Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Contributor

Contributor

Nelson urges state to use disaster money to help low-to moderate-income families

Posted on

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) sent a letter today to the head of Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity urging her to prioritize the needs of Florida’s low-to moderate-income individuals and families as her department decides how to allocate more than $600 million in federal disaster assistance it’s about to receive.

The state of Florida has until May 15 to submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development its plan for allocating $616 million in Community Development Block Grants that Congress approved to help the state recover in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The funds, which Congress approved in September as part of a broader $7.8 billion disaster assistance bill, can be used for a wide range of recovery efforts, including to fund repairs to homes and buildings damaged in the storm.

Nelson, who had pushed hard for the CDBG funds to be included in the broader bill, now wants to ensure the state uses those funds to help low- to moderate-income families in Florida who are still unable to find affordable housing in the wake of last year’s storm.

“It’s no secret that Florida’s availability of and standards for adequate affordable housing are severely deficient,” Nelson wrote. “It’s critical that there also be a long-term plan to safeguard against future storms further limiting affordable housing options in Florida.”

“The law requires that no less than 70 percent of CDBG-DR funds should be allocated to eligible activities that principally benefit low- and moderate-income individuals,” Nelson continued. “While the state can request waivers to alter this threshold, I strongly encourage you to preserve current CDBG-DR thresholds at 70 percent, which will help target assistance for those most in need.”

By law, a majority – at least 80 percent – of the $616 million in CDBG funds the state receives must be used to fund projects in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Duval, Lee, Polk, Collier, Brevard, Broward, Orange and Volusia counties.

A .pdf copy of the letter is available here

Constitution Revision Commission Approves Marsy’s Law for the 2018 General Election Ballot

Posted on

Amendment Would Create Crime Victims’
Bill of Rights for the Florida Constitution

The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) today voted in favor of placing a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights on the 2018 General Election ballot in November. The measure, sponsored by Commissioner Tim Cerio, passed with a final vote of 34 to 3. This will be the first CRC proposed constitutional amendment placed on the ballot.

Criminals and those accused of crimes have 20 distinct rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Victims, survivors, and their families are provided no rights under the U.S. Constitution. Most states have addressed this disparity by adding victims’ rights and protections into their state constitutions. Florida is one of only 15 states that does not provide clear, enforceable rights for victims of crimes in its constitution.

Governor Rick Scott said, “I applaud the Constitution Revision Commission on their decision to include Marsy’s Law on the ballot this fall. We have taken important steps in Florida to protect those who need it most, and we must continue to make it absolutely clear that our state stands strongly with victims.”

“As a survivor of sexual assault and an advocate for other survivors, I am heartened by today’s Constitution Revision Commission vote in favor of Marsy’s Law for Florida. Florida voters will now have the chance to decide if they, too, stand with victims and their families when they cast their ballots in November. We as survivors came before this body many times to share our stories, and I want to thank them for listening,” said Senator Lauren Book.

“I want to thank my fellow commissioners for voting in favor of this proposal,” said Commissioner Cerio. “For too long, victims in Florida have been made vulnerable by weak constitutional language that does not ensure their rights. With Marsy’s Law on the ballot this fall, the voters will have the chance to give victims the constitutional rights they deserve.”

“I am thankful for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and their support for crime victims and our families,” said Michael Liles, executive director of the Justice Coalition. “My wife was brutally murdered in our home last year. This was a blow not just to our family but to our entire community. Currently, her killer has more rights in the criminal justice system than myself or even my children. I’m grateful to Commissioner Cerio and all the members of the CRC who worked tirelessly to make sure surviving victims have a voice. We have paid the dearest price for the impact of crime. It is only fair and reasonable that we receive equal consideration.”

“Lawmakers, public officials, sheriffs, victims’ advocates and community leaders have all come together to stand with crime victims and their families, and as the mother of a murdered child, I am deeply grateful for their support as well as the support of the Constitution Revision Commission,” said Pat Tuthill, founder of the Peyton Tuthill Foundation. “Providing clear, enforceable rights in the state constitution will mean a world of a difference to crime victims and will help them heal after a tremendous loss. I encourage all Floridians to vote yes on Amendment 6.”

Marsy’s Law Rights
Marsy’s Law will guarantee that victims receive certain rights in a number of important ways including:

  • informing victims and their families about their rights and the services available to them,
  • giving them the right to receive notification of proceedings and major developments in a criminal case,
  • protecting their safety by notifying them in a timely manner regarding changes to the offender’s custodial status,
  • allowing victims and their families to exercise their right to be present – and heard – at court proceedings,
  • providing input to the prosecutor before a plea agreement is finalized; and
  • establishing the right to restitution from the convicted.

