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Representatives Marie Woodson and John Snyder’s Veterans’ Long-term Care Facilities Admissions Bill Signed by the Governor

Posted on

June 25, 2024

CONTACT

Nedgine Saint-Louis

Office of Representative Marie Woodson

[email protected]

(954) 965-3700

Luetisha Clark

Office of Representative Marie Woodson

[email protected]

(954) 965-3700

 

Representatives Marie Woodson and John Snyder’s Veterans’ Long-term Care Facilities Admissions Bill Signed by the Governor

 

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – On June 20, 2024, Representative Marie Woodson (D-Hollywood) and her prime co-sponsor, Representative John Snyder (R-Palm Beach), announced that HB 725, which expands the eligibility for residency at a state veterans’ home to include the spouse or surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran, was recently signed into law by Governor DeSantis and becomes effective July 1, 2024. The bill revises the priority of admittance to veterans’ homes, placing the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran last in priority. These rankings preserve a higher priority of admittance to veterans over non-veterans.

Representative Snyder, a Marine Corps veteran, shared a personal perspective, saying, “I understand firsthand the crucial role our military spouses play in the overall mission. No veteran should ever choose between receiving long-term care or being with their spouse. It was a privilege to collaborate with Rep. Woodson on this significant bill as we strive to make Florida the most veteran-friendly state in the Union.”

“When someone joins the military, so does their spouse. Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) now can keep couples together, in their twilight of life, who have shared their lives sacrificing and defending our country,” said Bob Asztalos from FDVA.

“Our sincere thanks to Bob Asztalos and Brandon Edmonton, FDVA who have dedicated their lives to serving our veterans. I am also grateful and thankful to my friend and colleague Rep. John Snyder for working with me on this important bill. This piece of legislation is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that our veterans are not separated in their golden years and that we provide them with the comfort they need at the time they need it the most. We can never do enough for our veterans because the sacrifices they made for us are immeasurable,” said Representative Woodson.

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ICYMI: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents of Florida Affected by Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds and Tornadoes

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2024

CONTACT: FDEM Communications Team, [email protected] | (850) 815-4940

ICYMI: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents of Florida Affected by Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds and Tornadoes

WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Florida following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on May 10.

“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Florida small businesses and residents impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

The disaster declaration covers Leon County, which is eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty and Wakulla in Florida; and Grady and Thomas in Georgia.

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.688% for homeowners and renters, with terms of up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

“The opportunity to include measures to help prevent future damage from occurring is a significant benefit of SBA’s disaster loan program,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “I encourage everyone to consult their contractors and emergency management mitigation specialists for ideas and apply for an SBA disaster loan increase for funding.”

With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 16, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Mar. 17, 2025.

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NE 14th St. & E. Atlantic Drawbridges Will be Closed to Navigation on July 4th, 2024

Posted on

For Immediate Release
Guillermo Canedo
954-777-4302
June 24, 2024
[email protected]

NE 14th St. & E. Atlantic Drawbridges Will be Closed to Navigation on July 4th, 2024

Pompano Beach, Fla. – The NE 14th Street and E. Atlantic Blvd. Drawbridges (eastbound and westbound) in Pompano Beach will be closed to navigation, including tugs and tugs with tows, from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, 2024, to facilitate City of Pompano Beach 4th of July Celebration. Public vessels of the United States and vessels in distress shall be passed at any time. The U.S. Coast Guard will announce the temporary change to the bridge operating regulation in the Local Notice to Mariners and via a Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

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Check Your Tickets: $57,000 Fantasy 5 Ticket Set to Expire

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2024

CONTACT:

FLORIDA LOTTERY COMMUNICATIONS

(850) 487-7727

[email protected]

 

CHECK YOUR TICKETS; $57,000 FANTASY 5® TICKET SET TO EXPIRE

 

TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Lottery (Lottery) announces that a FANTASY 5® top-prize winning ticket worth $57,598.31 remains unclaimed. The deadline to claim the top prize is Monday, July 1, 2024, at midnight ET.

