On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the University of Tampa will welcome entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author and tech media personality Randi Zuckerberg as part of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center’s Today’s Entrepreneurial Women speaker series.
The program, which will be held in Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge, will run from 1–2 p.m., followed by a networking reception from 2–3 p.m. The program will be moderated by Rebecca White, director of UT’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center.
Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, developing technology, content and live events all with the mission of putting intelligent, tech-savvy, entrepreneurial women of all ages at the center of pop culture and media.
A Harvard University graduate, Zuckerberg hosts a weekly business talk radio show, Dot Complicated, on SiriusXM. She has two TV shows currently on air: DOT, which airs on NBC Universal Kids and is the winner of Kidscreen’s Best New Preschool Series, and American Dreams, which is on HSN and highlights entrepreneurs around the country. She is the best-selling author of Dot Complicated, Dot and, most recently, Missy President.
Zuckerberg travels the world, speaking about technology, entrepreneurship, her time as an early employee at Facebook, leading major marketing initiatives in the company’s formative years, and, shockingly, how to unplug.
Admission for UT students is a $5 refundable deposit (free for UT faculty and staff with registration). General admission is $25 and includes a copy of Dot Complicated, and corporate sponsorships are available for $500 and include four tickets and four copies of Dot Complicated.
RSVP by Jan. 22 at randi.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact [email protected].
Flagler College to show ‘Dare Not Walk Alone’ and hold panel on civil rights movement
Flagler College will hold a public screening of the documentary “Dare Not Walk Alone” followed by a panel on the legacy of the civil rights movement on Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium.
“Dare Not Walk Alone” is a 2006 documentary that chronicles civil rights protests in St. Augustine in 1964, and inequalities that continue to exist in the city today. It was written and directed by Flagler alumnus Jeremy Dean, an artist whose pieces revolves around the central themes of social awareness and historic revelations.
Following the screening of the film, Flagler Professor of History Michael Butler will moderate a panel discussion that includes: Dean; Evan Milligan, Law Fellow at Equal Justice Initiative; Hasani Malone, Flagler student and president of the Black Student Association; and Maude Jackson, a St. Augustine resident and participant in the 1964 Civil Rights demonstrations in St. Augustine.
“Dare Not Walk Alone” received numerous awards, a theatrical and TV release and special screenings at The King Center, the Skirball Center, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Dean is the recipient of the Independent Southern Filmmakers Tour award and nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
This event is being done in partnership with NAACP St Augustine, Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, Women’s March St Augustine and Indivisible St Johns. The event is free and open to the public.
Interlachen man claims first top prize in new FLORIDA 50X THE CASH Scratch-Off game
Kenneth Hall, Jr. poses with his oversized check after claiming a
$2 million top prize in the FLORIDA 50X THE CASH Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery announces that Kenneth Hall, Jr., 48, of Interlachen, claimed a $2 million top prize in the new FLORIDA 50X 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 $1,600,000.00.
Hall purchased his winning ticket from Circle K, located at 1137 State Road 20 in Interlachen. The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $10 game, FLORIDA 50X THE CASH, launched on January 15, and gives players the opportunity to multiply their winnings by up to 50 times! The game also offers over $162 million in cash prizes, plus eight $2 million top prizes! Overall odds of winning are one-in-3.46.
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.
Altamonte Springs man arrested on 10 counts of child pornography
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Orlando Cyber Crime Task Force today arrested Timothy Young, 38, of 133 Oyster Bay Circle, Apt. 360, Altamonte Springs, on 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
After receiving a tip, FDLE agents launched an investigation and found that Young had downloaded images depicting child pornography. During the execution of a search warrant, agents conducted a forensic preview of digital devices and found at least 10 files of children who appeared to be under the age of 10 in sexual images.
Young was taken to the Seminole County Jail on a $350,000 bond. He will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, 18th Judicial Circuit.
