Florida’s Legislative Agenda



FOR THE UNDULY IMAGINATIVE, PERHAPS, THE SPECTER OF Winston Churchill may haunt the grand chambers of state government in Tallahassee next week. That’s when 160 legislators — 40 senators and 120 representatives — prepare for an eight-week round of bill-making, deal-wrangling, money-spending and bipartisan gamesmanship that shapes the way 19 million residents live in Florida. They call it “the legislative session.” It begins Tuesday morning, March 4. It […]

Database may lead to better understanding, tracking of serial killers




When Kristin Elink-Schuurman-Laura decided to write her master’s thesis on serial killers with military backgrounds, she needed to compare data on those who had been in the military and those who had not. While the topic itself seems daunting enough, she found that getting access to such information was a monumental undertaking. First, the FGCU graduate student approached the FBI. […]

The treacherous Fibahatchee River




The state legislative session is about to begin. Although you may know that, you probably don’t know what a state legislative session really is or how it works, do you? Of course you don’t, because you’re trying to earn an honest living. But I’m not, so I can tell you. Starting March 4, 160 men and women known as “representatives” […]

The UAW’s worker problem




The activist Florence Reece wrote the union ballad “Which Side Are You On?” in the midst of Kentucky’s so-called Harlan County War in the 1930s. Posed this question by the United Auto Workers, employees of Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tenn., plant answered that they don’t want to be on the side of a union that is slipping into irrelevance. Once a 1.5 […]

The Comcast-Time Warner merger threatens democracy




Comcast has announced it intends to merge with Time Warner Cable, joining together the largest and second-largest cable and broadband providers in the country. The merger must be approved by both the Justice Department and the FCC. Given the financial and political power of Comcast, and the Obama administration’s miserable record of protecting the public interest, the time to speak […]

Know your comfort zone




Generally speaking, fishing, sailing and boating are really great March outdoor activities in Southwest Florida. Enjoying these fun activities depends on your ability as a mariner, and that of your crew. Because our winds might come in like a lion, we all have to plan our excursions accordingly. If you are very experienced, you will have no trouble deciding what […]

Who represents you in Tallahassee?



It’s OK if you haven’t been paying attention — if perhaps a few elections have passed you by and maybe you’ve fallen behind. Names have changed, and you’re just not sure anymore who exactly your representative and senator in the Florida Legislature are. It happens to the best of us. This could be the year, however, where you jump back […]

Kitten love

Special shelter programs offer care and socialization for young cats


Does your shelter have a kitten nursery? It’s one of the trends in the shelter community’s efforts to save more animals, especially those who typically aren’t considered adoptable. Kittens? Unadoptable? You’d be surprised. Young kittens are among the most at-risk animals in shelters. Kittens who are old enough to be adopted usually fly out of shelters, but those younger than […]

Pets of the Week



Nursing charity raises funds for orphanage in Haiti



A fundraiser organized by a local charitable organization of nurses has raised needed dollars toward the completion of an orphanage in Haiti. The Multicultural American Nurses Organization organized the dinner and dance party, held last month at the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association. It was the third annual event to raise funds for St. Marie’s Orphanage in Port-au- Prince, Haiti. […]