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A March 1st, deadline looms for Florida Democrats to make their voice heard at the national convention. That’s the day the national party certifies delegates around the nation. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, one Florida based Democratic National Committeeman says the party is violating its own rules.

Hear it here: Deadline near in Democrat’s Delegate Debacle

Hillary Clinton wants Florida’s Democratic delegates seated. Barack Obama Doesn’t. In the middle, 1.72 million democrats who cast a ballot on January 29th.

One National Committeeman is now saying that the national party is violating its own rules and bylaws by not seating all 22 Florida super delegates and at least half of the pledged delegates. Jon Ausman will file paperwork to begin a challenge this week.

“The reality is that if the national party follows its own rules, then we should have 22 super delegates and 91 pledged delegates as well,” said Jon Ausman, Democratic National Committeeman.

The documents seem clear. Party bylaws call for seating the super delegates, like US Senator Bill Nelson and nine democratic members of congress. The documents also spell out that the state should have lost, at best, only half its delegates.

“Obama is up by roughly 100 delegates and if we counted the Florida delegates, Hillary Clinton would cut that down by 37,” said Ausman.

The top democrat in the state house calls the showdown a mess that threatens November.

“The planets always seem to align and the bounces always seem to bounce in a way that puts us in the center of something that’s all weird and screwed up and that’s almost where we are right now,” Ausman said.

Whatever happens will make some democrats unhappy. The outcome of the election in November may depend on just how angry they become. If the challenge being filed is successful and Florida does get all its Super delegates and half of its elected delegates, Democrats would be in the same strait as Florida Republicans, who lost half of their national delegates for holding and early primary.

One organization, helping Florida’s youth excel, is doing more to keep teens off drugs. Representatives from one of the state’s eight Urban Leagues were at the Capitol to kick off their annual drug awareness week. For the last 16 years, the statewide campaign has promoted awareness about the dangers of crime and substance abuse. This week the league will promote its hotline service, coordinate youth programs and celebrate communities.

“I think in the long term, to really address this issue, we’ve got to focus on our young people and educating them and insuring that they make the right decisions in life and have a life that does not involve drug and alcohol abuse, said representative Curtis Richardson.

Drugs and alcohol are the number one cause of crime across the state.

A March first deadline looms for Florida Democrats to make their voice heard at the national convention. That’s the day the national party certifies delegates around the nation. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, one Florida based Democratic National Committeeman says the party is violating its own rules.

Hillary Clinton wants Florida’s Democratic delegates seated. Barack Obama Doesn’t. In the middle, 1.72 million democrats who cast a ballot on January 29th.

One National Committeeman is now saying that the national party is violating its own rules and bylaws by not seating all 22 Florida super delegates and at least half of the pledged delegates. Jon Ausman will file paperwork to begin a challenge this week.

“The reality is that if the national party follows its own rules, then we should have 22 super delegates and 91 pledged delegates as well.” says Ausman.

The documents seem clear. Party bylaws call for seating the super delegates, like U-S Senator Bill Nelson and 9 democratic members of congress. The documents also spell out that the state should have lost, at best, only half its delegates. Ausman says Clinton makes out better than Obama if the challenge is successful.

“Obama is up by roughly 100 delegates and if we counted the Florida delegates, Hillary Clinton would cut that down by 37.”

Dan Gelber, the top democrat in the state house calls the showdown a mess that threatens November. “The planets always seem to align and the bounces always seem to bounce in a way that puts us in the center of something that’s all weird and screwed up and that’s almost where we are right now.” says Gelber.

Whatever happens will make some democrats unhappy. And the outcome of the election in November may depend on just how angry they become.

A state senate committee wants Allstate to hand over thousands of documents. Lawmakers want the paperwork to find out if there’s any evidence of price fixing.
The senators have given Allstate two weeks to meet the request, but as Whitney Ray tells us, Allstate still hasn’t handed over thousands of the same documents the state was seeking in October.

