Metro I-4 News

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“Hillsborough residents with homes built before June 18, 1980, can get reduced flood insurance rates if they hurry.” — FEMA Updates Flood Maps

“Teachers in Central Florida public schools are headed back to the classroom this year without a pay raise.” — Teachers ‘not going to get a penny’ in raises

“Gov. Charlie Crist told state agency heads Thursday that he wants construction projects sped up so more money can be pumped into the sluggish state economy.” — ‘Accelerate Florida’ With Construction, Crist Says

Bonus:

Now the true costs start… “The construction of two new roads that could help relieve traffic problems that the planned CSX rail freight terminal will make worse should be top priorities for seeking state road funds, the Polk Transportation Planning Organization agreed Thursday.” — CSX Project Pushes 2 Roads Higher on Construction Request

“On Aug. 29, Garcia and thousands of other Spanish-speaking Hispanics in Central Florida will read El Nuevo Dia for the last time.” — Spanish daily El Nuevo Dia Orlando about to fold

One of the sillier editorials you’ll read. Don’t miss the reader comments. “District 19 deserves better than Mr. Siplin. But a weak opponent compels us to endorse Gary Siplin in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary.” — A weak primary opponent compels us to endorse the senator

Note: MI4’s Don’t Miss column will be missing in action this weekend. See you Monday.

(Note: Yesterday’s Don’t Miss column was missing. We apologize for the mix up.)

“If you get blood at Lakeland Regional Medical Center after 7 a.m. Monday, it won’t be coming from BloodNet USA. LRMC’s blood and blood products, like platelets or plasma, will come instead from Florida Blood Services, which officially starts providing LRMC’s blood supplies that day. The two signed a contract three months ago and have spent the time since then finalizing arrangements.” — LRMC Taps Into New Supply of Blood

“Publix Super Markets has long stressed its customer service and cleanliness, but with rising food and gas costs it’s now courting a lower-priced image. The Lakeland-based grocery chain has started a program of deep discounts on certain staple items, starting with milk and soon expanding to other products, company spokeswoman Shannon Patten said.” — Publix Grocery Bill May Be Less

“Orlando officials say they have little choice but to raise property taxes because city government is run as efficiently as possible. But records show that the Orlando Police Department — with a $111 million budget that amounts to nearly a third of the city’s general spending — has seen its overtime pay nearly triple in the past four years as the city deals with a wave of violent crime.” — Overtime could tax Orlando Police budget to tune of $4 million

Bonus:

“With John McCain likely only days from announcing his running mate, the chances of his choosing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist took three hits this week: a poll, a controversy over campaign contributions and an important newspaper non-endorsement. Recent speculation about Crist has put him in the lower tier of potential running mates and focused more on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.” — Governor May Have Faded As VP Choice

You’re doing your part by washing and recycling all those glass bottles. What part is the county doing? Not all glass makes the cut in Orlando-area recycling I wonder how well it works in the rest of the region?

Lakeland commissioners take a different tack in the long battle with CSX and FDOT: Lakeland to Hire Lawyer To Argue Train Issues

USF has a program for 1st generation college students: Program A Bridge To College Success

Trib editorial writers take on the gambling crisis: Gambling Governor Loses His Deal In High-Stakes Game Over Casinos

Bonus articles for today:

Freelance workers get together in Orlando’s coworking spot aiming to open in September

It seems that county mayor isn’t popular with everyone: Hillsborough County Mayor Ballot Initiative Challenged

If you read the regional news sites this morning you’ll learn that Governor Crist has asked his girlfriend to be his wife. That’s sweet. Good for them. I’ll be the first to wish them all the best.

If Crist doesn’t get the nod from John McCain to be his Vice President…I predict they will decide not to marry, but will “remain friends.”

The Florida Supreme Court gave Crist an engagement present: Florida’s high court busts Crist’s deal with Seminole casinos or Court Tosses Crist’s Deal On Casinos. That crazy court and their wacky gag gifts.

The Orlando Sentinel Optimism Award goes to the Sentinel itself today for a short throwaway statement in its editorial on the city’s bus system: We think: Lynx bus system needs to find more efficiencies to thrive

“Commuter rail? That will help. But it’s not pulling into the area until 2011, and once it arrives it will complement Lynx, not prove a substitute for it.”

Now, that’s an editorial board that sticks to its guns. No matter how bad they misfire.

State will pay Warren Buffet $224M to assure help in hurricane season and Hurricane Bet May Cost State may not agree on the cost, but both articles partially blame Crist lowering premiums to homeowners. Isn’t it odd that every time we exempt a group for taxes and fees, the money seems to come from someone else?

Speaking of hurricane damage: Free Inspections Coming To An End

The Sentinel staff would like to remind you Don’t get burned dealing with fireworks

Florida Falls Behind In Tech Race With Short-Sighted Investment comes from the same newspaper that seemed against the idea of USF Polytechnic. Remember Tribune, to have a well trained populace, you have to set up schools to train them.

This affects you even when you live near the couple ignoring every water restriction. Group helps Central Florida communities get wise to wildfire protection

I refuse to make the obvious joke for this article: Feeling oil’s trickle-down effect

Wait just a minute. Weren’t we just begging for new teachers? Job market fails new teachers

The latest employee accessory: Scooter-riders can make an arresting arrival

What if the legislature simply stop funding Florida Department of Transportation or set salaries at 1920 levels? Crist’s Veto Of Turnpike Bill Will Raise Costs Of Food, Gas

Companies who make lemonade out of lemons are featured in Bad times are good for some businesses
Crist vetoes linking tolls to inflation was as much about political infighting as the economy. Speaking of politics, could that be the reason Crist Reverses Course, Backs Drilling Off Fla. (Crist Says Offshore Drilling A Possibility is the Tribune’s [...]

photo credit: bondidwhatFor those who survived April 15th, here’s what the newspapers in our region find newsworthy.
Everyone is still talking about the Mulberry 8. 911 tape released in video beating of Polk County cheerleader (Sentinel); Beating Victim: ‘I Just Got Jumped’ (Ledger)
Someone woke up the sleeping giant as the Lakeland Ledger published a report [...]