About Marsy’s Law
Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail.  In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation, has made it his mission to give victims and their families constitutional protections and equal rights.  He formed Marsy’s Law for All in 2009, providing expertise and resources to victims’ rights organizations nationwide.

For more information on the Marsy’s Law initiative, please visit marsyslaw.us.

Fort Myers man claims $1 million prize in FLORIDA 100X THE CASH Scratch-Off game

Posted on

The Florida Lottery announces that Adam Janowski, 67, of Fort Myers, claimed a $1 million prize in the new FLORIDA 100X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $770,000.00.

An avid Florida Lottery player, Janowski was still surprised when he saw that he won. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack! I couldn’t believe it!”

Janowski purchased his winning ticket from Publix, located at 7950 Dani Drive in Fort Myers. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The new $30 game, FLORIDA 100X THE CASH, launched on February 26, and features eight top prizes of $15 million – the largest Scratch-Off top prize ever offered by the Florida Lottery! The game also offers 20 prizes of $1 million. Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.59.

Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

Nelson, others call for funding for CDC to study gun violence

Posted on

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) joined 33 other Democratic senators Friday in urging leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee to include $50 million in next year’s Department of Health and Human Services spending bill for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study the causes and prevention of gun violence.

“Every year, we lose more than 33,000 lives due to gun violence, and more than 81,000 people suffer injuries from firearms,” the lawmakers wrote. “It has become increasingly clear that gun violence in America is going to continue unabated until Congress takes meaningful action.”

The senators said the $50 million would be used to fund “approximately 10 to 20 studies on the topic of gun violence.”

A PDF copy is available here.

Florida Realtors®, Canadian Real Estate Association Sign MoU

Posted on

Memorandum of Understanding to Encourage
Collaboration and Mutual Opportunities

Florida Realtors and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 2018. The MoU establishes the cooperation of the two Realtor organizations in developing a mutually beneficial relationship for their respective association members.

“As professionals in the real estate industry, we take pride in providing our knowledge and expertise to clients in Florida, Canada and throughout the world,” said 2018 Florida Realtors President-Elect Eric Sain. “Florida Realtors and CREA share common goals – we look forward to continuing our partnership and building more connections that increase business opportunities for all of our Realtor members.”

As part of the agreement, Florida Realtors and CREA “affirm the value of international collaboration and agree to exchange information in the general field of real estate, promote professionalism in the real estate industry and engage in other activities that provide mutual benefits.”

“The value of international collaboration cannot be overstated. This partnership will help Realtors in Canada and Florida who are interested in growing their cross-border referrals,” said CREA’s CEO Michael Bourque.

Added CREA President Barb Sukkau, “Our Realtors will have the ability to share relevant research and statistics with one another, making it much easier to respond to inquiries in each other’s respective markets.”

The MoU announcement took place this morning at The International Economic Forum of the Americas’ World Strategic Forum at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Along with Sain, speakers at the event included Nicholas Rémillard, president and CEO, International Economic Forum of the Americas, and Susan Harper, Consul General of Canada in Miami. Realtors from across Florida and other forum participants also observed the ceremony.

The Florida Lottery invites players to set sail with POWERBALL®

Posted on

Enter the Limited-time Power Cruise Promotion Now

The Florida Lottery announces the launch of the POWERBALL® Power Cruise promotion. All POWERBALL tickets purchased through Wednesday, May 30, 2018, may be entered in the promotion for a chance to win cash prizes and a private chartered 5-night Royal Caribbean cruise prize!

Players may enter their tickets by scanning the barcode using the Power Cruise Collect ‘N Win App, or by entering the ticket number via the Lottery’s website at flalottery.com. Each ticket will randomly generate 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 symbols. When five symbols, plus the free symbol, have been collected on a game card, the player will earn an entry into the next drawing. Five drawings will be held every Thursday in May, with 25 cruises being awarded each week. A total of 125 cruises will be won.

The 5-night vacation for two onboard the Royal Caribbean® Majesty of the Seas® cruise ship sets sail January 19, 2019, from the Port of Fort Lauderdale, with more than 725 POWERBALL winners from more than 20 states. Passengers will have the chance to enjoy a live VIP concert at sea by a nationally-recognized musical act, and a chance to win $250,000 in onboard prizes, including two $50,000 prizes awarded during the cruise. To learn more about this promotion, or any Florida Lottery games, please visit flalottery.com.

