Solar industry advocates and stakeholders will be at the Capitol for “Solar Industry Day” on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 to tout the 1,700 new solar jobs created in 2016 in Florida and to raise awareness about Senate Bill 90 sponsored by Senator Jeff Brandes. This legislation will secure the implementation of Amendment 4, which voters supported by 73 percent during the primary last year.
WHO: Solar Energy Industries Association, FlaSEIA, Advanced Energy Economy, Vote Solar
WHAT: Solar Industry Day with solar displays and Tesla test drives in the capitol courtyard
WHEN: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Wednesday, February 22, 2017
WHERE: Capitol Courtyard
Stetson University Magazine Spotlights Diversity, Inclusion
Focuses on challenges, solutions for students, faculty
Alex Greene found a doorway out of his crime-ridden neighborhood in Atlanta and has an inspiring story to tell about overcoming adversity and poverty. He graduated No. 2 in his high school class, earned a Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship and graduated from Stetson in December 2016 — the first in his family — with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He hopes to attend graduate school and work for the FBI.
Greene is an anomaly. According to one study by the U.S. Department of Education, just 12.6 percent of African-Americans of low socioeconomic status earn a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Such a disparity has fueled a movement for social justice in education that Greene’s mentor, Stetson Associate Professor of Education Rajni Shankar-Brown, Ph.D., has made her life’s work. Shankar-Brown teaches Stetson students about the need for social justice in education and the vast inequities borne by students of color and in poverty. Also, she brings children from a high-poverty elementary school in DeLand to Stetson each year, encouraging them to excel in school, be positive change agents and build a better world.
Greene and Shankar-Brown are among the many Hatters with real struggles, with potential solutions and with incredible energy. During a time when diversity and inclusion are concerns at the forefront of the finest universities nationwide, each is proving to have a voice and a vision.
They and others are among the highlights of the Winter 2017 edition of Stetson University Magazine, which is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, respect and equity.
Patrick Coggins, Ph.D., chair of the university’s Faculty Senate and a professor in the Department of Education, grew up in a society where all people were valued and encouraged to be inclusive. Born in Guyana, he uses his life experiences, along with his extensive academic background, to make students more aware of their worldviews and how those views impact others around them.
Huyen Le was about to become a statistic. In Stetson’s voluminous Campus Climate Study unveiled in fall 2016, among the revelations were disproportionate struggles by students during their first year on campus. In fall 2014, Le was one of them and, in the midst of only her first semester, was almost ready to transfer.
Today, largely thanks to SU First Peer Mentor Program for first-generation college students at the Cross Cultural Center on Stetson’s DeLand campus, Le has emerged as a leader and is now president of Stetson’s Asian Pacific American Coalition.
“There must be continual advancement,” wrote Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D., in her welcome message. Paraphrasing Martin Luther King Jr., she added that the “arc bending toward justice cannot be too long, or progress will not be felt.”
Another featured article reveals that three Stetson alumni debuted in fall 2016 at top opera houses worldwide in what School of Music Dean Tom Masse, D.M.A., described as a “remarkable” first.
View the digital version of the four-color, 68-page magazine here.
Florida Poly Receives $1.5 Million FDOT Grant to Improve Fog Prediction
Florida Polytechnic University Professor Dr. Christina Drake has received a $1.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to study new methods of predicting fog on Florida roadways, helping forecasters better alert travelers of dangerous weather conditions.
Florida Poly will work with PraxSoft, an information technology and engineering company based in Orlando, to refine, develop and deploy new monitoring software. In addition, Florida Poly will establish testing sites in Central and Southern Florida to improve the current weather model and help provide advanced warnings of road conditions that can cause traffic congestion.
“Transportation challenges are among the most pressing in Florida as our population grows and becomes more mobile. Advancing transportation technology – including systems for predicting and monitoring roadway conditions — will ultimately make travel safer, easier and more efficient for everyone,” said Florida Poly President Dr. Randy K. Avent. “This is exactly the type of applied research for near-term impact we aim to pursue at Florida Poly.”
Florida Poly and Praxsoft have already begun working on this project, and the team will make recommendations to FDOT for new technologies and testing methods over the coming months.
Alongside Dr. Drake on this project are Associate Professor of Nanotechnology and Multifunctional Materials Dr. Christopher Coughlin and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Harish Chintakunta. The grant will employ undergraduate students as research associates, and establish new data collection, analysis and engineering methods.
“This project will have an impact throughout Florida and beyond as we research sensor systems for roadway safety conditions that affect a huge number people every year,” said Dr. Drake, Florida Poly Assistant Professor of Electrical, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. “In addition, having Florida Poly students participate in real-world studies like this will not only enhance our current efforts, but also prepare them to be lifelong innovators and problem-solvers, ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.”
“We are impressed with the wide pool of talent at Florida Poly,” said FDOT Project Manager Fred Heery, Sr., P.E. “Fog can be a major issue on Florida’s roadways, and we’ve seen several major accidents over the past decade related to intense fog conditions. The purpose of this study is to improve traffic management, but more importantly to help improve the safety of Florida travelers.”
