobbying rules"It was a fair outcome," Thrasher said from his Jacksonville office after Thursday's vote. He did not attend the commission meeting.
	Editorial: A freshman's failure The Palm Beach Post - Since he created the plan two years ago, Gov. Bush has embraced any statistics that offer possible vindication for the One Florida Initiative that ended affirmative action in higher education. Out of the state this week, he picked Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan to claim that Florida's...More...
	UF defends minority efforts - ...Since Bush banned consideration of race in university admissions, the percentage of black freshmen at UF has dropped from 11.8 percent to 7.2 percent. The percentage of Hispanic freshman also has declined, from 12 percent to 11 percent.
	Politics, economics clash Frankel doesn't want ex-legislator at economic meeting House Democratic Leader Lois Frankel says Speaker Tom Feeney is sending a politician to do a bean counter's job.
	Schools' budget faces tough times Despite last year's success, officials anticipating a crunch Last year's budget for Leon County Schools has been put to bed, and this year's woke up on the wrong side.
	Wildlife commission votes to ban feeding of sharks AMELIA ISLAND - In a surprise move, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted Thursday to ban the feeding of sharks and other marine animals in Florida waters. The commission meeting only had been expected to consider rules regulating "interactive" shark-feeding dives, in which scuba-diving tourists get to watch tour operators attract sharks and feed them fish.
	Crist under fire for expenses Education Commissioner Charlie Crist asked for a ride on a jet owned by a Republican fund-raiser to get to Washington, D.C. and a White House event, but didn't report the trip as a gift.
	Crist recalls Washington plane trip as contribution - Crist was prepared to file an amended report with state ethics officials after he learned that the trip from Tallahassee to Washington might be considered a personal gift from Republican fundraiser Al Hoffman.
	Lobbying lawmakers costs groups $3 million Interest groups have spent nearly $3 million to lobby state lawmakers this year, or about $18,000 per lawmaker. "It was a good investment," said lobbyist John Law. "We didn't get the issue we wanted, but we got our message out to many Floridians."
	Threats won't keep advocates from speaking for students If Gov. Jeb Bush wants to run government like a business, maybe his administration needs a refresher course in management - because if public education was a corporation, its CEO would be fired and the business would be in danger of going belly up.
	GOP legislators may have helped Reno's prospects Some Democrats remain suspicious about the elimination of the second primary, which was included in the election reform bill passed by legislators this past spring.
	PENSACOLA, Fla. --U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough left Congress quietly Thursday after seven years
	President Bush to visit Florida - President Bush will promote his education and reading initiatives before audiences in two Florida cities next week. The White House said Thursday that Bush will speak in Jacksonville on Monday and Sarasota on Tuesday.
	President can't be trusted with fast-track power Re: Jim Davis' flip-flop, editorial, Sept. 1. ...giving fast-track authority to the current administration with such a slim Democratic majority in the Senate would be like giving a loaded gun to a drunken sailor.
	Firm a success for ex-state workers When the Legislature decided to privatize its research work, Julia Blankenship and Kristin Winokur decided to compete for their own jobs.
	Alien Critters On Their Way Alien creatures are coming to South Florida, with powerful jaws and poisonous saliva, to wage massive biological warfare.

