The 3 percent contribution and the end of cost of living adjustments to public employees’ pensions may not be legal; if reversed, the state would see an almost $1 billion hole open up. Local governments would also be affected.
Sunset Symphony, Partying Like Cavemen and Comedy with Class: Culture Worth the Miles
The Orlando Philharmonic at Bok Tower Gardens, Disney Bargains, the Orlando Science Center’s Neanderthal Ball, a festival of new plays at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, and more.
DCF Warning About People Impersonating Child Protection Agency’s Investigators
Impersonators of DCF investigators have the Sheriff’s offices in Santa Rosa and Bay counties on the look-out, and the Florida Department of Children and Families warning parents against engaging with individuals lacking proper credentials from DCF.
Drawing Mayor’s Rebuke, Palm Coast Manager’s Trash Talk Skips Agenda Notice
Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon drew up bid restrictions for the city’s $35 million trash contract designed to favor Waste Pro, the current hauler, while virtually disqualifying others–and preventing two potential new city council members from having a say in the contract.
Ethics Commission Finds Against Oel Wingo, ex-Palm Coast Deputy Manager, on Various Charges
The Florida Ethics Commission found probable cause that Oel Wingo, in her brief tenure as Holly Hill city manager last year, misused her position, falsified and destroyed public records. Wingo served in Palm Coast for a decade.
Unaccountability and Unproven Quality in Rush Toward Virtual Education in Florida
A new study, citing Florida and other virtual school pioneers, says for-profit companies are pushing states to offer full-time virtual instruction paid for by state tax dollars with little research on the quality of these programs.
Jesus and Wall Street, Zero Tolerance, Zero Intelligence, 9/11’s Controversial Photo: The Live Wire
Judge Steve Teske and the stupidity of zero tolerance policies, Thomas Hoepker’s controversial 9/11 photo from the Brooklyn waterfront revisited.
Subtle Revelations as Commissioners Speed-Date Through 15 Job Council Candidates
An inside look at today’s rapid-fire one-on-one job interviews with 15 of the 36 candidates looking to fill the county commission’s nine-member economic development council.
Herman Cain’s Mark Block Smokes Up a Foggy Campaign
Herman Cain’s latest campaign ad, featuring Mark Block, his campaign manager, lustily smoking a cigarette, is a great send-up of the self-righteous culture of hyper-health.
Florida Lawmaker Proposes Broader GPS Tracking of Juvenile Offenders
Florida’s Juvenile Justice system eliminated its ankle-monitoring system in 2004. GPS tracking would be cheaper, but also possibly more pervasive, and paid for out of local dollars set aside for various court initiatives.