“Jeff Atwater wins first round of $1 billion bonds fight with feds”
Florida Politics
Story by Jim Rosica
February 9, 2017
Click HERE to read the full story.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has scored a preliminary win in his fight against the federal government over U.S. savings bonds he holds as unclaimed property.
The U.S. Treasury has agreed to redeem “just over 1,000 bonds, worth a little more than half a million dollars, excluding accrued interest,” Atwater spokeswoman Ashley Carr said Thursday.
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In November, Atwater sued the feds for that amount, saying they had refused to make good on matured U.S. savings bonds he holds as unclaimed property.
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“The bonds they’ve agreed to redeem are those in our physical possession and bonds for which we had records and had previously returned to the U.S. Treasury,” Carr said. Atwater’s office plans to give the proceeds from the bonds “to whom they belong, or their heirs.”
“We’re a long way from the finish line, but it’s a win worth celebrating,” Carr said.
The Department of Financial Services, which Atwater heads, is holding thousands of “unclaimed, matured savings bonds that were originally registered to individuals with last-known addresses in the State of Florida,” his suit says. Some of the bonds date back to the 1930s.
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Florida’s piece is one small part of the pie: “… over $19 billion in matured, unredeemed U.S. savings bonds remain outstanding nationwide,” Atwater has said.
People First Launches Enhanced Job Site to Recruit Top Talent
Recently, the Department of Management Services’ People First team deployed a new platform to attract talented candidates to the state’s workforce. This new job site offers enhanced navigation tools and includes custom, agency-branded pages for state agencies to market their unique employment opportunities to candidates.
“Working for the State of Florida means being responsive to the issues impacting the taxpayers of our state while using innovative approaches to create efficiencies,” said DMS Secretary Chad Poppell. “The new People First recruitment site is aimed at recruiting top-tier talent from across the country to enhance Florida’s workforce and to engage individuals who are committed to providing exceptional service to Floridians.”
To date, more than 612,000 people have visited the new job site, more than 34,600 candidate profiles have been established and more than 49,500 applications have been submitted for job vacancies. Candidates can now search for openings by keyword, location (postal code and region), career opportunity and agency, making the process easier and more productive for individuals searching for employment with the state. Candidates also can establish alerts to direct the system to email them when job vacancies that match their custom criteria are posted.
To view the State of Florida’s new talent recruitment site go to https://jobs.myflorida.com.
Gov. Scott Recognizes Florida Veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal
Governor Rick Scott awarded 79 Florida Veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal at the 101st Airborne Division Reunion in Tampa today.
DSC librarians fighting fake news with “CRAAP”
Testing if it is: Credible, Relevant, Authoritative, Accurate, has Purpose
It seems to be coming from everywhere, these days: a mind-bending proliferation of so-called fake news, spread like wildfire over the Internet and social media.
Such intentional disinformation can be especially damaging to vulnerable populations such as minorities, non-majority religious groups, immigrants and various marginalized populations. With what seems to be increasing frequency, it is being used to reinforce stereotypes, misrepresent cultures and belief systems and seed divisiveness.
But Daytona State College’s force of librarians has been helping students dig through all the CRAAP in order to get to the truth, for years.
No crudeness intended here. CRAAP is a time-tested process to evaluate the validity of just about any information source, especially those found on the Internet. There’s even a song about it. And while its origins are in academia, the CRAAP test is a useful tool that can help anyone decipher truth from fiction in any forum.
“The idea of using what we do as librarians to help fight fake news is part of our mission to promote information literacy,” said DSC Librarian Dustin Weeks. “The CRAAP test has been around for a long time. Our instructors know it well and use it to help students find and evaluate information that is reliable and credible.”
The CRAAP test was first developed years ago by librarians at California State University who wanted to help students successfully find and evaluate sources for their research. And while the test has seen many variations over the years, by and large, if a source of information is totally CRAAP, that’s good because it means it’s “credible, relevant, authoritative, accurate and has purpose.”