9/6/01

	State personnel services go private A giant Jacksonville company was chosen Wednesday to take over personnel services for state agencies - a massive privatization affecting the jobs of 1,200 state workers. - Convergys Corp. beat out IBM, Computer Sciences Corp. and Epix for a seven-year contract that will cost the state $39.8 million annually...
	Candidate takes aim at Service First A Democratic candidate for governor, struggling to get known in a crowded field, barnstormed through Tallahassee on Wednesday with some criticism of Gov. Jeb Bush's personnel policies.- - If he becomes governor, McBride said, he would reverse Bush policies that reduce job security. But he said he would keep some efficiency improvements. -- - "There are aspects of Service First that are beneficial, but to put politics back in Career Service was a mistake," McBride said. "Employees of state government fear for their jobs because of political considerations, and that's a trade-off that wasn't a good one."
	Advocates won't be silenced If Gov. Bush wants to run government like a business, maybe his administration needs a refresher course in management -- because if public education were a corporation, its CEO would be fired and the business would be in danger of going belly up.
	Refunds take a back seat to child support If you're waiting for your share of the federal tax rebate but still owe child support, you can stop watching the mailbox. More than likely, the state of Florida has your check.
	Hacker detection program is key A recent article referred to consideration being given to hiring computer-smart kid hackers to see if the proposed election computers can be hacked into and election entries changed. It is safe to assume that the election computers can be hacked into. Programs have to have entry points to enable developers, testers and service personnel to work on the programs.
	Drug firm to make state list NEW YORK - Bristol-Myers Squibb reached a deal with Florida on Wednesday to have its drugs included on the state's preferred list of prescription medicines for Medicaid patients in exchange for creating health programs guaranteed to save the state $16.3 million over two years.
	Lobbying tab for last session hits $3-million TALLAHASSEE -- Pharmaceutical companies battled over generic drugs, phone companies over access rates and lawyers over nursing home lawsuits.
	Judge kills suit against First Union MIAMI - A judge has disbanded a class-action lawsuit by 160 former employees who said they were victims of age discrimination in layoffs and demotions after First Union Corp. takeovers in the early 1990s.
	Gallagher bars hikes in premiums MIAMI - Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher has barred the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association from making future increases in hurricane insurance premiums and has ordered the FWUA to justify rates it is currently charging.
	Once critical of free flights, Crist now explains own trip The education commissioner, who had criticized Gov. Lawton Chiles' frequent jaunts, at first didn't list the trip. Now he will.
	Disabled voucher program quadruples in second year The number of children with learning and other disabilities who receive school vouchers from the state has grown nearly fourfold in its second year. Nearly 3,800 students, most of them with learning disabilities, have applied for vouchers, up from about 1,000 last year. The cost could be $25 million.
	Don't call her the old she-coon Talk about scary: When it comes to women in Florida politics, Katherine Harris is the best we can do.
	Race goes national The Florida gubernatorial race in 2002 may be the first in the state's history to be decided on national issues. But, what's really at stake is who will control Florida's destiny for the next few years.
	Attorney general race The election for state attorney general hasn't received the attention that such an important law enforcement post deserves.
	Echoes of Anita Bryant Gays still are stigmatized in American society, despite great strides toward acceptance in the past quarter-century.
	I RS: Man used names of inmates in tax scheme -- Displaying the expertise of a skilled researcher, Gregory V. Revson methodically set out to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, federal prosecutors say, by tapping into the unlikeliest of sources -- the Florida Department of Corrections website.-- There he culled names and Social Security numbers from a broad cross-section of murderers, thieves and rapists.
	Underground Pipelines Not Adequately Regulated - M ore than 2 million miles of pipeline transport oil, gas and other hazardous material around the nation. They are out of sight and little noticed - until disaster strikes, which has been happening with increasing regularity.
	Scarborough set for new job - Joe Scarborough hopes to leave Congress today a little differently than when he entered it in 1994. - Quietly. - No last-minute speeches. No farewell ribbing from other colleagues.
	Paul Krugman:Second thoughts on the New Economy In the 1970s and 1980s one often read about remote mountain villages where people stayed healthy and vigorous into their 90s, with some individuals reaching extraordinary ages. How did people in these simple, traditional societies achieve such longevity? The answer, it turned out, was that people in simple, traditional societies aren't very good at counting.
	Minority enrollment keeps up Black and Hispanic freshman enrollment held steady at most of Florida's 11 public universities this year, leading Gov. Jeb Bush's administration to declare that the One Florida race-neutral admissions policy is working.
	Minority enrollment holds steady After a ban on racial preferences for admission to Florida universities, the number of minority freshmen goes up.
	Brogan trumpets boost in minority enrollment TAMPA - The number of new minority students in Florida's state university system has increased under the One Florida Initiative, Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan announced Wednesday, saying he hopes the numbers silence the program's critics.
	Facts tell One Florida story Our position: Though it needs to be given the force of law, the program is working.
	Number of minority freshmen rises as affirmative action ends In the first full year since the state banned affirmative action in college admissions, the number of minority freshmen enrolled at state universities rose slightly in 2001, but the increase -- the smallest in five years -- did little to boost diversity on most campuses.
	One Florida Sustains Universities' Diversity TAMPA - No longer able to base admissions on race, Florida's universities still drew more first-time minority students this year and maintained freshman-class diversity, state figures show. ...

