OK, but we’re fairly certain that water managers wouldn’t be equally receptive to that tiny fraction defense if a homeowner gets caught watering their lawn on a day they’re not supposed to. Every little bit counts and they know it, especially when that little bit amounts to a corporate giveaway. ... Read More
Guns and the Legislature: A glimmer of hope, or just more posturing? | Steve Bousquet
In Tallahassee, no legislation has any hope without overwhelming Republican support. Lee’s Infrastructure and Security Committee includes five Republicans with pro-gun records and three Democrats who want stronger gun safety laws: state Sens. Janet Cruz, of Tampa, Linda Stewart, of Orlando and Annette Taddeo, of Miami. ... Read More
Names are named as court documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are unsealed
“I just remember someone suggesting a photo, and they told us to get on the couch,” Sjoberg testified during one hearing. “And so Andrew and Virginia sat on the couch, and they put (a) puppet, the puppet on her lap. And so I sat on Andrew’s lap, and I believe on my own volition, and they took the puppet’s hands and put it on Virginia’s breast, and so Andrew put his on mine.” ... Read More
Your kids’ new school year is about to start: What you need to know
“Expect delays,” said John Lyles, Broward County’s school transportation and fleet services director. “It should settle down after Labor Day. There will be 36,000 Broward school employees on the road, as well as 275,000 students, and many parents bring their students to school.” ... Read More
Three years after Boca private school turmoil, ex-teacher’s defamation lawsuit heads to trial
“As a direct and proximate result of the false, malicious, and slanderous statements made by (the school and Finocchiaro,) Waite has suffered perpetual harm including public humiliation, contempt, distrust, disgrace and ridicule, as well as the loss of his ability to gain employment and earn a living,” wrote Waite lawyers Cathleen Scott and Lindsey Wagner. ... Read More
Gun show draws outrage, one week after two mass shootings
“It’s dangerous and frankly unbelievable that after a weekend of back to back mass shootings, that the Trump campaign and @FloridaGOP would think to register voters at gun shows,” the state Democratic Party’s executive director, Juan Peñalosa, wrote on Twitter. “It shows how out of touch they are with the American people,” ... Read More
Preaching Against Racism Is Not a Distraction from the Gospel
The pulpit gives a record of our witness. On November 4, 2008, some seven months after I became a father, I saw something unfold on television that I never expected to witness in my lifetime. The United States of America had elected an African American president. My son was asleep by the time the final results came in. Nonetheless, I lifted him from his crib, carried him to the television, and whispered into his still forming imagination: We have a black president; all things are possible. I... Read More
The car mechanic trade is dying. Who will fix our high-tech cars?
The latter group, he said, seemed to be in the profession because they heard there was money there. In 2018, the median annual pay for mechanics and technicians was close to $41,000, slightly higher than the median annual pay for all workers at $39,000. The highest-earning technicians make over $67,000. Some can get into the triple digits with overtime and bonuses. ... Read More
Gamers and mass shooters: Do video games really make a person more aggressive?
This week, the Entertainment Software Association responded to Trump’s words tying violence to video games with this statement: “Video games positively contribute to society, from new medical therapies and advancements, educational tools, business innovation, and more. Video games help players connect with family and friends, relieve stress, and have fun.” ... Read More
Pot choices grow: Medical marijuana dispensaries swell across South Florida
Some South Florida cities, including Boca Raton, Margate, Tamarac and Pembroke Pines, still prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries. But even that may be changing: Coral Springs reversed its ban in April and a discussion about allowing dispensaries in Boca Raton is scheduled for a City Council workshop Aug. 26, according to city spokeswoman Chrissy Gibson. ... Read More