BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: SUNDAY FLORIDA EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Sunday was soooooooo absorbed with watching and waiting to see what Hurricane Dennis would do, that I completely forgot putting together the Sunday Florida Editorial Roundup. Now that Dennis is a memory (at least for those of us who it did'nt affect a great deal), let's look back a bit...

The Daytona Beach News Journal looks at the terrorist attacks in London this past week, and warns that a rush to revenge only fuels the fire of those committing such acts.

The Lakeland Ledger offers another edition of it's occasional "Gigs and Garlands" editorials, where they offer comments on a variety of local and state issues.

At the Orlando Sentinel, the Sunday editorial page looks at selecting a new United States Supreme Court justice, reminding us that members of the high court should be selected on their qualifications, not their politics.

The Tampa Tribune slams Hillsborough County Commissioner (and self-appointed Minister of Morals) Ronda Storms for comments she made during Ron Reagan's MSNBC show.

In Jacksonville, the Florida Times-Union comments in favour of the Pentagon's plan to move it's P-3 Orion planes and 1,900 personnel from a base in Maine to the Jacksonville Naval Air Station.

The Miami Herald looks at what it will take for healthy growth for South Florida, opining that wise planning and disciplined development will be required.

Just up the road in Fort Lauderdale, the South Florida Sun Sentinel calls on Floridians to support a U.S. Senate bill which would create special health courts to hear medical malpractice cases, saying such courts could do much to solve the current malpractice crisis.

Wednesday's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery is noted in Florida Today's editorial, noting that the mission must be flawless for NASA to regain the trust of Americans.

The Gainesville Sun offers the hope that new U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins will grow into the job, especially since he had only been to the country once before...and that was only to Niagara Falls. I can only agree, and hope that he doesn't embarrass us in the process.

An enviromental concern is the subject of the editorial in the Sarasota Herald Tribune. It reminds us that planning and cooperation are vital to protect the Florida scrub-jay, which presents big challenges and often stands in the way of development.

At the Ocala Star Banner, it's editorial raises the hope that recent conflicts between Munroe Regional Medical Centre and it's foundation board are enroute to resolution.

The Palm Beach Post editorial looks at the question of allowing gay couples to marry, and the fact that several nations will begin allowing such legal unions this month.

The Pensacola News Journal, in advance of Hurricane Dennis' arrival, reminds it's readers that after the storm, they will not be alone. Indeed! Among the assistance being offered to Escambia County noted in today's Winter Haven News Chief by the Polk County Sheriff's Office are 18 to 20 deputies, a mobile command centre, a refrigerated box truck of food for the deputies, a trailer of mechanical supplies, and other supplies and vehicles to keep the unit self contained. The Polk County convoy will be in Escambia County at least a week, but possibly longer if needed.

And the Tallahassee Democrat looks at plans for Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to establish a trauma centre. It had one until closing it for financial reasons in 1989. It favours state and local taxpayer assistance to help in supporting such a centre.