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Sen. Paula Dockery, South Florida Poly's 'Best Friend,' to Deliver Graduation Speech

Submitted by Nancy Smith on May 4, 2012 - 12:37pm

It couldn't be more fitting.

Florida Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, will deliver the commencement address for South Florida Polytechnics graduating class Monday evening at the Lakeland Centers Youkey Theatre.

USFP Chancellor David Touchton said, We are pleased Senator Dockery has agreed to deliver the commencement message about doing whats right and always maintaining integrity, as the students enter the work force.

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Floridians to Meet With White House Monday on Judicial Vacancy Crisis

Submitted by Nancy Smith on May 4, 2012 - 12:17pm

Five Florida community leaders, advocates and legal experts are set to travel to Washington, D.C., Monday for a meeting with Obama White House officials on the vacancy crisis in Americas federal courts.

Floridas District Courts are reeling from four judicial emergencies, while nominees for these seats, Brian Davis, Mark Walker, and Robin Rosenbaum, wait in the wings to be confirmed.

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Gov. Rick Scott’s Pool of Spokespeople Reduced by One

Submitted by Anonymous on May 4, 2012 - 11:52am

Amy Graham, one of Gov. Rick Scotts deputy communications directors, is leaving to join former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

The 25-year-old Graham, a Port St. Lucie native and Florida State University alumna, joined Scott prior to his inauguration in 2010.

She had previously worked in former Gov. Jeb Bushs press office and her resume includes time as press secretary at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Her last day with the state is today.No replacement has been announced.

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Rick Scott Creates Task Force on Reforming Florida's Universities

Submitted by Anonymous on May 4, 2012 - 11:21am

A week after vetoing a bill that would have allowed universities to seek unlimited tuition hikes as a means to bolster revenue for science, technology, engineering and math degrees, Gov. Rick Scott announced the formation of a blue ribbon task force on higher education reform.

Dale A. Brill, president of the Florida Chamber Foundation and a member of Florida State Universitys faculty, will head the seven-member committee. Leaders of the Senate, House and Board of Governors will each select two members.

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Negative Ads at 70 Percent Already; Thanks, Super-PACs

Submitted by Nancy Smith on May 4, 2012 - 9:37am

You didn't really think political campaigns were getting warmer and fuzzier, did you?

In case you need confirmation of the rising negative tone of the 2012 election season, it came this week from a Wesleyan Media Project new report. The report notes that 70 percent of TV spots aired so far for the presidential race have been negative.

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National Unemployment Mark Down, Discouraged Job Seekers Grow

Submitted by Anonymous on May 4, 2012 - 9:19am

The nations unemployment mark stood at 8.1 percent in April, little changed from March, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Friday.

Employers added about 115,000 jobs in April, putting the number of out of work at 12.5 million, according to the federal release.

The number fails to highlight an increase in those who no longer believe work is out there that fits them.

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Pam Bondi: West Palm Woman Defrauded Florida Medicaid of $28K

Submitted by Anonymous on May 4, 2012 - 7:09am

A 62-year-old West Palm Beach woman was charged with defrauding the Florida Medicaid program of more than $28,000, the office of Attorney General Pam Bondi announced.

Bondis Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office arrested Edna Iris Torres on a felony warrant on charges of grand theft and Medicaid fraud, both second-degree felonies.

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Gerard Robinson to Address Hillsborough College Grads

Submitted by Anonymous on May 4, 2012 - 7:08am

Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson will deliver the commencement address to graduates of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa today, May 4.

The 43rd Annual Commencement Exercise of the community college is set for 2 p.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.

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Oral Arguments Set in Prison Privatization Appeal

Submitted by Anonymous on May 4, 2012 - 7:06am

Oral arguments in the states appeal of Circuit Judge Jackie Fulfords ruling that the Legislature violated the state Constitution by placing prison privatization in the 2011-2012 state budget have been set for June 13.

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Let's Get to Work Committee Raises $1 Million in April

Jim Saunders News Service of Florida

May 3, 2012 - 6:00pm

With Gov. Rick Scott making plans to run for re-election in 2014, a closely linked political committee raised more than $1 million in April -- and has already collected nearly $2 million this year, according to the committee's website.

The Let's Get To Work Committee received $1.06 million last month, after collecting $918,703 earlier in the year, a list of contributors on the website shows. As a point of comparison, the Florida Democratic Party raised about $1.2 million between Jan. 1 and March 31.

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