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TAMPA BAY TIMESSenate chairman say bill to open campuses to gun toting students is deadThe Senate chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Thursday that the controversial bill, sb 68, to allow guns on college campuses will not get a hearing, even though it is moving swiftly through the Florida House."I don't think this is a Second Amendment issue,'' said Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, whose committee hear all the gun bills. "I think what we're talking about here is campus ... Read more

MIAMI HERALDDiaz de la Portilla declares campus-carry bill dead for the sessionThe Senate chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Thursday that the controversial bill, sb 68, to allow guns on college campuses will not get a hearing, even though it is moving swiftly through the Florida House."I don't think this is a Second Amendment issue,'' said Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, whose committee hear all the gun bills. "I think what we're talking about here is campus safety a... Read more

FLORIDA POLITICS BLOGCHRIS SMITH TO APPEAR WITH DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ TO ADDRESS STATE GUN MEASURESU.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will speak to reporters and the public about a pair of controversial gun bills circulating in the Legislature at her old state Capitol stamping grounds Thursday.Broward Sen. Chris Smith will join the Democratic National Committee chairwoman in Tallahassee to oppose legislative proposals to allow Floridians to openly carry firearms and to strike the state prohib... Read more

CBS MIAMIFPL Highlights New “Smarter” Grid Tech To Energy OfficialsBy Lauren PastranaFORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) — The smart grid is getting smarter.From remote control robots to high-flying drones, Florida Power and Light is using new unmanned technology to locate potential power glitches, before they actually become full-blown problems.“I’ll tell you, it is making a big difference for customers, not just during storms, but day in and day out,” said Eric Silagy, the President and CEO of the util... Read more

POSTWho are the Muslim Americans attending tonight’s State of the Union address?By Elise ViebeckDemocratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Keith Ellison are urging colleagues to invite Muslim Americans as guests to Tuesday night’s State of the Union address. So far, more than a dozen lawmakers — mostly Democrats — have heeded their call.It’s not uncommon for lawmakers to choose State of the Union guests that make a political statement. Several Democrats are planning to bring guests who have b... Read more

NBC NEWSMuslim-American NYPD Officer to Attend State of the Union as Guestby CHRIS FUCHSA Muslim-American New York Police Department (NYPD) lieutenant will join Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) as her guest at President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address on Tuesday, the congresswoman announced Monday.News of Lt. Adeel Rana's invitation comes amid heightened anti-Muslim sentiment, following terrorist attacks both in the U.S. and abroad, and less than a week after the city announced it would ... Read more

CBS MIAMI (WFOR)Congresswoman Calls Out Task Force Over Mammo Recommendations(CBSMiami) – A congresswoman from South Florida has an issue with the latest recommendation for the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force on when women should begin mammogram screenings to detect breast cancer.On Monday, the task force recommended mammograms every other year for women ages 50 to 74. The group said women in their 40s should make individual decisions with their doctors. The task force’s recommendation com... Read more

POOL AND SPA NEWSGovernment Awards VGBA GrantsU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission hands out $780,000 for safer pools.By Nate TraylorThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has awarded five governments more than $780,000 to enforce swimming pool safety.It’s the first time the agency has distributed funds to help municipalities enforce the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Act. VGBA, the first federal pool and spa safety law, was passed in 2007.Local governments will use the money to ensure... Read more

THE HILLMuslim group's officials invited to State of the UnionBy Harper NeidigTwo officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations will be attending the State of the Union address Tuesday as guests of Democratic lawmakers.Reps. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.) and Alcee Hastings (Fla.) will both be hosting representatives from CAIR chapters in their respective states, the group announced Monday.Lofgren will be bringing Sameena Usman, a government relations coordinator in the San Francisco office, wh... Read more

MCCLATCHY BUREAUDemocrats plan show of support for Muslims at Obama's addressBy William DouglasWASHINGTON Nearly 20 congressional Democrats have invited Muslim guests to President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address Tuesday, to counter what they say is negative rhetoric on Capitol Hill and speeches on the presidential campaign trail.Amid calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. and to restrict the flow of Syrian refugees, Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schult... Read more