Hear it here: Lawmakers Want Allstate Documents OIR Requested Months Ago

Despite months of investigations and bad press Allstate executives still contend they put their customers in good hands at a fair price, but senate investigators don’t think so. After two days of grilling insurance executives, a senate committee said it needs more information. Now, they’re requesting thousand of documents from the good hands people. The Office of Insurance Regulation requested some of the same documents months ago.

“They are starting to comply, but we don’t have everything,” said Ed Domansky, a spokesperson for the Office of Insurance Regulation.

Senators want the paperwork to see if there’s any evidence of price fixing. A spokesperson for Allstate said they’ll continue to work with the committee to try and meet the request, but he couldn’t say if they’ll provide all the documents by the deadline. The continued focus on Allstate is taking its toll on its agents. Allstate agent Keshia Fisher has been on the phone trying to convince customers to stay on board.

“Our phone calls dropped 50 percent. We actually had to pick up the phones ourselves and start generating extra calls to come in, prospecting trying to reassure people that currently were working, everything is okay,” said Fisher.

The business for agents like Fisher isn’t likely to get better until lawmakers are certain the company hasn’t conspired to overcharge its customers. Lawmakers started putting Allstate under a microscope when it tried to raise rates more than 40 percent when rates were suppose to fall by 25 percent.

A battle over how much tuition Universities can charge in the wake of pending budget cuts is brewing at the state capitol. In a meeting between the House Speaker and all 11 University presidents, there seems to be agreement that some tuition hike was needed to make cuts less severe. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, one important voice is saying no.

Hear it here: University Budget Battle Heats Up

College students in Florida are already paying more. Tuition went up 55 dollars a semester in January. Even so, Florida is still 49th nationally in tuition. All 11 university presidents were called to the Capitol. They are facing a cut this spring and more cuts next fall. They paint a dire picture.

“The cuts that we have here being discussed, plus the cuts that are coming could result in the loss of 2,500 faculty members for the state university system,” said Florida International University President Mitch Maidique.

Caps on enrollment are becoming more likely. Even guaranteed transfers from community colleges may be in doubt. University Chancellor Mark Rosenberg said the answer is more money and flexibility to charge what the market will bear for some majors.

“The net affect would enable us to hire the faculty and advisors, raise the graduation rates,” said Rosenburg.

The schools stressed that they are part of Florida’s economic engine. They promised to prove that every dollar produces results. The Governor has already said that he doesn’t want a tuition hike this year. But he hasn’t said he’d veto it if it was sent to him.

“We’ve put together a budget from the Governor’s office that gives some increases at the universities without having to raise tuition,” said governor Crist.

When asked if he was asked to signoff on a tuition hike, Crist added, “If they sent it to me? I hope they don’t.”

So battle lines are being drawn. For those seeking a slot at a state university, it is likely to get harder before it gets easier. The universities said they need as much as 200 million more a year for the next five years to continue to improve the quality of a college education.

Presidents Taking On Budget Cuts

Florida’s 11 University Presidents were in Tallahassee today to talk with state House leaders about how to improve higher education in a year when budgets are being cut. The Presidents said current plans could cost up to 25 hundred faculty jobs. As an alternative to cuts, the presidents said a mix of higher tuition and more state funding would help drive the economy.

University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft said she would like the USF board to have the same latitude to raise and lower tuition that it has for graduate students.

“Well if you allow the boards to have some power with the tuition, just like they did with the graduate tuition, it gives us the opportunity to work with our constituent communities, and raise or lower tuition depending on the market place,” said Genshaft.

FAMU President James Ammons told house leaders he has room for more students, but not in the popular pharmacy program. Ammons said now is the time to be adding seats in Pharmacy…not going the other way.

“At the current time, we’re getting ten applications for ever seat. We’re getting about 1500 qualified applications for a 150 seat class. This program needs to expand rather than contract,” said Ammons.

University of Florida President Bernie Machen was positive after the meeting with house speaker Marco Rubio.

