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Faith Leader Urges Caution on Senate Fracking Ban Bill

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Florida Faith and Freedom Chair Jim Kallinger questions whether
the proposed ban on fracking in Florida is necessary or beneficial.

Jim Kallinger, Chairman of the Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition, made the following statement today regarding Senate Bill 442:
“Stewardship of our planet is one of the most obvious duties we have. If we are to protect the faith and freedom that is the God-given right of every person, we must protect the environment in which we all live.
“In light of that, we support sound public policies that protect and conserve our natural resources while also encouraging a strong economy and ensuring personal freedom. That’s why we urge Florida legislators to seriously consider whether Senate Bill 442, which would ban fracking in Florida, is the best direction for our state’s environmental policy.
“Without clear and compelling evidence that fracking is unsafe, we believe a ban on the technology in Florida could threaten the state’s potential to develop much-needed energy sources to power our future. Environmental stewardship must be balanced with the economic needs of future generations of Floridians and based on facts.
“We believe both these goals can be achieved, but not through regulatory tactics that are not rooted in sound science and data. We hope the Florida Senate will put the brakes on Senate Bill 442 and make sure that Florida policies on fracking, and any other energy-development resource, will actually help, not hurt, Floridians.”
About Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition
The Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition is committed to educating, equipping, and mobilizing people of faith and like-minded individuals to be effective citizens. Together, the Coalition influences public policy and enacts legislation that strengthens families, promotes time-honored values, protects the dignity of life and marriage, lowers the tax burden on small business and families, and requires government to tighten its belt and live within its means.
ON THE WEB:  www.ffcflorida.com

Sponsored and Paid for by the Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition

Gov. Scott statement regarding passage of HB 9 and HB 7005

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Statement from Governor Rick Scott regarding the passage of job killing legislation (HB 9 & HB 7005) today in the Florida House of Representatives:
“Today, politicians in the Florida House passed job killing legislation. We can all agree that VISIT FLORIDA and EFI need to be absolutely accountable and transparent, and both agencies have already taken major steps and implemented reforms to ensure their operations meet our high expectations. However, today’s actions by the House curb the mission of VISIT FLORIDA and bury it in more government bureaucracy – along with decimating Florida’s economic toolkit and the very programs which are directly tied to the creation of thousands of jobs for Florida families.
“Many politicians who voted for these bills say they are for jobs and tourism. But, I want to be very clear – a vote for these bills was a vote to kill tourism and jobs in Florida. I will continue to fight for Florida jobs and never stop standing up for the families and businesses whose livelihood depend on a strong and growing economy.” – Governor Rick Scott

Pensacola man claims $1 million Scratch-Off prize one day after celebrating his birthday

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The Florida Lottery announces that Leslie Holtzclaw, of Pensacola, claimed a $1 million prize in the $5,000,000 FLAMINGO MULTIPLIER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee, just one day after celebrating his 52nd birthday.
Holtzclaw chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $716,577.60. He purchased his winning ticket from Six Kids Store Super Deli, located at 1023 Greenbrier Boulevard in Pensacola.
The $20 game, $5,000,000 FLAMINGO MULTIPLER, launched in September 2015 and features more than seven million winning tickets and more than $346 million in total cash prizes! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.97.
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.

New American Bridge Digital Campaign Highlights Trump's Florida Job Losses

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American Bridge 21st Century Header
In conjunction with the latest jobs report, American Bridge is today launching a new digital campaign highlighting layoffs and outsourced jobs in Florida since Donald Trump took office,
For every job Trump dishonestly claims to “save” or “create,” he’s glossing over others being lost as American workers across the country are laid off and lose their jobs to outsourcing — jobs Trump did nothing to protect and keep in the U.S.
Running across social media platforms, the ads will communicate to voters the real job losses that have continued to happen, even as Trump trumpets the successes of an economy he inherited from President Obama.
American Bridge is also launching TrumpEconomy.com a new website that will track the job losses due to layoffs and foreign trade that happen on Trump’s watch.
Florida alone has seen 1,038 jobs lost to announced layoffs and foreign trade since Trump took office — Florida working people Trump ignores every time he takes credit for jobs he didn’t create, fails to stimulate job growth, and pretends that the economy is working for everyone.
American Bridge Chairman David Brock issued the following statement on the launch:
“President Trump is selling out the American people with an economic agenda that rigs the system for millionaires. Since taking office, he has done nothing to create jobs or to stop them from going overseas and the American people are catching on. Trump’s economy is making outsourcing great again, and we’re going to hold him accountable for his lies, distractions, and economic failures in the White House.”
3.10.2017 ab job loss