Senator Stewart Rallies Support for Equal Pay for Equal Work
State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) is a firm believer in equal pay for equal work, and understands first-hand the heavy economic toll it takes predominantly on women when they face discrimination in the paycheck.
Determined to change those numbers, Senator Stewart is sponsoring legislation that would level the playing field in the work place, as well as a resolution that codifies equality for women in the constitution.
On Tuesday, January 23rd, a rally will be held in support of the measures in the state Capitol. The event will begin at 12:00 PM on the Fourth Floor Rotunda in Front of the Senate Chamber. Those in the Orlando area are encouraged to board buses, cars, or carpool to attend the rally.
“There is a shift in culture that needs to be recognized and equality for all endorsed,” said Stewart.
Senate Bill 594 is designed to prohibit an employer from various discrimination practices. This includes “providing less favorable opportunities to employees” and decisions based on their sex, unfair employment practices that relate to employee wages and benefits, and other actions indicative of labor and discrimination that occur in the workplace.
A companion bill, House Bill 393, has been introduced by Representative Lori Berman (D-Lantana).
Miami woman turns $25 into $1 million playing the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Maria Larin, 65, of Miami, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $748,000.00.
Larin purchased her winning ticket from Winn-Dixie, located at 6770 Southwest 40th Street in Miami. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $25 game, $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH, features more than $549 million in total cash prizes, including two top prizes of $10 million and 46 prizes of $1 million! Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.89.
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.
Mast to POTUS: Prioritize Florida Water Infrastructure in Budget Request
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump asking him to prioritize the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), including completion of the reservoir authorized by Florida Senate Bill 10, in his budget request to Congress this year.
The text of the letter is below and attached:
January 17, 2018
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Mr. President:
Thank you for supporting the needs of all Floridians by advancing an expedited timeline to rehabilitate the Herbert Hoover Dike. This action is a critical step in ensuring the safety of millions of Floridians.
Beyond the rehabilitation of one of the country’s most vulnerable pieces of infrastructure, however, there is a greater mission ahead: the completion of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP).
While the rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike is necessary to flood control and human safety, it is just one part of a much larger and comprehensive series of infrastructure projects required to preserve the health, economy and environment of Florida. These Congressionally-authorized projects create a roadmap to ensure the survival of Florida’s ecosystem, which has been continually altered by the federal government over the past century. Without restoration, Floridians from across the state will continue to combat life threatening events through rising waters, devastating storms and ecological destruction.
I ask that as you move forward with expediting the completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation that you also include requests to expedite CERP and CEPP. Expediting CERP and CEPP will do more than just preventing a catastrophic flood. These projects will restore sustainability, livelihoods and resiliency of communities that have been lost at the hands of the federal government. In order for this to succeed, we need:
- $1.4 billion for the EAA Reservoir to build necessary storage and treatment features;
- $1.98 billion for the Central Everglades Plan to restore freshwater flow to the Everglades and Florida Bay to reduce harmful discharges;
- $80 million for C-44, the St. Lucie Estuary Storm Water Treatment Areas, to reduce and clean harmful discharges to the St. Lucie Estuary;
- $12 million for C-43 to help restore the natural flow of water to the Caloosahatchee River;
- $20 million to complete the Picayune Strand, a 55,000-acre habitat restoration in the Western Everglades;
- $210 million for the Tamiami Trail Bridging to remove a logjam, allowing for sheet-flow restoration;
- $4 million for C-111 South Dade to improve freshwater flow to the southern Everglades, including the Taylor Slough and Florida Bay;
- $71 million for Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project Phase I to restore the natural pattern of freshwater inflows to Biscayne Bay;
- $190 million for C-11, the Broward Water Preserve Area, to improve water quality and reduce seepage loss from central Everglades, increase water supply and reduce saltwater intrusion in Broward County;
- $71 million for the Kissimmee River Restoration to restore critical floodplain habitat and flows to Lake Okeechobee.
