Speculation about Fidel Castro's health is growing more intense with each day that passes without any word from him. It has been almost a month since he last wrote one of his published essays, known in Cuba as Fidel's Reflections.
Continue reading "Speculation growing daily over Castro's health" »
TAMPA -- Florida's top election official said today the state may investigate how Hillsborough's former supervisor of elections spent more than $2-million in federal grant money if ongoing audits don't come up with the answer.
Continue reading "Florida election chief questions how Johnson spent money" »
Early morning fog along I-75 in Pasco County. [Brian Cassella,Times]
It'll feel pretty familiar outside today, with fog in the morning and warm temperatures in the afternoon.
There's a fog advisory in place until 9 a.m. everywhere but Pinellas, but other than that, it should be a nice day, said Bay News 9 meteorologist Josh Linker.
Around the bay area, temperatures are now at about 60 degrees and expected to significantly warm up when the sun rises. By about 2 p.m., it'll be prime time to hit the beach -- with temperatures in the 80s.
And get used to it. Linker said the weather will be "exactly the same" tomorrow and Friday.
Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer
TAMPA — Add cost overruns to the troubles that plagued Hillsborough County's election last month, a vote already marred by counting delays, equipment failures and misplaced ballots.
Departing Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson is asking the County Commission for $2.3-million to cover "unanticipated expenses'' for the election, costs he blames largely on the transition to new voting machines.
This would be a one-third increase on the $6.7-million budget Johnson submitted in the summer to cover the election and day-to-day operations for the rest of the year. Commissioners approved that budget a little over two months ago, well after the August primary when new voting equipment was first used in a countywide election.
Read more about Buddy Johnson's budget request from Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times.
Bill Varian, Times staff writer
St. Petersburg lacks the capacity to provide municipal services to Tierra Verde, according to the Pinellas Planning Council. The 13-member elected body on Thursday voted against a city report that states that St. Petersburg can service North Tierra Verde under its proposed annexation agreement.
The Planning Council’s vote was mostly symbolic and will not legally prevent the City Council from approving the annexation Friday as planned.
“It’s just basically, this is what people in the community think of what you are doing,” said Brian Smith, the county’s planning director.
Related content:
Howard Troxler: Misusing power in St. Pete
Map: See which area is being considered for annexation
Letter: County commissioner wants city to wait
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Teresa Jones of St. Petersburg warms her hands while waiting for her bus at the PSTA Depot on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg about 7:30 a.m. today. She was on her way to work at her telemarketing job at a debt settlement company "where no one wants to talk to her." She loves the cold weather, she says -- it's better for her asthma. [CHERIE DIEZ | Times]
Temperatures around the bay area haven't dipped below freezing yet, but that's no reason to leave your jacket at home.
It's 41 degrees in Tampa this morning, 46 in St. Petersburg, 37 in Crystal River, 33 in Floral City, 38 in New Port Richey and 40 in Lutz, according to residents in those areas.
Carl Grooms, of Fancy Farms in Plant City, said his strawberries didn't suffer any damage. He monitored his fields from 3 a.m. to sunrise, but he didn't have to run the overhead irrigation.
“The wind blew all night, so there was no frost," he said.
Today will likely only reach a high of 60 degrees in the bay area, according to Bay News 9.
Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order today extending early voting hours. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, and for a total of 12 hours between 7 a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday.
"I have spoken with the secretary of state and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Crist said in a news release.
The executive order says that because a record number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time and new voting systems are being used in 15 counties, "there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote."
Early voting, which began on Oct. 20 and runs through Nov. 2, has drawn record numbers to the polls. Current Florida law allows early voting to be conducted eight hours a day on each weekday and a total of eight hours on weekends.
Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer
Some local politicians are competing to raise cash for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County, and the one who comes up with the most cash will be spared the clippers at a public RayHawking tomorrow.
County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan has challenged Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Backer to take part. Hibbard is on board, and Baker has not committed. Baker recently balked at the idea of getting a RayHawk, saying his mother wouldn't approve.
Duncan and Hibbard are now taking donations through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Web site, which you can click on here.
The "final cut" takes place Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Pinellas Technical Education Center's Clearwater Cosmetology Program facility, 6100 154th Ave. N, near Largo. Donations will be accepted up until the last minute.
Will Van Sant, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- As a nurse, 37-year-old Shana Daniels said she's tired of seeing people go without health care. It should be an American right, Daniels said.
As she and two friends, also nurses, left the Barack Obama rally Monday afternoon to head toward the nearest early-voting location, Daniels said Obama's speech gave her hope.
Deborah Strong, a 57-year-old nursing home director walking out with Daniels, said Obama brings people together.
"He's our future," Davis said. "He's our children's future."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
AP photo
View more photos from the rally
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TAMPA -- Barack Obama told supporters at a Monday rally about a recent visit to Ohio. He was hungry, he said. He yearned for a slice of pie.
So residents pointed him to a small restaurant where they said he could find the town's best. Little did he know, the pie joint's owner was "a diehard Republican."
"Well how's business?" Obama recalled asking the owner. "Not so good," he said the man replied.
"Maybe it's time for a change," Obama said, as the George M. Steinbrenner Field crowd laughed and clapped. "If you've been hitting your head against a wall, and it starts to hurt, do you stop?"
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
[Photo: Willie Allen, Jr., Times]
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TAMPA -- As tiny American flags waved throughout the crowd and chants of "Yes we can!" rang out, Barack Obama said an economic solution needs to come from the bottom up.
He blasted John McCain's negative advertising, saying the McCain campaign is "out of touch," and "running out of time." He said McCain's plan of buying up bad mortgages would be bad for the majority of America.
"We need a rescue plan for the middle class," Obama said. "That's why I'm running for president."
He said he wants to impose a three-month moratorium on home foreclosures once he's president. Someone in the crowd screamed, "Thank you!"
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- After an introduction from several members of the Tampa Bay Rays, Barack Obama greeted the thousands gathered at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
"I am a unity candidate -- bringing people together. So when you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays, and you see Rays fans showing love right back, you know we're onto something here," Obama said. "I was gonna cut my hair all up, in solidarity ... but, uh, my political advisers said they weren't sure how that was going to play with swing voters."
AP photo
TAMPA -- Though former Secretary of State Colin Powell gave Barack Obama a glowing recommendation on Sunday's Meet the Press, reactions were mixed at the George M. Steinbrenner Field rally today.
Josephine King, 75, of Tampa, said she thought the endorsement might end up hurting the Democratic nominee.
TAMPA -- English Bradshaw stood behind the top row of George M. Steinbrenner Field waiting for Barack Obama to take the podium. The last time he saw the fellow Hawaii native, the presidential nominee was in gym shorts.
Bradshaw, one of the founders of the Walton Academy for the Performing Arts in Tampa, went to school with Obama's parents in Hawaii. Several years later, when Bradshaw was a sports coach for an elementary school there, he watched Barack Obama play basketball for the school's rival.
And now, in Tampa, the once basketball-bouncing boy's name is plastered on signs, banners, tickets and T-shirts. And Bradshaw is surrounded by another generation of students.
Continue reading "Charter school's founder knew young Obama" »
TAMPA -- At the entrance of the footbridge across Dale Mabry Highway to George M. Steinbrenner Field, Brima Jallow straightened up piles of T-shirts and counted out change.
"$10," the quiet Georgia native told inquiring Barack Obama supporters. Brima's school gives students a fall break, and he took the trip down to Florida with his dad, Alusina Jallow, to see his favorite candidate.
Jallow said he and his son have been following the election on the news for months. Born in Sierra Leone, he said he understands the American dream. He said he hopes Obama can improve America's image around the world by getting out of Iraq and restoring economic confidence.
Continue reading "10-year-old T-shirt salesman told to pack up" »
TAMPA -- Marching from the Raymond James Stadium parking lot to George M. Steinbrenner Field late Monday morning in a Barak Obama T-shirt, Dawn Valenti said it was a first.
