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House tees up bill to stop “sanctuary” cities

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The House advanced a controversial proposal designed to stop Florida cities and counties from shielding undocumented immigrants from federal immigration laws. HB 675 by Rep. Larry Metz would create potential penalties and fines for local governments that don’t comply with detainers from the Immigration and Customs Service, or otherwise fail to act when they suspect illegal aliens are intentionally harbored in Florida. Metz said the bill means municipalities simply must follow federal law, though Democratic opponents peppered Metz with questions about the existence of…

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Group challenges inclusion of prisoners in voting districts

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A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday in a case that could affect whether prisoners are counted in drawing voting districts in Florida, an issue that affects voting power particularly in rural areas of the state. The American Civil Liberties Union and several Jefferson County residents charge the county used “prison-based gerrymandering” in drawing its five county commission and school board districts, each with about 2,950 residents. The county, with a non-prison population of 13,604 in the 2010 census, counted 1,157…

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Mitch Perry Report for 11.17.15 — No Syrian refugees, please

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The revelation that one of the men involved in the terrorist attacks in Paris entered Europe with a Syrian passport was enough evidence to convince 23 governors (all Republican, with the exception of New Hampshire’s Maggie Hassan, involved in a tight bid for re-election) yesterday to say that they don’t want the federal government to expatriate any Syrian refugees into their respective states. The Syrian war has gone on since 2011, and has been a tragedy from the start, with over…

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Bob Buckhorn still ‘looking at’ possible run for governor in 2018

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For several years now, it’s been a given that Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn was going to try to take his brand of leadership to a new level in 2018 and run for the Democratic nomination for governor. Facing just token opposition in his bid for re-election, Buckhorn won with nearly 96 percent of the vote in March, setting himself up perfectly for a presumptive run for higher office. But, as Jeb Bush said recently, stuff happens. It began in late April…

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Mitch Perry Report for 10.9.15 — 1st chapter in Tampa citizens review board saga ends

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The activists went home unhappy last night, but their goals were never the same as the majority on the Tampa City Council when it came to the creation of a citizens review board to review the Tampa Police Department. The Council voted 5-2 Thursday evening for a compromise proposal on who gets to select the members of the nine-member board and two alternates; Mayor Bob Buckhorn will get five choices, the Council four, and the mayor still gets to pick the two alternates that were…

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Possible movement in Tampa civilian review board saga?

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and City Council Chairman Frank Reddick had a sit-down meeting late Friday afternoon, and the result is that Buckhorn may – just may – allow the Council to add one more choice to the main nine-member police civilian review board. “Potentially that could be an option,” Buckhorn said after emerging from his office to address reporters. “I had floated out last week to give them a total of four, one additional appointee and one of the…

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Tampa activists call on City Council to stay strong in civilian review board fight

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

On Thursday, the Tampa City Council will hold a workshop to discuss the proposal floated by County Chairman Frank Reddick that would allow council to select the majority of members on the newly created police civilian review board. Specifically, Reddick’s plan gives the Council seven selections, one for each member. Mayor Bob Buckhorn could name the two remaining board members and the two alternates. That’s not what the mayor has announced. His plan calls for him to name nine of the 11 members…

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