Daily Planet Blog
The Daily Planet is a commentary on the news of the day from the perspective of a Tampa Bay resident with awareness of state, national and global issues.
Photo Credit: Internet
ACLU Sues Scott Over Drug Tests
Rick Scott's decision to drug tests all Floridians receiving welfare checks will be tested by the courts. This is just another suit related to Scott's over-reach of executive authority. GOP taking a lot of heat from Floridians over Michelle Bachmann's desire to drill for oil in the Everglades. Scott initially said he was open to the idea but has retreated from this position in past 24 hours.The Russian's top hockey team all perished in a plane crash that sent shock waves through the sports world. Trial of Mubarak gets interesting as his key ministers all pleaded no knowledge of any orders to shoot.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for Today:
- ACLU Sues Scott For Welfare Drug Tests
- Qaddafi Still Defiant
- Russian Crash Kills Elite Hockey Team
- Mubarak Trial Gets Testy
- Rick Scott Backtracks on Everglades Drilling
- Cuba Flights Without Tourists
- Genshaft's State of USF
- Tampa Budget Gets Initial Approval
- Hills Schools Try to Get Healthy
- Trader Joes to Open in Naples
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Photo Credit: The Guardian
Qaddafi Troops Flee Libya
Troops loyal to Qaddafi headed through the desert to the neighboring country of Niger. Unclear where Qaddafi is these days. The working poor are hitting record levels of poverty giving rise to questions about how the American dream is playing out in the midst of rising income inequality.More stories out on the disastrous Florida legislative session as the NRA lobbyists managed to jam through a bill forcing cities and counties to remove restrictive gun laws including those banning guns in parks. While the legislature is removing laws, the UCF Fraternity council banned alcohol at Frat parties. Rick Scott says he's open to drilling for oil in the Everglades.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for Today:
- Qaddafi's Army Flees to Niger
- Carol Bartz Fired at Yahoo
- Working Poor at Record Levels
- Brazilians March Against Corruption
- Rick Scott Open to Everglades Drilling
- UCF Bans Fraternity Alcohol
- Florida Unemployment 10.7% in July
- Legislature Allows Guns in Parks
- Bean and Lee Entitled to Lawyer Fees
- Payday Lending on the Rise
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Photo Credit: St. Petersburg Times
Lee Roy Selmon Dies at 56
Sad day in Tampa Bay as football and civic great Lee Roy Selmon dies of stroke. Selmon's name had gotten used in a lawsuit earlier in the week and sad to see his name in the papers again with this news. The USF Bulls dedicated the game to Selmon on Saturday and won a big upset over Notre Dame in South Bend.The US finally taking steps to bring Wall Street to account for the massive mortgage frauds committed in the period leading up to the big crash. While this is likely unhelpful to economic recovery as it once again paralyzes markets due to the uncertainty, it is important for the US taxpayers to bring those responsible for the fraud to justice.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for Today:
- Lee Roy Selmon Dies at 56
- USF Wins Big for Selmon
- Libya Helped CIA with Renditions
- Famine Grows in Somalia
- Europe: The Haves and Have Nots
- Cuba Loses A Geriatric Leader
- US Goes After Wall Street Banks
- Bachmann Wants to Drill the Everglades
- One in Ten Drive Without License
- Humans Came From Genetic Mix
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Photo Credit: New York Times
Libya, West Discuss Democracy and Oil
Interesting stories around the Libyan conference held in Paris. Russia and China finally recognize the Libyan rebel leadership and demand a seat at the table to carve up the oil rights. Russia and China want in. French President Sarkozy suggests that the rebel leaders prefer those who helped the fight. Many African leaders sit on their hands while Qaddafi still thrashes around in Libya. WikiLeaks in a battle with newspapers and governments over their own set of internal leaks.Economy stalled out on jobs in August while unemployment rate remained the same implying that workers simply are discouraged from finding work. Watch the State of Florida's unemployment compensation program deal with this trend as its new rules dump thousands off unemployment and be left to deal on their own. Rains to continue in FL this weekend as big tropical depression lurks out in the Gulf. Presidential candidates Romney and Cain in Tampa today.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for today:
- Libyan Democracy, Oil Conference
- WikiLeaks Leaks Then Blames Others
- Syrian Official Defects With War Crimes Evidence
- Iran Moves Nuclear Program
