The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public kick-off meeting to talk about a corridor planning study along State Road (SR) 19 (North Central Avenue) from County Road 450‐A to Bulldog Way / Olde Millstream RV Park in Umatilla, Florida.
The study will open the discussion about the corridor’s growth and its future use. The planning study will develop and evaluate alternative corridor improvement concepts to support a multimodal approach to providing for future transportation needs.
The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at the Umatilla City Hall at 1 South Central Avenue, Umatilla, Florida 32784. It begins with an open house at 5:30 p.m., followed by a live presentation at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will conclude at 7:30 p.m.
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Kyle Taniguchi, Project Planner, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. at 407-839-4006 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 by phone at 386-943-5367, or via email at [email protected].
The Florida Department of Transportation urges drivers to not text and drive, and to always wear a seatbelt.
Senate Approves River and Lakes Bill Championed by Senator Bradley
Senate Bill 234, filed by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island), which appropriates $20 million annually for projects dedicated to the restoration of the St. Johns River and its tributaries or the Keystone Heights Lake Region passed the full Senate on Thursday, April 14th.
“The St. Johns River and Keystone Lakes define the character of the northeast region of our state,” said Senator Bradley, a lifelong resident of Clay County. “In addition to providing scenic beauty and recreational opportunities to local residents, these natural resources attract visitors from across the state and nation. I am proud that the Florida Senate recognizes the value of these resources to those of us who reside in northeast Florida and the state.”
The legislation appropriates funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to be used for land management and land acquisition and for increasing recreational opportunities and access to the River and its tributaries or the Keystone Heights Lake Region. The bill now awaits action by the Florida House of Representatives.
Duval County woman claims $1 million prize from $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Maria Ambrogio, 60, of Atlantic Beach, claimed a $1 million prize in the $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $745,000.00.
Ambrogio purchased her winning ticket from Publix, located at 220 Front Street in Ponte Vedra Beach. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $20 game, $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER, features six top prizes of $5 million, 30 prizes of $1 million, and more than $752 million in total cash prizes! This $20 game offers more than 16.8 million winning tickets, and overall odds of winning are one-in-2.99.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.
Governor Rick Scott to Host Zika Preparedness Roundtable in Duval County
MEDIA ADVISORY
Tomorrow, April 18, Governor Rick Scott will host a roundtable discussion with community leaders in Jacksonville regarding efforts to prepare for and combat the Zika Virus.
WHAT: Zika Preparedness Roundtable
WHEN: 9:00 AM
WHERE: Duval County Department of Health
900 University Blvd. N.
Jacksonville, Florida 32211
UT Hosting Sixth Annual Human Rights Day Conference April 22
The University of Tampa will host its sixth annual Human Rights Day Conference on Saturday, April 22. Attendees will explore the theme Migration, Immigration and Refugee Rights through panels, presentations and creative works from UT faculty and students as well as outside speakers.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center and is free and open to the public.
The conference will kick off with a screening of Drawing the Tiger. Filmed over seven years, the documentary follows a rural Nepalese family as they try to escape the cyclical debt and poverty of subsistence farming. After the screening, co-directors Amy Benson and Scott Squire will deliver a keynote address on their behind-the-scenes journey of making the film.
In the afternoon, attendees can choose from several concurrent sessions. Room one sessions include:
- Contested Borders, Refugees and Human Security: A Case Study of Kashmir, Aurobinda Mahapatra, Fellow at the Center for Peace, Development and Democracy, University of Massachusetts Boston, 2 p.m.
- Social Justice Communication and Actuality Media, Christopher Boulton, UT students and a representative from Actuality Media, 3 p.m.
- Migrant Rights Panel, Scott Solomon, associate professor of government and international affairs at the University of South Florida; Mary Meyer, professor of political science at Eckerd College; and Tara Deubel, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida, 4 p.m.
Room two sessions include:
- Central American Migrants: Social and Economic Causes of Emigration, Harry E. Vanden, professor of government and international affairs at the University of South Florida, 2 p.m.
- Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS), Alayne Unterberger, FICS founder and research director, 3 p.m.
- Fair Food and Human Rights: How the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Consumer Allies Have Transformed the Agricultural Industry, Coalition of Immokalee Workers representatives, 4 p.m.
The conference will end with a discussion of the CARIBE Refugee Program with coordinator Ronald Alan Cruz at 5 p.m.
The conference is organized by Bruce Friesen and Marcus Arvan of the Human Rights Think Tank, and is sponsored by the UT College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education, the UT Department of Philosophy and Religion, the UT Honors Program and UNA-USA Tampa Bay.
For more information, go to www.ut.edu/humanrightsday or contact Friesen at [email protected] or (813) 257-3464, or Arvan at [email protected] or (813) 257-3674.