The 62-year-old St. Petersburg woman said she never had attended a political rally. She said she never wanted to. She hasn't been excited about a candidate since John F. Kennedy.
But it's different with Obama, Valenti said. In fact, this year she volunteered for the campaign, and she said she's planning to vote early right after the event.
"I want to see the next president," Valenti said. "Because he will be the next president."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- Jim Piccillo swears he was not a spy planted by the John McCain campaign to sabotage Barack Obama. Yes, he's a registered Republican, but all that phone banking and get-out-the-vote grunt work done on behalf of Mr. "Yes We Can" is for real.
So what made Piccillo, in front of thousands at the USF Sun Dome on Wednesday, introduce Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, as "John McCain"?
"A brain fart," he said.
"To be honest, I think it was just an everyman kind of moment," said the 34-year-old Land O'Lakes resident, who was watching a Rays playoff game at home Monday night when a party operative called and asked him to warm up the crowd for Biden.
Piccillo, who had been quoted briefly in a New York Times article about his abandoning the GOP, heartily accepted and immediately began working on a speech. The draft was traded back and forth between him and the Obama campaign and was revised "seven or eight times."
On top of page three is a reference to McCain, and Piccillo thinks he must have glanced down at it when it came time to say the senator's name. However, he didn't realize he had named the wrong senator. The crowd cheered, and Biden stepped onstage without missing a beat. It wasn't until he was driving home that they learned about the flub, played on WFUS-FM, 103.5. "We thought it was a joke, that they'd spliced it in," said Piccillo's fiancee, Sandi Keeble.
Then the reporters started calling. No, Piccillo told them, he didn't get paid by the McCain campaign. He just messed up. "This is the biggest foot I've ever had in my mouth," he said.
Continue reading "Pasco Obama supporter flubs Biden intro, calls him John McCain" »
TAMPA -- Dan Nguyen came to the Joe Biden speech this morning prepared.
In addition to wearing his Barack Obama T-shirt and toting a campaign sign, the 19-year-old USF student decorated his baseball cap. In white paint on the black fabric, he drew a remarkably accurate depiction of the senator from Illinois.
Nguyen said Biden's speech inspired him, and he'd work hard to get more people to the polls Nov. 4. But the most inspiring part of all? "I shook his hand," Nguyen said. "It was amazing."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden shakes hands with people in the crowd after his speech at the USF Sun Dome. (Michael C. Weimar, Times)
Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden stops for a quick photograph with people in the crowd after his speech. (Michael C. Weimar, Times)
TAMPA -- After a hollered promise that he and Barack Obama could restore America to its full potential, Joe Biden entered the crowd.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, by Stevie Wonder, blared over the speakers as attendees rushed to the front row to shake Biden's hand. And then, just as loud, Only in America, by Brooks & Dunn.
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
Photo by Michael C. Weimar | Times
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(MICHAEL C. WEIMAR | Times)
TAMPA -- Joe Biden said under President George W. Bush, too much of Americans' money is going overseas, citing billions spent on the war in Iraq.
Under Obama, he said, money would be spent on programs at home to help the middle class. He highlighted Obama's plan to fund college tuition in exchange for public service, saying funding the program would be possible even during the financial crisis.
The plan would provide $4,000 for students who perform community service or participate in programs like the Peace Corps.
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- Not surprisingly, the economy and its recent downturn is front-and-center in Joe Biden's speech.
Biden said the recent financial crisis has wiped out $2-trillion from retirement funds, and Florida is second in the nation for home foreclosures. He said McCain's tax plan to give tax breaks to big companies would harm the economy further, while Obama and Biden's plan to give tax breaks to those who make less than $250,000 a year would help.
Biden said he and Obama plan to focus their policies toward creating and keeping jobs. He said investing $15-billion over the next 10 years in renewable sources of energy would create new jobs and that Obama's tax plan would give help to those who need it most.
"Health care, tax cuts, and energy policies all focus on one thing," Biden yelled, as the crowd whooped and clapped. "Jobs, jobs, jobs."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
TAMPA -- Without mentioning her name, Joe Biden said Sarah Palin's recent attacks against Barack Obama's character are unacceptable.
Biden said the McCain campaign hopes to distract voters from the economic crisis with low blows and smears, citing a statistic that said 100 percent of McCain's recent ads were negative.
"They're gonna try to take the low road, take the low road to the highest road in the land," Biden said. "Those attacks don't hurt Barack Obama or me, they hurt you."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- Just before 11:30 a.m. and to an outburst of cheers, Joe Biden took to the podium at the USF Sun Dome.
Biden thanked event organizers and said it was the fault of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida) that he was Obama's V.P. pick. Nelson had thrown support to Sen. Hilary Clinton earlier in the race, and Biden said he had "beaten up" Obama so much, that Obama said, "Okay, okay, I'll pick Joe Biden," a friend of Nelson's.
At the mention of Biden's recent debate against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the crowd went wild, banging the floors and screaming. Biden also applauded Obama's performance in last night's debate against John McCain.
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- They come from the war, beaten and bruised. Sometimes they're insured, a lot of times not. But Karen Sinnreich says she helps them all. The 61-year-old rehabilitation counselor said Obama's policies on health care would make that easier.
"To me, it's a very clear choice," Sinnreich said at this morning's Joe Biden rally.
She said getting out of Iraq would mean fewer young men and women coming to her with serious health problems, which would mean less of a strain on the whole economy. Many of the people she sees don't have adequate insurance -- another issue that leads her to support Obama, who says he would expand coverage with government funding.
"We have an obligation," Sinnreich said. "We have to give them support."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- When 71-year-old Jay Thabaraj voted for George H.W. Bush a couple decades ago, he made his choice based on experience. Thabaraj said Bush's experience with foreign policy made that pick easy. But now his views have changed, leading him to Obama's side of things.
"Experience alone doesn't really matter," Thabaraj said while waiting for Joe Biden to speak at the rally Wednesday. "Our country should change. We need better judgment."
Thabaraj said he's been "so disappointed" with George W. Bush's decisions about Iraq and he worries that McCain will follow the same policies. "We need a peaceful approach," he said.
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
AP photo of Biden arriving at Tampa International Airport
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TAMPA -- As spectators inside the Sun Dome waited for Joe Biden's speech to begin, about a dozen McCain supporters outside were met with opposition.
"I think these people are so uneducated that they are a threat to the country," screamed a woman who refused to be named because she said her husband disapproves of her political views. She was pointing toward the group of about a dozen people holding John McCain signs silently outside the Sun Dome. The woman said she didn't support any one candidate -- she simply supports America.
The group was mostly made of USF students who wanted to establish a presence at the event, said 20-year-old Charles Sherrard, a political science major who's also part of the College Republicans. "It's a very liberal campus," Sherrard said. "But there are conservatives. We want to show that."
Sherrard said he supports McCain because he's a strong believer in fiscal conservatism -- low taxes, low goverment spending and involvement and strong capitalism.
"All I'm saying here is, look, there are kids here who don't agree with Obama," Sherrard said. "This is the kind of stuff that divides us," he added, nodding toward the woman still screaming threats at the group.
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- Under a giant American flag and big blue banner proclaiming, "CHANGE," the Joe Biden rally began with a Christian prayer asking for peace, leadership and forgiveness for transgressions.
The Pledge of Allegiance and an introduction from organizer Ryan Metcalf followed. Metcalf called for those at the rally to join the campaign as volunteers to help put up signs, hand out bumper stickers and get people to the polls. His call was punctuated with applause from the thousands seated in the Sun Dome.
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- "I called him John McLoser," said 8-year-old Maniya Williams while in line for the Joe Biden rally in a near whisper.
Williams and her cousin, 11-year-old Catera Denson, said they watch the candidates on TV, and they've made their pick.
Though they had no particular issues in mind and didn't know much about Obama's veep choice, whom they were waiting to hear, the girls said they wish they were a decade or so older so they could vote for Obama.
