Florida's Gov. Crist accused of 'cronyism'

by David R. Sands
Washington Times
August 29, 2009

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday selected his closest political confidant to serve out the term of retiring Republican Sen. Mel Martinez for 16 months, until the Republican governor himself hopes to take over the seat.

In the choice that quickly brought Democratic charges of cronyism, Mr. Crist ended a long and very public selection process by naming former chief of staff George LeMieux - a self-described "Charlie Crist Republican" - as the state's next senator.

The Broward County lawyer and Republican Party official has formed a tight bond with his former boss, who once called Mr. LeMieux the "maestro" of his winning 2006 gubernatorial campaign...

Bill would give power over wetlands and water permits to one board

By Craig Pittman, Times staff writer
In Print: Saturday, May 16, 2009

A bill that would make it easier to rip out thirsty sod and put in landscaping that needs less water and fertilizer might seem like something the state's environmental groups would cheer.

But they don't like Senate Bill 2080, not at all.

"The governor needs to veto this foul thing," said Charles Lee of Audubon of Florida...

Call on Your Legislator to Oppose Nearshore Oil Drilling

Audobon

Protect Florida Now and in the Future:
Call on Your Legislator to Oppose Near-shore Oil Drilling
and Support Clean, Renewable Solutions Instead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tuesday, the House passed a late-filed amendment to HB 1219 in committee, sending language to the House floor that would open Florida's nearshore waters to oil drilling.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to stop this dangerous proposal. Please call or email your Legislator and tell him or her not to gamble with Florida's future. Your lawmaker needs to hear from you.

Moving a proposal of this magnitude in the last 9 days of Legislative Session is not government in the sunshine. If Florida is going to consider lifting its several decades-old ban on nearshore drilling, it warrants substantial public and legislative discussion, not a last minute rush to law.

Florida's coastal economy is based on tourism and healthy, abundant natural resources. The magnitude of drilling's potential economic benefits is hypothetical and uncertain; our coastal economy is real and substantial. Please don't trade a certain, sustainable source of income for a risky payout.

This bill would put above-water drilling from three to ten miles off our Gulf Coast and as close as 1 mile offshore for underwater drilling operations. This proximity to shallow-water natural resources is too risky for our coastal economy, ecology and communities.

If you would like to demonstrate your commitment to American fuel independence, please support renewable portfolio and clean car standards that would also serve to reduce Florida's greenhouse gas emissions.

Please oppose HB 1219 on Special Order on Friday. This bill is bad for transparency in government, and bad for Florida's ecology and coastal economy. We need your leadership now.

A Roundtable of Local Florida Journalists on the Future of Newspapers, the Role of Community Media and Cubans in Florida

Democracy Now!
April 7, 2009

As we broadcast from Tampa, Florida, we host a roundtable discussion about the state in Florida with Marty Petty, the executive vice president and publisher of the St. Petersburg Times, Florida’s largest newspaper; Patrick Manteiga, publisher and editor of La Gaceta Newspaper, one of the oldest minority-owned newspapers in the United States; and Rob Lorei, news director of community radio station WMNF.

Contaminating Ground Water Forever

City of Rockledge One Step Away from Aquifer Storage & Recovery Well

by Mark Jacobs, President, Save Our Aquifer Inc.

Stop The Cuts!

an action of Progress Florida:

Sign Our Letter to Senate President Jeff Atwater: Stop the Cuts!
We don't have to balance Florida's budget on the backs of our children, the elderly, the needy, or the environment.

Fill out the quick form below to sign our letter to Senate President Atwater urging him to raise new revenue to balance our budget this year.

http://progressflorida.org/page/s/stopthecuts

THE WINDOVER STORY An exhibition of Archaic Man

THE WINDOVER CULTURE

Interpretive consideration of the Archaic culture of these early Native Americans of 7,000 years ago has revealed exciting information that may help us reevaluate our own culture. These people demonstrated their ability to adapt to a changing environment. They survived both climactic changes and salt intrusion of their water supply. And as the population of the group increased and the food supply decreased, they managed to surmount these obstacles as well.

The study of these people continues to change our view of Native Americans of that period. We have learned that they cared for and supported non-productive members of their community. This was confirmed by the discovery of the body of a young man badly crippled from birth, who suffered from spina bifida. For such a child to have survived to adulthood, he had to have received special attention. He obviously had been carried as the group moved about and was fed and clothed even though he was unable to contribute to the physical welfare of the society...

http://www.nbbd.com/godo/BrevardMuseum/WindoverPeople/index.html

Asia appetite for turtles seen as a threat to Florida species

...The demand pits ancient culture against modern conservation and increasingly threatens turtle populations worldwide. As Asian economies boomed, more and more people began buying turtle, once a delicacy beyond their budgets. Driven in particular by Chinese demand, Asian consumption has all but wiped out wild turtle populations not just in China, but in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and elsewhere in the region. Now conservationists fear that the U.S. turtle population could be eaten into extinction.

"It's insatiable," says Matt Aresco, a Florida biologist and director of the private Nokuse Plantation conservation reserve in the Florida Panhandle. "If we harvested every single turtle in Florida and sent every single one to Asia, there would still be a demand for more," he says. "That's how scary it is."...