News & Public Affairs

Coalition for Smart Justice wants reform of correctional system listen

07/02/09 Seán Kinane
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Last month a group of state leaders sent an open letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, the Legislature, and the people of the state asking for major criminal justice reform. The group, calling itself the Coalition for Smart Justice says that in Florida, there are “too many non-violent individuals being incarcerated, too many prisons needing to be built at astounding public cost.” They propos...

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Miranda: Not so fast political hopefuls listen

07/02/09 Mitch E. Perry
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Tags: Tampa City Council, election reform

Last week, the Tampa City Council endorsed a proposal made by Councilman Charlie Miranda that could prevent council members who lose a bid for higher office from immediately getting their old job back.

Miranda’s proposal was approved by the Council on a 5-2 vote. One of those who supported it was Mary Mulhern, who could be one of those council member affected if the city legal staff deems the measure legal. Mulhern is considering a run for higher office in the future. If she were to r...

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'Cash for Clunkers' gets green light listen

07/02/09 Mitch E. Perry
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Tags: Auto Industry, politics, economy

The three biggest car makers in America called a bottom to the long decline in U.S. auto sales as the industry reported its smallest monthly sales drop this year.

According to the market-research firm Autodata Corp., new vehicle sales in June fell 28 percent from a year earlier to 860,000 cars and light trucks. But that would be the smallest decline in any month this year.

Auto sales are expected to pick up as well now that President Barack Obama has signed into law what is known as the...

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FCAN and OFA Health Care Fair listen

07/01/09 Lindsey Kratochwill
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With the ongoing conversation in Washington about health care reform, groups are getting together to bring the issue to the local level.

Tampa’s Organizing for America and the Florida Consumer Action Network organized an event in Julian B. Lane Park in Tampa this past Saturday. John Bovona, the state field director for Organizing for America, a grass roots group linked with President Obama, explains why.

This reform is controversial, but volunteers came out to show their support and pro...

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SEIU St. Petersburg Mayoral Debate listen

07/01/09 Lindsey Kratochwill
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Tuesday night at the Sunshine Center, many of the St. Petersburg mayoral candidates spoke at a debate, put together by Service Employees International Union, Florida Consumer Action Network, Clean Water Action, Progress Florida, Alliance for a Livable Pinellas among other progressive organizations.

Service Employees International Union representative, Anita Dryer of St. Petersburg explains the reasons for organizing this debate.

The candidates were asked a series of questions during ...

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Seth Nelson files to run for Tampa City Council District 3 in 2011 listen

07/01/09 Seán Kinane
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Tags: Tampa City Council, elections

Elections for Tampa mayor and city council are almost two years away. Today Tampa attorney Seth Nelson filed to run for the District 3 at-large seat.

"It feels absolutely wonderful to be a candidate for Tampa City Council District 3 citywide.”

Minutes after he turned in paperwork at the Supervisor of Elections office in downtown Tampa, Seth Nelson said he is running because he wants the best city for his five-year-old son Kai.

“I believe that Tampa should offer the best opportunities...

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The St. Petersburg Times Investigative Report on Scientology's Management

07/01/09 Robert Lorei
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Tags: scientology, st. petersburg times, Marty Rathbun, Mike Rinder, Lisa MacPherson

Coming up today on Radioactivity we'll hear from the two St. Petersburg Times reporters who wrote a recent series of stories on alleged wrongdoing at the highest levels of the church. But first a short interview with a homeless woman from Tampa who lives in her car. She has an income- high enough to purchase a small home- but because she has no permanent address she's been unable to start the process of applying for a mortgage. Here's Sandy DeVita who is a former social worker from New York C...

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