The winning numbers for the January 3, 2024, FANTASY 5 midday drawing were:

20 – 35 – 29 – 14 – 18 

The free winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased from Placita Supermarket, located at 1110 Mason Avenue in Daytona Beach. Players who may have purchased a FANTASY 5 ticket at this retail location are encouraged to check their tickets from the January 3 drawing.

While any Florida Lottery retailer can validate the winning ticket, the FANTASY 5 top prize must be claimed at a Florida Lottery District Office. Players can obtain additional information by visiting the Lottery’s website, using the free mobile app, or by calling the Customer Service Department at (850) 487-7787.

FANTASY 5 is a pari-mutuel game in which players win the top prize by matching 5-of-5 winning numbers drawn in any order. Additionally, players win cash prizes or a free Quick Pick ticket by matching two, three, or four of the numbers drawn in the official drawing for the date played. If there is no top prize winner, the money in the top prize pool rolls down and is shared among players who match 4-of-5 or 3-of-5 winning numbers.

Since the game’s inception, FANTASY 5 has awarded over $5 billion in prizes, contributed more than $3.97 billion to education, and created 16 millionaires.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $46 billion to enhance education and sending more than 983,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 99 percent of its revenue into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,500 Lottery retailers, and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $94.2 billion in prizes and made more than 4,000 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.floridalottery.com.

 

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Play Responsibly

FDOT Begins Construction on State Road 44 (E. New York Avenue) and Kepler Road Roundabout

Posted on

For Immediate Release
June 24, 2024

Contact: Public Information Office

386-943-5593

[email protected]

 

FDOT Begins Construction on State Road 44 (E. New York Avenue) and Kepler Road Roundabout
Open House Scheduled for July 9 to Discuss Project Details and Impacts

DELAND, Fla. – Improvements are on the way for a busy intersection in DeLand. On Monday, June 24, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will begin constructing a new two-lane roundabout at the intersection of State Road (S.R.) 44 (E. New York Avenue), and Kepler Road (County Road 4101). The $8.5 million project aims to improve traffic flow and enhance safety for both motorists and pedestrians and is expected to be completed by fall 2025.

FDOT will hold a public meeting regarding construction plans for S.R. 44 and Kepler Road in DeLand on Tuesday, July 9, at 5:30 p.m.

The open house will include an overview of the project, displays, and models highlighting the roundabout design and construction phases. Attendees will learn about the safety benefits of roundabouts and the upcoming pedestrian features. There will also be an opportunity to meet and ask the FDOT project team questions.

The Department is offering multiple ways for the community to participate in the meeting. All participants, regardless of the platform they choose, will participate in the same live meeting.

FDOT encourages community involvement and is offering this construction open house in person and virtually to provide more ways to participate. All attendees, regardless of which platform they choose, will receive the same information.

 

  • In-person Open House Option: Participants may attend in person by going to the Wayne G. Sanborn Activity Center, Ballroom B, 815 S. Alabama Avenue, DeLand, FL 32724, anytime between time 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9. If attending in person, please remember to follow all safety and sanitation guidelines. If you are feeling unwell, please consider attending the meeting virtually.
  • Virtual Option: Interested persons may join over the Internet from a computer, tablet or mobile device at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July, 9. For this option, advance registration is required by visiting register.gotowebinar.com/register/5636869999900566870. Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting online. If using a mobile device, use the GoToWebinar app to be able to view the presentation and submit comments. If joining online, please allow adequate time to log in to view the presentation in its entirety.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can view all meeting materials, including the presentation, and provide comment through the project website at www.cflroads.com/project/431922-1. You may also contact FDOT Project Manager Glenn Raney directly by phone at 386-740-3524 or email at [email protected].

Compared to traditional traffic signals, roundabouts reduce the likelihood of crashes resulting in severe injuries and fatalities by up to 82%. The new roundabout at S.R. 44 and Kepler Road will also decrease the number of vehicle conflict points where crashes can occur, making the intersection safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

Throughout construction, S.R. 44 and Kepler Road will remain open, but motorists should anticipate intermittent nighttime lane closures and shifts in traffic patterns. The construction schedule is subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Please follow posted signage, avoid distractions and drive cautiously in work zones.

