AWOL -A handful of South Florida legislators missed what was hyped as one of the most important votes in state history last week as they watched the World Series live Thursday from the comfort of the Florida Marlins invitation-only owners' box. "Lawmakers skip out for Marlins".
REAGAN WORSHIP . . . DOESN'T MCCOLLUM HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO? Bill McCollum, the former Orlando-area congressman now running for U.S. Senate, wants to pull the plug on an upcoming CBS miniseries that he says is unflattering to former President Ronald Reagan.
"This is outrageous and must be stopped," said McCollum, one of four conservative Republicans jockeying for the party's hard-right voters. "GOP Senate contender lashes out at 'Reagans'".
OLIPHANT -Miriam Oliphant vowed Monday to fight any effort to remove her as Broward County's elections supervisor, flatly rejecting last week's assessment by the secretary of state that her office is in shambles and unprepared to handle upcoming elections. "Oliphant rejects charges she violated laws; vows to keep her job". See also "Improve, Or Risk Suspension".
FCAT -Shifting money to bonuses hurts teachers' appeal for higher pay. "FCAT school rewards".
BYRD BASHING -Heaven help us, but Byrd wants to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate.
This is a man whom even Republican cohorts sometimes find disturbing, for the way he uses almost anything to his advantage. One of them has even called him a lunatic. "If Byrd flies north, would the mischief go with him?"