“These are the types of things you want to check for, regardless of whether your source is a book, an article, a website, a blog or a social media post,” said Cheryl Kohen, DSC’s technology services librarian.
DSC librarians teach a one-credit hour online course called Introduction to Internet Research, which is essentially everything you need to know about the CRAAP test and more, Kohen added. The course uses a statewide curriculum adopted by all 28 institutions in the Florida College System and customized to fit each institution’s focus.
DSC also helps assure new students’ success by teaching the CRAAP test in its required Student Life Skills course for beginning associate of arts students.
Daytona State librarians have created their own resource tools, as well. These are web-based InfoGuides on wide-ranging topics and academic disciplines that contain valid articles and Internet sources. “We link to sources that will give you credible information,” Kohen said, noting that the guides mitigate some challenges students face in a digital world where disinformation can be propagated so readily.
“Information literacy has always been important,” Kohen said, “but especially today, it’s critical for students, and people in general, to be aware of their sources and to fact check the credibility of the information they’re receiving.”
Florida Supreme Court: Regular weekly opinion release, 2/9/2017, 11 a.m. ET
Filings for the Florida Supreme Court
February 9, 2017
SC10-2363 – Rasheem Diquoine Dubose v. State of Florida
SC11-2403 & SC12-2465 – Brett A. Bogle v. State of Florida & Brett A. Bogle v. Julie L. Jones, etc.
SC15-1477 – Richard Debrincat, et al. v. Stephen Fischer
SC15-1662 & SC16-224 – Enoch D. Hall v. State of Florida &
Enoch D. Hall v. Julie L. Jones, etc.
SC15-2389 – State of Florida v. Adrea Vernique Wiley
SC16-1184 – In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases – Report 2016-05
SC16-1185 – In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases – Report 2016-06
Commissioner Adam Putnam Joins First Responders to Kick-off 2017 Florida State Fair
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi and first responders, today kicked-off the Florida State Fair with the annual “flip the switch” ceremony, turning on the fair’s lights for the first time this year.
Opening day is “Salute to Heroes” day, and it continues the longstanding tradition of welcoming active duty military, veterans and first responders free of charge in recognition of their service to Florida and the nation.
First responder and law enforcement agencies present during the “flip the switch” ceremony included:
- Florida National Guard
- Florida Highway Patrol
- Hillsborough County Fire Rescue
- Tampa Fire Rescue
- Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
- Florida Forest Service
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement
Many new attractions are making their first national appearance at the Florida State Fair, as Florida is home to the first state fair of the year. The fair unveiled the largest traveling Ferris wheel, the Midway Sky Eye, in its North American debut. It boasts a height of 155 feet, and riders can see farther than 15 miles when situated at the top of the wheel. Other additions to the Florida State Fair include the Street Fighter 360 and the New Super Slide, which stands 60 feet tall and 180 feet long.
The Florida State Fair also showcases Florida’s livestock, poultry and fresh produce. More than 5,000 animals will be shown in competitions throughout the fair, with more than 1,500 FFA and 4-H participants. Fairgoers have the opportunity to learn about Florida’s agricultural process from numerous educational activities, such as orange juice tasting, hydroponic demonstrations and meal planning.
This year marks the 113th anniversary of the Florida State Fair. The first Florida State Fair was held in 1904 near Henry Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel, which is now the site of the University of Tampa, and it moved to its current location in 1977.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com. For more information on the Florida State Fair, visit FloridaStateFair.com.
Photo caption: Commissioner Adam H. Putnam, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Chairman of the Florida State Fair Authority Doyle Carlton with first responders to “flip the switch” for the 113th Florida State Fair.
Statement on the House Civil Justice Subcommittee’s Vote on HB 19 from Florida Planned Parenthood
Statement on the House Civil Justice Subcommittee’s Vote on HB 19 from Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates Executive Director, Laura Goodhue:
“This bill is yet another attack on access to safe, legal abortion care. This dangerous bill is a blatant attempt to intimidate and shutter safe and law-abiding abortion providers.