Lionfish Panhandle Pilot Program ends May 19

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Panhandle lionfish hunters only have until May 19 to compete in the Panhandle Pilot Program. This yearlong lionfish removal incentive program rewards divers for harvesting lionfish off Escambia through Franklin counties. The program may be ending, but lionfish are open for harvest year-round and there are no bag or size limits.
For every 100 lionfish removed, divers receive a tag that allows them to take an additional cobia or red grouper in state waters, but this tag must be used before May 19. The first 10 teams who remove 500 or more lionfish also qualify to name an artificial reef in the Panhandle. To date, six groups have qualified to rename an artificial reef.
The program ends the day before the annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival, which is May 20-21 at Plaza de Luna in Pensacola.
A revamp of the statewide Lionfish Challenge will also be launched that same weekend. More information on this program will be coming soon.
Learn more about the Panhandle Pilot Program and how you can get rewarded for your lionfish removals by visiting MyFWC.com/Lionfish.

Senator Dana Young statement on SB 442 passing Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee

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State Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) today released the following statement regarding the passage of her bill, Senate Bill 442, an act relating to advanced well stimulation treatments, out of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee. SB 442 bans fracking of all types in Florida, including hydraulic fracking, acid fracking and matrix acidizing.
“I’m proud that my colleagues on the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee joined me in supporting a statewide fracking ban in Florida by voting favorably on SB 442.
“Florida has such a unique geological make up and one-of-a-kind environment that we should not be putting it at risk by allowing fracking in the State of Florida. This is the same sentiment that I’ve heard echoed from concerned Floridians from the panhandle all the way to the Florida Keys – we should not be jeopardizing our drinking water supply or our beautiful natural environment.
“On behalf of all Floridians and future generations yet to come, I look forward to continuing to working with my fellow members of the Senate and the members of the Florida House to pass this legislation.”
SB 442 is slated to be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources.

Harris Corporation Supporting Lee Williams Wildfire Fighting Efforts

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Harris Corporation reached out to emergency management officials and first responders in Collier County, Florida, this week to offer support in battling the 7,000-acre Lee Williams wildfire.
Starting Sunday, company officials offered whatever materials the fire crews needed to continue the seamless communication among the different state and local agencies involved in fighting the fire. Those materials include spare radios, batteries, chargers and support personnel on standby.
Additionally, Harris offered use of its Helios intelligence and analytics platform, which uses existing traffic cameras to provide situational awareness in emergencies. Helios can provide historical information and predictive analysis of traffic and road conditions, weather, wind and visibility. The Helios network detected poor visibility along a 25-mile stretch of I-75 as a result of the fire, and it continues to capture and process images of the affected section of the highway.
Harris has also offered aerial sensing technology called Geiger-mode LiDAR after the fire is contained to help assess damage to property and the environment and plan necessary recovery and restoration.
Harris provides the communications infrastructure for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Collier County Emergency Management in addition to the state agencies responding to the fire through the State Law Enforcement Radio System. SLERS includes the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and others. Harris also provides communications for FPL, which is in the area managing power interruptions resulting from the fire. All the local and state agencies and utility can communicate seamlessly using Harris technologies.

About Harris Corporation
arris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving customers’ toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Harris supports customers in more than 100 countries and has approximately $6 billion in annual revenue. The company is organized into three business segments: Communication Systems, Space and Intelligence Systems and Electronic Systems. Learn more at harris.com.