Expediting the Herbert Hoover Dike is a great signal that your Administration intends to fulfill the promises of the federal government to correct the water problems imposed on Floridians under previous Administrations. Completion of the dike is an important step, but holding water in Lake Okeechobee does not solve the fundamental issue of safely and responsibly channeling that water to where nature always intended it to flow: the Everglades.
I look forward to working with you on removing bureaucratic inefficiencies and ensuring adequate appropriations to put the entire solution back on track. Including these priorities in your budget request for fiscal year 2019, prioritizing CERP and CEPP along with the Herbert Hoover Dike, would go a long way toward achieving our shared objectives.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Mast
Member of Congress
Florida Prepaid Partners with Florida Department of Education to Honor Outstanding Educators
Florida Prepaid Signs on as Presenting Sponsor
of the 2018 Florida Teacher of the Year
From left, 2018 Teacher of the Year Tammy Jerkins, State Board Member Tom Grady, State Board Member Ben Gibson, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, Florida Prepaid Executive Director Kevin Thompson, Florida Prepaid Director of Marketing and Communications Martha Bullock, Florida Prepaid Spokesperson Shannon Colavecchio, State Board Chair Marva Johnson, State Board Member Andy Tuck and State Board Member Michael Olenick.
At a meeting of the State Board of Education, Commissioner Stewart today recognized Florida Prepaid as the presenting sponsor of the Florida Teacher of the Year Program. The annual Florida Teacher of the Year Program celebrates one of the most important professions in the world: teaching.
“We are grateful for Florida Prepaid’s commitment to Florida’s future, and we look forward to working together toward our goal of Florida being the best place in the world to receive a great education,” said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. “The Teacher of the Year Program is a wonderful opportunity for teachers from every school district to be recognized for their hard work and to access valuable professional development to enhance their leadership skills.”
As the presenting sponsor, Florida Prepaid will support statewide teacher leadership programs and expand the influence of Florida’s most accomplished teachers; elevate teaching as a rewarding and honored career choice and help solve the teacher shortage; and celebrate excellence in one of the most impactful professions.
“We are honored to be a part of this important program for Florida educators, whose professional mission aligns so closely with ours,” said Florida Prepaid Executive Director Kevin Thompson. “Teachers prepare Florida students academically for the rigors of a K-12 and postsecondary education, and at Florida Prepaid we are helping the families of Florida students to prepare financially for college. The result is a stronger Florida.”
Proceeds from the program support professional growth programs for teachers and strategies to enhance the impact of Florida’s best educators. That effort begins with the Teacher Roundtable, a three-day series of teacher leadership training held each year in July. Following this initial orientation to the purposeful activities of being a school-wide leader, this distinguished group has the opportunity to participate in the Florida’s Teacher Lead Network, a growing collaborative of Florida’s best teachers committed to impacting positively our state’s schools and districts.
Florida Prepaid, as well as additional sponsors, also make possible the gala, including the much-anticipated Teacher of the Year announcement. The gala is the backbone of an intentional strategy to infuse every school in Florida with exceptional teachers who are prepared to lead other educators, impacting instructional quality throughout the state. The 2018 gala is scheduled for July 13 in Orlando.
About the Florida Prepaid College Board
The Florida Prepaid College Board manages the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program and the Florida 529 Savings Plan. Both are tax-favored 529 college savings plans authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. In 1987 the Florida Prepaid College Program was created by the Florida Legislature and the commitment and dedication of Mr. Stanley G. Tate to provide Florida families with an affordable means to save for their children’s future college education. The first Florida Prepaid College Plans were sold in 1988, and were augmented with the addition of the Florida 529 Savings Plan in 2002. Florida Prepaid is the largest, longest running and most successful prepaid plan in the nation with more than 1.8 million Florida Prepaid College Plans purchased and more than $6.7 billion invested in Prepaid Plans by Florida families. The 529 Savings Plan has more than 60,000 active accounts with a market value of more than $525 million. To learn more about Florida Prepaid, visit myfloridaprepaid.com.