Morean Arts Center Increases Financial Aid Assistance to 2018 Summer Campers

Posted on

Ten percent of qualifying Summer Art & Clay Camp
attendees are expected to receive scholarships this year

The Morean Arts Center, the oldest gallery south of Atlanta, is gearing up for a creative and educational Summer Art & Clay Camp! This year, in celebration of the Morean moving into its next century of the arts in St. Petersburg, more summer camp scholarships will be offered than ever before!

Scholarships are an important part of camp at the Morean as they allow children to cultivate creativity and interest in the arts for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience it. Creative thinking, problem solving, communication and empathy—these attributes and skills, learned through the making of art, contribute to the mental and emotional growth of a child.

These camps are art-focused and offer children ages 4-16 the opportunity to experience guided art projects as well as access to the rotating exhibitions in the main gallery or at the Morean Center for Clay. On-site field trips to the neighboring Chihuly Collection and Hot Shop where live glass blowing demonstrations provide education on local art and the science behind it are also incorporated in select camp weeks.

There are even specialized camp options for teens to discover the world of art. Teens can explore camp options in glass, animation, jewelry, photography, clay and more.

As creative summer camps fill up fast, its recommended parents fill out the Scholarship Application on the website (MoreanArtsCenter.org) and reserve a spot as early as possible. The Morean Arts Center also offers 1-Day Art Camps for Pinellas County no school days, Spring Break Camps, Thanksgiving Break Camp, and Holiday Camp.

In addition to camps, the Morean Arts Center and Morean Center for Clay offers FREE family fun with Saturdays @ the Morean, located at the downtown location and Sundays @ the Morean, located at the Morean Center for Clay.

Camps are offered at the Morean’s main location located at 719 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701, and the Morean Center for Clay, a beautifully-renovated train station located at 420 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33712.

To apply for financial assistance for Summer Camp 2018, please visit MoreanArtsCenter.org and click on the education tab to locate Camps & Events.

If you’re interested in donating to provide additional Summer Art & Clay Camp scholarships, please contact the Director of Development, Anna Kuhlman, at 727.822.7872 ext. 2120 or email [email protected].

UNF Psychology Study Reveals Certain Cultures Short in Everyday Patience

Posted on

Patience in everyday life is a strong predictor of health and well-being. Dr. Dominik Guess, a University of North Florida psychology professor, conducted a European study regarding patience in everyday life. It reveals there are cultural differences as to when people get impatient and the reactions they show.

A Southside resident, Guess conducted his research while he was on a Marie-Curie Fellowship at the University of Bamberg in Germany. The study was conducted in France, Germany and Romania and was performed in conjunction with Guss’ colleagues Drs. Claus-Christian Carbon and Astrid Schütz as well as psychology undergraduate students Katrin Wanninger, Doris Hauth and Franziska Wiltsch, all from the University of Bamberg.

The results, recently published in the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, revealed people are more patient in certain situations than in others and that people from different cultures show different impatience reactions. The study also uncovered that in some cultures, people are more impatient than in others. These findings could be important for visitors traveling abroad, as expressing anger, for example, is culturally common in France and Germany.

The students observed over 800 people in the larger European cities of Paris, Berlin and Bucharest and the smaller cities of Rouen, Bamberg and Buzau in three daily life situations: waiting at an ATM machine, standing in a supermarket line and listening to a long phone survey.

The students waited at ATM machines and paid in supermarket lines but prolonged the process through clumsy behavior. Before starting a telephone survey, they read a long introduction of approximately 2 minutes. Then, they recorded the time when people waiting behind them or listening to the phone introduction got impatient, noting the kind of impatience reactions. For example, someone asking, “How long will this take?” or an individual stamping loudly with their foot on the ground, making a face, rolling their eyes or clicking their tongue.

Surprisingly, Germans were the most patient at ATM machines, possibly displaying more self-control, compared to French and Romanians. This assumption was supported by the fact that the French and Romanians left the ATM lines more often than Germans. In the ATM situation, the French displayed more angry facial expressions and left the situation more often compared to Germans and Romanians. In the supermarket, Germans showed more angry facial expressions compared to French and Romanians, while Germans showed the most impatient reactions in the telephone survey. Germans appear more patient with potential technical difficulties at ATM machines but impatient in social interactions.

In the telephone survey, people who were called sometimes said “Get to the point” or “Skip this introduction and start the questions.” About 20 percent of all people contacted put the phone down right away, as marketing calls or phone surveys in Europe aren’t as common as in the United States. The Romanians, compared to the French and Germans, said “I’m sorry” more often than the others.

Surprisingly, there were no differences between big and small cities; although people in bigger cities have a faster pace of life, they’re also used to more traffic and accidents, for example, as compared to daily life in smaller cities. The full results of the study, can be found in the Journal of Cross-Psychology website.