Gov. Scott announces resignation of Melinda Miguel
Eric Miller to join as Chief Inspector General
Governor Rick Scott today announced Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel’s resignation, which will be effective today. Melinda Miguel will be pursuing opportunities in the private sector. Click HERE to see her resignation letter. Eric Miller, who currently serves as Inspector General at the Agency for Health Care Administration, will serve as the Governor’s Chief Inspector General beginning Friday, April 21, 2017.
Governor Scott said, “Melinda has done a great job serving our state as Inspector General, and I’m extremely grateful for her commitment to ensuring government remains accountable to Florida taxpayers. She has been a valuable part of my team for over six years and I wish her success in her new endeavor as a business owner.”
Melinda Miguel said, “I’d like to thank Governor Scott for his leadership during my time as his Chief Inspector General for the past six years. It has been an honor to serve Florida’s families and work to make Florida even better for our future generations.”
Governor Scott continues, “Eric has dedicated his career to serving our state for more than twenty years. As Inspector General at AHCA, Eric has firsthand experience in fighting fraud and ensuring tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively. I am confident he will continue his great work as Chief Inspector General in my office.”
Eric Miller has served in his current position as Inspector General at AHCA since September, 2011. Prior to this role, Eric served as Manager of Corporate Compliance at Citizens Property Insurance Corporation from 2008 to 2011. He has also served in various leadership roles in Florida state government since 1993. Eric received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of West Florida and his Master of Science in Public Administration from Troy University.
Senator Linda Stewart Sets Ball in Motion to Fund Florida Land Conservation in 2018
Refusing to accept the lack of progress in meeting the voters’ mandate, State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) has begun efforts to restore critical funding to Florida Forever, assuring the popular land buying program is poised to begin protecting the state’s environment by early next year.
“Seventy-five percent of the voters who approved Amendment 1 in 2014 did so to restore the Florida Forever funding,” said Senator Stewart. “We need to set aside the land to provide the natural systems and services tied to our quality of water.”
Stewart is seeking to set aside 25 percent of the Land Acquisition Trust Fund annually for land acquisition in the Florida Forever program. The program is Florida’s blueprint for conservation of our unique natural resources and is the state’s premier conservation and recreation lands acquisition program. In 2014, about 4.2 million voters demonstrated the pulse of the public for dedicated funding for land and water conservation when they approved Amendment 1.
But efforts to dedicate state funding earmarked under Amendment 1 for land purchases have been stymied since its passage, leading to sharp criticisms of the legislature’s disregard of the voters’ will.
Seeking to reverse the funding raids and lock-in an early commitment, Senator Stewart reached across the aisle to enlist Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources, and has indicated his support. “I would like to see us do more for Florida Forever than we do right now,” he said. “I look forward to working with you on Florida Forever and other environmental issues.”
Senator Stewart said that Senator Bradley’s assurances are promising and lay the groundwork for legislative efforts to finally comply with the constitutional provision Florida voters approved. “This could be a bigger and greater bill for next year,” Stewart said.
Gov. Scott appoints Steven A. Wellins to North Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners
Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Steven A. Wellins to the North Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners.
Steven A. Wellins, 50, of Fort Lauderdale, is the senior vice president of investments for Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. Wellins received his bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Miami and a master’s degree in economics from Florida State University. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2017, and ending June 29, 2017.
Upcoming I-4 Beyond the Ultimate Public Meeting for Seminole County/Segment 3
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public information meeting about the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate (BtU) design project in Seminole County. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a project update and present the preliminary design concepts. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Sanford City Hall, Utilities Training Room, 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32771. The meeting is an informal open house where project displays will be available for review. A brief looping presentation and other information will be available throughout the evening, and project staff will be available to discuss the project and answer questions.
The project involves the build-out of the interstate to its ultimate condition from one mile east of S.R. 434 to east of U.S. 17-92 in Seminole County, Florida. This project is also referred to as Segment 3 of BtU. The proposed improvements include widening the existing six-lane divided interstate to a 10-lane divided urban interstate. The design proposes the addition of two new Express Lanes and three non-tolled general use lanes in each direction. The four dynamically tolled, Express Lanes (two in each direction) will be priced according to traffic conditions. A barrier wall between the adjacent shoulders will separate the express lanes from the general-use lanes. One auxiliary lane will be provided in some areas in both directions.
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Ms. Beata Stys-Palasz, P.E., FDOT Project Manager, by phone at 386-943-5418, or by 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, by phone at 386-943-5367, or via email at [email protected].
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2016, and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT.
For media related questions, please contact the FDOT Public Information Office at 386-943-5473 / [email protected].
Additional information is available on the project website at www.i4express.com.
The Florida Department of Transportation urges drivers to not text and drive, and to always wear a seatbelt.
Gov. Scott Urges Florida Legislature to Fund $200 Million to Help Fix Herbert Hoover Dike
Governor Rick Scott today urged the Florida Legislature to include $200 million in state funding to its budget to help fix the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike and solve water issues around Lake Okeechobee. Governor Scott also asked the Legislature to pass a good bill which address the problems surrounding Lake Okeechobee and benefits Florida’s environment.
