F'd up Florida

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August 2008
- Tampa Drug Bust Nets 41 Arrests
  
  Tampa Tribune | Aug 13, 08 1:50 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Police surveillance at a Tampa apartment complex resulted in 41 drug-related arrests, more than investigators expected, the Tampa Tribune reports. "I figured it would be four or five people," one deputy remarked. The bust turned up 67.7 grams of crack cocaine, 466.7 grams of marijuana, and $6,064 in cash. Five more warrants have been issued in connection with the case. More »
- 1.5 Tons of Pot Seized in Florida
  
  St. Petersburg Times | Aug 8, 08 10:12 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Police have seized a record 1.5 tons of marijuana in Florida's Hillsborough County, the St. Petersburg Times reports. The drugs carry an estimated street value of $13 million, making the bust the county's largest to date. Raids on area homes resulted in 62 arrests, and authorities say more will follow. More »
- Obama Seeks Full Votes for Discounted Delegates
  
  Chicago Tribune | Aug 3, 08 7:42 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Barack Obama is urging the Democratic National Committee to count Florida and Michigan primary votes at full strength, the Chicago Tribune 's Swamp blog reports. In a letter to the DNC, Obama wrote that the delegates—demoted 3 months ago to half-votes in a committee compromise—"must know that they are full partners and colleagues in our historic mission to reshape Washington." More »
- 'Super Termite' Found in Fla.
  
  St. Petersburg Times (Russia) | Aug 2, 08 3:51 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - One of the world's most feared termites has been caught gnawing on a Florida Gulfport home. Exterminators say they have saved the house, but admit that the "super termites"—or Formosan subterraneans—included winged swarmers, which indicates that that colony has existed for more than 5 years. "Sometimes there is hysteria with Formosan subterannean termites," expert John Mangold said. More »
July 2008
- Florida's #1 Again ... as Top Party School
  
  Associated Press | Jul 28, 08 7:50 PM CDT
  
  (AP) - The University of Florida can raise a glass to another national title—best party school in the country. The Gators, known for wild celebrations following national championships in football and basketball, wrested the party title away from West Virginia University and beat out the University of Mississippi and Penn State University, in the Princeton Review survey of 120,000 students released today. More »
- Disease Stalks Florida's Palms
  
  Associated Press | Jul 23, 08 5:10 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A mystery disease is eating away at the sabal palm, Florida’s state tree, and scientists say the prospects of successfully fighting the disease are slim. The AP reports that an increasing number of the trees, which can grow up to 50 feet tall, have suffered collapsed canopies. "There's going to be fewer palms,” one state pathologist said. More »
- Candidates Failing to Reach Florida's Hispanic Voters
  
  St. Petersburg Times (Russia) | Jul 22, 08 2:36 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Hispanics could swing the presidential election in November, especially in crucial Florida, but the presumptive nominees aren’t reaching them, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Hispanics tend to vote on issues rather than along strictly party lines, but the media and candidates are pushing immigration reform though polls show the economy and education atop their list of concerns—with immigration reform 10th. More »
- AK-47s Flooding US Cities
  
  Mother Jones | Jul 17, 08 3:03 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - At least one of America’s borders is wide open: Gun manufacturers are selling imported semiautomatic weapons with ease ever since the Bush administration allowed 1994's assault weapons ban to lapse, writes Bruce Falconer for Mother Jones . “We’re being flooded with these AK-47s,” said Miami’s police chief, who has seen semiautomatic usage account for 20% of his city’s homicides. More »
- Fla. Tomato Growers Seek Millions in Salmonella Relief
  
  Sarasota Herald-Tribune | Jul 15, 08 4:16 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Florida tomato growers are seeking millions from Congress to help pay for a "blatant blunder" by federal agencies in the salmonella investigation that has gravely damaged their sales, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports. Conservative estimates put the losses of Florida’s growers at $100 million, with estimates reaching beyond $300 million when growers in other states and associated shipping and vending are included. More »
- Big Sugar's Exit Gives Hope to Everglades
  