For more information about this project, please visit the FDOT’s Central Florida Roads webpage at www.cflroads.com/project/431922-1.

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT District Five Public Information Office at [email protected] or by phone at 386-943-5593.

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www.fdot.gov | X: @MyFDOT_CFL | Facebook: @MyFDOTCFL

Florida Democrats Slam Rick Scott’s Anti-Abortion Record on Anniversary of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade 

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT

[email protected]

 

Florida Democrats Slam Rick Scott’s Anti-Abortion Record on Anniversary of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade 

Tallahassee, FL — Today marks two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which ripped away women’s rights to make their own personal medical decisions and paved the way for Florida’s dangerous abortion ban. The Florida Democratic Party released the following statement to remind Floridians that Rick Scott celebrated Roe’s downfall and said the dangerous state-level abortion bans – including Florida’s six-week ban – enacted since are “exactly what ought to happen.”

“The overturning of Roe v. Wade has had devastating consequences for the women of Florida, who are now living under one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. Over the past two years, women have been turned away from hospital rooms, sent to court to plead for permission to receive health care or forced to carry pregnancies to term with no chance of survival.

“Anti-choice extremists like Rick Scott are entirely responsible, he spent years fighting to overturn Roe and celebrated its downfall,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. “Floridians will remember Scott’s record and hold him accountable for his endless assault on women’s freedom to make their own medical decisions.”

Here’s what to know about Scott’s “100% pro-life” record:

 

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Statement from President Joe Biden on the Second Anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2024

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Second Anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

“Two years ago today, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court majority ripped away the fundamental freedom for women to access the health care they need and deserve. The consequences have been devastating: in states across the country, Trump’s allies have enacted extreme and dangerous abortion bans — many with no exception for rape or incest – that are putting women’s lives at risk and threatening doctors with jail time.

“Donald Trump is the sole person responsible for this nightmare. For him, these cruel state bans are a ‘beautiful thing to watch’ – and they’re just beginning. This is a man who brags about overturning Roe v. Wade, has called for women who access reproductive health care to be punished — and says he would rule as a dictator on day one. If given the chance, there is no question he will ban abortion nationwide, with or without the help of Congress. You don’t have to take my word for it – his advisors have already laid out the plans to do it.

“I will never let that happen. Everywhere I go, I hear from people who are worried about the state of reproductive health care in America. My message to Americans is this: Kamala and I are fighting like hell to get your freedom back. And we won’t stop until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade for every woman in every state.”

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Paid for by Biden for President

Senator Lori Berman Applauds Supreme Court Decision Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors, Upholding Common-Sense Gun Safety

Posted on

June 21, 2024

CONTACT

Sophia Kabbej

Office of State Senator Lori Berman

[email protected]

(561) 292-6014

 

SENATOR LORI BERMAN APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT DECISION TO PROTECT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND UPHOLD COMMON-SENSE GUN SAFETY

BOCA RATON, FLA. –  In a decisive and compassionate ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed the necessity of  gun safety measures by upholding the prohibition on firearm possession for individuals under domestic violence restraining orders. This decision is a crucial step in protecting survivors of domestic violence and promoting safer communities.

The ruling notes that the constitution permits laws that strip guns from individuals deemed dangerous, highlighting that the second amendment is not absolute. This shows the importance of common sense measures to reduce gun violence and protect those most vulnerable to abuse.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a powerful affirmation of our shared responsibility to protect domestic violence survivors,” said Senator Berman (D- Boca Raton). “By ensuring that individuals under restraining orders cannot possess firearms, the courts are taking a meaningful step toward preventing gun violence and saving lives. I call on lawmakers, community leaders, and advocates to continue collaborating on initiatives that uphold these vital protections and work towards a future free from domestic violence and gun violence.”

Research consistently shows that access to firearms dramatically increases the risk of fatal outcomes in domestic violence situations. This ruling acknowledges the urgent need to address this issue and reflects a commitment to public safety and justice.

