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HBCU FOOTBALL PREVIEWS Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and Edward Waters Tigers B1
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AUGUST 24 - AUGUST 30, 2012
VOLUME 20 NO. 34
WHERE WILL ISAAC GO? Twenty years after Hurricane Andrew wrecked South Florida, a new hurricane may threaten the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Keep up with Isaac’s progress at www. flcourier.com. COMPILED FROM WIRE AND STAFF REPORTS
Tropical Storm Isaac emerged in the Atlantic on Tuesday afternoon, and it’s one Florida needs to keep an eye on. By Saturday, the system is projected to aim into the Caribbean, strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane and threaten Hispanio-
la and Cuba. From there, it is expected to turn north, possibly toward the Gulf of Mexico, Florida or the Bahamas. If it were to approach Florida, much of the state could start feeling its fringes as early as Sunday. As of the Florida Courier’s press time Wednesday night, a strong CARL SEIBERT/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL (KRT) area of high pressure was guid- Hurricane Andrew destroyed pleasure boats docked at Dinner Key Marina in Miami-Dade County See ISAAC, Page A2
in August 1992.
THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY / CAMPAIGN 2012
So, who pays the dinner bill?
POOL PHOTO/PETE MAROVICH/BLOOMBERG VIA ABACA PRESS/MCT
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama had dinner with three winners of the “Dinner with Barack and Michelle” fundraising contest in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Michelle Obama campaigned in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday.
SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3
Governor responds to complaints about FCAT
State, activists fight over details FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA NATION | A6
Blacks on team trying to unseat Obama FINEST | B5
Meet Davon
ALSO INSIDE
Early voting dates uncertain
Chavis Carter’s death ruled suicide
The battle over the state’s controversial elections law reignited Monday –four days after a threejudge federal panel rejected a move to reduce the number of days of early voting in five counties. Two state lawmakers joined a group of elected officials and
civic leaders who unsuccessfully sought a meeting with Gov. Rick Scott to get him to roll back the blocked provision in the other 62 counties. Meanwhile, the elections supervisor of one of the five counties where the measure was barred by the federal court said state officials pushed local governments to try again to get a similar change approved.
roe – have to get any changes in voting procedures approved by the U.S. Department of Justice or a three-judge panel. The other 62 counties don’t face the same “preclearance” hurdle, though they still have to comply with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act meant to secure everyone’s right to cast ballots.
proved a measure in 2011 that would reduce the number of early voting days from 12 to eight while allowing – but not requiring – supervisors to make up for the difference by extending the voting hours on those days. At the center of the battle is the intersection of that law with Statewide impact? Florida’s obligations under the Critics of the early-voting federal Voting Rights Act. Be- change say the federal court rulcause of a history of racial and ing proves the law should be void language discrimination, the across the state. “It’s slightly axiReduced by politicians five counties – Collier, Hardee, See VOTING, Page A2 The Florida Legislature ap- Hendry, Hillsborough and Mon-
COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: GEORGE CURRY: ROMNEY’S BUDGET CUTS DEEPER THAN RYAN’S | A5