9/5/01

	FSU freshman class at record high Minority enrollment also rose despite affirmative-action ban Florida State University drew a record number of freshmen this year - including more black and Hispanic students.
	Minority-owned businesses booming Miguel Jimenez lives in Tallahassee, but you won't hear him complaining too loudly about the state's greater reliance on private companies for services. As owner of Harvest Printing, Jimenez saw his invoices for state printing jobs increase 10 percent to $724,000 last year.
	One Florida, many critics State contracts with minority-owned companies shot up in the past year under the One Florida initiative that ended affirmative action programs in most state agencies, Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday.
	Gov. Bush says more minorities gaining state contracts, thanks to One Florida - TALLAHASSEE --...``The numbers speak for themselves,'' Bush said, surrounded by more than two dozen agency leaders and minority business owners. ``We have more than doubled the amount of procurement by minorities in this state.''
	Florida voucher program surges The scholarship program, which pays for disabled students to attend private schools, grows from 1,000 students to 3,770, costing the state $25-million
	Minority contract spending rises -TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush claimed another victory for his One Florida plan Tuesday when he announced that the state spent almost $550-million doing business with minority-owned companies last year.
	Minority Share Of State Business Up, Bush Says
	Minorities get more state contracts
	(Whew!! the Bush team has been busy...)
	Appellate court disqualifies him A year after overturning a Leon County judge's decision that Florida's school vouchers are unconstitutional, the 1st District Court of Appeal has removed the judge from the case entirely.
	Appeals court orders judge off voucher case
	Officials: Dibrom not to blame Dead fish found in Lake Heritage The water is oily and the carcasses of three dead carp float beside the dock at Herb Talley's home. But state officials say it's unlikely that aerial spraying for mosquitoes had anything to do with dead fish discovered in Lake Heritage over the Labor Day weekend. However, officials do not rule out the possibility that spraying has caused some health problems among humans, and they are encouraging people to report any problems.
	Reno makes candidacy official Miami native plans to focus on issues Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno began a methodical campaign for governor Tuesday with a prediction that she can beat Gov. Jeb Bush if voters "listen to the issues" next year.
	Reno's in the race - MIAMI -- Janet Reno's campaign for governor began Tuesday in typically quirky Reno fashion, in a bungalow without central air conditioning and without any trappings of a modern political operation.
	Bush-Reno fight could really get ugly

As they say on Saturday Night Live, it's Reno time. Unfortunately, there might not be many laughs in a drawn-out gubernatorial battle pitting the former attorney general against Jeb Bush. It might, in fact, get ugly.

	West Nile virus turns up in Escambia -A mockingbird found in Cantonment died after being infected with the West Nile virus, marking the arrival of a new form of encephalitis to the Pensacola area.
	Shark feeding groups under scrutiny POMPANO BEACH - More than a dozen divers drift to the sandy bottom and kneel in a semi-circle. Folding their arms across their chests, they worship at the altar of shark.
	Everglades 'polluter pays' concept goes to court In 1996, nearly two-thirds of Florida's voters endorsed a constitutional amendment to force polluters to pick up the tab to clean up Florida's fabled River of Grass. But five years later, the revolutionary "polluter pays" provision is nothing more than words in the Florida Constitution, and homeowners in the Everglades watershed - from Orlando to Key West - continue to pay most of the costs that environmentalists say Big Sugar should bear.
	Fourth in attorney general race Solicitor General Tom Warner said Tuesday he will seek the Republican nomination for attorney general in 2002, becoming the third candidate in the GOP field. Warner will oppose Education Commissioner Charlie Crist and state Sen. Locke Burt of Ormond Beach, who both have a head start in fund-raising for their campaigns.
	Robert Trigaux: Healthy disrespect for managed care
	Dangerous Secrets If it weren't for a whistle-blower in the federal government, we would have never learned about safety violations in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
	Australian bug joins beetle in battle against melaleuca Scientists soon will invite a second foreign bug to South Florida to feast on melaleuca, hoping to further slow the noxious weed conquest of the Everglades and other natural areas.
	$700,000 missing from Catholic church's fund for the needyA well-known Catholic church that helps fund local and international food missions can't account for about $700,000 from its hunger fund.
	Guest editorial: Protest and the First Amendment The mnemonic for students laboring to master the First Amendment is GRASP for the rights to grievance, religion, assembly, speech and press. The groups planning a mass protest against the meetings in Washington this month of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are in court suing the D.C. police.
	State Lied About List To EPA, Groups Say TALLAHASSEE - State regulators misled the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about plans to drop hundreds of polluted waterways from Florida's list of impaired streams, environmental groups charged Tuesday.
	Legislator puts stop to FCCJ action House Speaker Tom Feeney threatened last week to withhold funding from Florida Community College at Jacksonville after the college denied applications from home-schooling parents and private schools seeking new "dual enrollment" agreements with FCCJ