“House Bill 19 attempts to intimidate physicians who perform legal abortions, a procedure with an incredibly high safety record, by increasing their exposure to frivolous lawsuits. It would significantly increase the risk physicians face in providing safe and legal abortion care.
“The real motivation behind this flawed bill is political, not because it is what’s best for women. The fact is, this bill would give extremist organizations — whose sole mission is to stop abortion providers — one more vehicle to go after doctors and tie up the court system, without the constraints of the established medical malpractice legal system in Florida.
Upcoming Convening Culture Conference to Celebrate Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Fourth Annual Convening Culture Conference to be held in Gainesville February 22-23 at the University of Florida College of Arts Center for Arts in Medicine
Secretary of State Ken Detzner today announced the Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs will hold Convening Culture 2017: Exploring Innovation & Entrepreneurship through Arts & Culture February 22-23. The conference will offer informative sessions, discussions and networking opportunities for artists and individuals working and interested in arts and culture in Florida.
“As Florida’s Chief Cultural Officer, I am excited that the Convening Culture Conference is being held for its fourth year,” said Secretary Detzner. “Convening Culture is a great opportunity for professional development and collaboration within Florida’s vibrant arts and cultural communities. This year’s conference promises to be the best yet and will explore innovation and entrepreneurship through the arts and culture. Florida is home to more than 29,000 creative industries establishments which generate approximately $49.7 billion in annual revenue. Last year, 37.9 million people benefitted from Department of State supported arts and cultural programs, sustaining nearly 12,000 jobs across Florida.”
The annual convening culture conference is presented by the Citizens for Florida Arts, Inc., a statewide non-profit organization that works to support the efforts of the Division of Cultural Affairs. This year, the annual event will be hosted in Gainesville by the University of Florida College of Arts Center for Arts in Medicine. Session topics will range from community collaborations to creative start-up businesses.
Several honors will be presented at the conference, including the induction of Billy Dean, Don Felder, Lee Bennett Hopkins and Jim Stafford into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Ernest Hemingway, Zora Neale Hurston, and Robert Rauschenberg. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon artists by the State of Florida. Recipients of this award demonstrate the diversity of artistic accomplishment that comprise the rich cultural tapestry of this state. The Division of Cultural Affairs will also present its Diversity and Inclusion Awards at the conference. These awards recognize innovative and exceptional efforts that promote diversity in arts and cultural programming.
Convening Culture Conference Event Highlights
FEBRUARY 22-23, 2017
Exhibition on View: At the Threshold to the Unknown
- Description: The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience will partner to present this stunning exhibition which explores the imagery that is created at the intersection of microscience and art. Graciously supported by Nancy and David Auth.
- Location: Lobby of the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Conference Welcome & Plenary Session with Dr. Elif Ekcali
- Description: Dr. Ekcali serves as an Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida. She is in the inaugural class of UF Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows in the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation in Warrington College of Business Administration and was formerly a Creative Scholar-in-Residence in the School of Theater + Dance. Dr. Ekcali will discuss divergent thinking and its impact on creativity and systems.
- Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
Conference Session: New Models of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Culture Economy
- Description: This session will provide attendees with a survey of current landscape and trends, focusing on case studies that illuminate the development of new models and the complexity and importance of funding, community and partnerships for artists.
- Time: 1:45 p.m. -2:45 p.m.
- Presenter: Colleen Keegan, Creative Capital Foundation
FEBRUARY 23, 2017
John Whitney Payson Keynote Presentation featuring Lily Yeh
- Description: Lily Yeh is an internationally celebrated artist whose work has taken her to communities throughout the world. As founder and executive director of the Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia from 1968 to 2004, she helped create a national model in creative place-making and community building through the arts. In 2002, Yeh pursued her work internationally, founding Barefoot Artists, Inc., to bring the transformative power of art to impoverished communities around the globe through participatory, multifaceted projects that foster community empowerment, improve the physical environment, promote economic development and preserve indigenous art and culture. (www.barefootartists.org)
- Time: 10:35 a.m. -11:45 a.m.
