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PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID DAYTONA BEACH, FL PERMIT #189
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Understanding the ‘fiscal cliff’ B1 www.flcourier.com
NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 6, 2012
VOLUME 20 NO. 48
STATE GOP TARGETS BLACK VOTERS COMPILED BY THE FLORIDA COURIER STAFF
Gov. Rick Scott
Former Gov. Charlie Crist
A Nov. 25 article in the Palm Beach Post written by reporters Dara Kam and John Lantigua confirmed what civil rights and voting rights organizations, state Democrats, and many Black voters always believed – that the state Republican Party’s ‘voter fraud’ prevention binge after their 2010 legislative takeover was all about defeating Barack Obama in Florida in 2012 and delivering the state’s 29 electoral votes to Obama’s Republican opponent.
Jim Greer
Another ‘threatening’ Black teen is dead
Charlie Crist and former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer ‘drop dime’ in a Palm Beach Post article alleging voter suppression. Is anyone surprised? How it happened In April 2011, a broad, 157-page, 4,392-line elections bill that Republicans said would shield Florida’s voting process from fraud passed the Florida House on a party-line vote.
The measure limited when voters can change their addresses at the polls; placed new regulations on third-party voter registration groups like the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and local churches; and cut the number of early voting days from
14 to eight, including one day of Sunday early voting rather than two. It easily passed the state Senate and was signed by incoming Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Republicans completely controlled Florida lawmaking with a supermajority of votes in the state House and Senate as a consequence of the 2010 election in which Democrats took “a shellacking,” in President Obama’s words.
Lawsuits, accusations According to the Palm See TARGET, Page A2
CHRISTMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE 2012
‘Joy to all’ from the White House
Shooting reminiscent of Trayvon Martin’s death COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS
A Titusville Beach-area man was arrested Tuesday after shooting an unarmed Black teenager dead in a Jacksonville-area gas station in a dispute over loud music. According to police reports, Michael Dunn, 45, and his girlfriend were in Jacksonville last Jordan week for the wedding Russell Davis of Dunn’s son. On Nov. 23, the couple stopped at a convenience store where Jordan Russell Davis, 17, and several other teenagers were sitting in a sport utility vehicle in the parking lot.
Michael Dunn
Pulled a gun
Dunn pulled up next to them and asked them to turn down their music. Jordan
OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT
First Lady Michelle Obama attended the preview of the White House Christmas decorations on Wednesday with military families in attendance. Decorations included 54 live Christmas trees with ornaments crafted by children from U.S. military bases around the world, and a 300-pound gingerbread house.
See TEEN, Page A2
Appeals court sides with teen in abortion case BY JIM SAUNDERS THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
In a case that offers a glimpse of the complexity of Florida’s parental-notification of abortion law, a divided appeals court this week overruled a Polk County (Lakeland-area) judge and said a 17-year-old girl could receive an abortion without her mother being told. A panel of the Second District Court of Appeal ruled 2-1 that the teen, identified only as Jane Doe, should receive what is known as a “waiver” of the parental notification requirement. The ruling Monday reversed a decision by Circuit Judge Harvey Kornstein, who found, at least in part, that the teen was not mature enough to receive a waiver and make the decision on her own. ALGERINA PERNA/BALTIMORE SUN/MCT
Made her choice Appeals court Judge Stevan Northcutt,
This maternal/fetal machine monitors a pregnant who was joined in the majority by Judge woman as well as her unborn child. Douglas Wallace, wrote that the teen
ALSO INSIDE
believed her mother would banish her from the family’s home if the planned abortion was revealed. Also, Northcutt wrote that the teen recognized that giving birth would substantially interfere with her plans to go to college and ultimately have a career. “Doe’s concerns were not the insubstantial worries of a frivolous schoolgirl,’’ wrote Northcutt in a concurring opinion. “They related directly to her ability to carry out her important existing responsibilities and to accomplish specific educational and professional objectives that would determine the quality of the rest of her life.” But dissenting Judge Anthony Black wrote that the circuit judge observed the teen and described her as “cavalier” and found that she did not fully appreciate the magnitude of the abortion decision. Also, Black raised questions about the girl’s maturity because she became pregnant after drinking alcohol.
SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3
Urban League, Everest University partner to help school dropouts State sees increase in Cubans arriving illegally NATION | A6
Texas leads pack of states pushing for secession
See CASE, Page A2
COMMENTARY: Lucius Gantt: General Petraeus is ‘Pimp of the Year’ | A4 COMMENTARY: JAMES HARPER: COVERING AIDS CONFERENCE INSIGHTFUL, REWARDING | A5
FINEST | B5
Meet Christophor