9/4/01

	Questionable judgment It is true, as Gov. Jeb Bush, says, that Roy Cales, who had been serving as Florida's first technology czar, deserves the presumption of innocence as he prepares to defend himself against charges of grand theft. Cales is accused of using a phony letter from a television station to persuade a Tallahassee bank to lend him $35,000 five years ago. Cales resigned his $95,000 job this week, but his lawyer says his client "emphatically denies he did anything wrong, much less illegal."
	Computers may predict driving risk The bay area will try a new test to gauge senior citizens' ability to process what they see.
	Politicians woo labor at picnic The Labor Day picnic at Boggy Bottom Ranch was the place to be Monday for those with political aspirations in the bay area.
	Governors Target Oil Leasing Profits WASHINGTON - Southern governors are leading the charge for one of the largest pieces of environmental legislation in decades that could put billions of dollars into state hands to protect fragile ecosystems and wildlife. ...
	Service First is no picnic for union Monday's rains didn't dampen the ire felt by many who attended the Labor Day picnic sponsored by AFSCME, the union representing most state employees. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees say they are still smarting over Gov. Jeb Bush's Service First plan.
	Minorities speak out on redistricting Hispanics' rise threatens blacks; both fight GOP Central Florida's fast-growing Hispanic population is looking to redraw the region's political borders, a move certain to cause friction within the black community.
	Outrageous CEO pay makes a mockery of Labor Day When last I took a Labor Day occasion to compare the average American workers' paychecks to those of their bosses, the score was 1 to 419. That was two years ago. Executive pay has continued soaring since, and the ratio is now 1 to 531.
	UF whistle-blower claims harassment - GAINESVILLE -- A doctor who blew the whistle on the University of Florida, sparking a federal probe into Medicare overbilling at the school's teaching hospital, is accusing the school of harassment, a newspaper reported Monday.
	Big Oil and tourism both blamed for exploiting Gulf's coastal beauty
	Barrier helping frogs to survive dangerous road near Gainesville -GAINESVILLE · A biologist says he has not seen a dead leopard frog on or beside U.S. 441 as it crosses Paynes Prairie State Preserve in the past six months.

9/3/01

	Jeb Bush blew chance to show spine at black convention African-American journalists from throughout the country were in Orlando for the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention -- one of those big events that should be a politician's dream.
	He told us so The problem with One Florida all along was that Bush delivered it as though he were Moses bringing the stone tablets down from the mountain.
	Economic fizzle leads to budget implosion TALLAHASSEE -- When Jeb Bush was elected governor in 1998, he walked into a bonanza.
	UF whistle-blower alleges threats In a civil complaint, ophthalmologist Robert Mames says he was forced to leave his job because of harassment from his superiors.
	An assault on press freedom Before Robert Mueller, the new director of the FBI, has warmed his seat, he finds himself caught in a firestorm -- or at least what should be one.
	The state of unions The changes facing American labor reflect the dynamics already reshaping our nation's economy and politics. The unions are surviving by keeping their options open.
	Bill Cotterell: Expect at-will employment to be the norm Maybe Labor Day is not a good time to say it, but here's a little prediction about the future of state employment.-- Before the Republicans return the reins of Florida government to the Democrats - which doesn't look as if it will happen any time soon - we're going to see "employment at will" become the norm in state offices. In fact, it will probably come about in a second Jeb Bush term.
	Labor Day honors America's workers Labor Day is an important time to remember the efforts of America's workers, who throughout history have made our economy prosper and grow. This Labor Day should take on added meaning for the many people who are fortunate enough to have a paid day off to celebrate and commemorate what it means to be gainfully employed. Because of the economic slowdown, some people won't be returning to work on Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday ends. For those we offer consolation and the hope that the future will bring them brighter possibilities and potential for prosperity.
	Human desperation fuels greed on the high seas The indictment of two alleged alien smugglers gives hope that the U.S. government is serious about cracking down on a dangerous and cold-blooded commerce. Three children and three adults drowned off Key West on a blustery night in July when a smuggling run turned to disaster. What happened was beyond the realm of nightmares.
	Experts worry about spillage from ships transporting fuels
	Prison Head Count Surges TAMPA - The prison population in Florida has shot up about 2 1/2 times as fast as the general population in the past decade, according to new U.S. census figures. ...

