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FDLE arrests former Veterans Foundation director for grand theft

Posted on January 31, 2018

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 57-year-old Antonio Colmenares and 60-year-old Antonio Sabatier, both of Miami, on first-degree grand theft related to more than $300,000 worth of donated items to the Florida Veterans Foundation (FVF).
The FVF is a nonprofit that offers support to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA).
Colmenares, of 4345 SW 10th St., was a volunteer as the Miami Director for the FVF; Sabatier, of 4247 SW 10th St., is a close friend of Colmenares. He did not have an appointed position with the FVF.
In March 2015, FDLE received a complaint from the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs alleging a theft of disaster blankets and ready-to-eat emergency meals. The items had been provided to FVF by a Tampa-area nonprofit agency to be used for an event to help homeless veterans in Miami. Colmenares had organized the event. During the investigation, agents found that in February 2015 Colmenares and Sabatier arranged for the sale of more than 27,000 blankets and 9,700 meals instead of using the items for their intended purpose. The proceeds from the sale of the items totaled $46,800 and did not benefit FVF but were deposited into an account of Nike Management, a company owned by Sabatier.
The investigation uncovered that other donated items, such as sleeping bags, cots and back packs, were also sold for profit. Colmenares and Sabatier sold most of the items to Worldwide Tactical, a Miami company, on three different occasions: April 2014, February 2015 and May 2015 for a total of $79,394.41. Worldwide Tactical had no knowledge the items were being sold illegally.
“These donated items should have gone to help feed and warm veterans struggling to get back on their feet—instead they were sold to fatten the pockets of those charged with preying on the good intentions of others,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I want to thank FDLE for their tireless efforts investigating this case and working with my Office of Statewide Prosecution. I also want to commend the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs for immediately contacting law enforcement about the alleged theft so an investigation could be opened.”
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said: “These items were donated with the express purpose to help our veterans who unselfishly serve our country. To take advantage of any opportunity that would benefit them is indefensible.”
The Inspector General’s Office of the FDVA assisted with this investigation. Both Colmenares and Sabatier were booked in the Miami-Dade Jail on a $20,000 bond each.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: FDLE, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Veterans Foundation, Grand Theft

Gov. Scott: Florida Job Demand Outpaced the Nation

Posted on January 31, 2018

More than 7,000 Job Openings Added in the Last Year

Governor Rick Scott today announced that job demand in Florida increased by 2.8 percent over-the-year in December by adding 7,342 job openings. Florida’s job demand outpaced the nation’s demand, which increased by only 0.3 percent over-the-year in December. There were a total of 265,244 job openings across Florida in December, according to Help Wanted OnLine. In December, Florida also had the fourth-highest over-the-year increase in job openings out of the 10 most populous states.
Governor Rick Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Florida job demand outpaced the nation last year, further proving that Florida remains an ideal location to find a good job and raise a family. Florida businesses are hiring here because we have worked every day for the past seven years to cut taxes and reduce regulations to make it easier for job creators to invest in creating new opportunities. Last year was a great year for families to find the jobs needed to succeed and we look forward to another year of economic growth across our state.”
In December, more than 68,000 advertised positions were in STEM-related fields. The top occupation in demand continued to be registered nurses, with nearly 14,000 openings across the state. The job demand over-the-year growth rate was highest in the following cities: Hollywood, Tallahassee, Gainesville and Melbourne. Hollywood had the highest percentage gain in online job demand over-the-year, with job ads climbing 29.2 percent since December 2016. Over the last year, Florida businesses also created more jobs than any other state in the trade, transportation and utilities industry, with 33,600 new jobs.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “Our state’s job demand over-the-year is growing more than nine times faster than the nation’s. This rapid pace is due to the vast amount of small, medium and large businesses that want to hire hardworking, qualified Floridians. Our goal is to match jobseekers with these openings and ensure that every Floridian who is looking for an opportunity is able to find one.”

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Florida Job Demand, Governor Rick Scott

Monofilament recycling website gets new look, interactive map

Posted on January 31, 2018

Do you know how or where to recycle your used monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line? How about how to prevent your fishing gear from negatively impacting wildlife and their habitat?
You can learn all of this and more by visiting the newly updated Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program’s website at MRRP.MyFWC.com.
Use this website to locate a monofilament recycling bin near you by using the new interactive recycling bin map; watch a video on how to make your own monofilament recycling bin; join an existing organized cleanup event or create your own; or learn about our many statewide and national partners.
Don’t forget to join our community online by following us at Facebook.com/FloridaMRRP.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program, Monofilament recycling, Website

