FLORIDA SUNDAY EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Time again to check out what the newspapers across the Sunshine State are telling us what should or should not be done on a variety of subjects of local, state, and national interest.

The Orlando Sentinel this morning lauds Governor Bush's effort to work with federal lawmakers toward a deal which would give state officials control over offshore oil and gas drilling decisions off the Florida coast. But it notes that a bill Jeb has been negotiating on with Congressman Richard Pombo (R - CA) is too vague and open to interpretation.

The St. Petersburg Times also slams Pombo's bill, which could pop up again as an amendment to the budget bill in an effort to make it difficult for Florida's two senators, who oppose any new drilling, to fillibuster. It notes that while the compromise being sought by the governor is not necessairly a flip-flop, as some are calling it, it is a sellout.

Across Tampa Bay, the Tampa Tribune opines positively about new Devil Rays managing general partner Stuart Steinberg, a welcome breath of fresh air after the tenure of Vince Naimoli.

The possibility of another pandemic of flu like the one which killed millions in 1918 is on the minds of the editorial writers at the Sarasota Herald Tribune, which says that Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt's warning that "the world is woefully unprepared" should serve as a warning to the president and congressional leaders.

The only opinion today in the Daytona Beach News-Journal is a reminder that municipal elections are scheduled for Tuesday in several towns in Volusia and Flager counties. While it's too late to register to vote this time, it's not too late to do so in the November 8 general election.

Up in Jacksonville, the Florida Times-Union offers praise for The Community Foundation, which funds a variety of grants and has committed to a ten year inititaive on public education intended to narrow the achievement gap among students in Duval County.

Speaking of celebrating achievements, this morning's editorial in the Tallahassee Democrat reminds us that it takes quality to build excellence. As proof, it glows over Florida State University's ability to lure the Applied Superconductivity Center from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in what is considered a major educational and economic coup. FSU says the deal could bring as many as 30 researchers to Tallahassee, along with approximately two million dollars in research grants and another $2.5 million in precision laboratory equipment.

This morning's Palm Beach Post is concerned that while nursing home owners file reports to verify it is prepared to insure the care of it's residents in case of an event such as a hurricane, the state does not verify the information provided is accurate...and there is no way the state can sanction owners who refuse to evacuate patients. It calls on the Legislature to give the Agency for Health Care Administration authority to force compliance and to punish owners who fail to meet it's responsibilities to patients.

Out of sight, out of mind. That's the idea in Gainesville and other cities seeking to "zone out" sex offenders from much of the city. And while the Gainesville Sun notes it is tempting to endorse such a plan as being considered by the city commission there, it would only provide a false sense of security, not to mention that the courts could eventually toss out such ordinances as a violation of a person's Eighth Amendment rights.

The Miami Herald is concerned with Nicaragua's fragile democracy, calls on nations throughout the region to support President Enrique Bolanos and his anti-corruption campaign, and is supportative of U.S. policy toward that end.

Just up I-95, the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes that some are wanting Florida to commit public money to stem cell research. The editorial says that the state Constitution is not the appropriate place to decide issues such as this, and calls on the Legislature to seriously consider a grant programme which is not limited or exclusionary in order to keep the state competitive and innovative in the health sciences research field.

The Pensacola News Journal calls on Escambia County School Board member Dr. Charles Glover, Sr. to resign or move into the district he represents. Glover, a retired pastor who was appointed by Jeb! after Ronnie Clark moved to Winter Haven to pastor a church there, rents property in the district but does not actually meet the residential requirment of living there.

Apparantly Palm Bay has been looking carefully at Lake Wales, which a couple of years ago formed it's own municipal charter school system, and wants to do the same. Florida Today calls on officials in Palm Bay and the Brevard County School District to work closely to insure that the needs of students are taken care of.

The Naples Daily News was experiencing technical problems on it's Web site this morning, so it referred readers to it's sister paper's site The Bonita News. The editorial there salutes retired Collier County teacher Leila Canant on a wonderful life as she celebrates her 100th birthday...which included 77 years of service and education.

And returning home, the Lakeland Ledger editorial board issues it's occasional list of Gigs and Garlands to a variety of individuals and groups.

One bit of advice to the editorial page folks: If it's not your editorial, but one written through a syndicate or other newspaper, please note it.