"He'll change anything," Williams said. Denson added, "He's gonna help us."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- Tampa resident Joseph Flata says he never planned to come out of retirement. At 65, he said he expected to be financially secure and able to relax. But the recent economic crisis might change things, and under Obama's plans, Flata said he's okay with that.
"It'll never recover," Flata said of the economy while waiting outside the Joe Biden rally. "And Obama has a plan to create new jobs in energy."
Flata said he could see himself starting up a solar panel or wind energy business. He likes the encouragement and incentives Obama says he'll provide to such businesses, and he's afraid of continued dependence on foreign oil.
"We're like junkies," Flata said of Americans' oil addiction. "And the Republicans are totally on the wrong track."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- As she made her way into the Sun Dome at about 9:30 this morning, Laura Whiteside said she was here to see her original pick for president.
"I felt like Biden dropped out of the (presidential) race too early," said Whiteside, 53, of Tampa. "But I'm happy he's back."
It doesn't bother her that Biden's the No. 2 man on the ticket. Obama's message suits her just fine, she said.
"I think he'll bring that hope and change," Whiteside said. "We need change."
Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer
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People began lining up before sunrise to hear Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden speak Wednesday at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa. [Michael C. Weimar, Times]
TAMPA -- Next to a noticeably empty protest zone, Barack Obama and Joe Biden supporters talked health care, education and -- what else -- the economy. The resounding sentiment? Change is coming. But most of the chatter was about Obama rather than the set-to-speak vice presidential candidate.
"I'm excited to hear some answers," said Kerianne Beckford, a 20-year-old USF student with a homemade Obama T-shirt. "I'm ready."
William Turnbull, 58, a registered Rebublican, said he has shifted camps for the election this year. He waited with thousands of others. [Michael C. Weimar, Times]
The gates have reportedly opened at the Sun Dome at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and ticket holders are being allowed into the building in preparation for this morning's rally with Joe Biden.
Biden is expected to use the event to discuss the country's economic situation. He will host another rally in Fort Myers on the same topic later today.
Ken Walker, Times staff writer
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Sarah Palin supporters are streaming in by bus, bicycle and on foot to catch the vice presidential candidate's 9 a.m. speech at Coachman park in Clearwater.
Overwhelmingly, the clothing color of choice is GOP red.
According to Clearwater firefighter Scott Pettay, supporters began arriving at midnight to be the first in when gates opened at 6 a.m. Clearwater spokeswoman Joelle Castelli said between 9,000 and 12,000 people are expected.
Clearwater homemaker Bonnie Wright, 58, got to the gates about 6:30. She called seeing Palin in Clearwater "the opportunity of a lifetime."
"She seems to me to be the most clear-spoken, easily understandable candidate," Wright said. "And I'm not for socialist government."
Will Van Sant, Times staff writer
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ST. PETERSBURG — Bailouts make for strange bedfellows.
President Bush and Congressional leaders, Democrat and Republican, came together in Washington D.C. Friday to support an $850 billion plan to rescue Wall Street.
And on a street corner in downtown St. Petersburg Saturday, political groups as disparate as the Uhurus and Ron Paul supporters came together to denounce it.
“Common cause,” said Lee Nash, a Ron Paul backer from Brandon. Bailout opponents are “a little bit of this, a little bit of that.”
Nash and about 40 other people gathered at Williams Park to protest the bailout, brought together by a shared view that the plan did too much for fat cats and not enough for common folk.
“We shouldn’t have to pay for their mistakes,” said Teah Michel, a social work student at the University of South Florida. She was toting a sign that told Congress and Wall Street to go do something that can’t be printed in a family newspaper.
Saturday’s participants also included members of the Green Party, St. Pete for Peace and the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. As they marched past the Bank of America Tower to the Saturday Market, they chanted: "They stole our money, who’s to blame?/Paulson and Bush, Obama and McCain.''
“When you have 12 million children going hungry in America every year . . . the money would be better spent on them,” said Joyce McCarty, 63, who said she retired after most recently working for Rax and Chick-fil-A.
A Pew Research Center poll conducted Sept. 27-29 found 45 percent of the American public thought the bailout was the right thing to do, while 38 percent did not. The poll also found 61 percent were angry about it, 50 percent were scared and 43 percent were confused.
“While some political fallout can be expected from supporting a plan that elicits mixed reactions from many and angry protests from some,” Pew President Andrew Kohut wrote Oct. 1, “the downside political risk in not doing something seems much greater.”
-- Ron Matus, Times Staff Writer
[Sen. Barack Obama talks with a patron at O'Keefe's in Clearwater while visiting on the campaign trail through Pinellas County. Joseph Garnett, Jr., Times]
Sen. Barack Obama arrived at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport shortly before 12:30 p.m. today and is expected to remain in Pinellas County through early Friday before heading to the University of Mississippi for a debate with Sen. John McCain.
The Democratic candidate for president will hold a rally Wednesday at Knology Park in Dunedin that's expected to begin around 12:30 p.m.
Obama's B757, emblazoned on the side with Change We Can Believe In, was greeted by an advance security detail comprised of Secret Service Members and Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies. A small crowd of airport employees watched Obama disembark and drive off.
Among them was Pam Allen, 52, who works at a charter company at the airport. An Army veteran and Obama supporter, Allen had figured her candidate would arrive at St. Pete-Clearwater and had fashioned a small sign that would be tough to read from 12 feet away, let alone from where Obama's plane sat on the tarmac.
It read: "I'm a Veteran for Barack Obama and Joe Biden." Some fellow workers, McCain backers, ribbed her and she doubted Obama could see the sign, but she waved it enthusiastically.
"I'm trying to do my part to make sure he gets elected," Allen said.
The motorcade then went to Clearwater and made an impromptu stop at O'Keefe's Tavern on Fort Harrison Avenue. There, Obama ordered a Cheeseburger in Paradise to go and worked the lunch time crowd for about an hour.
Nurse Cassandra Hogan, 55, had just finished her shift at Morton Plant Hospital when she noticed the commotion at O'Keefe's and dropped in. The Obama fan was awed to be in the presence of her candidate.
"Never in a million years did I ever expect I would see this man," she said. "This is like a history lesson right here. Anything is possible. Anything is possible. Wow."
Regina McMahon, O'Keefe's front house manager, said it was an honor to host Obama. As a native of Ireland and now a permanent resident in the United States, McMahon said she was unsure whether she could vote in November, but if able, Obama will get her support.
Unlike many politicians, especially those back in Ireland, McMahon said she believes Obama means what he says. But there's another reason he impressed her.
"He's a fine bird," said McMahon, 36. "A very handsome man."
While preparing for his debate with McCain on Friday, Obama will be staying at the Belleview Biltmore in Belleair.
Will Van Sant, Times staff writer
Oct. 6 is the last day to register to vote in the November election.
If you haven't signed up yet, it's certainly not too late. Download the Voter Registration Application, fill it out with your name, address, party affiliation and Florida ID card number. Put a stamp on it and send it to your local supervisor of elections office.
If you are already registered, check that the information on your voter registration card is correct, because as of Sept. 8, Florida follows the "no match, no vote" rule. If your information does not match what is in a government voter database, you will have to prove your identity, or cast a provisional ballot until a match can be established.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 4.
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Gregory S. Pound, a write-in candidate for Pinellas County Sheriff, is now getting to know the inside of the county jail.
On Thursday night, the candidate for the county's top law enforcement job was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of trespassing after warning.
According to the arrest report, at around 9 p.m. management for the Hilton at 950 Lake Carillon Drive, St. Petersburg, asked Pound, 52, to leave the hotel property.
When Pound refused, he was arrested and taken to jail. He spent the night in jail and was still being held there Friday morning in lieu of $250 bail.
-Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer
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TAMPA -- Critical defect or minor matter?
That's the key question for the 2nd District Court of Appeal in the legal argument over whether to create the position of Hillsborough County mayor.