9/1/01

	Prisoners file class-action suit to gain lost typewriters, books A group of inmates has sued the Florida Department of Corrections, charging prison officials with "systematic efforts" to deny prisoners access to the courts by taking away their typewriters and law books.
	UF's black enrollment decreases by half ORLANDO - The number of black students in this year's University of Florida freshman class, the first to be admitted since affirmative action was eliminated, is nearly half the size of the previous year.
	UF enrolls fewer black, Hispanic students this fall The University of Florida enrolled its fewest number of black freshmen in five years this fall and administrators say more probably would have been admitted if affirmative action had not been abolished.
	Not quite, Governor - Our position: Jeb Bush must work with lawmakers to give One Florida the teeth it needs.
	More to Jeb than big bucks - The wheeler-dealers and their big bucks epitomize Jeb Bush's agenda for Florida. It's about tax cuts and more tax cuts. It's about less help for those who need it most and more money for those who need it least. - Or so his critics charge. - I see a lot more depth to this Republican son of an old-money, New England family, who grew up in Texas and lived for a time in Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico, though. He cares about children, about getting rid of bureaucratic rules that tie the hands of teachers who want to do right by kids. And he seems to understand, too, that Florida's growing cultural diversity can be an asset, not a drain.
	Wet weather brings little winged beasts Meteorologists in our area have been on the hunt lately for that precious resource called rain. While it has gotten a bit dusty, I can think of a few people who'd pray for a reprieve a little while longer - especially the folks in northern Gadsden County who live on the Florida-Georgia line.
	African bee swarm destroyed MIAMI - A swarm of killer bees found on a ship at the port of Miami was destroyed, officials announced Friday. The swarm was seen and reported by a crew member on a cargo ship from Panama, said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson.
	Candidate failed 2 bar exams - Seeking to avoid a potentially embarrassing revelation in his campaign for attorney general, Florida Education Commissioner Charlie Crist volunteered Friday that he had twice flunked the Florida Bar examination.
	Australia's indecency Australia's government disgraced itself when it failed to offer immediate humanitarian aid to a Norwegian cargo ship carrying hundreds of refugees, anchored off Australia's Christmas Island. Prime Minister John Howard, who sent heavily armed guards onto the already overcrowded ship Wednesday, has refused entry to the 438 migrants on board, despite pleas from Norway's prime minister, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international leaders. Howard, in the midst of a tight re-election, apparently calculated that looking tough on immigration was more important than displaying basic human decency.
	Jim Davis' flip-flop Jim Davis' flip-flop - "Congress returns from vacation next week, and so will the smoke and heat over free trade. Anti-globalization activists and U.S. labor unions are organizing a massive effort to defeat a bill giving President Bush fast-track trade authority. And this time they have an unlikely ally -- U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, a Tampa Democrat who until now had been a reliable supporter of free trade. We find Davis' sudden conversion to the other side baffling and disappointing." (WF- see No-New in the US)
	Defeat of gay adoptions draws praise, opposition - A federal judge's ruling to uphold a ban on gay adoptions has inflamed passions -- with some people hailing it as a victory for family values and others denouncing it as an attack on gay men and lesbians.
	Robots fail at picking tomatoes Keywords: Florida Tomato Committee
	Orlando: Begging zones work for who?
	Virus didn't kill Eola birds - The West Nile virus didn't kill the more than 100 birds that dropped from the sky at Orlando's Lake Eola Park two weeks ago, but scientists said Friday they still don't know what did.
	Unions learn to reach out In Phoenix, Guatemalan and Mexican roofers are unionizing. In Omaha, meat packers from Central America joined a union. In New York City, West African grocery delivery men have joined the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
	The scoop on scope of ethics, history...revives a suggestion that has appeared in these pages several times in the past few years: that the Sentinel played a role in Disney's arrival that fell short of responsible journalism.