“I think this is a real positive meeting. It doesn’t solve the budget problems, it doesn’t solve the shortage of money for new students for this year. But it means government wants to sit down with us, who are the people who have to make this work, and see if we can come out with a different way of doing business,” said Machen.

Marine Biologist fear for the safety of several manatees spending the winter in the panhandle. The endangered species normally travels south for the winter and the dozen of so that stayed in northern Florida could be in trouble. As Whitney Ray tells us, one of the sea cows had to be rescued and now wildlife experts are keeping a close eye on the remaining mammals.

Hear it here: Manatees In Dangerous Waters

It’s rare to see and its Valentines Day to boot, but these manatees are mating.
But there’s a problem, these manatees have wondered into dangerous territory. The endangered species are warm-blooded and should have moved to warmer water by now.

“They’re in okay water as long as they say at the springs. The water coming out there is about 69 degrees or so which is warm enough to keep them alive, if they get much down stream of that, the water can cool down quiet a bit and they can put them at risk,” said Scott Calleson, a wildlife biologist

About ten of manatees remain in the Wakulla River. Wildlife experts said this is the most they’ve ever seen this far north in February. Tuesday wildlife experts were on the river desperately trying to save a two year-old manatee that was in pretty bad shape.

“It laid in the swimming area, in the shallow area, most of the day. It didn’t eat it was breathing more frequently, so that kind of caused us some concerns,” Sandy Cook a park ranger at Wakulla Springs Park.

The manatee was suffering from hypothermia. It was taken to a Tampa Zoo. Now park rangers are keeping an eye on the remaining mammals, but they’re not the only ones.

“It seems very unusual, that they’ve been here this time of year,” Lisa Fowler.

Fowler has been visiting the park for years. She hopes the weather holds out so all the animals survive.

“Hopefully if they stay the weather will cooperate, they’ll say warm for the rest of the winter, maybe they’ll be okay,” Flower said.

If the manatees don’t swim south soon, they may have to be moved. The Manatee that was rescued Tuesday is being treated for cold stress. Experts aren’t sure if the animal will make a full recovery.

The state government is taking a step toward going green and government officials hope Floridians will follow. Thursday, Governor Charlie Crist announced a plan to cut down on greenhouse emissions. Crist released his gas reduction scorecard pinpointing ways state employees can help the environment. The governor said from this point forward the state will build more energy efficient buildings and cut back on gasoline consumption. Crist’s teaming up with members of the Department of Environmental protection to lead by example.

“This is a wise use of our taxpayer’s dollars and will protect all that is special about Florida for our future these savings can be used to invest elsewhere in Florida’s economy. It is the right thing to do and makes good economic as well as environmental sense,” said Crist.
The governors plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 10 percent is equal to taking more than 16,000 cars off the road.

A battle over how much tuition Universities can charge in the wake of pending budget cuts is brewing at the state capitol. In a meeting between the House Speaker and all 11 University presidents, there seems to be agreement that some tuition hike was needed to make cuts less severe. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, one important voice is saying no.

College students in Florida are already paying more. Tuition went up 55 dollars a semester in January. Even so, Florida is still 49th nationally in tuition.

All 11 university presidents were called to the Capitol. They are facing a cut this spring and more cuts next fall. They paint a dire picture.

“The cuts that we have hear being discussed, plus the cuts that are coming could result in the loss of 2,500 faculty members for the state university system,” Florida International University President MitchMaidique said.

Caps on enrollment are becoming more likely. Even guaranteed transfers from Community colleges may be in doubt.  University Chancellor Mark Rosenberg says the answer is more  money and flexibility to charge what the market will bear for some majors.

“The net affect would enable us to hire the faculty and advisors, raise the graduation rates,” Rosenberg said.

The schools stressed that they are part of Florida’s economic engine. They promised to prove that every dollar produces results.

The Governor has already said that he doesn’t want a tuition hike this year. But he hasn’t said he’d veto it if it was sent to him.

“We’ve put together a budget from the Governor’s office that gives some increases at the universities without having to raise tuition,” Crist said.

If they sent it to you?

