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Senator Stewart pushes stronger action as Orange County considers gun control

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As Orange County officials ready to discuss new measures aimed at curbing the gun violence epidemic, state Senator Linda Stewart on Monday urged the mayor and commissioners to first take stronger action closing a loophole allowing many questionable gun buyers to remain under the radar.

“I applaud the county for doing something, but we need strong, specific, and direct action that has been ignored so far,” said Senator Stewart. The Orlando Democrat was referring to a memo sent last month from Orange County Mayor Theresa Jacobs to County Commissioners that outlined gun control proposals, but omitted closing gun show loopholes and adding longer waiting periods.

Senator Stewart and other long-time leaders in the movement for gun safety have long called for such proactive safety measures to be enacted.

In a letter to the mayor, Senator Stewart urged county officials to include closing the gun show loophole, which continues to allow buyers to purchase firearms from private sellers without undergoing any background checks, and to lengthen waiting periods to 5-days.

“Especially in our community, failure to do everything we can to prevent senseless and unnecessary gun violence like the tragedy at Pulse nightclub and recently at Parkland school is absolutely unacceptable,” said Stewart, who has been a fierce gun control advocate following the Pulse massacre. Since her election to the Florida Senate in 2016, Senator Stewart has filed bills and amendments to ban assault weapons, ban bump-fire stocks, and additional measures to curb gun violence and honor the victims of Pulse. She plans to file legislation to address an operational statewide database, which she hopes will be eventually picked up as universal database for our country.

Commissioner Stewart Names Miami-Dade Educator Molly Winters Diallo Teacher of the Year Finalist

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Diallo receives $15,000 and chance to
compete for statewide Teacher of the Year

Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools Alberto M. Carvalho, Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, 2019 Teacher of the Year Finalist Molly Winters Diallo and Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High School Principal Christopher Shinn celebrate in Diallo’s classroom with her students shortly after Commissioner Stewart made the announcement.

Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart today surprised Molly Winters Diallo in her classroom with a check for $15,000 and the news that she is one of five Teacher of the Year finalists. The statewide Teacher of the Year will be announced at the annual Florida Teacher of the Year Gala July 13 in Orlando. Each district’s Teacher of the Year will receive $10,000, and the state winner will receive a total of $20,000.

“Congratulations to Molly Winters Diallo on being selected as one of five 2019 Teacher of the Year finalists,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “Throughout her career, Diallo has focused on continual professional growth and, as a result, her students’ performance has consistently been among the best in her district. Her passion for teaching and helping her students reach their full potential is evident. It is truly an honor to recognize her today and reward her for her hard work and dedication.”

Diallo began teaching at Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High School in 2009, the year it was founded. She serves as the Social Sciences Department Chair and teaches Honors U.S. History, Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology and AP Human Geography. Since the inception of the U.S. History end-of-course assessment, her students’ pass rate has averaged 90 percent, with last year’s rate being 98 percent. In each of the other courses, her students’ pass rate has exceeded the global mean pass rate, and her students have made significant individual gains. As a department chair and an instructional leader, Diallo mentors new teachers and collaborates with fellow faculty members to improve students’ learning experiences.

Diallo has been recognized by the Bezos Family Foundation and Stanford University for her innovative approaches and rigorous instruction; served as an AP reader for CollegeBoard; worked with the district’s Division of Social Sciences to develop the district’s U.S. History curriculum; and attained National Board Certification.

This year’s five finalists were chosen from more than 198,700 public school teachers throughout the state. After each school district selects its Teacher of the Year, a selection committee representing teachers, principals, parents and the business community reviews each district application on the basis of outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and outstanding school and community service.

The Florida Teacher of the Year Program is made possible by generous sponsors: Florida Prepaid, State Farm, Florida Blue, Telemundo, Helios Education Foundation, Wells Fargo, Publix, Florida Power and Light Company, Florida Lottery, Gulf Power and Herff Jones.

For more about the Florida Teacher of the Year program, please visit Florida Teachers Lead.

For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.

Upcoming Informational Public Meeting on S.R. 19 Improvements

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The Florida Department of Transportation is hosting a public information meeting regarding a resurfacing project for State Road (S.R.) 19/South Bay Street from Norton Avenue to Lake Saunders Drive. The project also includes safety improvements for the S.R. 19 on-ramp from eastbound U.S. 441 as well as an improved roadway transition to County Road 19A, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) enhancements.