At this point, a referendum on the county mayor's job has been removed from the November ballot.
The reason: a Hillsborough circuit judge ruled in August that the proposed charter amendment to create the position also says the new mayor would be elected in 2008. That can't happen, and so is a fatal flaw, the judge concluded.
The group in favor of the county mayor job appealed, and today attorneys for both sides made their cases in a Tampa courtroom.
Barry Richard, who represents supporters of the proposal, said the mention of electing the new mayor in 2008 does not affect the central question at issue in the referendum. That question, he said, is whether Hillsborough voters want to change their form of government.
In this case, the ballot question "clearly tells the voter" that the decision concerns whether to go from having an appointed county administrator to a nonpartisan, elected mayor, Richard told a three-judge panel. Voters won't be confused by the mention in the charter amendment of a mayor's race in 2008.
"They know it can't begin before it gets adopted," said Richard, a Tallahassee attorney for Elected County Mayor Political Committee Inc., which circulated petitions in 2006 to put the question on the ballot that year.
But Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson's office said the group fell short of the number of petition signatures it needed to schedule the referendum in 2006. Johnson later said valid petitions would stand and newly signed petitions could be added to the total until backers reached the number they needed. He also said in 2006 that the county mayor question could be placed on the ballot in 2008.
During today's hearing, presiding Judge Darryl C. Casanueva noted that the Florida Supreme Court has warned parties in the past to "be careful about what you put in" ballot initiatives, especially when it comes to dates.
"The date might be important if it affects a critical component of the amendment," Richard said, but in this case it doesn't. The petition, he said, ought to be read that the new county mayor would be elected at "the next general election at which it can be placed on the ballot."
And Richard said the state Supreme Court also has warned judges to be "extremely cautious" about removing things from the ballot and taking away voters' chance to decide important issues.
But attorney Jennifer Blohm contended that the charter amendment language saying the county mayor would be elected in 2008 makes a big difference.
"The people who were signing this thought it was going to be on the November 2006 ballot," said Blohm, a Tallahassee attorney who represents local activist James E. Shirk, who sued in July to block the referendum.
One problem, she said, is that the charter amendment would eliminate the county administrator's job to create a county mayor, but no county mayor would be elected for two years.
As proposed, the charter amendment "gives an exact date when the transfer (of authority) was supposed to happen and it can't happen," she said.
Richard argued, however, that state law gives the County Commission the ability to appoint an administrative officer anytime it needs one, so no lapse of authority would take place.
An attorney for Johnson's office did not take a position in the dispute, but did ask the judges to make a decision no later than Sept. 10, because the office has to print hundreds of different ballot styles and begin mailing them overseas.
-- Richard Danielson, Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Now that Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic nomination for president, he wants convention delegates from Florida and Michigan to have full voting rights at the party's national convention.
Obama sent a letter Sunday to the party's credentials committee, asking members to reinstate the delegates' voting rights when the committee meets at the start of the convention.
The delegates were originally stripped because the two states violated party rules by holding primaries before Feb. 5. The delegates from each state were given half-votes at a contentious party meeting in May, as part of a compromise designed to give two important states some role at the convention.
Obama's former Democratic rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, had won both primaries, though Obama's name was not on the Michigan ballot and neither candidate campaigned in Florida.
"I believe party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories," Obama said in the letter.
The Illinois senator said he supported the party's efforts to control the primary calendar.
"As we prepare to come together in Denver, however, we must be — and will be — united in our determination to change the course of our nation," Obama said.
Obama's endorsement virtually guarantees the delegates will have full voting rights. Clinton, who also has supporters on the credentials committee, had lobbied to reinstate the delegates.
The three co-chairs of the credentials committee issued a statement Sunday saying the issue of Florida and Michigan would be a "top priority" at their meeting.
"As always our goal is to ensure a fair process and a unified Democratic Party so that we can win in November," wrote Alexis Herman, James Roosevelt Jr. and Eliseo Roques-Arroyo.
A Massachusetts R&D firm that builds tiny biomedical machines will indeed open satellite labs in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Gov. Charlie Crist announced today.
Draper Laboratory, a spinoff of MIT, will employ at least 100 people at a laboratory at the University of South Florida in Tampa and another 65 in St. Petersburg, said Len Polizzotto, Draper’s director of strategic development.
Most employees will have master's level degrees or higher, he said, and recruiting will start within weeks.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,’’ Polizzotto said. “I don’t want to waste any time.’’
Continue reading "It's official: Draper on way to Tampa Bay area" »
ST. PETE BEACH — Tuesday’s referendum election failed to settle the long and hotly debated battle over how this beach community will be redeveloped.
Even though voters approved all of the controversial redevelopment referendum questions, legal issues remain that cloud the election results.
A new lawsuit filed Monday promises to further delay any resolution to maximum building heights, density, zoning and the myriad other development issues that have virtually paralyzed long term planning here.
Intense interest in the debate over development regulations was clearly evidenced in the relatively high turnout — more than 45 percent of the city’s voters cast a ballot.
All six referendum questions passed easily. The first two non-controversial questions passed by 82 percent or more. The four petition-initiated ballot questions garnered solid 55 percent or better support.
“It is what it is. We definitely needed a new comprehensive plan,” said Mayor Mike Finnerty, adding that it was “bothersome” the ordinances were written by a citizen’s group rather than the commission.
Four ballot questions were proposed by Save Our Little Village (SOLV), a citizens’ organization that successfully petitioned for the referendum election. They asked voters to either approve or reject ordinances amending: the city comprehensive plan creating a community redevelopment district; the large resort section of the city’s land development code; the city’s general standards for redevelopment; and the city’s Town Center core development regulations.
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental
Middle School sixth-graders Melissa Sabo, 11, and Kelly Thomas,
12, both of St. Petersburg, have their T-shirts
autographed by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.
[Scott Keeler | Times]
ST. PETERSBURG -- Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law Monday a physical education bill directed at improving the fitness of Florida students and combating the state's child obesity problems.
The law will extend physical education classes by 30 minutes for elementary and middle school students.
"Physical education is incredibly important," Crist said to students at Thurgood Marshall Middle School. "We just want to keep moving that ball down the field, so you can get a good physical education, as well as an academic education."
Crist also presented checks to officials representing eight elementary schools from across the state as winners of the Governor's Fitness Challenge.
Winning schools were selected on the percentage of the student body that participated and submitted student progress reports during the academic year.
$10,000 recipients:
Emma Love Hardee Elementary, Fernandina Beach
Garden Grove Elementary, Winter Haven
Byrneville Elementary, Century
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary, Cocoa Beach
$5,000 recipients
Hungerford Elementary, Maitland
Sabal Elementary, Melbourne
Athenian Academy of Pinellas, Dunedin
Audubon Park Elementary, Orlando
- Eddie R. Cole, Times Staff Writer
The scene last week outside the mobile home where Deborah Palfrey, known as the "D.C. Madam," hanged herself in a storage shed under the carport of her mother's Tarpon Springs home. The mobile home was tucked in the back of the Sun Valley Estates mobile home park. [JIM DAMASKE | Times]
TARPON SPRINGS -- Last week's death of 52-year-old Deborah Jean Palfrey -- the woman known as the 'D.C. Madam' -- has been ruled a suicide by the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiners Office, police said today.
Police said they had no reason to believe that Palfrey's death on Thursday was anything but a suicide. Palfrey's body was discovered hanging in a shed beside the home of her mother, Blanche Palfrey, in the Sun Valley Estates mobile home park on U.S. 19.
In suicide notes released by police this morning, Palfrey told her family she regretted leaving them to deal with her death, but was unable to face prison and saw no other way out. She also left a short note saying she was not to be revived or, if found alive, fed under any circumstances.