“If they sent it to me? I hope they don’t,” Crist said.

So battle lines are being drawn. For those seeking a slot at a state university, it is likely to get harder before it gets easier.

The universities say they need as much as 200 million more a year for the next 5 years to continue to improve the quality of a college education.

Florida’s 11 University Presidents were in Tallahassee today to talk with state House leaders about how to improve higher education in a year when budgets are being cut. The Presidents say current plans could cost up to 25 hundred faculty jobs. As an alternative to cuts, the presidents say a mix of higher tuition and more state funding would help drive the economy.

University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft says she would like the USF board to have the same latitude to raise and lower tuition that it has for graduate students.

“Well if you allow the boards to have some power with the tuition, just like they did with the graduate tuition, it gives us the opportunity to work with our constituent communities, and raise or lower tuition depending on the market place,” Genshaft said.

FAMU President James Ammons told house leaders he has room for more students, but not in the popular pharmacy program. Ammons says now is the time to be adding seats in Pharmacy…not going the other way.

“At the current time, we’re getting ten applications for ever seat. We’re getting about 1500 qualified applications for a 150 seat class,” Ammons said. “This program needs to expand rather than contract.”

University of Florida President Bernie Machen was positive after the meeting with house speaker Marco Rubio.

“I think this is a real positive meeting,” Machen said. “It doesn’t solve the budget problems, it doesn’t solve the shortage of money for new students for this year. But it means government wants to sit down with us, who are the people who have to make this work, and see if we can come out with a different way of doing business.”

The portion of amendment one that allows homesteaders to take their tax savings with them when they move is being challenged in court. A lawsuit claims the so called “portability” measure in the amendment is unconstitutional. As Whitney Ray tells us, opponents say the provision violates equal protection clauses of the constitution.

Hear it here: Amendment One Challenged

The amendment approved by voters last month creates financial incentives for Floridians moving within the state. Attorney Doug Lyons says it also creates second class citizens. Lyons has filed suit challenging amendment one’s portability feature.

“We can’t have residency be the determining factor in taxes. You can’t have dispersant treatment based solely on residency because what you do is create second class citizens,’ said Lyons

The client is Bob Burner. He bought his Florida home in 2006. His property taxes went up almost 40 percent before he gained homestead status. The previous owner of his home had an increase of just 11 dollars in four years.

“It’s a piggy bank, it’s a state sponsored piggy bank. If you got here early enough, you got the piggy bank, said Burner.

Lyons said allowing homeowners to take their savings to a new home violates the U.S. Constitution’s right to travel and creates an uneven playing field for first time home buyers. Governor Charlie Crist said he has faith in the legality of the amendment and expects the suit to fail.

“Save Our Homes lasted for a along time, since 1992. I have the same faith and confidence in the portability of Save Our Homes,” said Crist.

The governor and lawmakers were warned the portability provisions could be unconstitutional. Now they are about to find out if the warnings were true. The attorneys expect the case to go all the way to the state, if not the federal Supreme Court. The suit seeks compensation for all first time home buyers who bough new homes in Florida since 2004.

State budget cuts could leave thousand of children in the court system without adequate representation. It could also cut hundreds of beds for juvenile offenders. The House Safety and Security Council met Wednesday. They discussed what programs would need to be cut to meet the governor’s budget suggestions. Council members said they may have to close some juvenile detentions centers, cut back on day treatment programs, and reduce prevention services. Governor Crist said his budget recommendations won’t allow violent offenders to slip through the cracks.

“One of the things we are very focused on in this administration is making sure safety and security are always a priority and they are in this budget that we’ve recommended. After consulting with secretary McNeil, I’m confident we won’t have any violent criminals out,” said Crist.

The council is also looking at cutting grants for child advocacy groups.

Florida’s States Attorneys begged state lawmakers not to cut their budget, Wednesday. They argue that 95 percent of their budgets are for salaries. They told the House Safety and Security Council that budget cuts mean fewer prosecutors. It is a loss the state’s attorneys say Florida can’t afford. They said fewer prosecutors will translate into a higher crime rate.

