More 12 year olds have used potentially lethal inhalants than have used marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined, according to data released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in conjunction with the 18th annual National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week.
The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) and SAMHSA kicked off National Inhalants [...]

The City of Fort Lauderdale reminds visitors and residents that the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival will be held on Saturday, March 13. The Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. and travel west along Las Olas Boulevard from S.E. 8th Avenue to Huizenga Plaza. Residents and visitors [...]

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board recently voted 8-0, with one abstention, to extend the Certificates of Participation validation deadline contained in the purchase and sale agreement with the U.S. Sugar Corporation to acquire 73,000 acres of land for Everglades restoration. The Governing Board extended in Paragraph 4 the contract deadline for [...]

WHO: TOWER FORUM
WHAT: “The Great Recession: Why This Recovery is Different”
The economic recession that took hold of the United States in the fall of 2008 might be slowly starting to loosen its grip, but don’t tell
Tom Cunningham
that to people on Main Street who are struggling to run small businesses, make mortgage payments and put [...]

Governor Charlie Crist recently highlighted programs available to veterans and their families. During a visit to the Florida Veterans Resource Showcase, Governor Crist promoted military-friendly businesses and programs such as the Lifeline and Link-up Assistance Program and a subsidized interest rate program offered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
“Our nation’s military families have made personal [...]

Continuing the message of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory warning Floridians about scams related to credit and debt issues.

Companies offering credit repair solutions or debt settlement were among  the top concerns reported to the Attorney General’s Office last year. The  Attorney General noted that, given the current [...]

Here’s the press release:
Tallahassee, FL – Legislation passed testerday that will improve safety of motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists; prevent crashes; reduce the financial impact of injuries, death, and property damage caused by texting while driving; and authorize law enforcement to issue to issue citations as a secondary offense.

“I am thrilled that this issue is finally getting [...]

Governor Charlie Crist, as part of his continued focus on strengthening Florida’s economy, is hosting bill signing ceremonies in Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers and Miami to promote legislation that provides tax relief to nearly 474,000 Florida businesses.
Passed unanimously by the Florida Legislature on the first day of the 2010 Legislative Session and formally signed [...]

The Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship will induct three local business leaders – Mitchell Berger, Mike Jackson and Don Taft – into its Entrepreneur Hall of Fame on April 14. The induction ceremony will be held at the Signature Grand in Davie beginning at 6 p.m. Attendance is by [...]

For the past 26 years, the Dr. Nan S. Hutchison Senior Hall of Fame has recognized Broward senior residents, age 60 and older, for their volunteer excellence, for five or more years, in the county. Since 1978, 324 elders have received the honor.
On Wednesday, March 10, the 2010 Hall of Fame Election Committee gathered, at [...]

TALLAHASSEE, FL. – Legislators from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties came together yesterday to form the Florida Legislative Haiti Relief Task Force. The group,
appointed by the respective county Delegation Chairs, will provide guidance and oversight to the State of Florida’s jurisdictional response to the earthquake which devastated
the neighboring island nation in January.The appointed members [...]

From the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation:
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 11.9 percent in January 2010, up 0.2 percentage point from the December revised rate of 11.7 percent, and up from 8.7 percent a year ago.  January’s rate equals the May 1975 rate, the highest in the recorded series.  Florida’s unemployment rate remained higher [...]

Wilton Manors Police Department received a report of a stolen video machine from Mickey’s 19th Hole Bar & Grill at 2735 N Dixie Hwy creating loss in the amount of approximately $3,500.  Suspect posed himself as a video repairman, showed a fake work order and removed the machine from the premises.  The suspect, Mark Block, [...]

The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office hosts a series of community outreach events each month throughout Broward County. Deputy Appraisers will be available to assist with Homestead, Senior and other property tax exemption applications, as well as answer questions on property taxes. We are also accepting applications for Portability. The outreach program is designed to [...]

Stay up to date on Broward stimulus spending at: http://broward.org/Recovery/Pages/RecoveryActAccomplishments.aspx
Percentage of local stimulus funding received.
On February 16, 2010, President Barack Obama marked the first Anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act is a combination of tax relief, financial assistance and infrastructure projects designed to cushion the impact of the economic downturn and [...]

From the Broward Teacher’s Union:
While School Board members meet today, Tuesday, Mar. 9, 2010, in a workshop at the K.C. Wright Building in Fort Lauderdale to discuss possible employee layoffs, district officials will head to New York City later this week on the taxpayers’ dime to recruit new teachers.
Broward Teacher’s Union President Pat Santeramo said [...]

Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, as part of his role overseeing the Governor’s Office of Drug Control, held a press conference last week with bill sponsors Senator Mike Fasano and Representative Marcelo Llorente and Director Bruce Grant of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control to express his support of their proposed legislation that will help to [...]

[ April 24, 2010; ] The City of Coconut Creek is pleased to announce that 700 trees will be distributed to city residents at the 10th Annual Free Tree Giveaway, which will take place on Saturday, April 24th, 20010, from 8:00AM until noon at City Hall.

Trees that are to be given away include: Red Maple, Pond Cypress, White Geiger, Blolly [...]

Nova High School will formally become Broward County Public Schools 14th high school to offer the driver’s education program to students with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, March 15 at 9 a.m.  Nova High is located at 3600 College Avenue, Davie.
Prior to the 1998 school year, the Broward County Public Schools driver’s education program [...]

Good evening, Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Lt. Governor, Madam Chief Justice and members of the Court, members of the Cabinet, members of the Legislature, honored guests and my fellow Floridians. Good evening to you all.
I would like to take a moment and acknowledge the woman I fell in love with while serving as your Governor, [...]

The first two months of Broward County’s 365 Food Drive were quite a success.
Joe Williams, Mike Nagel and Larry Scott of the Broward County Facilities Maintenance Division collect food for distribution.
Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl has announced that residents and County employees donated 2,392 pounds of food and toiletries. The donations benefit the Million Meals Committee, [...]

Does your child know the rules of the road?  Round’em up, grab their bikes and helmets and join the City of Hollywood Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, the Hollywood Police Department, the Washington Park Homeowner’s Association and the non-profit Community Enhancement Collaboration (CEC) for a bicycle rodeo.
This free, fun-filled bike safety clinic will [...]

Governor Charlie Crist announced this week that Florida has been named a finalist in phase 1 of the $4.35-billion federal Race to the Top education reform competition. Florida was one of only 16 finalists chosen from a pool of 41 applicants to proceed to the next stage of the competition. Race to the Top winners [...]

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit stopped and inspected 42 vehicles Tuesday morning during a Commercial Contractor Operation in Cooper City.
Investigators from the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Broward County’s Contractor Compliance Unit, BSO’s Aggravated Felonies Unit and Gun Squad assisted the Economic Crimes Unit.
They checked drivers for valid driver [...]

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek will again sponsor the Gold Coast Derby Grrls (GCDG) in a professional roller derby bout at 8 p.m.,
Gold Coast Derby Girls
Sat., March 13. Gate opens at 7 p.m. The Blitzburgh Bombers will travel from Pittsburgh for the competition on a special flat, oval track located on the northwest side of the [...]