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Atlanta Braves Fans Driving to Spring Training Games Can Slide Past Traffic with Florida 511

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fdot-511

Download the Florida 511 mobile app, visit FL511.com or follow #FL511 on Twitter

The Don’t let traffic delays keep you from missing the first pitch of the Atlanta Braves 2017 Grapefruit League home opener, as the team returns to Orlando to face the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, February 25. The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Florida 511 Traveler Information System provides real-time traffic information to help drivers avoid congestion and experience fewer delays while driving to the Braves spring training home at Champion Stadium in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Before hitting the road, Braves fans can plan their commute to the ballpark by visiting the interactive roadway map on the user-friendly FL511.com website for traffic incident alerts or to view roadway cameras showing current nearby driving conditions.
At the end of the game, fans can check the free Florida 511 mobile app, available on Google Play or the Apple App Store, to find out if congestion or traffic incidents will delay their planned post-game commute. The app can also be used to select an alternate route.
In addition to the website and mobile app, baseball fans can:

  • Sign up for a My Florida 511 personalized services account at FL511.com to create custom routes and register for email and text alerts.
  • Call 511 toll-free from any phone in Florida for traffic updates.

FDOT encourages all drivers to check Florida 511 to travel safely and experience fewer delays. Check Florida 511 before leaving or have a passenger check during your commute to avoid using a phone while driving.

POWERBALL Jackpot Rises to Estimated $403 Million

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More Than $31 Million Will Go To Education!

The POWERBALL® jackpot continues to climb to an estimated $403 million for Wednesday night’s draw; the largest in the nation. In addition to the large POWERBALL jackpot prize, players have the opportunity to win lower-tier prizes from $4 to $2 million by matching any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations. The POWERBALL jackpot has rolled 18 times since the December 21, 2016, drawing and those sales have generated more than $31 million in contributions to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).
“This week marks $31 billion in total Florida Lottery transfers to education,” said Secretary Tom Delacenserie. “Rising sales from this POWERBALL jackpot play a direct role in the Lottery’s ability to fund education for Florida’s students.”
Jackpot prizes are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. Jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days after the draw to receive the cash option of an estimated $189.3 million. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize.
As a reminder, players are encouraged to sign the back of their tickets at the time of purchase and keep them in a safe place. Players should also check their tickets carefully because even if they don’t win the jackpot, they can still win cash prizes of up $2 million.
Purchase your tickets at any of the more than 13,000 authorized Lottery retailers for your chance to become Florida’s newest multi-millionaire. The Florida Lottery would like to remind all players to please play responsibly, as it only takes one ticket to win. As with all Lottery products, players must be 18 years of age or older to purchase POWERBALL tickets.
The next POWERBALL drawing will be held Wednesday, February 22, at 10:59 p.m. ET, tickets must be purchased by 10:00 p.m. ET to be eligible for this drawing. National POWERBALL drawings are broadcast live, in high-definition, from the Florida Lottery’s state of the art draw studio in Tallahassee. Florida Lottery game drawings are broadcast on 17 carrier stations throughout the state.
 

DSC faculty earn excellence awards from national education consortium

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Five Daytona State College faculty and administrators have earned prestigious awards of excellence from the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), a consortium of community and technical colleges that promotes excellence in teaching, learning and leadership.
The award winners were announced at the Feb. 16 meeting of DSC’s District Board of Trustees and will be formally recognized in May during NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence to be held in Austin, Texas.
Professors Harold “Trey” Orndorff (Behavioral and Social Science), Nabeel Yousef (Engineering Technology) and Kelly Duffy (Nursing), as well as School of Student Life Skills chair and senior professor Charlene Latimer and Matthew Davids, who doubles as the chair and an instructor in the School of Adult Education, were honored for their commitment and contributions to their students and colleagues.
“Each of these educators has shown extraordinary commitment and dedication to teaching and learning, to the college and especially to our students,” said Amy Locklear, DSC’s provost for academic affairs and institutional effectiveness. “We are fortunate to have them as part of the college community and are grateful for their efforts.”