Continue reading "Police, medical examiner rule 'D.C. Madam's' death a suicide" »
Despite deep cuts in spending, the state budget the Florida Legislature is expected to approve this week includes funding for some projects around the Tampa Bay area. Here is a quick look at some of them, by
PINELLAS
Pinellas County health clinic: $10-million
St. Petersburg College Government Institute: $2.5-million
Dunedin Gateway redevelopment project: $1.3-million
Willa Carson human resource center: $50,000
HILLSBOROUGH
USF student wellness/nutrition center: $14.9-million
Hillsborough County health clinic: $4.5-million
Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority: $2-million
Tampa Bay restoration $1-million
Hillsborough County drainage improvements: $700,000
Plant City Eastside canal stormwater plan: $500,000
Hillsborough County stormwater utility pilot project: $400,000
North Tampa water management: $300,000
Tampa Drew Park drainage repair: $100,000
PASCO
Pasco regional hurricane shelter: $2-million
Pasco Association of Retarded center: $678,209
HERNANDO
Hernando County health clinic: $14.2-million
Hernando shelter for disabled: $1.1-million
Brooksville water improvements: $190,000
Steve Bousquet, Times staff writer
Sen. John McCain speaks this morning at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute in Tampa. [CARRIE PRATT | Times]
TAMPA -- In a talk at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute this morning, Sen. John McCain railed against government-funded universal health care, instead proposing to give patients more insurance choices to promote market competition and lower prices.
"The key to real reform is to restore control of the health care system to the patients themselves," he said.
Continue reading "McCain makes health care policy speech in Tampa" »
ST. PETERSBURG -- State House candidates Earnest Williams and Darryl Rouson have made it clear that there is no lost love between them. But now Williams, a St. Petersburg City Council member, contends his rival wants more than just a political fight.
WIlliams told St. Petersburg Times' editorial writers this morning that Rouson, a lawyer and former St. Petersburg NAACP head, made repeated physical threats toward him, including: "I'm going to kick your butt."
Williams said he was so worried he called police Chief Charles Harmon for help.
Harmon confirmed that he spoke with Williams about the alleged threats. "He said (Rouson) made some threatening comments toward him," Harmon said. "He described it as a simple assault. He didn’t give me enough information to tell me if a crime occurred.''
Williams told a reporter that Rouson was "very upset" and "meant it physically." Rouson confirmed that he told Williams he would "beat him," but that he never threatened to physically harm him.
"All I intended by everything I said was that I would beat him at the ballot box," Rouson said. "He is just doing this now to try to garner sympathy because there was outrage from people over what he did yesterday."
The alleged threat comes on the heels of a heated exchange between the District 55 candidates during a candidate forum at the Suncoast Tiger Bay luncheon Wednesday, where Rouson and Williams publicly took swipes at one another.
Williams, a State Farm insurance agent, struck first with an attack on Rouson’s past crack cocaine addiction and his two years as a registered Republican. Rouson fired back with a few shots at Williams' ties to the insurance industry.
At one point in the meeting, Williams and Rouson sat side by side whispering furiously as the moderator introduced a third District 55 candidate, the Rev. Charles McKenzie. Williams said that is when Rouson began threatening him.
But Rouson said Williams was the one who got personal first.
"He was egging me on," Rouson said.
Harmon said he told Williams that he could file a complaint. Williams said he would think it over.
-- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer
Past leaders of Central Command:
Gen Robert C. Kingston U.S. Army 1983 - 1985
Gen George B. Crist U.S. Marine Corps 1985 - 1988
Gen H. Norman Schwarzkopf U.S. Army 1988 - 1991
Gen Joseph P. Hoar U.S.Marine Corps 1991 - 1994
Gen J. H. Binford Peay III U.S. Army 1994 - 1997
Gen Anthony C. Zinni U.S. Marine Corps 1997 - 2000
Gen Tommy R. Franks U.S. Army 2000 - 2003
Gen John P. Abizaid U.S. Army 2003 - 2007
Adm William J. Fallon U.S. Navy 2007 - 2008
Source: Times research
A fourth Democrat has entered the state House District 55 election to replace Rep. Frank Peterman.
Steven Lapinski, a former University of South Florida student, joined the race last week.
Lapinski could be in for a tough race. So far he has raised no money.
His opponents, all high-profile community activists, include the Rev. Charles McKenzie, St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams and civil rights attorney Darryl Rouson.
- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer
DADE CITY -- Pasco County taxpayers on average will save $180 on their bills this year if they have a homestead exemption, Property Appraiser Mike Wells told the County Commission this morning.
That applies to the county government's portion of taxes, so the savings could be somewhat higher if people live in cities, for example. The Florida average is $240, according to previous state estimates.
The savings come from additional cuts enacted by voters Jan. 29. Wells said his latest estimates show Pasco government will lose about 8 percent of its tax base after new construction and value increases are factored in.
That's somewhat lower than the state's 10 percent estimate late in 2007 -- causing a $18.6-million hit. But Wells and other officials suggested the difference comes from the new construction added to the tax rolls Jan. 1.
-- David DeCamp, staff writer
TAMPA -- Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky filed today to run for elections supervisor.
Busansky, a 70-year-old Democrat, said she is running because "there is a real issue of competency and integrity. We can do better." She hopes to win the Democratic nomination and challenge incumbent Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson.
Busansky, who lost a race for Congress in 2006 to Gus Bilirakis, said she has received a lot of encouragement to run. Lee P. Nelson also has filed to run as a Democrat.
- Bill Varian, Times staff writer
TAMPA -- Several elected officials from Tampa are endorsing Democrat Barack Obama this morning, on the eve of Florida's presidential preference primary.
State Rep. Betty Reed and Tampa City Council members Linda Saul-Sena, Gwen Miller and Mary Mulhern will be throwing their support to Obama at a rally in Lykes Gaslight Square Park this morning. The candidate won't be there to receive the accolades; all the Democratic presidential candidates pledged not to campaign in Florida after the state moved its primary to Jan. 29 in defiance of Democratic Party rules.
-- Justin George, Times staff writer
Tampa Bay Water voted this morning to hire former New Port Richey City Manager Gerald Seebers as their new general manager. Seebers will receive an annual salary of $168,000.
The board first voted to ratify Seeber's selection, which was made in an unpublicized meeting last week. Tampa Bay Water chairwoman Susan Latvala, a Pinellas County commissioner, said that was done for the benefit of the St. Petersburg Times.
"I've never seen anything like it," Pat Gleason, who serves as Gov. Charlie Crist's special counsel for open government, told the Times last week.
Seeber spent nearly 16 years as New Port Richey's city manager before he quit in 2004 to become the city manager of Oviedo, a town twice the size of New Port Richey about 10 miles from Orlando.
-- Craig Pittman, Times staff
SUN CITY CENTER -- Rudy Giuliani will speak to Sun City Center residents Sunday despite a last-minute attempt by residents to derail the visit.
The Republican presidential contender will appear at the Community Hall, 1910 S Pebble Beach Blvd., at 10 a.m.
The event is open to the public, but the doors will close when the hall is full, organizer Dee Williams said.
At an emergency meeting today, board members of the Greater Sun City Civic Association defeated an effort to stop the appearance, saying it might jeopardize the association's tax-exempt status.
- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer
Traffic.com is reporting that traffic is moving again on the eastbound Courtney Campbell Causeway which was closed earlier this evening while accident workers cleared an SUV that crashed while pulling a trailer. Get traffic updates online at traffic.tampabay.com.
TAMPA -- U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, held a fact-finding forum today at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center about allegations that unlicensed psychologists there receive little supervision.
The hearing was sparked by Haley psychologist Brian Nussbaum, who filed a complaint with the state contending that 12 unlicensed psychologists work at Haley. But that number changes weekly, and Haley officials say the figure is now eight out of 36 positions.
Nussbaum said the atmosphere at the VA hospital doesn't encourage a frank discussion of the problem. He said his concerns were not adequately addressed by his bosses.
"I'm sitting alone here," Nussbaum told a panel that included several of his bosses. "People have expressed support. But they're afraid of losing their job. ... And that's a concern."
