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Leadership Florida, Florida Press Association to Unveil Plans for General Election Debates

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MEDIA ADVISORY

With Florida poised to help shape the course of national policy for years to come, Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association will unveil exciting plans for face-to-face televised debates between the two parties’ nominees in the general election races for Governor and for U.S. Senate. Debate organizers will hold a media conference call tomorrow, Tuesday, April 3, at 10 a.m.

The debates will be broadcast statewide by local television stations in each of Florida’s 10 major media markets. Details will be unveiled on this April 3 call.

What: Media conference call re: general election debates for U.S. Senate & Governor

Call-In: Number: 1-888-392-4560
Code: 9979718

When: Tuesday, April 3
10:00 am

Who: Wendy Spencer, President & CEO, Leadership Florida
Beth Kigel, Board Chair, Leadership Florida
Dean Ridings, President & CEO, Florida Press Association
J. David Armstrong, President, Broward College
Caroline Taplett, President & General Manager, WPBF TV

$521 million is up for grabs this weekend with MEGA MILLIONS®

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The MEGA MILLIONS® jackpot has continued to roll since January 5, resulting in an estimated $521 million jackpot for the Friday, March 30, drawing. Florida players have a chance to become the state’s third MEGA MILLIONS jackpot winner by purchasing a $2 ticket at any of the more than 13,000 Lottery retailers statewide.

In addition to the jackpot prize, players can win lower-tier prizes ranging from $2 to $5 million by matching any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations. There have been more than one million Florida MEGA MILLIONS winners in this series of rollovers, winning more than $8.6 million in prizes.

Since joining the multi-state MEGA MILLIONS game in 2013, Florida has had more than 39.9 million winning tickets totaling more than $587.3 million in prizes.Additionally, the game has generated more than $363 million for Florida students and schools.

Jackpot prize winners have the option to receive their winnings in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $317.2 million. Jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the winning jackpot draw to receive the cash option. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize.

Tickets must be purchased by 10:00 p.m. ET on Friday to be eligible for the 11:00 p.m. ET drawing. MEGA MILLIONS drawings are broadcast on 17 Lottery carrier stations throughout the state. Drawings are also available for viewing on the Florida Lottery website, flalottery.com. Winning numbers can be found at retailers statewide, on the Lottery’s website and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY.

Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson’s statement on GOP legislation leadership failure to reach gaming agreement

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Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville) on Friday said she was stunned by the ongoing inability of the Republican legislative leadership to reach an agreement with the Seminole Tribe over gaming in Florida, and alarmed by the suggestion of an expensive special session to deal with the unresolved issue.

“This was not a sudden development, or a last-minute problem we needed to confront,” said Gibson, who also serves on the Senate Regulated Industries committee. “We were on notice before the gavel first sounded in January that failing to address gaming could blow a $300 million hole in the budget. It’s becoming more and more difficult to explain to taxpayers why three months after the session convened, the budget that was passed remains in jeopardy because it was built on incomplete, non-transparent information.”

At issue is the sudden announcement last night by incoming Senate President Bill Galvano that a special session might be required due to a loss of revenue should the Republican legislative leadership continue to reach an impasse with the Seminole Tribe over gaming.

But as Senator Gibson noted, not only was there ample time in the first month of session to resolve any issues, but little information was made available to lawmakers warning them that the collapse of negotiations would threaten the state spending plan for the coming year.

“This should have been resolved before we adjourned,” said the incoming Leader. “One full year after talks began on an agreement with the Seminoles, the subject was barely discussed until the last days of session when the budget conference was convened, too late for any real chance to pass a bill. So not only does last night’s announcement underscore the lack of transparency as the budget was assembled, but the need for a solid agreement before any calls for a special session potentially costing hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are issued.

“And, if a special return to Tallahassee is required, I strongly urge that the gaming revenue is not the only issue we deal with, but a more thorough vetting of the measly $0.47 the legislature budgeted as an increase in funding per student for the coming year. Both should be on the table.”

Governor Rick Scott Announces JinkoSolar to Build New U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturing Facility Creating 200 Jobs

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Governor Rick Scott today announced that JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., a global leader in the solar industry, will build a new state-of-the-art solar panel manufacturing facility in Jacksonville. The new facility will create 200 new manufacturing jobs and will begin production of high efficiency solar panels beginning this year.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Florida’s economy is on a roll. Since 2011, nearly 1.5 million private-sector jobs have been created in our state, and more and more companies are choosing to grow in Florida. Today’s announcement means that 200 more families in Jacksonville will be able to find a great job. We will continue working nonstop to make Florida the number one destination of job creators.”

