Metro I-4 News

In an effort to make MI4 easier to read we’re making some layout and other changes. Give us a couple of days to work out the kinks.

May 25, 2008
Economy: No holiday for gas-price woes Memorial Day weekend (O);
Tough times: Middle class losing grip on American dream (O);
Recession-Proofing The Summer Vacation (L);
Revenue Boost Sponsored By (Your Name Here) (T);
What Makes Up The Price Of Gas? (T);
Seeds Planted By Bad Economy (T);
Opinion: Our position: Central Florida lawns will be OK with weekly watering [...]

Memorial Day Weekend: How to have a fun, safe Memorial Day weekend in Orlando (O)
Here’s What to Expect On Your Long Weekend (L)
Crime: Authorities Seeking Robber of 9 Banks (L)
Environment: Everglades Takes Stock After Fires (L)
Mosquito Plane Gets OK To Fly (T)
Government: State attorney blasts Orange leaders for failed campaign-finance reform (O)
Economy: Hope dims [...]

Economy: Dwindling funds put Orlando-area libraries in a bind (O);
Environment: City of Orlando limits use of reclaimed water to 2 days
Opinion: A lot is riding on outcome of CSX dispute (O); Our position: The Osceola senator’s attempt to kill commuter rail hurts her constituents (O);
Note: At 6:00 am, most of the local papers hadn’t [...]

Economy: Orlando-area hope little things will add up to fuel savings (O); Jobless Rate at 4.9%; County Down 3,800 Jobs From April 2007 (L)
The subprime mess: It’s all around you “Use the [Orlando Sentinel] database to see the numbers of subprime loans and defaults in a your area.”
Religion: ‘A Working Man’s Revival’ (L)
Environment: Florida Is [...]

Economy: 16 More Court Jobs Will Be Casualties Of Budget Shortfall (L);
Jobless Rate at 4.9%; County Down 3,800 Jobs From April 2007 (L);
Weak economy continues to affect Orlando-area unemployment rate (O);
Metro Orlando adds 6,200 jobs over past year (O);
Housing construction picks up (O)
Insurance: Can smaller insurers tackle big storms? Florida says yes (O)
Health: State warns [...]

Fire: Arson-started Florida wildfires fueled by growth (O)
Arsonist Sought in Fla. Wildfires (L)
Agency: Wildfire Conditions Worsen (L)
Commentary: Our position: Commuter rail’s benefits can extend far beyond Central Florida (O)
Transportation & Environment: Downtown Tampa Trolley Fares Cut In Half (T)
Georgia Still Not Serious About Water (T)
Economy: Polk Planners OK Change in Growth Plan (L)
Crist Picks 7 [...]

Economy: Summer looks bleak for job seekers in Central Florida (O); Postage stamp rate increase starts Monday (W); Farm Bill Has $2.5 Bil. Bonanza (L); Authors Finger Perpetrators In Debt Crisis (T); To Avoid Crisis, Control Little Things First (T); Government-Backed Housing Bailout Is Necessary (T); School Officials Must Face Harsh Reality Of Current Budget [...]

CSX Rail Project: Commuter-rail panel does double-take on Lakeland’s impact (O); CSX Confirms Plans to Build Winter Haven Facility (L)
Economy: State Attorney’s Office Lays Off 5 Employees (L); Biodiesel Plant In Low Gear (L)
Commentary: Lake County politicians waste either time or money
Other: 83 arrested in Florida sham-marriage probe (O); Cash-strapped Florida gives $9.1M to Orlando [...]

Editorial: Our position: Lawmakers blew their chance to make a difference in a tight budget year (O); Looks like all the legislative keister-kissing didn’t pay off on commuter rail (O); Hypocrisy In Tallahassee (L); Gasoline tax idea takes holiday from common sense (W)
Economy: Orlando area actually lost jobs in late ‘07, but housing might not [...]

May 4, 2008
State Budget: Health Care, Education Take Painful Hits in New Budget (L); An Emotional Legislative Session Winds Down (T); Voters To Have Final Say On Adding Penny To State Sales Tax (T)
CSX (Of course): Analysis: Why — and how — the ball on Central Florida’s commuter-rail project was dropped (O); USF Campus and [...]

State: Some got Florida concealed weapon permits training on toy guns (O); Our position: Elections officials need to get out in front of potential voting problems (O); Our position: State leaders aren’t doing enough on property-insurance reform (O); Legislators Meddle With University Research Fund (T)
Region: Commuter-rail bill’s next stop: Florida Senate (O); Crotty wants Orange [...]

It’s a slow Saturday in the local media…
Tallahassee Watch:
Ethics and space program issues as Dems try to unseat Feeney (O); Can you believe this is what’s going on in Tallahassee? (O); Einstein, Fla. Legislators, Seat Belts (L); House Toughens Up Evolution Challenge (L); Does Tallahassee Get It? (L); School Vouchers Added To Ballot (T); Plastic [...]

CSX: Senate Committee Advances Amended CSX Bill (T); Railroad Deal Rolls Closer to Approval (L); Vote May Not Stop Extra Freight Trains (L); Lakeland protesters want state to blow whistle on CSX deal (S); Orlando-area commuter-rail deal gets sidetracked (S)
Auto: Red Light Cameras Have Green Light (T); Judge tosses thousands of citations, fumes at toll [...]

Sunday April 20, 2008
Region: Has USF lost its “backup school” status? (Tribune) ; Orlando-area high-school students skip classes at alarming rates
State: A new FCAT without the hype? (Sentinel)
Commentary: County, Developers Shouldn’t Overlook Established Property Rights (Tribune) ; If legislators don’t act now, region’s springs could be ruined
Saturday, April 19, 2008It’s Saturday morning and these [...]