The public information meeting will be 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, at the Eustis Community Center, 601 Northshore Drive, Eustis, FL 32726. Project information will be on display, and there will be a presentation on a continuous loop running throughout the meeting. Project representatives will be available to answer questions.

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations under the ADA or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Kelly Hiden, public involvement coordinator, by phone at 407-508-0839, or via email at [email protected] at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator, at [email protected].

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT Communications Office at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].

FDOT advises drivers to slow down and use extra caution in construction zones.

Lisa Carlton Endorses Tommy Gregory for Florida House

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The former state senator says Gregory’s leadership experience
and military service make him the right choice for District 73

The Tommy Gregory Campaign today announced the endorsement of former State Senator Lisa Carlton, who also served Southwest Florida in the Florida House of Representatives. Gregory is running for the District 73 seat in the Florida House of Representatives, currently held by Joe Gruters, who is running for the Florida Senate.

“Tommy Gregory’s leadership experience and service to our country make him the clear choice for District 73,” said Carlton. “I’m confident that he will be a reliable and strong voice for low taxes and other policies that will make our community even stronger.”

Carlton, an eighth generation Floridian, was elected in 1994 to the Florida House, where she served two terms. She then served for ten years in the Florida Senate, including as Senate Pro Tempore from 2006 to 2008. Currently, she is a guest lecturer at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida and at the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida.

“Lisa Carlton has a distinguished record of public service, both as an elected official and as a private citizen,” said Gregory. “I’m honored to have her support, and I look forward to working with her and other community leaders who work so hard to make Southwest Florida such a great place to call home.”

Paid by Tommy Gregory, Republican, for State Representative

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis Calls Communities to Help Stop Arson

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During National Arson Awareness Week, recognized May 6-12, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis calls on all Floridians to report suspicious activity and be on the lookout for those who attempt to commit arson-related crimes.

“Arson-related crimes can destroy property, put lives at risk and arson-for-profit schemes are one of the factors that can drive up insurance rates,” said CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “In 2017 alone, 1,004 of the 3,695 fires my office responded to were arson-related. These fires caused 62 injuries, 38 fatalities, and approximately $23.4 million in property damage. Community awareness and engagement is essential in our fight against this deadly and costly crime.”

To report arson, call 1-877-No-Arson (1-877-662-7766). Tips that lead directly to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a $5,000 reward. Information can be provided anonymously. 

The Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is a law enforcement branch of CFO Patronis’ Division of Investigative and Forensic Services and conducts fire, arson, and explosives investigations as well as other related criminal investigations statewide. 

Arson Awareness Week in Florida is part of a nationwide initiative to educate the public on the important role of community arson awareness and how it can and does play an important role in preventing this dangerous crime.

PSC Assists Palm Beach County Seniors During Older Americans Month

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During May’s Older Americans Month, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is visiting two Palm Beach County Senior Centers on Wednesday, May 9, and Thursday, May 10.

PSC representatives will distribute and discuss water and energy conservation information, assist eligible seniors in applying for the Lifeline Assistance telephone/broadband discount program and offer protection against scams targeting utility customers.

The Palm Beach County events are scheduled for the following times and locations:

Wednesday, May 9, 2018
10:30 a.m.
Boynton Beach Senior Center
1021 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida
and
Thursday, May 10, 2018
10:30 a.m.
Mae Volen Senior Center
1515 West Palmetto Park Road
Boca Raton, Florida

About Older Americans Month
Since 1963, communities and agencies across the state and nation have joined in the annual Older American Month commemoration. The tradition shows the state’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Florida residents. For more information visit, hoam.acl.gov.

DeSantis Endorses Mast For Re-Election

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The Mast for Congress campaign today announced that Florida gubernatorial candidate and Congressman Ron DeSantis has endorsed Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) for re-election.

“Brian is an American patriot.  Both on the battlefield and in Congress, he’s gone above and beyond the call of duty to defend the Constitution and our American values,” Rep. DeSantis said.  “He’s never asked anything in return for his service, but with Nancy Pelosi funding his opponent, now is the time to rally behind him and show Nancy Pelosi that Florida can’t be bought!”

