Metro I-4 News

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(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

Check out the headline and sub-head for this article. Growing Deltona bills $83M to owners then Growing Deltona may bill Owners $83 Million. Well, the truth is the city hasn’t finalized the vote.

Careful at the beach again this summer. Fish Kill Zone Widens; Algal Bloom Suspected

What have your neighbors done for you lately? For millionaire, $100k small price to pay for less-cluttered neighborhood

Bonus:

Economists have realized Florida is in a recession. “Analysts predict that the state will lose momentum through 2008, then bottom out late this year or in early 2009.” There’s not much else to the story here.

They’re coming to Central Florida. Next up, Lakeland: Gotcha! Orlando reveals 7 red-light-camera locations

These aren’t your grandfather’s summer rains: Microbursts: Small summer storms can hit hard

Guess what those summer storms bring? Not May flowers: Heavy Rains Lead to a Mosquito Baby Boom

heaven knows we shouldn’t help our city buses. The price of gas is so low: No penny gas tax to help Lynx, Orange leaders decide

It’s that time of year. Be careful! Thrill rides can be dangerous! stories. Thrills And Spills - Caution Key To Theme Park Safety

Bonus:

A pair of Tribune editorials: 401(k) Rule Finally Reveals Hidden Fees and Erase Political Favoritism From Legislative Redistricting

How the economy is affecting your neighbors:

Amid rising costs, sick employees may be left out in the cold

These homeless are not transients — they were your neighbors

Polk Offering Free Prescription-Discount Card

Drop taxes, get less services. That’s how it works.

‘Tax Swap’ Opponent Plans Tour Of Florida

Orange crush: Hold line on taxes, maintain services

TECO Seeks 22% Bump In Fuel Charges

Let’s Stop Kidding Ourselves: Fannie And Freddie Should Be Fully Public

Bonus:

Seminole to stop putting fluoride in water — My old neighbor would be thrilled to hear this. I think’s he in Arizona right now looking for the place they filmed the Apollo Moon landings.

Florida Fills Gator Farms By Culling Nests in Wild

Law Students Taking A Ride To Remember

We always welcome another show to look at gadgets: Florida builders open Orlando trade show to public - a first

Speaking of homes: Building in a Niche: Smaller Houses Sell

This may shock some but there is Proof there were tourists before there were theme parks

CSX looks to lobby and public relations to argue case: Kassab: Railroad carries new message, but how lean is lean, and how green is green? And is it worth the money taxpayers must invest in the billion-dollar a year company?

Bonus: Regulators Raid Wachovia’s Hub

Locking your car is always smart. You don’t want to make it easier for it to be stolen: Thieves still love Hondas best, but thefts are on the decline

You lower taxes you see headlines like this: Budget crisis slams Orlando

I thought the idea that pain was good went out the window years ago: No pain, no gain? Think again, when it comes to working out

Two mortgage crisis stories: ‘Work-Out, Not Kick-Out’ Approach Can Help Stop Foreclosures and Two Mortgage Giants Stay Afloat But Taxpayers Must Start Bailing

Editorial Bonus: We think: A program to link needy families with food stamps will ease economic pressures

The Don’t it Make My Red Eyes Blue Bonus: State May Be Getting A Touch Blue

Money:
Getting your loan from the guy in the street used to involve getting a broken finger if you missed a payment, but now Peer lending offers new path to cash

Financial-Services Industry: Mortgage-and-credit crisis results in thousands of job losses statewide

It would be a shock if they were: Utilities must be up front about the costs of nuclear power

This would be a bigger shock: We think: Nelson, Martinez should follow others in disclosing earmark requests

This however, wouldn’t shock me at all: Trouble Predicted in Counting Florida’s New Ballots - Again

Back to money: Companies Sue to Stop Cell Hackers

Bonus:

Swamped By Calls, DCF Wants Better Screening (Department of Children and Families)

Bush’s Costly Marriage Initiative Shouldn’t Live Happily Ever After (They are talking about George W., not Jeb)

A rare video story for MI4: CONSUMER ALERT: Beware of sneaky gas prices when paying with credit cards

The less fertilizerin the water the better: More Orlando area citrus growers make the switch to organic

If they catch the guy, the driver should be prosecuted as well: Reward Offered in Drive-by Assault on Lakeland Cyclist, 78

Lakeland’s Population Hits 92,796 and View 2007 Population Estimates: Cities and Towns

More people and more people out of work: Region’s Metro Areas Rank High In U.S. Jobs-Lost Tally

Bonus: Hurricane news from that hurricane capital, Montreal: New spin on hurricanes

The best headlines tell the story well enough to lead you to want the details. Let’s see how well these work:

Homes:
Programs to prevent foreclosure don’t guarantee success
Regulators Expected To Tighten Mortgages

Homes can be rated for energy efficiency

Food:
That shrinking feeling: Instead of raising prices, manufacturers reduce package sizes
Tricks tame family’s wild food bill

Politics:

Orange unanimously OKs ethics, finance reforms
Public-Private Divide OK, that one gives you no clue the editorial is about the handing of e-mail under Florida’s Sunshine Laws. Public officials are using e-mail as a way to bypass the standards of the law. It is easier and cheaper to get e-mails than any form of public record. But too many departments use the public’s lack of knowledge of the software to hide e-mails and charge the public too much to get e-mail records.