- No New US Jobs in August
- Pasta Prices Rise Over Dakota Floods
- Mitt Romney, Cain in Tampa Today
- Florida May Have Balanced Budget for Next Year
- Tropical Depression to Dump Rain on Us
- Pinellas to Study Student Achievement
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Photo Credit: The Atantic Newswire
Libyan Rebels: Qaddafi Cornered
Hard to know if you can believe them but seems Qaddafi is in the town of Bani Walid about 150 miles from Tripoli. The South African ruling ANC party is struggling with a divisive split with firebrand youth leader Julius Malema wanting to confiscate white farms and nationalize industry. Germany has been making massive investment in green energy while US sees major solar firm go out of business.Interesting story on church going in the US. New studies showing affluent having more money and time to go to church, leading the trend. Florida's new law requiring a drug database goes into effect on Thursday. Most states have a law to track prescriptions but lobbying and tea party skepticism kept this out of Florida until the prescription drug epidemic reached the front pages earlier this year.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for today:
- Libyan Rebels: Qaddafi Cornered
- German Energy Usage Tops 20% Green
- S. Africa Struggles With Racist Leader
- Iran Mullahs: No Theme Parks
- US Churches Losing Less Educated
- Nevada Files Big BOA Lawsuit
- Majority Minority in US Cities
- Florida Pharmacy Law Goes into Effect Today
- Hills. Tries Again on Business Assistance
- Elderly Ft. Myers Woman Attacked by Gator
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Photo Credit: Tampa Tribune
Re-Districting Takes Heat
The Legislature's roadshow headed into Pinellas last night and is meeting increasing frustration by voters thinking the whole process is a ruse to protect entrenched politicians. Leroy Selmon says he was disappointed to see his name in the lawsuit and asked that his name not included in the suit. Tea Party, led by GOP House Leader Eric Cantor, wants to have budget offsets when disaster hits. This is a nice way of allowing Acts of God to play a role in budget negotiations.Florida legislative leaders rolled through town yesterday on their "listening tour" about what the public thinks about the redistricting process. Public thinks they are looking to feather their own nests and is screwing around with an overwhelming constitutional vote in 2010 elections.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for today:
- Redistricting Process Gets Heat
- Leroy Selmon Says Not Part of Lawsuit
- Judge Says No Texas Sonograms
- Syria Shooting As Ramadan Ends
- Tea Party Wants to Change Disaster Aid
- Qaddafi Compound as Tourist Attraction
- Space Station Could Be Evacuated
- Tampa Bay ATMs Getting Hit By Fraud
- Tropical Storm Katia in Atlantic
- Tampa Bay Carbon Emissions High
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Photo Credit: Tampa Tribune
Leroy Selmon in NFL Suit
ex-Buc Leroy Selmon is one of the former NFL players involved in suit about Citing "multiple past traumatic brain injuries" the suit. Qaddafi still thought to be in Libya but wife and kids headed to Algeria.Florida legislative leaders rolled through town yesterday on their "listening tour" about what the public thinks about the redistricting process. Public thinks they are looking to feather their own nests and is screwing around with an overwhelming constitutional vote in 2010 elections.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for today:
- Selmon in NFL Injury Suit
- Qaddafi's Family Flees Libya
- Syria Regime Facing Desertions
- Rick Perry Got Rich in Office
- Obama's Uncle Gets DUI Charge
- Judge Delays Alabama Immigrant Law
- Florida Insurance Rates May Rise
- New Tropical Storm in Atlantic
- Redistricting Hearing in Tampa
- Hernando Security Breach in DUI Cases
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Photo Credit: Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot, via Associated Press
Irene Makes Landfall in North Carolina
Hurricane Irene slowed down considerably (landed as Cat 1) before slamming into the Outer Banks then headed up the East Coast in diminished shape. The US Drones kept up the assault on Al Qaeda, killing the #2 leader in Pakistan. Interesting hunger strike over corruption in India caught the attention of the nation and its politicians who promise to curb their ways.Trial set to begin on September 12th for Marine hero with multiple purple heart medals and a Bronze Star who is charged with DUI manslaughter. Trial will put psychological toll of combat on display. Stetson Kennedy died at age 94 - He infiltrated the Florida Klan in the 1940s and 1950s. Also, friend and local artist Carolyn Heller died earlier this week and the Times has a nice recap of her spirit.