  Yale Environment 360 | Jul 9, 08 10:22 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Everglades restoration may finally be a reality, writes Michael Grunwald in Yale Environment 360 during his “vacation from defeatism.” Florida's tentative $1.75 billion land deal with US Sugar would halt sugar production (and pollution) on nearly 300 square miles, and have an ecological ripple-effect that extends beyond saving the Florida Panther or sparing nature from suburban development. More »
- Cuba Rebuilds Spy Network in Fla., Agent Says
  
  Miami Herald | Jul 5, 08 3:59 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Cuba has rebuilt its spy network in Florida to its highest level in 10 years, a US Army expert on Cuban agents tells the Miami Herald . The FBI rounded up more than a dozen spies in 1998, but they have all been replaced, bringing Florida’s spy population to around 210, Lt. Col. Chris Simmons said. His revelation is the first in recent years by a US official on Cuban spies. More »
- Hunt Is On for Florida Oil
  
  Associated Press | Jul 5, 08 10:01 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The record-breaking price of oil is shifting public opinion toward lifting a moratorium on new offshore drilling, reports the AP. Four companies acquired rights to explore parcels of land off the Florida coast in March, under a 2006 Congressional compromise that opened up 8.3 million acres off the Panhandle in exchange for a buffer along the rest of the state's beaches. More »
June 2008
- Fla.'s Crist Works Across the Eco-Lines
  
  Wall Street Journal | Jun 26, 08 1:50 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is walking an environmental tightrope between encouraging conservation and alternative energy, and promoting oil exploration off the state’s coast, the Wall Street Journal reports. Recent moves include the purchase of 300 square miles in the Everglades—a deal that shuts down the nation’s largest sugar-grower. But the governor also says he’ll support drilling off the coast as long as the state’s people and beaches are protected. More »
- Miami Cops Bust 'Brothel on Wheels'
  
  Miami Herald | Jun 26, 08 9:29 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The world's oldest profession has long since gone online, but Miami police have charged six people with putting it on wheels, the Miami Herald reports. A rolling brothel, a huge limo-bus with a tractor-trailer cab, picked up three undercover cops Sunday morning, offering an all-you-can-drink ride for $40. Once aboard, an extra $125 would earn a trip to the curtained-off “VIP room," with a promise to "get your money worth." More »
- Florida Buys Sugar Land to Save Everglades
  
  St. Petersburg Times (Russia) | Jun 24, 08 5:20 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Florida plans to buy 187,000 acres of land from the nation's biggest sugar company in what both state officials and environmentalists are hailing as a landmark deal to save the Everglades, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Under the deal, which may not be finalized until November, Florida will pay $1.75 billion to acquire the land from US Sugar Corp. in six years. More »
- Obama's Electoral Math: Win Without Ohio, Fla.
  
  Associated Press | Jun 16, 08 11:46 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Barack Obama is hardly giving up on Florida and Ohio, but campaign manager David Plouffe thinks the Democrat can win without them. “You have a lot of ways to get to 270,” Plouffe says. “Our goal is not to be

News Sections

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Stories

Tampa Drug Bust Nets 41 Arrests

1.5 Tons of Pot Seized in Florida

Obama Seeks Full Votes for Discounted Delegates

'Super Termite' Found in Fla.

Florida's #1 Again ... as Top Party School

Disease Stalks Florida's Palms

Candidates Failing to Reach Florida's Hispanic Voters

AK-47s Flooding US Cities

Fla. Tomato Growers Seek Millions in Salmonella Relief

Big Sugar's Exit Gives Hope to Everglades

Cuba Rebuilds Spy Network in Fla., Agent Says

Hunt Is On for Florida Oil

Fla.'s Crist Works Across the Eco-Lines

Miami Cops Bust 'Brothel on Wheels'

Florida Buys Sugar Land to Save Everglades

Obama's Electoral Math: Win Without Ohio, Fla.