Bonus:

How about some free bus tickets? Hey There, Want Some Free Gas?

Follow-up:
Deseret Ranch withdraws proposal for development near Orlando airport

In the “What Did You Think Would Happen if You Cut Taxes?” news of the day: Floridians feel squeeze of state’s $66 billion budget

Some are happy with the state’s proposed purchase of U.S. Sugar’s operation, and not just U.S. Sugar: Rethinking the grand plan for the Everglades

If they’re working, can you really call them panhandlers? City Considers Use Of Panhandlers

In college news: PCC Dealing With Budget Worries and the Tampa Tribune editorial board continues pushing their agenda against regional control of universities: Accreditation Trouble Reveals Flaws Of USF Regional System. No, Trib, the accreditation trouble reveals a simple flaw in a specific department at USF St. Petersburg. The Trib editor’s argument suffers from a simple logic flaw called Composition. You simply can not argue that because small parts of a whole have a certain feature that the whole has that feature.

Don’t read this story with the AC turned up high: With solar power, the electric bill is just $3 a month

Obviously things have changed since I went to school. Packing any learning would have been helpful then: Orange County schools will pack more learning into same amount of time

If you have an unpaid parking fine or toll ticket, you’ll want to read this story. If you wonder how the government spends your tax money, you’ll want to read this story. If you’re read this far, why not just read: City of Orlando, road agencies scramble to address backlog of unpaid toll and parking tickets

Today’s bonus coverage: Florida Among 6 States To Write Own School Formulas

Just take a gander at what your representatives accomplished with the Dozens of New Laws Take Effect Today

Do you really know what a mess the tax system is in? Take a peek at Housing slump doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll save money on property taxes and A Tax Break Till Cows Go Home

The state knows more people are having a hard time paying their rent. How do they help? Eviction Fees For Landlords Up Dramatically

Maybe they’re moving to hotels? Metro Orlando hotels see gains in May

A law that works: Surrendered Infant Law: 100 babies saved in 8 years

Do your best to not think Exxon Valdez as you read Clearing up Florida oil-rig rhetoric: What does drilling mean for you? OK, that was a cheap shot. Instead, try not to think Charlie Crist as Dan Quayle.

If people can’t afford to own their home then of course: Brokers, lenders like prospects for Orlando apartment market

(1) Cameras really aren’t smart. (2) People keep communities safe. Not technology. Yet, the Sentinel headline might lead you to think otherwise: ‘Smart’ cameras will help keep new Parramore community safe

Library’s big move kicks off at campus This might be a good idea for Lakeland USF Polytechnic. Lakeland doesn’t need a branch library in the 1-4/Polk Parkway area yet, but it will sooner than you think. Build a joint use building, with separate check out stations. Make it where you can close off the public area when they close earlier than the campus library. Just off the top of my head.

Tampa is looking into a different approach to growth: Tampa Contemplates Transit-Oriented Development Concept

Does the two-party stranglehold on power help or hurt local politics? This Tribune editorial has a problem with one aspect of it. Strip Write-In Candidates Of Power To Close Any One-Party Race

Rising fuel prices and declining tourism prove to be a problem for the Orlando airport: OIA flights clipped

The Tribune has a special report about one of the effects of the current economy: Staring Into The Face of Foreclosure

The Sentinel Editorial page Editor decides to retire, but there’s no mention if Sam Zell has anything to do with the decision: A great 35 years — and more to come

In an editorial that is certainly to generate a few reader arguments, the Tampa Tribune believes Big Investment In Rail Will Help State’s Economy Keep Rolling

Did the failure of the TV drama Cane lead US Sugar to make the decision to pull out of Florida? State to pay U.S. Sugar $1.7B for Everglades land

Voters are finding that simply deciding to cut property taxes made government less stable. Groups Line Up To Oppose ‘Tax Swap’ , Haven Residents Blast New User Fees and State Revenue Erodes Further As Sales Tax Brings In Less

Local colleges need to expand, but some are having an easier time than others: LRMC Board ‘Excited’ About New Campus and PCC Seeks Right Deal For Campus Property

Restaurants seem to be the canaries in the coal mine for the economy Donatos Pizzeria closes doors in Orlando, cuts about 140 jobs