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said, “This is a major win for Jacksonville and the community. JinkoSolar’s presence enhances our reputation as a manufacturing city, and I am eager to see the company contribute to the vibrant economy in Jacksonville.”

Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, said, “As NextEra Energy continues to invest heavily in new solar projects across the country, we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to buy cost-effective, reliable solar panels made here in America. JinkoSolar shares our commitment to delivering affordable clean energy solutions, and we are pleased to welcome them to our home state of Florida.”

“It’s exciting to know that solar panels built in Florida will be helping power FPL customers in the not-too-distant future,” said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light Company, which currently operates 14 solar power plants in Florida. “We are honored to have played a role in making this possible, but it wouldn’t have happened without the dedication and dogged efforts of Governor Scott, Enterprise Florida, Mayor Curry, JAXUSA Partnership, the Jacksonville City Council, JEA, and the business community. By working together with open minds and a shared commitment, they made Florida shine in the face of fierce competition from other states.”

“Investing in this solar panel manufacturing facility makes clear our commitment to Florida and the growing US market,” said Kangping Chen, CEO of JinkoSolar. “This will be one of the world’s most advanced solar panel manufacturing facilities, which will provide us with the flexibility and manufacturing capacity to support our local partners and growing US customer base.”

JinkoSolar has been growing quickly in the United States, deploying more than 5 gigawatts of solar panels since 2011. The company plans to begin production of high efficiency solar panels at this location in the second half of 2018.

CRC Meeting Schedule Week of April 2-6

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MEDIA ADVISORY

The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) noticed the following meeting schedule for the week of April 2-6, 2018. CRC meetings will be held in the Capitol Complex and livestreamed by The Florida Channel on TheFloridaChannel.org.

Daily calendars are available on the CRC Calendars Page at flcrc.gov/Meetings/Calendars.

Monday, April 2

  • No meetings scheduled. 

Tuesday, April 3

Wednesday, April 4

Thursday, April 5

Friday, April 6

“Spirit of Miami” Documentary Recounts the Life of Indy Car Promoter Ralph Sanchez

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A new documentary to air this fall will showcase the life of Ralph Sanchez, a visionary, charismatic Cuban refugee whose car racing passion transformed the streets of downtown Miami into an international speedway of global significance and changed South Florida forever.

Sanchez realized his dreams against unimaginable odds. After the Cuban Revolution, he began his new life in Miami as young boy, sent by his family to become a ward of the Catholic Church and its program, “Pedro Pan.” Under those auspices, he lived in the former World War II barracks at The Opa-locka Airport and struggled with the uncertainties of a new life and a new language. One constant in his life was a boyhood love of auto racing which he developed after hearing about the legendary Grand Prix of Cuba.

The early 1980’s was a troubled time in Miami, which was suffering from high crime rates. At this time when there was only one national sports franchise in Miami, Sanchez created generations of racing fans by transforming Miami’s iconic Biscayne Boulevard into a Monte Carlo-style raceway. In the process, he also began to transform an embattled city into the international hub for sports and culture that it is today.

The program documents how one annual event in the 1980s drew the world’s most famous racecar drivers and celebrities, to Miami, a city only emerging to be known for entertainment and excitement.

“This project is so important. It happens at a time when immigration is part of our daily national dialogue,” said producer Chucha Barber. “Ralph is a great example of how a single life can make a profound difference on a city, a state, an industry and our collective history.”

The four-time EMMY Award-winning producer described the intensely personal experience that the project represented for her.

“I was an employee of Miami Motorsports, and Ralph was a great mentor to many people, including me,” Barber said. “It’s a labor of love to tell his story and show how it’s inextricably connected to Miami’s story.”

The program will include dramatic video and photographs of IMSA car races (exotic prototypes) and INDY car races held in Miami, interviews and heartfelt stories from the “royalty” of car racing, his family, as well as those who knew him.

Former Miami Motorsports employees testify to Sanchez’s insatiable appetite for the thrill of racing, his perseverance to succeed, and for his ability to imagine and create the impossible, over and over again. Barber said viewers will be inspired to learn from Sanchez that dreams really do come true.