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Vice President Kamala Harris Statement on U.S. v. Rahimi

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris Statement on U.S. v. Rahimi

“This ruling leaves important domestic violence protections in place, but the fight to protect commonsense gun safety measures is not over. President Biden and I have passed the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years and our Administration has stopped nearly 30,000 firearms sales to convicted domestic abusers because we know preventing abusers from getting a gun saves lives. If Donald Trump returns to power, all of that progress would be at risk.

“While President Biden and I stand up to the gun lobby, Donald Trump bows down. Trump has made clear he believes Americans should ‘get over’ gun violence, and we cannot allow him to roll back commonsense protections or appoint the next generation of Supreme Court justices. I have worked my entire career to protect women and children from domestic violence—from prosecuting abusers to supporting survivors. President Biden and I will never stop fighting for the rights of every American, including every survivor of domestic violence, to live free from the horror of gun violence. To continue that work, we must defeat Donald Trump in November.

“This case is yet another reminder that some want to take our country back to a time when women were not treated as equal to men and were not allowed to vote—and husbands could subject their wives to physical violence without it being considered a crime. Trump is a threat to our freedoms and our safety, and we must defeat him in November.”

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FAMU Delegation Prepares for Energy, Water, Food, Climate Nexus Summit in South Africa

Posted on

For Immediate Release
June 21, 2024
 
FAMU Delegation Prepares for Energy, Water, Food, Climate Nexus Summit in South Africa
 
Florida A&M University (FAMU) President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., will lead a delegation of administrators, students, faculty and staff heading to Durban, South Africa, for the 2024 EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus International Summit.
The focus of the four-day summit is to expand the research frontier for new discoveries that integrate systems-based research and education to find solutions to the vexing environmental challenges.
“The 2024 EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit represents part of FAMU’s role in addressing some of the most urgent environmental questions of our time. It’s also an opportunity for both students and faculty to adopt a global focus even as they hone their research to confront complex issues on the home front in Florida and around the US,” said Robinson, the principal investigator on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Center for Coastal and Marine  Ecosystems II formed in 2016 to address issues confronting marine and coastal communities and to educate the next generation of problem solvers in these areas.
Following registration on July 1, the Summit swings into high gear  on July 2 with a keynote address by Sierra Leone Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Jiwoh E. Abdulai. The 2022 Summit was held on FAMU’s Tallahasee campus. This year’s summit is a collaboration with Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), Durban, South Africa, focusing on addressing the challenges facing Africa.
FAMU School of the Environment Dean Victor Ibeanusi, Ph.D., is the founder and convener of the EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit.
“The FAMU School of the Environment is leading this summit to promote cross-cutting discussion, scholarship, and collaboration among researchers, students and entrepreneurs to advance science, policy and decision-making,” Ibeanusi said. “Most importantly, the summit creates a platform for global discussions that allow particpants to present innovative ideas for sustainable solution.”
Among those scheduled to address the summit are university administrators, scholars, business executives and government officials from Africa, Europe and North America.  More than 500 participants have registered thus far.
“As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, Mangosuthu University of Technology celebrates 45 years anniversary by focusing on programs that will put the University on a global stage,” said Professor Nokuthula Sibya, MUT acting vice-chancellor and principal. “To advance the discourse, MUT takes pride in collaborating with the United States’ Florida A&M University in hosting the 2024 EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit on 1-4 July 2024 at Coastlands Hotel in the Ridge.”
Student Participation
The FAMU team is comprised of 13 students who will serve as notetakers at the summit. They will be assigned to take copious notes for all the sessions. At the end of the day Summit, they will be used to produce a peer-reviewed post summit proceeding. In addition, students will participate in the Why Hack, a session during which the students and their South African and African counterparts will be required to respond to questions based on the summit’s nine thematic tracks – water quality, microbial systems and bioinformatics, harnessing big data, zero GHG emission, achieving soil carbon goals, climate resilient agriculture, food security, AI-driven  circular economy, and let a new science enterprise lead the way.
 
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Photo:
Dean Victor Ibeanusi and student show the nine thematic tracks of the 2024 EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit. (Credit: FAMU School of the Environment)
Media Contact
Andrew J. Skerritt
Associate Director
FAMU Office of Communications
850-544-2675