“They’ve got to come up with a way to fund criminal justice because we’re going to have a public safety issue sooner or later,” said state attorney Willie Meggs.

Hundreds of prosecutors’ jobs could be cut in the next round of budget cuts. Most prosecutors are already making less than most private sector attorneys, and small salaries will make it harder to recruit.

The story is getting national attention. Now Governor Charlie Crist reacts to the shocking video of a Hillsborough County Deputy dumping a quadriplegic man out of his wheelchair and onto the floor. The governor was shocked after watching the video.

“I think it’s terribly disturbing,” said Crist. “It goes beyond a pale by any compassionate person’s standard. I’m sure and I wonder if there maybe a civil rights issue to it. We’re looking into it.”

The deputy seen tipping the wheelchair has been suspended without pay. Three other officers on duty at the time are on administrative leave.

Florida is increasingly being called a purple state, a state which could go either way in a Presidential election. Our 27 Electoral votes are crucial to who becomes the next President of the United States. Because the state is so important, and because of a rare change in Florida law, Mike Vasilinda tells us Governor Charlie Crist is high on the short list of possible Vice Presidential candidates.

Hear it here: Crist On a Short List of VP Candidates

Charlie Crist got his four year job as Governor just over a year ago. A few months later, state lawmakers changed the law to allow anyone with a four year term to run as a federal candidate in the middle of that term. Under the new laws, it is actually possible for Charlie Crist to run for the Vice Presidency and not give up his job unless he wins. Incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom said the law wasn’t specifically changed to help the governor.

“I think the Governor, he’s a team player and you know, this is something that would certainly open up an opportunity for him,” said Sansom.

But the changes helped move Crist high on the list of potential running-mates for John McCain. McCain himself recognizes Florida could go either way come November.

“I don’t think that any Republican nominee for President can win the nomination without Florida,” said McCain.

So we asked the governor if he’s interested.

“That is a question I’m getting used to, but I’ll give the same answer: I am focused on Florida. I’m trying to do the best job I can to be the best Governor for a state I love enormously,” said Crist.

Thousands of Democrats helped elect Crist Governor. And while the selection for Vice President is still months away, the Governor isn’t saying he isn’t interested. Many credit the Governor’s endorsement of McCain on the eve of the primary as the sole reason McCain won in Florida. Prior to Crist’s endorsement, McCain and Mitt Romney were in a virtual tie with the Arizona Senator trending downward.

Attorney General Bill McCollum is catching heat over e-mails he sent to staff-members asking them to watch a controversial documentary. The movie “Obsession,” is about Radical Islam. It was shown on state time. As Whitney Ray tells us, the Attorney General’s support of the film is causing an uproar among Muslim leaders.

Hear it here: Muslim Leaders Outraged at AG’s Support of Controversial Documentary

The documentary Obsession paints a picture of radical Islam. Attorney General Bill McCollum said it’s a film every American should see. He even sent e-mails to his 500 member staff asking or telling them to watch it during business hours.
“It gives Americans a much better sense, if they watch the film, about the nature of the enemy and the problems we face and the importance of our being determined to see this war through”, McCollum said.

Several members of the Attorney Generals staff refused to talk about the issue. Still a few said the e-mails didn’t bother them, but an employee who gave us a copy of the e-mail found the request offensive.

Dr. Adam Gaiser, teaches religion at Florida State University. He said the movie gives an inaccurate account of radical Islam .

“The movie absolutely fails to convey the threats that Americans face,” said Gaiser.

McCollum met with Muslim Leaders Tuesday afternoon in an attempt at damage control.

“It’s just simply propaganda, it doesn’t provide any law enforcement tools, to our agents in the field in terms of what to do it just scares people,” Muslim Leader Salam Al-Marayati said.

The Muslim Leaders want to convince the Attorney General to work with them to protect Florida’s Muslim population. The AG’s Office send us emails from staff members who were pleased with the showings.

Read it here: Emails From AG Staff Members