AMBLER IN THE NEWS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Legislature got a breath of fresh air Wednesday. Eight high school students who decided there ought to be a law prohibiting smoking in vehicles carrying children - and then wrote a bill - donned their best suits and dresses, struggled to tame the butterflies in their bellies and presented their case to the Senate Transportation Committee.

This week, Florida's entertainment industry and the overall state economy, has a chance for a rebirth and climb back to its rightful place at the top. House Bill 697 (Entertainment Industry Economic Development) is going to the floor before the House in the next few days. If passed, the entire state of Florida stands to benefit.

This week, Florida's entertainment industry and the overall state economy, has a chance for a rebirth and climb back to its rightful place at the top. House Bill 697 (Entertainment Industry Economic Development) is going to the floor before the House in the next few days. If passed, the entire state of Florida stands to benefit.

Among those who refused, however, was Rep Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa. The state, he argued, could not back off a promise of retirement benefits made years ago when people such as police officers chose to join that profession expecting a certain level of benefits in retirement.

He noted members of his own extended family in other states saw similar cuts to their benefits, years after they retired. "A promise made is a promise given," he said.

TALLAHASSSEE — Democrats won a temporary battle, but ultimately were unable to prevent Republicans from voting today to cut a monthly subsidy for state retirees.

The cut, if included in the final budget when the House appropriations bill passed today is reconciled with one passed earlier this week by the Senate, would mean the loss of up to $150 a month that nearly 250,000 retired teachers, police and other government retirees get to help them pay for insurance. The cut would save the state $224 million.

Tallahassee - The Florida Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee has unanimously passed DJJ’s Juvenile Justice Reform bill (SB 1072), the Department of Juvenile Justice’s (DJJ) Juvenile Justice Reform Bill, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville). This broad and ambitious legislation continues reforming Florida’s juvenile justice system by providing greater access to rehabilitative options for troubled children, and addresses the over-representation of minority youth in the juvenile justice system compared to the general population.

TAMPA, FL -- Lawrence Bell says he's a two-pack-a-day smoker. He's also a proud father and grandfather of five.

"The grandkids when they come over to the house, I won't smoke in the house at all," said Bell. He says he's noticed there are fewer and fewer places to light-up. "They stopped all the smoking in all the stores and everything now, all the restaurants almost. the only place you can smoke is in some bars," he said.

For four days, the Gasparilla International Film Festival, only in it’s fourth year, but already a big event, celebrated the budding local film industry, and celebrated the artistic aspect of the medium.