About the Florida Education Foundation
The Florida Education Foundation serves as the direct support organization for the Florida Department of Education. As a valued partner to public education, the Foundation’s mission is to invest in high achievement for every student to contribute to Florida’s globally competitive workforce. More information about the Foundation can be found at Florida Education Foundation.
To find out more information about Florida’s Teacher of the Year Program, click here.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.
Consumer Alert from Florida Office of Insurance Regulation: Cryptocurrency
Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and cryptocurrency-related investment products have been identified as emerging investor threats for 2018. Cryptocurrencies are a medium of exchange that are created and stored electronically in the blockchain, a distributed public database that keeps a permanent record of digital transactions. Common cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Unlike traditional currency, these alternatives have no physical form and typically are not backed by tangible assets. They are not insured or controlled by a central bank or other governmental authority, cannot always be exchanged for other commodities, and are subject to little or no regulation. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation encourages Floridians to be very cautious of investments involving cryptocurrency.
Some common concerns investors should consider before investing in any offering containing cryptocurrency include:
- Cryptocurrency is subject to minimal regulatory oversight, susceptible to cybersecurity breaches or hacks, and there may be no recourse should the cryptocurrency disappear.
- Cryptocurrency accounts are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which insures bank deposits up to $250,000.
- The high volatility of cryptocurrency investments makes them unsuitable for most investors.
- Investors in cryptocurrency are highly reliant upon unregulated companies, including some that may lack appropriate internal controls and may be more susceptible to fraud and theft than regulated financial institutions.
- Investors will have to rely upon the strength of their own computer security systems, as well as security systems provided by third parties, to protect purchased cryptocurrencies from theft.
Check out this video to help you understand the risks associated with ICOs and cryptocurrencies.
If you feel that you may be a victim of investment fraud or to report suspicious activity, please file a complaint with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation online, flofr.com, or call (850) 487-9687.
Senator Aaron Bean Unveils Unsolved Cases in Florida Website
Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) unveiled Florida’s new unsolved cases website featuring more than 400 unsolved homicides. The Unsolved Cases in Florida website features unsolved homicides that have been submitted by local law enforcement agencies for placement on the website. The website was developed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). In his prior role as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Senator Bean had the idea for a statewide website featuring unsolved cases. Senator Bean worked with FDLE to create the website.
“In Florida the bad guys are never off the hook,” said Senator Aaron Bean. “Our goal is to arrest the criminals who committed these crimes. By empowering our citizens, they can help local law enforcement agencies by providing tips on these cases.”
“Florida’s local law enforcement agencies work tirelessly on these unsolved cases,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen. “This website allows local agencies to display their unsolved homicide cases to be seen by millions of eyes.”
“Unsolved homicide cases cause indescribable pain for the those closest to the victim, which is why the Florida Sheriffs Association created the Cold Case Advisory Commission in 2015 to provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies,” said Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, chair of the FSA Cold Case Advisory Commission. “The Sheriffs of Florida today are very grateful to Senator Aaron Bean for his passion and energy, and to the FDLE for creating a website that will provide the public with access to unsolved cases.”
“No matter how much time passes, law enforcement will continue to search for answers to bring justice for victims and their families,” said Chief Kevin Lystad, Miami Shores Police Department and President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA). “The FPCA and its members commend Senator Aaron Bean for his idea to create this type of website, another tool for investigators to help find answers in these unsolved cases.”
The Unsolved Cases in Florida website can be found on FDLE’s website.
Senator Bean represents Senate District 4, which includes parts of Nassau and Duval Counties. He can be contacted in Tallahassee at (850) 487-5004 or in his District Office at (904) 757-5039.
Senator Bean will be holding a press conference at 10:00 a.m. this morning in front of the Senate Chambers at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee.
