Florida's crime rate was its lowest in four decades in 2010
Florida's crime rate sank to a four-decade low in 2010, Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday. There were 4,105 crimes reported for every 100,000 residents in 2010, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. That's a drop of 7 percent from the year before and the lowest crime rate on record since 1971. In 2010 the total number of violent crimes (murders, assaults, robberies and forcible sex crimes) fell 10 percent while property crimes (burglaries and auto thefts) dipped 6 percent. The data are culled from 410 police agencies statewide. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
US judge says EPA, not Florida, must lead Everglades fix
The state of Florida has failed to protect the threatened Everglades and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must step in to enforce anti-pollution rules, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Alan Gold's decision gives the EPA greater authority over water permits affecting discharges from sugar growers, farms and businesses, which are largely responsible for phosphorous-laden fertilizer runoff that is choking the vast wetlands. "There is no possibility of reversing the damage that has been done to the Everglades, and there is only the chance to preserve what remains in its current state," he wrote in a 76-page ruling. The decision was harshly critical of the state's handling of the Everglades' problems, including Republican Gov. Rick Scott's recent request that EPA drop numeric limits for nutrients such as phosphorous in Florida waterways. In addition, state lawmakers several years ago made changes to the Everglades Forever Act that pushed back deadlines for reductions in phosphorous discharge. State agencies and water managers, Gold wrote, "have not been true stewards of protecting the Everglades in recent years." [Source: AP]
Floridians' consumer confidence falls for third straight month
Consumer confidence among Floridians dropped for a third consecutive month -- falling to 68 in April -- as the economy struggles because of domestic budget woes, soaring gas prices and international unrest, according to a new University of Florida survey. Four of the index's five components decreased, including perceptions of personal financial situation expected a year from now, which fell 11 points to 69, a record low. Chris McCarty, director of UF's Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, speculated that the sharp decrease was in part created by "seniors who are increasingly hearing deficit-reduction plans that include Medicare, and low-income households who at the state level are anticipating cuts to Medicaid and other programs." McCarty continued: "A further examination of the data shows that the component declined across all categories and dropped 17 points among respondents under age 60," McCarty said. "It appears that the public is beginning to understand that budget cuts at the state level and deficit reduction at the national level will likely affect everyone in the U.S., young and old, rich and poor." [Source: UF]
Today in Tallahassee: Budget negotiations get under way
| How Florida's legislators used their session time - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 |
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The Florida House spent seven hours Tuesday on bills related to abortion, gambling, guns and taxpayer funding for religious organizations. Another five hours of debate and votes on the abortion and religious organizations bills is scheduled for today. Here are the bills at issue: |
HB 501: Directs proceeds from sales of "Choose Life" license plates to Choose Life Inc. to provide services to pregnant women. (Proceeds currently go to counties.) HB 1179: Proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit public funding of abortion. HB 97: Prohibits health care plans created through the federal health care law from offering abortion coverage. HB 1247: Tightens requirements for parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion. HB 1127: Requires a woman to receive an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion and be offered the opportunity to review the results. HB 1397: Expands prohibition on third-trimester abortions to include a ban if the fetus is viable. HB 155: Limits instances when doctors can ask patients if they own firearms. (Passed 88-30.) HB 45: Prohibits local governments from regulating firearms. (Passed 85-33.) HB 1145: Frees dog track owners from a requirement that they hold a certain number of live races each year to maintain licenses for a casino or card room. (Passed 86-31.) HB 1471: Proposes a constitutional amendment to allow public funding of religious organizations. |
| Source: St. Petersburg Times |
Now that they know how much money they've got to work with, House and Senate leaders today begin hammering out the spending details on everything from health care to schools to prisons. Conference committees are scheduled to start meeting today. Meanwhile, the full Senate catches up to the House on several hot-button issues, taking on abortion and guns. Today's agenda includes a proposal to prohibit public funding of abortion (SB 1538) plus a measure that limits what doctors can ask patients about gun use (SB 234). [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
? More - LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP ?
» Legislators again reject renewable energy plan [Miami Herald]
» As Florida House focuses on abortion, guns and religion, Democrats ask: Where are the jobs? [St. Petersburg Times]
» Fla. House passes welfare drug testing requirement [AP]
» Fla. House approves bill on doctors' gun talk [AP]
» For Medicaid moms, change coming [Health News Florida]
Countdown clocks ticking toward Friday launch of space shuttle Endeavour
The countdown to the final flight of Endeavour is under way at Kennedy Space Station and the astronauts destined to launch on the historic mission have arrived at NASA's shuttle homeport. Some 150 to 200 engineers were called to their stations in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center and countdown clocks began ticking backward at 2 p.m. Soaring in four T-38 training jets, mission Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates made a high-speed fly-over of Endeavour at launch pad 39A. "We got a chance to take a look at the orbiter as we flew over first the field and then over the pad. It's great to see Endeavour all ready to go again," Kelly said. "Endeavour has had a pretty amazing career. It's been flying now for 18 years. This is going to be Endeavour's 25th flight, and me and my crew are excited to be a part of it."