8/31/01

	Bush technology chief quits after check-forging charge- TALLAHASSE -- A rising star in the administration of Gov. Jeb Bush resigned Thursday after being charged with grand theft in the forging of a signature to obtain a $35,000 bank loan in 1996.
	State's tech guru resigns amid controversy Roy Cales arrested as plans founder for consolidated technology office - A plan to consolidate the state's 1,760 technology employees and a $600 million budget under one office suffered a serious setback with the resignation and arrest Thursday of its architect, Roy Cales.
	Federal Judge Upholds Florida Ban on Adoption by Gays
	Capitol Corner: GOP's 'stealth' amendment: Is it valid? Don't tell anybody, but there's a rumor going around the Internet. No, not that rumor. This one's from the same source, but it's based on a verifiable fact. This is the one about how Republicans went behind everyone's back and slipped an insidious stealth amendment into the budget that requires the state Division of Elections to purge felons, dead people and other ineligible voters from its voter registration database by July. They'll do it with money that was supposed to go for new voting equipment to prevent a recurrence of the ultra-embarrassing 2000 presidential election.
	Deregulation on the back burner for now City utility officials focus on state's conservation plan instead The city of Tallahassee's electricity leaders are breathing a little easier. After years of worry that the state was about to allow electric customers to choose their power company as they do their phone service, retail deregulation - as it's called - seems further away than ever.
	Palm Beach County banks on punch-card machines WEST PALM BEACH - For sale: Genuine, original Palm Beach County voting machines. Quite tarnished. Best offers accepted. Trying to make up some of the $14 million it will cost to buy computerized voting machines, Palm Beach County has announced plans to auction up to 5,000 of its infamous punch-card voting machines used in last year's presidential elections.
	Eglin jets get new logo New design was a year and $800,000 in the making EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE - The Air Force is putting its new stylized star and wings logo, looking something like a bird of prey, on the tail fins of 25 aircraft at various bases across the nation.
	Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls size up each other Official, unofficial candidates rail against Jeb Bush GAINESVILLE - Meeting for the first time under one roof, the seven prospective and declared Democratic candidates for governor came out swinging against Republican Gov. Jeb Bush Thursday night.
	Newspapers want autopsy law thrown out They say law is too broad FORT LAUDERDALE - Two newspapers want a court to declare unconstitutional a new Florida law that makes it illegal to review, copy or distribute autopsy photographs without a judge's permission.
	ECUA adopts state plan for sewage Main Street plant to remove sludge, curb pollution levels - Under pressure from state regulators, the Escambia County Utilities Authority formally has agreed to correct water quality problems at its troubled Main Street wastewater treatment plant.
	Report: Sara Lee knew meat was contaminated - CHICAGO -- Sara Lee Corp. could face another round of legal wrangling and further damage to its reputation over a year-old federal report that indicates its employees and managers knew more about meat contamination at a western Michigan plant than previously disclosed.
	Governor isn't dropping hints on his position on Sugarloaf - OXFORD -- Gov. Jeb Bush said Thursday he has been reading e-mails from folks in south Lake pleading for him to help defeat a proposed megadevelopment on Sugarloaf Mountain.
	Beef processor recalls 500,000 pounds of meat - Consumer groups and USDA Inspector General Roger Viadero have urged meat processors to do more testing to isolate contaminated meat before it leaves the plant. However, the meat industry says it would rather invest its money in germ-killing processes such as irradiation and surface disinfecting.
	Travel agents protest fee cap at local airports Infuriated with the major airlines' latest commission cap, travel agents held a Day of Awareness today, closing their doors for two hours and protesting at airports in South Florida and nationwide.
	UF drops all racial wording in grants - The University of Florida will remove all references to race in its minority scholarship programs -- a precedent-setting move designed to keep the school clear of anti-affirmative action court rulings.
	Bush accuses the media of shark frenzy ``We don't have a problem to the extent that it's being described, and the amount of coverage is disproportional to the problem that we face,'' Bush said. The governor blamed a loss of business in the New Smyrna Beach area on inflated reports by media outlets scrambling for material in these days of ``24-hour, seven-days-a-week cable news.''
	Congress ready to support sugar -- again -- When Congress reconvenes next month, one of its top priorities will be debating a new farm bill. Certain to be included in the package is an extension of government price-supports for our dear friends in the sugar industry.
	House has 'urgent business' on campaign finance reform All that stands between the House of Representatives and a fair vote on campaign finance reform is 13 signatures. History will justifiably fault this Congress for negligence if the long fight to reduce the baleful influence of soft money on American politics fails because a handful of House members lost their nerve.
	Guest editorial: A chilling and unnecessary subpoena The Justice Department and FBI have gone into full no-comment mode on how an extraordinary subpoena was approved for a reporter's home telephone records. Perhaps that reticence is because the department seems to have ignored its own Code of Federal Regulations in its haste to approve the subpoena, and its decision not to inform the reporter, John Solomon of the Associated Press, in advance.

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