AltWeeklies Wire
Scenes From the Life of a Racing Greyhoundnew

Although a well-organized anti-racing lobby now has its sights set on the Sunshine State, it's hard to tell if legislative efforts are hastening or hindering the end of this moribund industry.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Michael J. Mooney |
05-26-2009 |
Animal Issues
Bad Management of One Low-Income Florida Apartment Bldg. Leaves Residents in Limbonew
By all accounts, the elderly residents of Bethany Towers are suffering.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
12-22-2008 |
Housing & Development
Why is Florida's Top Tourism Bureau Backing Offshore Drilling?new
The Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus recently endorsed oil drilling off of Florida's coast.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
12-16-2008 |
Environment
Welcome to Nukesville, Floridanew

Who gets to pay for Progress Energy's new nuclear power plant? You do.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
12-16-2008 |
Environment
In Florida, If You Don't Own It, You Can't Save Itnew
While other states grant municipalities the right to go over the heads of private property owners in designating landmarks, Florida's law protects property owners from just that sort of thing. "Florida is a super-private property rights state," says city lawyer Karen Consalo. "We're very conservative like that."
Orlando Weekly |
Billy Manes |
12-04-2008 |
Housing & Development
Election-Day Setbacks Can't Stop March of Progress for GLBT Communitynew
Yes, a mob of homophobes is still an ugly and common sight. But gay-rights-bashers' bullying tactics don't have the muscle they once did. There are more opportunities for pro-gay forces to fight back and more support when they do.
New Haven Advocate |
Christopher Arnott |
11-18-2008 |
LGBT
One Florida City's War on Sinnew
Winter Park doesn't just have a booby bar in its sights; tattoo parlors and other supposedly ill-reputed businesses have also been targeted next.
Orlando Weekly |
Deanna Morey |
11-06-2008 |
Business & Labor
Is the GOP Trying to Keep New Voters from the Polls?new

In the midst of a crush of new voter applicants, there's a new issue that progressives fear the GOP could use to disenfranchise voters across Florida: the Republican secretary of state's recent decision to enforce the state's three-year-old "no match, no vote" law.
Orlando Weekly |
Deanna Morey |
10-07-2008 |
Civil Liberties
Turf War: Who Should Control Charter Schools?new
Throughout Florida, charter schools are exploding in popularity. Their numbers have climbed 300 percent in the last eight years -- from 118 in 2000 to 358 now -- and there are 17 in Orange County.
Orlando Weekly |
Adriana Ruiz |
10-07-2008 |
Education
Trash Haulers and Pols Care About Only One Kind of Greennew

The trash hauler in Broward County gets richer by not recycling recyclable materials, and if you believe the environmentalists, the campaign coffers of elected officials get richer by not demanding that the hauler recycle.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Thomas Francis |
09-30-2008 |
Environment
Violent South American Thieves are Stealing Millions in Precious Gemsnew

For years, South Florida has been one of the worst areas in the nation for jewelry theft. Now the South American Theft Group Intelligence Network wants to join law enforcement agencies in taking on gangs of illegal Colombian immigrants terrorizing jewelers across the US with near-impunity.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Brantley Hargrove |
09-03-2008 |
Economy
The Photoshop™ Copnew
Ken Kokotek mocked his superiors on the Internet. Now he's paying for it.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
08-27-2008 |
Policy Issues
Delma Mercado Steals from the Poor to Pay Her Mortgagenew
Like so many other Americans these days, Delma Mercado let her mortgage get the best of her. Unlike most other estados-unidenses, she dreamed up a seemingly rock-solid solution to her financial woes. One problem: It involved stealing rent from the poorest tenants in Hialeah, Fla.
Miami New Times |
Tim Elfrink |
08-25-2008 |
Economy
DNA Has All but Cleared Bill Dillon of a 27-Year-Old Murder; The State Doesn't Seem to Carenew
Add the recent DNA exoneration to all the problems associated with his farce of a trial nearly three decades ago, and one has to wonder why Bill Dillon still sits in state prison.
Orlando Weekly |
Deanna Morey |
07-31-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tourists Can't Wait to Get Next to Sharks, Even if They Are Eating Machinesnew

The world's love-hate relationship with sharkdom has created a sprawling, often bizarre industry of shark adventures, from vicious killing expeditions to face-to-face encounters designed to debunk the animal's scary image. Even legitimate scientists are getting in on the act by turning their facilities into entertainment venues for wide-eyed diving tourists hungry to rendezvous with the creatures.
Miami New Times |
Amy Guthrie |
06-17-2008 |
Animal Issues