For summary, here's my top 10 news items for today:
- Assessing Irene's Damage
- US Drones Kill #2 Al Qaeda
- Hunger Strike Over India Corruption
- Finland Raising Stink Over Greece
- Bernanke Blames Politics for Economy
- Surfer, Tourist Die in FL Waters
- Marine Hero in DUI Death Trial
- FL Klan Infiltrator Dies at 94
- Carolyn Heller, Local Artist, Dies
- Bucs Rally Preseason Win Over Miami
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Hurricane Irene's expected path would hit most of the Eastern Seaboard if models hold true. Storm expected to hit landfall sometime Saturday. Evacuations from Carolinas to New York. Interesting stories on Cornel West's criticism of President Obama for failing African-Americans during his presidency. University of Georgia Professors protest draconian GA law barring illegal immigrants from education. This follows lawsuits in Alabama by Church Groups to minister to and support needy immigrant families as well. WikiLeaks releases documents on US view of China as taking shortcuts in building nuclear energy plants. Very revealing just how backward the US believes Chinese is on these projects.
Back home, Tampa Mayor gets a free ride for his term. Buckhorn was given a nice ride formerly owned by a pimp. USF Foundation doing a nice job raising endowment funds - at $111 million and growing. The Florida Aquarium was given $2.5 million by phosphate giant Mosaic as part of its program to improve its environmental bona fides. Fun story on the early warning program wired into Apes and Birds at the National Zoo ahead of the earthquake in DC this week.
Back home, Tampa Mayor gets a free ride for his term. Buckhorn was given a nice ride formerly owned by a pimp. USF Foundation doing a nice job raising endowment funds - at $111 million and growing. The Florida Aquarium was given $2.5 million by phosphate giant Mosaic as part of its program to improve its environmental bona fides. Fun story on the early warning program wired into Apes and Birds at the National Zoo ahead of the earthquake in DC this week.
Libyan Rebels and NATO continue to hunt for Qaddafi, putting a bounty of $1 to $2 million for his capture. Qaddafi is surrounded by African mercenaries so we'll see if money motivates here. Hurricane Irene moving out of Bahamas to the US. There were three earthquakes in three days in the US - is this a coincidence?
Hillsborough County politicians get an earful from parents about the slashing of after school recreation programs for kids. They do an about face and restore funding. Democracy in action. On the other end of the spectrum, Rick Scott goes after funding of water management districts and removes $700 million from environmental spending on water protection programs. Apologies for missing yesterday's Daily Planet. Working on improvements to the site and ran out of time. If you go to Daily Planet News page, you'll see top ten plus 20 more stories that were of interest from yesterday's news. Hoping to include more news each day going forward. Still working on bringing Food back as regular feature.
Hillsborough County politicians get an earful from parents about the slashing of after school recreation programs for kids. They do an about face and restore funding. Democracy in action. On the other end of the spectrum, Rick Scott goes after funding of water management districts and removes $700 million from environmental spending on water protection programs. Apologies for missing yesterday's Daily Planet. Working on improvements to the site and ran out of time. If you go to Daily Planet News page, you'll see top ten plus 20 more stories that were of interest from yesterday's news. Hoping to include more news each day going forward. Still working on bringing Food back as regular feature.