Haley officials denied that any of the unlicensed people receive inadequate supervision. In fact, officials said the unlicensed psychologists were asked if they are adequately supervised and all said they were.
Continue reading "Panel airs concerns on Haley psychologists" »
TEMPLE TERRACE -- Meeting harsh criticism and an even harder vote, city council members decided Tuesday afternoon to move forward with a downtown redevelopment plan that is less grand than the mixed-used urban hub it set out to create six years ago.
The agreed upon plan would sell more than 16 acres of land owned by the city to Ram Pinnacle, a south Florida developer, to build retail, office and residential buildings, a parking garage and an arts and education center at the intersection of N 56th Street and Bullard Parkway.
It omits the original idea for waterfront residential development on the city's property, reducing the sale price from $16.9-million to $13.2-million.
Continue reading "Temple Terrace takes next step in redevelopment plan" »
DADE CITY -- Pasco County commissioners today yanked $65-million from a troubled state-run investment pool, fearing future cash flow problems and investment risks. It was the most they could pull without having to pay a penalty.
The County Commission also unanimously agreed to ask Florida Auditor General David Martin to investigate whether Florida's State Board of Administration failed to follow its investment policy as the fund struggled under under-performing real estate investments and a rash of withdrawals in November. The county also plans to hire a securities lawyer to study the situation.
Entering Thursday, the commission had $500-million in the Local Government Investment Pool, making it one of the biggest investors in the state. But $73-million is frozen in investments deemed risky because they have defaulted or are under stress.
Said budget director Mike Nurrenbrock: "I guess the risk would be another run on it."
"And another freeze," County Commissioner Pat Mulieri said.
- David DeCamp, Times staff writer
ST. PETERSBURG -- About 25 homeless people and their advocates remained across the street from the Mahaffey Theater this morning in preparation for Wednesday's GOP presidential debate.
The men and women, with their blankets and sleeping bags spread across the sidewalk near First Street and Fourth Avenue S, said Monday's tensions with the city had mostly evaporated. They began their day eating donated Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks coffee outside the Hilton's Spa Olimpia.
"Things are going well,'' said Eric Rubin, an advocate for the homeless.
On Sunday, demonstrators set up outside the theater, the site of the CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate for a four-day protest. They plan to stay through Thursday morning.
Many of the demonstrators believe the city's rules toward the homeless are too harsh and are upset about a new tent city set to open next weekend far from downtown, at 49th Street N and 126th Avenue.
But Monday, city officials set up barricades and made the protesters move across the street from the theater to separate the homeless from debate visitors and "millions of dollars in equipment,'' according to police Chief Chuck Harmon.
The demonstrators refused at first and chanted angry slogans at city officials.
This morning, the mood was calm. TV news crews had disappeared. A handful of homemade signs hung from the barricades reading: "Money 4 Poor Not War'' and "One Out of Four Homeless Are Veterns (sic).''
St. Petersburg police Sgt. Tim Montanari said there were no arrests or fights overnight.
"Everyone seems to be on the same sheet of music,'' he said while walking through the demonstration area with one other officer. "The Hilton's not thrilled, but they're trying to run a business.''
Today's point of contention is about whether the homeless can leave their belongings on the sidewalk all day. The city's legal department is weighing the question.
City officials expect the number of demonstrators -- and their protest points -- to grow as the hours tick down to the debate.
"We need somewhere to sleep,'' said Robert Martin, 60, who has been homeless for two years. "There's not enough shelters here.''
Much of the protest is aimed at a government-sanctioned tent city called Pinellas Hope. Some advocates believe its mid-county location is an effort to make the homeless population invisible. Others worry that the city will use the shelter as a way to begin enforcing an ordinance passed in March that prohibits sleeping in the right of way if shelter space is available.
Vietnam veteran Lonnie Goodman, 60, said he would never be allowed in the new shelter because of his "colorful past.''
He wishes the city would open more shelters that would allow homeless people with criminal records and credit problems to stay there -- without being arrested.
"They're looking for excuses to make homelessness a crime,'' said Goodman, who said he became homeless a year ago after a divorce.
- Melanie Ave, Times staff writer
First daughter Jenna Bush will be in Tampa and Brandon on Thursday to promote her new book, Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, the story of an abused girl living with HIV in Latin America.
Speaking by phone from Miami with The St. Petersburg Times this morning, Bush said she hopes the book sheds light on “the way kids live globally,” helps young people living with abuse and illness to find strength, courage and the help they need, “and that kids who do have the time to give back are inspired by Ana’s story to help boys and girls like her in their communities around the world.”
After visiting Freedom High School in New Tampa for a student-only event Thursday morning, Bush is set to appear at the Books-A-Million in the Westfield Brandon mall at noon.
Books-A-Million suggests arriving early — the line for the event will start at 7 a.m. — to allow for screening and leaving all backpacks, large handbags and other prohibited items at home or in the car.
Everyone who passes through the checkpoint, including children, will be given a wristband which must be worn at all times for security identification purposes.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Bush in person and get copies of Ana’s Story signed — three copies maximum per person with no personalization. Bush will not sign memorabilia, videos, DVDs and the like. Photographs are permitted, but posed photos will be prohibited.
Ana’s Story was birthed from Bush’s internship with UNICEF, which started in the fall of 2006 when she was tasked with documenting the lives of children and young adults living in poverty. The book is a narrative about the struggles of a 17-year-old HIV-positive single mother that Bush met at a community support event. Bush spent six months with the young girl, interviewing her about her past of abuse and neglect, but also her future hopes.
Ana’s Story is also built around the stories of other children in similar circumstances who Bush met during her time abroad.
“A lot of conversations we had that were really difficult,” Bush said. “But they’re living with such optimism and such hope ... they just want the same things as many of us.”
According to UNICEF, some 2.3-million children worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, and millions more suffer from abuse, poverty and neglect.
A portion of the proceeds from the book will benefit the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
---Amber Mobley, Times staff writer
TAMPA -- Gov. Charlie Crist today used a family of four cramped in a two-bedroom house in South Tampa to promote the property tax cut plan the Legislature passed this week that would save taxpayers $12.4-billion over five years.
"I want you to appreciate how good this thing is," Crist said on the lawn of the family's home.
The benefit Crist highlighted the most was the tax proposal's "portability" clause, which would allow homeowners to take their Save Our Homes tax break with them when they move.
Crist said the change will fire up Florida's moribund real estate market, turning the state's economy into the "thoroughbred it is" by encouraging home purchases. He used a blue marker to sign a resolution backing the plan before local legislators, government officials and TV cameras.
It was all for show, however, because constitutional amendments passed by the Legislature go straight to the ballot without the governor's signature.
Florida voters get the final say in January.
Watch a video of Crist signing the resolution here.
Justin George, Times staff writer
Making renewable energy 15 percent of our power will lower electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas pollution, the Union of Concerned Scientists said today.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an energy bill requiring utilities to get 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, geothermal or bioenergy by 2020. The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis said that such a bill could save consumers more than $13-billion and reduce global warming pollution by 126-million metric tons per year by 2020, the equivalent of taking 21-million cars off the road.
-Asjylyn Loder, Times staff writer
TAMPA -- A local political consultant is appealing a judge's ruling that dismissed his lawsuit challenging the Democratic National Committee's decision to deny Florida a role in selecting the party's presidential nominee.
Vic DiMaio says in court papers filed today that he is asking the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to review U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara's decision.
Judge Lazzara tossed DiMaio's lawsuit in an Oct. 5 order, saying it failed to show that DiMaio had incurred any wrong that the court must make right. DiMaio recently sued the DNC and the state Democratic party, alleging his rights would be violated if the DNC stripped Florida of its 210 delegates.
The DNC voted to do just that after the state decided to move its primary to Jan. 29, violating the national party's rules.
Lazzara said that political parties, as private entities, can set their own rules on selecting presidential nominees. Therefore, the judge said, political parties do not act as agents for the government.