Davids
Davids

Davids joined Daytona State in 2007, beginning as a faculty member, and was named department chair last year. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Florida State University and a master’s in military history from the American Military University. Since taking over as department chair, he has overseen significant growth and expansion in the adult education program and brought a wealth of new ideas through his leadership, Locklear said.
Duffy
Duffy

Duffy joined DSC as an adjunct in the School of Nursing in 2004 and became a full-time faculty member in 2007. She is a DSC alumna, having earned her LPN, ADN and AA degree at the college. She also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, as well as a doctorate in education from the University of Phoenix. She has 22 years of experience in nursing in a multitude of specialties, and serves on a variety of national and international nursing advisory boards.
Latimer
Latimer

Latimer joined DSC as a counselor in 1992 before being named chair of the School of Student Life Skills, where she has overseen a rapid expansion of department. She serves on a variety of college working groups, including the Retention, Student Conduct and Service Learning committees, the Critical Thinking Institute and the college’s Quality Enhancement Implementation team. She earned her MS in Education from Hunter College in New York and a specialist degree in education from the University of Florida.
Orndorff
Orndorff

Orndorff joined DSC in 2011, teaching political science, including courses in the college’s QUANTA Honors program, where he also serves as an advisor. He is considered a pioneer in the development of new tools for online teaching, and a specialist in the use of social media in American political life. He also is an advisor for DSC’s gaming and feminist clubs. Orndorff holds master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from Miami University of Ohio.
Yousef
Yousef

Yousef joined DSC in 2010. He is a leader in innovative online teaching, with over 10 years of experience teaching online engineering courses. He serves on the board of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering and is the editor of its publication. He also has served as editor in chief of the Journal of Management in Engineering and was recently named to the board of directors of the International Association for Management Technology. Yousef also teaches DSC’s engineering senior design series, which is a capstone course where students create a product and market it. This year, his students won the prestigious Cairns Foundation Innovation Challenge, winning a $10,000 award to start their business at the UCF Business Incubator. He also was a 2014 Fulbright scholarship winner.

Brandon woman claims $1 million prize playing the $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Deborah Harvey, 65, of Brandon, 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.
Harvey purchased her winning ticket from Publix, located at 3461 Lithia Pinecrest Road in Valrico. 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.

Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon II calls on Gov. Scott to issue emergency declaration

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SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER OSCAR BRAYNON II CALLS ON GOVERNOR SCOTT TO
ISSUE EMERGENCY DECLARATION TO COMBAT FLORIDA’S OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon, II on Monday sent a letter to Governor Rick Scott, calling on him to declare a public health emergency to launch an immediate response to the growing epidemic of opioid abuse in Florida.
“No longer confined to small urban enclaves, heroin and fentanyl have become the scourge of communities throughout Florida, wreaking widespread devastation not only from the ravages of addiction, but the resurgence of deadly diseases associated with drug abuse. There is no family, no race, no ethnicity, no income level this epidemic cannot touch, and no effective state bulwark in place to stop it,” wrote the Miami Gardens Democrat.
The numbers are staggering. According to recent news reports, numbers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show a nearly 80 percent increase in heroin deaths and 77 percent increase in fentanyl deaths in Florida from 2014 to 2015.
Leader Braynon noted that the governor has responded to previous threats to the public’s health through emergency declarations, including the 2011 multi-pronged strike on pill mills, and even the recent Zika infections in South Florida.
In 2011, for example, as oxycontin overdoses were killing as many as seven Floridians a day, the governor’s Surgeon General issued a public health emergency. And, last year, the governor declared a public health emergency after just nine cases of Zika were confirmed.
“This letter is to request that you issue a similar order urgently needed to address the growing threat and rising body count arising from Florida’s opioid-addiction crisis,” he wrote.
Leader Braynon’s call was made on behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and echoes one made earlier this month by Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay.
“Not only are the lives of Floridians at stake, but resources of the public as an increasing number of unpaid charges for emergency hospital care are passed on to insurers and paying customers. To say nothing of the high financial burdens on local governments from the growing demands on first responders and the need for an increasing supply of the anti-overdose drug, naloxone. Or the terrible consequences that begin in the womb and continue well after birth with the tiniest victims of this crisis – the babies born to addicted mothers,” wrote Leader Braynon.
“This emergency will not end without our intervention and resources. I strongly urge you to take this first step and launch the response our state is still lacking.”
Should Governor Scott issue such a declaration, he would join the governors of Massachusetts and Virginia who have declared similar public health emergencies in order to combat the growing opioid addiction crisis.

