This November, Floridians will decide the fate of 11 ballot measures, which are the proposed changes to our state Constitution. WLRN, along with other NPR member stations, the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting and Votersedge.org, have profiled 4 of those proposed changes. Here at WLRN.org we are also taking a look at the other 7 amendments as we get closer to Nov. 6.

Taxes
6:23 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

How Strict New Tax Rules Could Affect Florida

Credit 401(K) 2012/ Flickr
Opponents of Amendment 3 say restricting how much money the state can bring in will hurt Floridians.

Amendment 3 on Florida’s ballot this year, if passed, will change how the state figures out how much money it can collect in taxes.

Opponents all over the state, however, say this one change could lead to massive cuts in state services such as health care and education.

How Amendment Three Works

Read more
News
6:20 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

160 Florida Men Named In Boy Scouts' Documents Stemming From Sex Abuse Case

Credit stevejb68
Boy Scouts' 'Pervision Files' Released.

At least 160 Florida men are on the list of  1,247 former Boy Scout leaders and volunteers accused of sexually abusing young scouts from the years between 19-65 and 19-85.

The information comes out of a lawsuit filed in Oregon by a firm that won an $18 million dollar judgment against the Boy Scouts two years ago.

Oregon Public Radio also pressed for the release of the documents.

Lawyers in that case say the Boy Scouts of America kept careful records of the suspects and allegations by flagging them as "ineligible to volunteer."

Read more
The Florida Supreme Court
5:34 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

Debate: Will Amendment 5 Politicize Florida's Highest Court?

Credit Fammy/ Flickr
Some say Amendment 5 will make the Florida Supreme Court less impartial.

In 2011, the Florida Legislature set out to restructure the Florida Supreme Court.

Even though that effort failed, Republican Lawmakers did get a proposal for big changes onto this year’s ballot.

However, some say this effort could politicize and change the face of Florida’s highest court.

Will New Rules Make Florida's Highest Court Less Impartial?

Read more
Campaign Money
5:17 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

Allen West Is Still Raising More Money Than Anyone Else In The House

Credit Gage Skidmore/ Flickr
Allen West is raising more money than anyone else in the House.

U.S. Rep. Allen West, who is famous for his confrontational Tea Party politics, has been dominating this year in terms of fundraising.

He is not only out raising his opponent, Patrick Murphy, by leaps and bounds-- but he is raising more money than anyone else running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Washington Post recently profiled Romney's biggest company donor, which is a Philadelphia-based orthopedic clinic. They also included some of the big money raisers in the country right now. At the top of that list happens to West.

Read more
Boy Scout Sex Abuse
3:58 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

Scores Of Floridians Named In Boy Scout 'Perversion Files'

Credit freedigitalphoto.net
Perversion Files: Accusations are laid out in 20,000 documents.

The Boy Scouts' "perversion files" have been released and the names of at least 160 Floridians are among the 1,000 former Boy Scout leaders and volunteers accused of sexually abusing Boy Scouts between 1965 and 1985.

Lawyers involved in the case say the Boy Scouts of America kept careful records of the suspects and allegations but never reported them to authorities.  Many were flagged as "ineligible to volunteer." 

Read more
Bill Nelson
3:34 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

Bill Nelson: I Am Still 'Petrified' Of Florida's New Voting Law

Credit nasa hq photo/ Flickr
Bill Nelson says he is still concerned about Florida's voting law.

This year's presidential election is getting closer and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., still doesn't feel too good about the state's new voting law.

He stopped by the Miami Herald today to talk about his debate against his opponent, Connie Mack, last night. He talked about immigration and the Space Coast, among other things, but he also voiced how he feels about Florida's new voting law.

Read more
Arts
2:29 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

South Florida Actor Tackles 30 Characters in One Play

Credit Justin Namon
Actor Tom Wahl in Zoetic Stage's "I Am My Own Wife" at the Adrienne Arsht Center

After actor Tom Wahl first read the script for “I Am My Own Wife,” he had to lie down.

“It was a little overwhelming,” Wahl says.  “But from the first page, I was just blown away by the story.”

Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play revolves around the life of Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf, a Berlin transvestite, who survived first the Nazis and then the Communists -- as a woman.

Read more
Topical Currents
1:30 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

Linda Gassenheimer’s Food & Dining: Baking Out Loud

10/18/12 -   Syndicated food columnist Linda Gassenheimer, special wine correspondent Fred Tasker, and WLRN hosts Joseph Cooper and Bonnie Berman interview executive pastry chef  Hedy Goldsmith, of Miami’s “Michael’s Genuine.”  She’s written BAKING OUT LOUD.

Topical Currents
1:00 pm
Thu October 18, 2012

Who Runs the Presidential Debates?

10/18/12 - Thursday's Topical Currents begins with George Farah, author of No Debate:  How the Republican and Democratic Parties Secretly Control the Presidential Debates.”  The Commission on Presidential Debates is a private corporation formed by both major parties, which implements debate contracts.  And more.  Linda Gassenheimer, with executive pastry chef  Hedy Goldsmith, of Miami’s “Michael’s Genuine.”  She’s written BAKING OUT LOUD.

George Farah on DemocracyNow.org: 

Pages