Kevin Graham, Times staff writer
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Department of Corrections is investigating whether outsiders used money, influence or both to sway the transfer of inmates.
So far, no agency personnel have been implicated, said DOC Secretary James McDonough.
Inmates constantly seek transfers to facilities closer to family, to one perceived to be more lenient, or to private prisons that, unlike state-run prisons, are air conditioned.
Nine people who work at the DOC central office in Tallahassee have been questioned and were asked to temporarily leave their desks so investigators from the agency's inspector general's unit could check their computers. At least two people were sent home today. McDonough said he has found no evidence of wrongdoing by agency personnel.
The woman who lost to St. Petersburg City Council member John Bryan two years ago is among a group of applicants now seeking to fill the former council chairman's seat.
Eve Joy, who lost to Bryan in 2005 by 3,000 votes, is one of five people applying to finish Bryan's four-year term in council District 2, city officials said Tuesday. She is joined by two local lawyers, a neighborhood leader and a Raymond James financial planner. Bryan committed suicide last month amid allegations he molested his adopted daughters.
"I am ready to learn and to lead, and I can think outside the box," Joy, 70, said in her application to the city.
Continue reading "Former candidate, four others seek Bryan's council seat" »
Excerpt of John Bryan's suicide note. Inset: John Bryan [St. Petersburg Police Department]
ST. PETERSBURG -– John Bryan's 15-year-old adopted daughter was in line at the Atlanta airport this summer when she uttered the fateful words: Dad "touched me.''
That revelation from one adopted daughter to another unlocked a dark legacy of sexual coercion and abuse that would destroy the public image of Bryan, then the City Council chairman. The allegations would stun a city, fracture a family and lead to Bryan’s suicide in his Floral City home Sept. 7 as he faced a police investigation.
Police this afternoon released a detailed report of their investigation into Bryan. The report concludes that if Bryan had not killed himself, he would have faced two felony charges of lewd and lascivious molestation, based on allegations that he fondled his 15-year-old adopted daughter.
Police redacted the report to shield the identities of possible victims, but a court spokesman has identified the girls involved as Bryan’s adopted daughters, ages 12, 15, and 38.
Continue reading "Allegations against Bryan detailed in report" »
Aaron Sharockman writes for Saturday's St. Petersburg Times:
ST. PETERSBURG -- John Bryan's political ambitions were never a secret.
When City Council members picked Bill Foster over Bryan for a vacant council seat in 1998, he moved to a new district so he could try again.
Three years later, Bryan built a formidable team that included help from Charlie Crist and GOP heavyweight Mel Sembler, as well as two former mayors.
He was elected that year and easily won re-election in 2005.
Many speculated that a run for mayor was next.
Now, Bryan's death throws the already shifting makeup of the City Council into further uncertainty.
With four of the eight council seats up for election in the fall, and a primary scheduled Tuesday, council members must also fill Bryan's seat in District 2.
St. Petersburg officials removed Bryan’s image and biography from the city’s Web site late Friday.
Under an empty picture of District 2, it simply said "vacant."
For more, pick up Saturday's Times or visit tampabay.com.
If Florida voters approve the proposed super homestead exemption, be prepared for some deep repercussions, Pinellas County leaders say.
If the second part of the state's plan to curtail property tax revenues passes in January, Clearwater officials say recreation centers and a library could face the chopping block. Largo says it could end up doing away with an after-school program and a nature park. And St. Petersburg says it may impose higher fees to participate in park programs.
The discussions come as the county property appraiser's office this week tallied up "worst case scenario" impacts for governments thoughout the county if the new exemption is approved. The results? Anywhere from a paltry $39,000 hit for Belleair Beach to more than $43-million in the county's general fund.
"Recreation, law enforcement and fire services certainly won't make this round of cuts," Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch said. "More jobs, more services, everything. You can't squeeze blood from a turnip and we're at that point."
The total hit for the St. Petersburg would be about $10.4-million. In Clearwater, the hit is calculated at $3.6-million. Other totals include $2-million in Largo and $1.2-million in Dunedin.
Mike Donilla, Times staff writer
A state grand jury has decided not to issue criminal indictments in the controversy over the Pinellas County Commission's decision to buy a piece of land from longtime Property Appraiser Jim Smith.
Instead, the grand jury Thursday issued a report known as a presentment. The report will remain sealed from public view for 15 days so that anyone mentioned in it has a chance to review the presentment and, if they wish, file a motion to keep it sealed.
The grand jury this month took testimony from more than 40 witnesses, including Smith, County Attorney Susan Churuti, County Administrator Steve Spratt and all seven county commissioners.
Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe said he was grateful for the grand jury's work and said its response was appropriate for the situation presented to them.
"There was a lot for them to digest and chew on," McCabe said. "They worked hard."
McCabe decided to convene the grand jury after the St. Petersburg Times reported that commissioners voted unanimously on June 5 to buy 1.5 acres that Smith owned in East Lake. The county paid $225,000 -- nearly four times what Smith's office assessed the land for tax purposes.
Churuti represented both the county and Smith in the negotiations leading up to the deal -- something that most commissioners did not know until after they approved the purchase. Commissioners voted July 31 to suspend Churuti with pay while the grand jury scrutinized the deal.
Will Van Sant, Times staff writer
The Pasco County Commission today ordered a ride service for needy, elderly and disabled residents to be restored after transit officials slashed it by a third this month.
The commissioners took action after learning that Pasco County Public Transportation had a $50,000 reserve fund for emergencies for the service that was untouched. Returning to full service through September will cost $26,200.
Commissioner Michael Cox called the choice "a no-brainer."
The board also ordered transportation manager Mike Carroll to report on options to keep the paratransit ride service at full strength when the next budget year takes effect Oct. 1.
The Times revealed last week that the transit agency cut daily trips from 270 to 185 for the door-to-door service. Residents said last week they called for appointment and were told no rides were available until September. County Administrator John Gallagher said the cutback was done unbeknownst to him.
The Pasco County Commissioners today rejected all of Sheriff Bob White's request for a 13.4 percent spending increase to $94.7-million next year. Instead, White was told to come back next Wednesday with a proposed budget matching this year's $83.5-million spending.
The commission has to cut $15.8-million overall to meet state demands for property tax cuts. White wants to spend $11.2 million more next year, including 109 new jobs.
While acknowledging the county is in a tight spot, White accused commissioners of being "penny wise and pound foolish" in their efforts to cut the budget. He said his agency's spending is so frugal compared to other large law enforcement agencies that preventative tasks are not being done.
Commission Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand noted the county still must cut millions if every bit of the sheriff's requested increase is chopped.
"Madame chairman, give me a clue," White said, asking how much to cut.
"I think you just got your clue," Hildebrand replied.
NEW PORT RICHEY - State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, spent the past two legislative sessions bringing home almost $8.5-million to build a combined hurricane shelter and health clinic in Hudson.
The Pasco County Commission spent just a few minutes Tuesday giving him a reward. The board voted 5-0 to name the building after him. It's due to be finished in July 2009, which means Fasano could be in office when the sign goes up. He is up for reelection in 2008.
"Don't everybody fall out of their chairs," said Commissioner Michael Cox, who made the motion for Fasano despite being the sole Democrat on the five-member board.
The board also gave the nod for a bench to be named for former Supervisor of Elections Mary Morgan, who died July 10 at age 80. The bench will be at the historic county courthouse in Dade City. In that case, Morgan's family will pay any costs, Commissioner Ted Schrader said.
-- David DeCamp, Times staff writer
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Department of Children and Families and two non-profit companies were "jointly responsible" for 2-year-old foster girl Courtney Clark and failed to keep her safe, according to a state report released today.
DCF, the Sarasota Family YMCA and Directions for Mental Health in Clearwater share in the numerous mistakes made in the case of Courtney, whose caseworker failed to report her missing for four months, according to a DCF inspector general report.
