Metro I-4 News

Sentinel Opinion: 

• Orange is way too timid in dealing with campaign contributions - Campaign-finance reform continues to be a festering sore in the effort to strengthen Orange County government’s ethics code.

Tribune Opinions: 

• More Must Be Done To Prevent Teen Deaths Behind The Wheel - Requiring teens to take full-fledged driver’s education programs could save lives.
• Without Confession, A Tough Case To Win - When a suspect asks for a lawyer, detectives should stop asking questions.
• Put The Brakes On Motorcycle Wheelies - Motorcyclists should save their stunts for the racetrack and stunt shows. Florida roadways belong to those with the good sense to keep their wheels on the ground.

Sentinel News:

• School-schedule changes spur questions from parents, students — we have answers - Now, administrators have to figure out how to provide more after-school care for middle-school students, how to ensure sports programs don’t fall apart and how to reassure anxious parents.  
• Brevard County a popular target for firebugs - Arsonists like to pick on Brevard County more than almost any area of Florida.

Ledger News:

• Donor to Honor $12 Mil. Pledge - Clear Springs developer Sanford Phelps is standing by his $12 million contribution to Polk Community College for a satellite campus in Bartow, even though the state Legislature decided not to provide matching funds for the project.
• Local Fire Crew Deployed to East Coast - A Lakeland Fire Department crew was dispatched Wednesday to help battle one of several fires raging on the state’s East Coast. The four-member engine crew, who had been on alert for 24 hours, met with other fire crews from other counties Wednesday afternoon.
• Polk Democratic Delegates in Limbo - Four Polk County delegates to the Democratic Presidential Convention still don’t know whether they will be seated and their votes counted in selecting their party’s nominee.

Tribune News: 

• State Funding Of Railroad Work Spurs Investigation - A state representative has called for an investigation into how railroad executives influenced state plans to give their companies millions for track improvements.
• Rays To Reveal Financing Plan For Stadium - Eight months after announcing plans to build a $450 million downtown waterfront stadium, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to reveal details today on how they intend to pay for the project.
• Syesha Exits ‘American Idol,’ Clears Way For The Davids - Sarasota’s Syesha Mercado was voted off “American Idol” Wednesday night, paving the way for the expected showdown between David Archuleta and David Cook.