The program title, “Spirit of Miami,” was also the name Sanchez gave to the cars he personally entered into his own races. The name was a tribute to his gratitude to the city that took him in and the city which he so proudly served.

NBC6-WTVJ will be the first to air the hour-long program, in English, in November 2018. Telemundo 51-WSCV will air the Spanish-language version in December 2018.

Polluters Dumping into Florida Waterways

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New Report from Environment Florida Ranks the Top Industrial Polluters

Industrial facilities dumped excessive pollution into Florida’s waterways 270 times over 21 months, the tenth worst total in the nation, according to a new report by Environment Florida Research & Policy Center. However, the facilities rarely faced penalties for this pollution. Environment Florida Research and Policy Center is releasing its Troubled Waters report as the federal government tries to weaken clean water protections and slash enforcement funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the states.

“All Florida waterways should be clean for swimming, drinking water, and wildlife,” said Jennifer Rubiello, state director with Environment Florida. “But industrial polluters are still dumping chemicals that threaten our health and environment, and they aren’t being held accountable.”

In reviewing Clean Water Act compliance data from January 2016 through September 2017, Environment Florida Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group found that major industrial facilities are regularly dumping pollution beyond legal limits set to protect human health and the environment, both in Florida and across the country.

“Florida’s environmental health is directly tied to our economic health,” said U.S. Representative Kathy Castor. “That means clean water, clean beaches, a beautiful and clean Tampa Bay, and a clean Gulf of Mexico. Our state and federal agencies need to do more to curb pollution, and that includes having a strong EPA to ensure we get the water quality we all deserve and depend on.”

After ranking the top ten polluters statewide, public officials, conservation advocates, students, professors and community leaders are joining in an effort to raise the alarm for stronger permits, enforceable limits, and more funding for clean water programs.

“Hillsborough Bay, Clearwater Harbor, and the Alafia River, three of the waterways on the receiving end of polluted water in our region, are designated for recreational use,” said Andy Hayslip, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. “That means these industrial facilities are dumping toxic pollutants in places where people regularly fish, swim and boat.”

Troubled Waters shows that polluters, who are spewing everything from fecal matter to heavy metals to oil and grease into the water,  rarely face penalties.

“The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 with the goal of making all of our country’s waterways safe for fishing and swimming,” said Dr. Chris Meindl, Director of the Florida Studies Program and Associate Professor of Geography at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. “This report shows that Clean Water Act enforcement continues to suffer and must improve if we want water we can trust.”

In response, the report recommends several measures to ensure stronger enforcement of, and protection for, clean water.

“Repeat violators should not be allowed to operate in our region,” said Jaclyn Lopez, Senior Attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. “State and federal agencies should be doing everything they can to protect Tampa Bay’s wildlife, fisheries, and economy.”

Unfortunately, the state legislature passed bills earlier this month that could soon make the pattern of pollution worse.

“Statewide, we know that more needs to be done to hold these polluters accountable when they violate their permits,” Rubiello said. “This is a call to action, and the report is where we can begin.”

Registration open for Enterprise Florida-led Export Sales Mission to Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) will lead a delegation of small and mid-sized Florida businesses on an export sales mission to Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China from June 1 to June 9. Registration to attend is open.

“Hong Kong and Guangzhou are two strong and vibrant export markets for U.S. companies,” said Manny Mencia, senior vice president of International Trade and Development for Enterprise Florida. “As a result of China’s increasing domestic consumption and growing middle class, significant market potential exists for companies focused on collaboration and mutual benefit. Florida companies are well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities, and this mission will provide an excellent vehicle to expand trade opportunities.”

According to the US-China Business Council, China ranked as the #5 global export market for the State of Florida and third largest export market for services in 2016. Florida exports to China supported 34,900 American jobs in 2015. U.S. goods exported to China in 2015 were $116.2 billion, and U.S. exports of services to China were an estimated $42.5 billion in 2014 (latest data available).

The industry sectors listed below provide some of the best opportunities for exports for Florida companies. If your industry is not mentioned below, please contact us for a no-obligation assessment.

  • Agricultural Services
  • Automotive Parts and Accessories
  • Aviation/Aerospace
  • Computer and Information Technology Equipment
  • Cosmetics and Skin care
  • Education and Training Services
  • Environmental Technologies
  • Film
  • Financial Services
  • Marine Industries
  • Medical Equipment and Devices
  • Safety and Security Services/Products

As part of Enterprise Florida’s Gold Key Package, participants will have the opportunity to take advantage of the unparalleled trade facilitation services provided by the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The USCS will coordinate all one-on-one Gold Key appointments. The USCS offers a variety of products and services designed to facilitate U.S. exports and foreign direct investment opportunities.