This grant is representative of Florida Poly’s commitment to engaging students and faculty in real-world problems, said Florida Poly Provost Dr. Terry Parker.
“We believe strongly in applied research and embedding real-world problems into our curriculum. This grant will positively impact both the public’s safety and students’ understanding of how to harness science for the public good,” Parker said.
Statement from Lyft regarding approval of ridesharing bill
Lyft Issued the Below Statement Following Approval of Ridesharing Legislation by the House Government Accountability Committee
“Today’s approval of the ridesharing bill by the House Government Accountability Committee clears the way for this important legislation to be voted on by the full House. We are grateful for the advocacy of Reps. Sprowls and Grant on behalf of the millions of passengers and drivers who benefit from ridesharing in Florida. We look forward to continuing to advocate for consistent statewide rules for ridesharing that expand economic activity, prioritize public safety, and encourage innovation across the state.”
This quote can be attributed to Chelsea Harrison, Senior Policy Communications Manager for Lyft.
Florida Lottery reaches $1 billion in education contributions with four months left in the fiscal year
$31 billion total over 29 years
The Florida Lottery today announced another record – $1 billion in contributions to education for the 15th consecutive year. Additionally, the Lottery reached the $1 billion mark for this fiscal year earlier than any other year in Florida Lottery history. This brings the Lottery’s life-to-date education contributions to more than $31 billion.
“This milestone would not have been possible without the support of our loyal players, dedicated retailers and hardworking Lottery staff,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie. “The Lottery will continue working hard every day to advance our mission of maximizing contributions to education in a manner that is consistent with the dignity and integrity of the state.”
Over the past 29 years, the Florida Lottery has established itself as a dependable funding source for public education. For 15 consecutive years the Lottery has transferred more than $1 billion to education, while remaining one of the most efficient lotteries in the nation. Additionally, the Lottery has contributed more than $5 billion to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to send over 750,000 students to college.
Florida Lottery contributions represent approximately six percent of the state’s total education budget. Lottery funds are appropriated by the Florida Legislature and are administered by the Florida Department of Education.
January Monthly Actions from AHCA
January Monthly Actions: Agency Took Licensure Action Against Eight Providers,
Seven Additional Providers Terminated from the Medicaid Program
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) issued final orders to eight providers for failure to meet licensure requirements in January.
There were two final orders to revoke an existing license, three final orders to deny a license renewal, three final orders that resulted in the providers surrendering their license, and one final order to deny a Change of Ownership (CHOW). Some of these providers were enrolled in the Medicaid program and the Agency has terminated or is in the process of terminating their participation in the program.
In addition, seven providers were issued final orders terminating them from participation in the Medicaid program and have been reported to the federal government for placement on the federal exclusion list, which prohibits them from participating in Medicaid and Medicare nationwide.
Agency Medicaid terminations and suspensions typically result from failure to return funds due to the Agency within required timeframes; a charge, indictment, or guilty plea to a health care related crime; suspension, termination, or exclusion from Medicare or Medicaid in another state; or a license denial, revocation, suspension or termination by the licensing agency.
Further information about the actions and final orders can be found on the public records search page. Emergency orders, including moratoriums on admissions and suspensions, can also be found on the public records search page by searching the name of the facility.
The Agency encourages anyone who may have a concern or observes a problem in any health care facility or with any provider regulated by the Agency, to file a complaint by calling our consumer complaint line at 1-888-419-3456 or by reporting online.
Tips about suspected fraud can be reported by calling the Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at 1-866-966-7226 or the Agency’s Consumer Call Center at 1-888-419-3456. Anyone can report fraud online by visiting the Agency’s website.
The Agency for Health Care Administration is committed to better health care for all Floridians. The Agency administers Florida’s Medicaid program, licenses and regulates more than 49,000 health care facilities and 43 health plans, and publishes health care data and statistics at www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov. Additional information about Agency initiatives is available via Facebook (AHCAFlorida), Twitter (@AHCA_FL) and YouTube (/AHCAFlorida).
St. Augustine man wins $1 million on $5,000,000 FLAMINGO MULTIPLIER Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Joseph Lemmon, 47, of St. Augustine, claimed a $1 million prize in the $5,000,000 FLAMINGO MULTIPLIER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee.
Lemmon chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $728,894.00. He purchased his winning ticket from FCE, located at 195 Corridor Road in Ponte Vedra Beach.
The $20 game, $5,000,000 FLAMINGO MULTIPLER, launched in September 2015 and features more than 7.6 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.
Attorney General Bondi’s Statement on Florida Supreme Court Decision in Perry v. State
Attorney General Pam Bondi today issued the following statement in response to the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Perry v. State:
“I am pleased with the Florida Supreme Court’s decision today to allow ongoing capital punishment cases to proceed with proper jury instruction. This decision provides our courts with the clarification needed to proceed with murder cases in which the death penalty is sought.”
To view the Florida Supreme Court’s decision, click here.