"While certain individuals should be held accountable for not acting in a timely fashion and not properly following set procedures, the failures addressed in this investigation are attributed to poorly established protocols within the provisions of the contract, lack of proper contract oversight, weak internal controls, and ineffective communication by all parties involved,'' according to the report.
In June, nine months after she disappeared, Courtney and two younger siblings were found safe amid a grisly scene in Wisconsin where police also discovered a starving 11-year-old boy and his dead mother's body buried in the backyard. The children are in the custody of Wisconsin child welfare officials.
Courtney's mother and three others face charges of murder and child abuse.
Officials say Courtney's mother, Candice Farris, kidnapped the girl from a Lake County foster home in September. Her caseworker reported her missing to the Lake County Sheriff's Office in January.
"The excessive delay in initiating a missing child report in this case is attributable to lack of due diligence and sense of urgency by the (DCF), Sarasota Y, and (Directions for Mental Health) staff members,'' the report said. "In addition, the (DCF) allowed Sarasota Y to institute weak policies and, as a result, jeopardized the safety and welfare of the children mentioned in this report.''
Melanie Ave, Times staff writer
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist plans to sign an agreement Friday with the government of England to work together on combating global warming, an agreement similar to one signed a year ago by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a spokeswoman for the British Consulate. Read more here.
Gov. Crist greets Evangeline R. Best, of Tampa, center, as Roland Brookins, center left, and Nellie Bythwood, right, look on after Crist signed the Infant Motality Bill into law. [Ken Helle | Times]
TAMPA -- Governor Charlie Crist stopped by an East Tampa library this morning to sign an act allocating $1-million dollars to study why black infants die at higher rates than white infants.
The state’s Department of Health will administer the program and allocate the grant money to Healthy Start coalitions in counties with particularly high black infant morality rates. The grant recipients will examine medical and social causes of infant death and will help design future programs to improve infant survival rates, said Estrellita Berry, project director for central Hillsborough Healthy Start Project.
In Hillsborough, Berry said, black infants die 4.4 times as often as white infants. Three of her friends lost their infants young — one because of diabetes, one from high blood pressure, and one for reasons still unknown.
“We’re off the mark,” she said.
The bill, HB 1269, was sponsored in the House by freshman Rep. Betty Reed (D-59) and in the Senate by Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D-18).
--Sarah Mishkin, Times staff writer
A Pinellas County child welfare worker missed numerous warning signs about the safety of a 2-year-old foster girl months before she was kidnapped by her mother and taken to Wisconsin, according to a newly released investigation by one of the agencies responsible for her care.
A relative of the woman told a caseworker the mother, Candice Farris, would likely take the girl out of state two months before she snatched her in September from a Lake County foster home, according to the review by the Safe Children Coalition, part of the Sarasota Family YMCA.
Farris, 23, is one of four people charged with murdering a woman and torturing her 11 year-old son at a rented house in Portage, Wis. The girl and her two younger siblings are now in custody of the Wisconsin child welfare agency. The boy is recovering from severe abuse in a hospital.
Police uncovered the grisly crime scene June 14 as part of a Lake County sheriff's investigation to find the missing foster child. It took the missing girl's caseworker, with the Sarasota Family YMCA sub contractor, four months to report her disappearance to local police.
On Friday, Florida Department of Children and Families chief Bob Butterworth called errors in the case "inexcusable'' and vowed to figure out what went wrong so improvements can be made.
"It was more of a people error than a procedure error,'' Butterworth said during a news conference in Tallahassee.
Butterworth also announced that DCF is taking the unusual step of joining a court petition to be filed Friday by the St. Petersburg Times to open all records related to the case.
-- Melanie Ave, Times staff writer
Mayor Rick Baker said Friday morning that St. Petersburg will eliminate 70 jobs as part of the city's mandated budget cuts. The biggest hit is in codes enforcement, where 25 percent of the department will be eliminated. The cuts will be felt across several city departments.
"This is not an easy time for the city," said Baker, who is scheduled to meet with Gov. Charlie Crist today at 4 p.m. "But our city has been through not easy times before." Baker said the city would offer severance packages to affected employees.
Baker is now just starting to go through the cuts -- nearly $14-million in all -- in detail. All non-departmental and social service funding has been eliminated from the mayor's proposed budget. Library hours will be reduced, as will adult recreation programs, Baker said.
The proposed budget includes two percent salary increases for non-union workers.
More of the nitty-gritty that may be of particular interest: Baker has proposed eliminating funds for the city's suite at Tropicana Field ($4,800), half of the City Council's travel budget ($40,000), other city travel ($92,000), and reducing neighborhood grants ($100,000). He also wants to increase swimming fees, play camp fees, recreation rental fees, plans review and permit fees, parking rates, and marina slip and airport hangar fees.
Largo officials have formally apologized to Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, who was arrested at the Feb. 27 meeting where commissioners moved to fire then-City Manager Steve Stanton.
Prosecutors didn't file charges against her. In a public apology read at Tuesday night's City Commission meeting, acting City Manager Norton Craig extended the city's regrets.
"This unfortunate incident took place as the city was trying to maintain decorum and the peace during this highly emotional time when crowds overfilled City Hall and the surrounding area, " he said. "We wish it had not happened." "We live in a time when very rarely do apologies get issued and very rarely do people in leadership roles admit mistakes, " Smith said.
Find complete coverage of Stanton's transformation from Steve to Susan.
WASHINGTON – Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison Tuesday for lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation.
Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, stood calmly before a packed courtroom as a federal judge said the evidence overwhelmingly proved his guilt.
"People who occupy these types of positions, where they have the welfare and security of nation in their hands, have a special obligation to not do anything that might create a problem," U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said.
Libby was convicted in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.
The highest-ranking White House official convicted in a government scandal since the Iran-Contra affair, Libby has steadfastly maintained his innocence.
– By the Associated Press
Photo: I. Lewis "Scotter" Libby after sentencing today. [AP photo]
TAMPA -- With property tax reform proposals bouncing around Tallahassee, Mayor Pam Iorio on Wednesday told her staff to prepare no-growth budgets for next year.
That means cutting services and personnel, because it costs more to provide the same services each year, she said.
Iorio also instituted a hiring freeze, said she will cut or eliminate funding to all nonprofit groups next year and will withdraw a state bill to increase pension benefits for city employees.
Iorio had planned to eventually increase the city employee pension benefits to match those of the state retirement system.
“Given the budget constraints we face, that will not be possible,” she said.
Iorio said it costs an additional $15.5-million to provide the same level of service from one year to the next. Much of that money goes to salaries, benefits and pensions of the nearly 3,700 people paid from the city’s general fund, which is comprised partially of property taxes.
Iorio also warned that depending on what happens in Tallahassee, departments might need to prepare budgets with even greater cuts.
In the past seven years, property tax revenues to the city have more than doubled from about $78-million to more than $164-million, thanks to a hot real estate market and rising property valuations.
In the wake of complaints from residents about the increasing property taxes, state legislators are discussing a massive reform of the tax system.
Proposals include a property tax rate rollback, doubling the homestead exemption, and eliminating property taxes on homesteads altogether.
Iorio predicts the changes could reduce city’s revenue by up to $30-million.
“The cuts we’re looking at are very scary,” said City Council member Linda Saul-Sena. “If these things happen, our budget will not be able to sustain the employees we now have.”
Saul-Sena said she planned to contact her legislators and the governor and urge them to take a more “responsible approach to people’s property taxes because the impacts to local governments will be so painful and so severe.”
Saul-Sena said she recently met with residents in Seminole Heights who talked about the need for more code enforcement and how much they appreciated the increased police presence in their neighborhood.
“People in our community want these services,” she said. “We can’t provide them if we don’t have the revenue.”
City Council member Tom Scott said he understands Iorio’s wish to be cautious with next year’s budget, but wondered if the measures are premature.
“We have not heard anything from Tallahassee yet,” he said. “You get all the facts and information before you make a decision that will impact services and jobs.”
-- Janet Zink, Times staff writer