Area Donors Lift Season of Sharing Campaign Once Again Over the $2 Million Mark

Posted on January 31, 2018

For the fifth year in a row, the annual Season of Sharing campaign has again broken the $2 million milestone. With donations ranging from $5 to $100,000, this year’s campaign received an outpouring of gifts from more than 2,900 donors.
Created by the Herald-Tribune Media Group and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in 2000, Season of Sharing is a community-wide campaign that provides a safety net for families and individuals in danger of becoming homeless. Funds that are raised are distributed by a network of nonprofit fiscal agents and may be used for rent or mortgage, utility bills, child care, transportation, food vouchers or other crucial expenses.
“We’re so grateful to live in a community that truly embraces the annual Season of Sharing campaign. Thanks to the media partners, nonprofit organizations, and the incredible giving spirit of our community, everyone comes together to ensure families and individuals on the verge of losing their homes are given hope and the ability to stay in their homes,” says Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “It’s a great demonstration to prove that our community truly cares about all its citizens. Thanks to the generosity of so many, our most vulnerable neighbors have a safety-net they can rely on when life throws unexpected challenges.”
This year The Patterson Foundation matched $100,000 for every $500,000 raised by the community in order to promote giving, for a total of $300,000. This year’s campaign was also boosted by two $100,000 gifts from notable local philanthropists, Gerri Aaron and Jacqueline Lewis, to inspire others to give.
“Every year our community’s giving spirit inspires us,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “The contributions provided by The Patterson Foundation served to spur further displays of generosity from community donors throughout Season of Sharing by strengthening the impact of their gifts and helping even more local families remain secure in their homes.”
Of each dollar raised, 100% will go directly to support families and individuals on the verge of homelessness, thanks to hundreds of hours of administrative support donated by the Community Foundation, local media partners, and nonprofit fiscal agencies involved in this collaborative effort.
Season of Sharing provides a preventative measure towards addressing homelessness. Knowing it costs eight times more to put a family back into housing after they have lost the roof over their head, stopping homelessness before it happens is an approach that makes sense. Not only is this reasoning more economically sound, it also allows individuals and families to avoid the heartache, anxiety, and indignity of losing the place they call home. More than 85% of recipients don’t return for help again the following year.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Season of Sharing

Statement from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on President’s Speech

Posted on January 30, 2018

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) released the following statement in response to the president’s State of the Union speech this evening:

“The American people are sick and tired of the partisan politics that’s going on in Washington. We need leaders who are willing to put aside party politics and work together for the good of the country. We need a president who will not only call for more bipartisanship, but shows he’s willing to work in a bipartisan way.”

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Sen. Bill Nelson, State of the Union

Statement from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on President's Speech

Posted on January 30, 2018

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) released the following statement in response to the president’s State of the Union speech this evening:
“The American people are sick and tired of the partisan politics that’s going on in Washington. We need leaders who are willing to put aside party politics and work together for the good of the country. We need a president who will not only call for more bipartisanship, but shows he’s willing to work in a bipartisan way.”

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Sen. Bill Nelson, State of the Union

Mast State of the Union Reaction

Posted on January 30, 2018

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today released the following reaction to the President’s State of the Union Address:
“Tonight, I was glad to hear the President outline a bipartisan agenda to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, including our waterways. Decades of failures to fix water infrastructure issues in Florida have created an untenable situation resulting in massive discharges of toxic water directly into the heart of our community.  Working together, I’m hopeful we can turn the President’s proposals into legislation that addresses these issues in a robust and bipartisan way because our community can’t afford to wait any longer.”
Rep. Mast serves as the Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  Earlier this month, Rep. Mast sent a letter to the President requesting full funding for Florida’s top water infrastructure priorities, including the S.B.10 storage reservoir. You can read the letter here.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Rep. Brian Mast, State of the Union

Statement from the Coalition of Franchisee Associations

Posted on January 30, 2018

Statement from Terry Hutchinson, Florida franchise owner and Vice Chairman of the Coalition of Franchisee Associations, on passage of Senate Bill 1076
“Today’s passage of Senate Bill 1076, the “Small Business Parity Act” is a major step in the right direction for Florida’s small businesses. We applaud Senator Steube for his leadership in sponsoring this good bill and for the members of the Senate that voted for the bill today. As a Florida franchise owner and Vice Chairman of the Coalition of Franchisee Associations and on behalf of the 40,000 small franchise operations in our state, I am proud of our legislators for taking action to level the playing field and protect Florida small businesses and jobs.“

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Coalition of Franchisee Associations, Senate Bill 1076

Gov. Scott Appoints Christian Cunningham to Southwestern State College District Board of Trustees

Posted on January 30, 2018

Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Christian Cunningham to the Florida Southwestern State College District Board of Trustees.
Cunningham, 56, of Naples, is the chief human resources officer for Herc Rentals. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Cunningham succeeds Christopher Vernon, and is appointed for a term beginning January 30, 2018, and ending May 31, 2021.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: appointment, District Board of Trustees, Governor Rick Scott, Southwestern State College

Congress passes legislation to protect Olympic athletes from sexual abuse

Posted on January 30, 2018

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson establishes independent
entity to investigate alleged abuses and protect victims

The U.S. Senate today approved legislation to require amateur athletics governing bodies – such as USA Gymnastics and USA Swimming – to immediately report sexual abuse allegations to local or federal law enforcement, or a child-welfare agency designated by the U.S. Justice Department.
The legislation – sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) – is designed to ensure that aspiring U.S. Olympic athletes can report allegations of abuse to an independent entity to investigate, and to make sure that all national governing bodies follow the strictest standards to prevent and detect child abuse.
“The system failed these young women horribly,” Nelson said today in reference to the hundreds of female gymnasts and other Olympic and collegiate athletes who have reported being victims of sexual abuse. “USA Gymnastics failed them. The USOC failed them. Michigan State failed them. By putting new safeguards into law to protect athletes from abuse we’re sending a message that this cannot and must not happen again.”
Nelson, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over federally-chartered sports-related organizations like the U.S. Olympic Committee, filed the legislation last year in the wake of recent allegations of sexual abuse against personnel involved with USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming, USA Taekwondo, U.S. Speedskating, and USA Cycling.
Specifically, the bill amends the Ted Stevens Amateur and Olympic Sports Act to require Olympic amateur athletic governing bodies to establish rules and policies for their respective sports, including restricting one-on-one interactions between adults and children so that child predators, like Larry Nassar, can no longer exploit the system. The statute of limitations for such cases will also be extended under the bill to give victims of abuse more time to sue sex-crime perpetrators.
The bill, which was approved by the House earlier this week, now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
A copy of the bill is available here.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: legislation, Olympic athletes, Senator Bill Nelson, sexual abuse

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