Presentation of the 2017 Diversity & Inclusion Awards
- Description: The Diversity & Inclusion Awards Program recognizes the efforts of individuals working to make arts and cultural programming in Florida as diverse and inclusive as possible.
- Time: noon-1 p.m.
- Award Recipients: Antonio Cuyler; Compassionate St. Augustine; Dario Moore, The Center for Contemporary Dance, Inc.; Darryl Reuben Hall, Stage Aurora; Dr. Joseph Wiltshire Foundation; Edward Sparan; Florida Studio Theatre; Fort Mose Historical Society; Hope at Hand, Inc.; Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens; Orlando Community Arts, Inc.; Orlando Repertory Theatre; PAXy, Inc; Pioneer Winter, Pioneer Winter Collective; Rose Grace; Tarell McCraney; We the People Theatre; and Young Singers of the Palm Beaches.
Florida Artists Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
- Description (Free Admission): The Florida Artists Hall of Fame Awards Induction Ceremony at the close of the conference will honor four artists with deep ties to Florida.
- Time: 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
- Inductees: GRAMMY AWARD winners Billy Dean and Don Felder; poet Lee Bennett Hopkins; and comedian, musician and singer-songwriter Jim Stafford.
- Emcees: Secretary of State Ken Detzner; Division of Cultural Affairs Director Sandy Shaughnessy
Click here for more information or to register for Convening Culture 2017.
About the Division of Cultural Affairs
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs is Florida’s legislatively designated state arts agency. The Division promotes the arts and culture as essential to quality of life for all Floridians. To achieve its mission, the Division funds and supports cultural programs that provide artistic excellence, diversity, education, access and economic vitality for Florida’s communities. For more information, visit dos.myflorida.com/cultural.
ICYMI: Bay News: Gov. Scott is Fighting for Florida’s Job Creation Agencies
“Gov. Scott is Fighting for Florida’s Job Creation Agencies”
Bay News 9 – Tampa Bay, FL
February 8, 2017
To view the clip, click HERE.
Florida lawmakers persist in their efforts to protect vulnerable Floridians, fix Sober Homes issue
Florida State Senator Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) and Representative Bill Hager (R-Boca Raton) have been working for several years to put the brakes on the unchecked proliferation of sober homes. They will continue their work this upcoming Session making sure that Floridians in recovery get the care they need while keeping our communities safe.
Building on a policy that makes it easier for the state to track recovery residences, SB 788, which was filed yesterday in the Senate, cracks down on fraudulent marketing and patient brokering. Unethical marketing practices purposefully mislead patients and their families, mostly motivated by profit. The bill creates licensing and certification standards for marketers directing patients to specific treatment programs and provides criminal penalties for violators. In addition, the measure implements an effective and comprehensive plan to control the housing component of the recovery and treatment process and eliminate the exploitation of those in recovery by providers and residence operators.
“It’s hard to measure the strain that has been placed on families and communities by those sober homes operators taking advantage of the system,” Clemens said. “The good operators have joined with us to improve the system for everyone.”
“Sober homes provide assistance for recovering alcohol and drug addicts. This legislation puts in place a standard of care which will benefit the residents of these homes and their neighbors while the patients continue on the road to recovery,” Hager said. “This bill puts in place new regulations across the state for the benefit of Floridians.”
The recommended changes are the result of the Palm Beach County Sober Homes Task Force led by Dave Aronberg, State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit. The Task Force is made up of three groups: a Law Enforcement Task Force to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing criminal laws, a Proviso Task Force to study the issues and make specific legislative changes and regulatory enhancements, and a larger, more inclusive group of industry representatives, public officials, private organizations, and individuals.
Representative Hager will file a companion bill in the House of Representatives.