[Source: Florida Today]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Analysis: In Florida and nationally, Republicans can't find any giant-killers for 2012 races
Something peculiar is going on with the Republican Party, nationally and in Florida. After a phenomenally successful 2010, Republicans can't seem to find any giant-killers to take on Barack Obama or Bill Nelson.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's surprise decision this week not to run for president was just the latest reminder of how uncertain the GOP field remains and how many Republicans see Obama as tough to beat. Grass-roots activists look at Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty, yawn and pine for a star like Jeb Bush or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
› Congressional Republicans Go Home To Mixed Reviews
Freshman Rep. Daniel Webster was armed with a rainbow of graphs and pie charts, ready to make the GOP's case for budget cuts before his own constituents. He was barely a minute into his prepared remarks Tuesday when the yelling started.
The first heckler shouted his doubts about the Florida congressman's promise to do what is right in Washington. From there, the hour-long meeting in Orlando was filled with a constant stream of boos and questioners in the crowd of 300 shouting over each other.
Twelve minutes into his remarks, Webster couldn't be heard over the shouting on both sides. He tried to continue but then stood quietly for a minute smiling, his hands clasped together in front.
The Republican plan to fundamentally restructure Medicare and cut social safety net programs like food stamps and Medicaid has at times been a raucously tough sell as its supporters head home and meet with their constituents, including Democrats organized against them.
› Alachua County: Almost 500 teachers told they might not be back next year
Nearly all of more than 560 annual contract teachers in Alachua County Public Schools received notices last week that they might not be in the classroom next year because of a tight budget year, but district officials say they hope they can be brought back.
The district, which employs more than 2,000 teachers, has more than 560 annual contract employees who are in the first three years of their career. Each year, these employees must be notified by a specific date if they will be coming back.
But with funding in flux, Deputy Superintendent Sandy Hollinger said determining contracts can be difficult.
› Madoff says Palm Beach client Picower knew of scam
For all the big-time investors and government investigators he tricked, Bernard Madoff said he thinks there was one client who was onto his $65 billion Ponzi scheme for years, according to a book about Madoff to be released today.
That person was former Palm Beacher Jeffry Picower.
Picower steadfastly denied he knew about the scheme. He was found dead of natural causes at his Palm Beach estate in October 2009.
New York Times reporter Diana Henriques' book The Wizard of Lies; Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust, ($30; Times Books) notes that Picower, one of Madoff's oldest clients, dipped more deeply and steadily into his Madoff wealth than any other.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Opinion: Matter of morality and saving money
In a shortsighted move that would inevitably affect Florida's public safety individually and collectively, the state Senate proposed dramatic funding cuts to mental health and substance abuse treatment for adults. But senators still have a chance to get it right. As final budget negotiations between Senate and House leaders begin today, the Senate should agree with the House and Gov. Rick Scott to make mental and substance abuse treatment funds in the Department of Children and Families a top priority. Otherwise, the state will be at risk of severe financial and public safety consequences.
› Humana hiring another 177 at St. Petersburg unit
Humana, one of Tampa Bay's most prolific job generators throughout the recession, is at it again. The health insurer is hiring another 177 employees between now and July at Humana Cares, its St. Petersburg-based division that provides outreach help over the phone and in person to chronically ill members. About 130 of the new positions will be based at the division's national care center in the Carillon Business Park. At 40,000 square feet, the center is quickly running out of room. Humana Cares is looking by this summer to add a second location in the bay area with more than 20,000 square feet of additional office space, spokesman Mitch Lubitz said.
› Judge says he will approve Rothstein deposition; convicted fraudster to be put under oath
Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein, the maestro who orchestrated Florida's largest investment fraud, may soon be sitting down across from a phalanx of lawyers to face a lengthy grilling under oath.
No one knows what Rothstein might want to say, or whether he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, but a federal judge on Monday said he will give the go-ahead for bankruptcy lawyers and attorneys for Rothstein's bilked investors to take the locked-up fraudster's deposition.
If Rothstein wants any hope of freedom one day, it may be in his best interest to tell all.
» Related, from Florida Trend: Scott Rothstein makes Florida Trend's "Newsmaker of the Year" list as a "dubious achiever."
› Pensacola: From hawk to squawk: Solicitor turns protester after cited by city
Eddie Ball paces along the grass on private property at the busy intersection of 17th Avenue and Cervantes Street during a muggy lunch hour.
It's another busy day at work for a human sign.
Ball makes his living holding up a sign advertising a local concrete company.
His "office" used to be on the nearby city sidewalk and right of way, which are closer to traffic.
But that ended last week after the City of Pensacola cited him under an ordinance that says no one can operate a business on a city street or sidewalk without a permit. He also was ticketed under an ordinance prohibiting the erection of a sign without a permit. He faces up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.
"Don't they have bigger fish to fry?" he asked.
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