Gov. Scott: Florida House is Playing Politics with Families’ Jobs
Governor Rick Scott has written the below op-ed on the Florida House playing politics with Florida families jobs in advance of the House Appropriations Committee vote tomorrow to abolish Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. The committee meeting is tomorrow at 1pm at the Florida State Capitol and includes many members who just last year supported Governor Scott’s efforts to increase funding at Enterprise Florida, including: Rep. Brodeur, Rep. Cummings, Rep. Hager, Rep. Metz, Rep. Raschein, and Rep. Stone.
Florida House is Playing Politics with Families’ Jobs
By, Governor Rick Scott
The Florida House of Representatives has decided to push legislation to undo economic development funding in Florida and defund our state’s tourism agency. A House panel voted for this job killing legislation two weeks ago and the House Appropriations Committee will be voting on it tomorrow.
That’s correct, many of your elected members of the Florida House have decided their top priority this year is to eliminate funding for Florida’s economy. They want to eliminate Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida.
They say that they don’t want government intrusion in the free market. Of course, there is government financing in the areas of healthcare, transportation, education, housing, and social services. But, they have decided to try to totally eliminate funding for the one area where we can easily show a major return on the investment of your tax dollars – jobs are being created by more companies moving to our state and our tourism industry has recruited a record-breaking number of visitors over the last few years.
Even more absurd, the politicians in the Florida House who already voted for this bill say they don’t necessarily want to abolish these programs but instead want to advance a “conversation” …meaning they voted for something they don’t support. This is hypocrisy at its best and these are the kind of games I came to Tallahassee to change.
I ran for Governor to fight this sort of politics and bring common sense from the business world to our government. The plan has worked, as Florida has added more than 1.26 million new jobs.
Many politicians spend a lifetime in government and they simply don’t have any understanding of how business actually works. These are the facts that confirm the negligence of eliminating our jobs and tourism agencies generating jobs:
- Before I came into office, state incentives were often awarded before goals, like job creation, were met.
- But, today Florida companies only receive economic incentives after an independent third-party audit proves stringent requirements are met, including proven job growth and wage requirements to ensure a great return on investment for Florida families.
- This means NO MONEY is given as “corporate welfare” because no money can be awarded until contract requirements like jobs are created.
- Because of our economic development programs, several companies like Hertz, Northrup Grumman, and Blue Origin – to name a few – have located or expanded in our state to create thousands of jobs.
The Florida House likes to rely on inaccurate information to push their narrative of “corporate welfare,” by highlighting the failed deal of Digital Domain. Let’s look at the facts: EFI recommended that the state not fund Digital Domain. Ironically, politicians in the Florida Legislature chose to ignore EFI’s recommendation and circumvented EFI’s strict process in 2009 by funding the failed project FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
Both Visit Florida and EFI have made mistakes over the years. In both cases, we have made changes to ensure transparency of taxpayer dollars and brought in new leadership. That is what you do in business; you make changes and get it right. But what you do not do is close up shop.
If the House were to succeed with ending economic development and tourism programs in Florida, the small and rural communities in our state would be hurt the most. Cancelling our statewide program would hurt those areas in Florida that would truly be revitalized by a new job creator in their community.
Just last week I travelled the state and met with business owners who are devastated that there is even talk of abolishing these programs. Many job creators rely on EFI and Visit Florida and said they would not be able to keep their doors open if it weren’t for their help. No job is expendable to the families they employ.
Coming into this job after a lifetime in business, I knew I would have to learn to tolerate some aspects of politics, and I would have to endure lectures from people who do not know the first thing about creating jobs. But, I cannot allow thousands of Floridians to be denied jobs and opportunities in our state just so a few in elected office can get headlines for their campaign for higher office.
Our economy is booming. Our economic development and tourism programs are some of the best in the nation when it comes to getting a positive return on investment. I will continue to set the record straight on the politics the Florida House is playing and fight for the Florida families who expect their government officials to bring them more opportunity, not less.
This is no time to stand still. In business you are either moving forward or you are moving backward. The Florida House is currently planning to take our state backward. I will fight to stop them, and so should you.
Florida Forest Service Releases New Fire Information App
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service today announced the release of “FLBurnTools,” a new mobile app to inform the public about drought, wildfire danger and wildfire activity. Prescribed burn practitioners can also use the app to plan and submit authorization requests. The “FLBurnTools” app is now available in both Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.
“By providing Floridians with better access to the latest wildfire information, we can help protect people, wildlife and property,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Residents can now see real-time conditions in their area and take the appropriate safety precautions.”
The Florida Forest Service’s prescribed fire program is a nationwide leader, treating more than 2.1 million acres last year and providing approximately 88,000 burn authorizations annually. In addition to administering Florida’s prescribed fire program, the Florida Forest Service responds to wildfires during Florida’s year-round wildfire season. Last year, more than 2,100 wildfires burned 53,476 acres in Florida.
The “FLBurnTools” app provides the following tools:
- Drought information
- Interactive fire maps
- Wildfire information
- Burning authorization requests
- Smoke dispersion models
- Spot weather forecasts
“Wildfire activity is on the rise and wildfire danger is expected to increase greatly in the coming months,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester. “Floridians equipped with the ‘FLBurnTools’ app can view the locations of nearby wildfires and see up-to-date drought and wildfire danger information.”
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