Congressmen Mast and DeSantis have worked together to address numerous issues for Florida and the country, including:

  • H.J. Res. 6 – Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve
  • H.R. 2712 – The Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act
  • Calling for the creation of an Everglades Restoration Infrastructure Taskforce to “expedite and energize the federal government’s efforts to restore the Everglades”

BACKGROUND

Rep. Mast qualified by petition to appear on the ballot for re-election.  To qualify by petition in FL-18, a candidate must have 5,110 verified signatures. Candidates who failed to secure the necessary support to get on the ballot through petition signatures were required to buy a spot on the ballot.  The filing deadline was May 4, 2018.

Total Verified Petition Signatures: 5,501
Total Republicans: 3,641 (66%)
Total Independents (NPA):  952 (17%)
Total Democrats: 890 (16%)
Total Other: 18 (1%)

Total Verified St. Lucie County: 2,638 (48%)
Total Verified Martin County: 1,790 (33%)
Total Verified Palm Beach County: 1,073 (19%)

Students Curate Exhibit at Plant Museum; Based on UT Professor’s Research

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The exhibit, Red Cross Nursing and the War of 1898, will run through May

A temporary exhibit about American Red Cross nurses and the Spanish-American War, based on a University of Tampa professor’s research and curated by UT students, has opened at the Henry B. Plant Museum.

The exhibit, Red Cross Nursing and the War of 1898: The Tampa Connection, follows the women who traveled from New York to Tampa and then to Cuba to become the first nurses of the American Red Cross to serve in wartime.

The exhibit is based on the research of Charles McGraw Groh, associate professor of history, and was curated by students in his class Museums, Historic Sites, and Archives.

To prepare for this project, the students studied different aspects of public history curation at the Plant Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum and Perry Harvey Park, working with local museum professionals. Plant Museum curators Susan Carter and Heather Trubee Brown offered guidance at each stage of the exhibit project.

The exhibit was developed as a companion to the Plant Museum’s permanent exhibit on the Spanish-American War. The Tampa Bay Hotel, now known as Plant Hall, received National Historic Landmark status for the hotel’s role in the 1898 military conflict, when it was used to house Col. Theodore Roosevelt, other military officers and Red Cross nurses.

The exhibit will remain on display for the month of May. It will be back on view in July during Archives Awareness Week, an annual event organized by the City of Tampa Archives Advisory Committee. UT student Selena Martinez will conduct a guided tour at this event.

For more information on the exhibit and Archives Awareness Week, contact Groh at [email protected].

The Henry B. Plant Museum interprets the turn-of-the-century Tampa Bay Hotel and the lifestyles of America’s Gilded Age. Critical to the success of this mission is the restoration and preservation of this National Historic Landmark, an opulent 1891 railroad resort, and the artifacts significant to its history, and the life and work of Henry Bradley Plant. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays and select other dates. Admission is $10 per adult, $7 for seniors (65 years and up), $7 for students and $5 for children 4–12 years old. Museum members free.

Duke Energy Florida, Federal Regulators Terminate Levy Nuclear Reactor Project

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Move underscores impracticability of new reactor construction

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced yesterday the termination of the Combined Licenses (COL) of the proposed Duke Energy Florida (DEF) Levy nuclear reactors. The Levy project, which consisted of two Toshiba-Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, was plagued by schedule delays and skyrocketing costs before being cancelled by DEF in 2013. Yet there were significant costs borne by customers in subsequent years.

The 2017 rate case settlement agreement between DEF and other parties, including Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, effectively ended any possibility that reactors would ever be built at the Levy site. Given the 2017 bankruptcy of Westinghouse, due to the massive financial losses caused by the AP1000 projects in Georgia, which has doubled in cost to nearly $28 billion, and South Carolina, which has since been cancelled, any likelihood of the Levy project reemerging was squelched. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, DEF filed a letter with the NRC on January 25, 2018 requesting that the Levy COL be terminated. The NRC granted that request yesterday.

“Southern Alliance for Clean Energy applauds Duke Energy Florida for formally terminating the licenses for the Levy site,” said Sara Barczak, Regional Advocacy Director with Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “This move marks the continued meltdown of the nuclear construction industry after the Westinghouse bankruptcy and the abandonment of the V.C. Summer nuclear reactors in South Carolina last year. It’s time for FPL to follow suit and stop wasting customers’ money by officially cancelling the proposed reactors at their Turkey Point plant near Miami.”