During his more than 10 years at UNF, Guess has worked to broaden the types of courses offered by the Department of Psychology, developing and teaching five new courses, including organizational behavior and culture, ethics and mental health. He was also one of the department’s first faculty to develop a distance learning course. Last year, he was selected as the recipient of the John A. Delaney Endowed Presidential Professorship, while in 2016, Guess was presented the Distinguished Professor Award.

His research interests include complex problem solving and dynamic decision making, planning and creativity, metacognition and cross-cultural studies. Guess has conducted multiple international research studies, including one regarding cultural influences on dynamic decision making that included research in Brazil, Germany, India and the Philippines through a grant from the National Science Foundation.

He earned a doctorate of philosophy in psychology from the Institute of Theoretical Psychology, General Psychology and Methodology at Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg in Bamberg, Germany. He also received a master’s and bachelor’s degree in psychology from Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg.

Law enforcement leaders graduate from Florida Leadership Academy

Posted on

The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute announces the graduation of 40 first-line supervisors from the Florida Leadership Academy on April 13, 2018. These graduates serve in leadership roles representing 31 criminal justice agencies throughout the state.

The graduates met for four week-long sessions at the Florida Sheriff’s Association in Tallahassee. They learned skills necessary to support the needs of their agencies and their communities as they prepare for future challenges.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Florida Leadership Academy. The goal of the Florida Leadership Academy is to prepare first-line supervisors in criminal justice organizations to exemplify the character and integrity expected of criminal justice professionals and to examine the various components necessary to being an efficient leader.

The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, which is housed within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and affiliated with the State University System, was established in 1990 by the Florida Legislature to address the need for an innovative and multi-faceted approach to the education and training of criminal justice professionals.

Below is a list of graduates from the 41st Florida Leadership Academy.

Joseph Abollo             Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
Molly Akin                  Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Anthony Allaire          Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Laura Anstead            Citrus County Sheriff’s Office
Saundra Batie             Florida Highway Patrol
Benjamin Benedict     Leon County Sheriff’s Office
Cordis Blackwood      Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
Vincent Boccio           Tallahassee Police Department
Bradford Bowlin        Lake County Sheriff’s Office
James Buchbinder       Ocala Police Department
Bartell Clemons          Tallahassee Police Department
Chad Cutkomp           Florida Department of Corrections
Jessica Davenport       Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Philip Di Gaetano       Hernando County Sheriff’s Office
Nitza Dominguez        Miami-Dade Police Department
Daniel Eberly III         Coconut Creek Police Department
Trish Eldridge             Florida Sheriff’s Association
Natalie Gillespie          St. Augustine Beach Police Department
Russell Gordon           Bradford County Sheriff’s Office
Monica Gray               Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Todd Greene               Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Tyler Harrison             Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Stephen Jencks            Bay County Sheriff’s Office
Darren Karp                Coconut Creek Police Department
Scott Kinney               Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
Dustin McGee             Highlands County Sheriff’s Office
William Mittwede       St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
Joel Murphey              Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
Luis Negrete               Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Jarritt Negri                 Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
Deanna Phillips           Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
George Price III          Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Keith Quick                Venice Police Department
Orlando Roman          Orange County Corrections Department
Jennifer Scavotto        Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
Leonard Tyree II         Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
David Webb Jr.           Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
David Williams           Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
Tanesha Williams        Florida Sheriff’s Association
Frank Zadnik III         Ocala Police Department

Gov. Scott Appoints Six to Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission

Posted on

Governor Rick Scott today announced five reappointments and one appointment to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

Sheriff William “Bill” Prummell, 48, of Rotonda West, is the sheriff of Charlotte County. He is reappointed for a term beginning April 13, 2018 and ending August 1, 2021.

Nicholas Marolda, 50, of Lakeland, is a police detective with the Lakeland Police Department. He is reappointed for a term beginning April 13, 2018 and ending January 1, 2021.

Jennifer Sandman, 47, of Royal Palm Beach, is a sergeant patrol officer with the Town of Palm Beach. She is reappointed for a term beginning April 13, 2018 and ending August 1, 2021.

Matthew Williams, 48, of Middleburg, is a master sergeant with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. He is reappointed for a term beginning April 13, 2018 and ending August 1, 2021.

Deputy Sheriff William Weiss, 50, of Stuart, is the deputy sheriff of Martin County. He is reappointed for a term beginning April 13, 2018 and ending August 25, 2020.

Sheriff Tommy Ford, 49, of Lynn Haven, is the sheriff of Bay County. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning April 13, 2018 and ending August 1, 2018.