Taylor Senior Citizens Center Named PSC Helping Hand

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is recognizing the Taylor Senior Citizens Center in Taylor County as February’s Helping Hand for helping raise public awareness about the Lifeline Assistance telephone and broadband discount program, energy and water conservation, and scams affecting seniors.
“The Taylor Senior Citizens Center offers educational programs that support our outreach strategies to assist older persons in need,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “We appreciate the Center including us in community outreach events so we can share utility bill saving strategies with their clients.”
Each month, the PSC highlights a partner agency or organization whose clients are eligible for the Federal Lifeline Program and/or need help reducing energy and water bills. Through these PSC Helping Hand partnerships, the Commission shares vital information to help consumers better manage their resources to meet their monthly bills and avoid falling for utility-related scams.
“We appreciate the PSC honoring us with this award.  Our seniors really enjoyed the PSC presentation that will help them save money on their bills and be aware of current consumer scams,” said Joan Hennings, Older Americans Act Assistant/Case Manager.  “Our Center provides programs for elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged persons who need assistance to maintain their independence and quality of life.  The PSC information is helpful in our ongoing effort to connect older adults to vital community services that can help them stay independent.”
Look for all the PSC Helping Hand outreach partner recognitions on the PSC’s homepage, www.floridapsc.com, under Hot Topics.
About Taylor Senior Citizens Center, Inc.
The Area Agency on Aging has designated Taylor Senior Citizens Center, Inc. as the central service provider in Taylor county to serve as both a supplier of supportive and nutrition services under the Older Americans Act (OAA) and as a lead agency under Community Care for the Elderly (CCE). For more information, call 850-584-4924.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

FWC encouraged by 2017 manatee survey

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported a preliminary count of 6,620 manatees in Florida waters. A team of 15 observers from 10 organizations counted 3,488 manatees on Florida’s east coast and 3,132 on the west coast of the state. The FWC is encouraged by a third straight year of a minimum count higher than 6,000 manatees in Florida waters.
Researchers conduct synoptic surveys annually, weather permitting, to count manatees that are visible in Florida waters at the time of the survey. These surveys are conducted after a cold front and cover all of the known winter habitats of manatees in Florida. This year’s counts were aided by warm, sunny weather with low winds and good visibility.
“Successful conservation of manatees is a product of the commitment made by many different organizations over multiple decades. The relatively high counts we have seen for the past three years underscore the importance of warm water habitat to manatees in Florida. The FWC will continue to work diligently with our many partners to ensure the long-term viability of these habitats and the well-being of the manatee population,” said Gil McRae, FWC biologist and head of FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
Aerial surveys provide information about manatee distribution throughout the state. Manatees use warm water sites, like springs and power plant discharges, during the winter. Sustaining adequate winter habitat for manatees remains a statewide conservation goal and a key factor in the long-term recovery of manatees.
FWC biologists, managers and law enforcement staff work closely with partners to evaluate current data and identify necessary actions to protect this iconic animal. Florida has invested more than $2 million annually for manatee conservation, and the FWC will work toward continued success for manatees in our state.
You can support manatee research and conservation by purchasing a manatee license plate at BuyaPlate.com and a manatee decal at MyFWC.com/ManateeSeaTurtleDecals.
For more information about manatees and synoptic surveys, visit MyFWC.com/Research and click on “Florida Manatee.” To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). 
 

Sen. Campbell and Rep. Duran Move Forward with Bright Futures Scholarship Service Hours Bill

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The amended SB 540/HB 253 revises the Bright Futures Scholarship Program award renewal criteria to include a minimum of 15 volunteer service work hours per semester.
Senator Campbell (D-Miami) and State Representative Nick Duran (D-Miami) have amended  SB 540 / HB 253 respectively. If enacted, SB 540/HB 253 would add an additional requirement of fifteen volunteer hours per semester to maintain eligibility for the Bright Futures scholarship. The current scholarship renewal guidelines only specify requirements for credit hours and grade point average. This bill serves to encourage civic engagement and community connection among Bright Futures Scholarship recipients. 
The originally filed bill required 30 hours of volunteer service per semester. After hearing feedback and working with constituents, the bill has been amended to 15 hours of community service per semester. “We heard our community, and as a public servant I listen to my constituents,” said Senator Campbell.
Constituents said the original filed bill had good intentions, but 30 hours was too heavy a load for working students trying to balance between maintaining high grades and paying their way through school.
“The amended bill gives students the time they need to dedicate to their commitments but still ensures that these students are also giving back to their community. Fifteen hours of community service can be finished in one weekend and is much more feasible for these dedicated, but busy students,” said Senator Campbell.
The required hours can be completed by volunteering with a variety of organizations such as: nonprofits, government agencies, schools, hospitals, retirement facilities, or assisting a disabled or elderly individual. This requirement exempts active duty military members.
“An education is not just about what you can learn in the classroom, but also in the valuable life experiences that can be gained from immersing yourself within your community,” said Representative Duran. “The lower service hour requirement will still add valuable capacity to the diverse efforts across the state while inspiring our young, bright minds.”
“The 15 required hours is a start. This bill is a tiny catalyst so that young students give back to the community. It encourages—those who can—to volunteer more hours,” noted Senator Campbell.

Florida Lottery Celebrates $31 Billion to Education

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Another Milestone in Revenue Generated for Education

The Florida Lottery today announced that its latest transfer to the state’s education trust fund brings its 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 14 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.