Participation Options:

Option 1: Gold Key Package (Two Full Days)

The U.S. Commercial Service will schedule one-on-one appointments with pre-screened Chinese companies. The price of this service is $1,800 for the first company representative. Gold Key participation will be limited to Florida manufacturers, distributors, and service companies that best meet the participation criteria. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. This option is limited to twelve (12) Florida companies.

Small and mid-sized Florida manufacturers, eligible high tech companies, and professional service providers may qualify for a Reimbursable Gold Key Grant, which will offset 100% of the Matchmaking Registration fee for the first company representative. A separate application process will be required for this grant.

Option 2: Delegate Package

The delegate option is for individuals interested in participating in mission activities. The price of this option is $800 per person. Delegates will have the opportunity to attend all mission events, have access to airport transfers in country when traveling on official mission flights and ground transportation to all mission events.

The Gold Key registration deadline is April 10 and the delegate registration deadline is April 16.

For questions about itinerary & visa requirements, please contact John Diep at [email protected] or (561) 832-8339.

For questions regarding registration, please contact Andrea Moore at [email protected] or (850) 469-8989.

EFI maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. In fiscal year 2016-17, more than 500 small and mid-sized Florida businesses reported $738 million in total export sales following international events.

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.

Drug Dealer Found Guilty of Trafficking Thousands of Dollars’ Worth of Heroin

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Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office today announced the conviction of Hasan Nguyen, 25, for trafficking thousands of dollars’ worth of deadly heroin.

“We are in the midst of a national opioid crisis claiming lives in Florida, and we will not tolerate anyone trafficking heroin or any other deadly opioids in our state,” said Attorney General Bondi. “I want to thank the DEA for their great investigative work and my statewide prosecutors Mary Sammon and David Gillespie for the strong prison sentence they secured in this case.”

The investigation into Nguyen began in 2015 and covered crimes in Orange and Seminole counties. Investigators captured audio and video recordings of Nguyen selling trafficking amounts of heroin on three separate occasions to undercover officers. Nguyen preferred to sell amounts of heroin more than 30-50 grams so that substantial profits could be made. Investigators paid Nguyen more than $2,000 in undercover drug deals through the course of the investigation. In total, authorities seized more than 45 grams of heroin with a street value of approximately $10,000.

An Orange County jury found Nguyen guilty of four counts, including trafficking in heroin 20 grams or more, conspiracy to traffic heroin 28 grams or more, trafficking in heroin 14 grams or more and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The Honorable Leticia Marques sentenced Nguyen to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Mary Sammon and David Gillespie prosecuted the case.

The Office of Statewide Prosecution prosecutes multi-circuit organized crime while working regularly with federal and state counterparts to coordinate efforts against criminal activity. The office provides proactive partnership to law enforcement and is not limited to geographic or judicial boundaries.

Lifestyle Enrichment Center of Fort White Named PSC Helping Hand

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The Lifestyle Enrichment Center of Fort White’s mission—Where Life is Celebrated Every Day—is helping many Columbia County senior adults take charge of their lives with year-round educational programs. As a recent program participant, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is recognizing the Center as its first 2018 Helping Hand.

“Helping seniors remain independent and engaged with their community is very important for continued quality of life,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham.  “The PSC applauds the Lifestyle Enrichment Center for its partnership in helping its clientele better understand how the Commission can help them.”

Each quarter, the PSC highlights a partner agency or organization whose clients are eligible for the federal Lifeline telephone/broadband discount program or need help reducing energy and water bills. Through these PSC Helping Hand partnerships, the Commission shares information to help consumers stretch their resources to meet their monthly bills.

“We surround our seniors with daily activities because it’s a good investment for them and for the community.  The PSC’s assistance supports our ongoing programs,” said Deborah Rhoades, Site Manager, Lifestyle Enrichment Center. “Our seniors benefit from information on Lifeline, scam alerts, energy and water conservation, and utility bill payment assistance. We plan on another PSC visit soon.”

Look for this year’s PSC Helping Hand outreach partner recognitions on the PSC’s homepage, under Hot Topics.

About Lifestyle Enrichment Center of Fort White
The mission of the Lifestyle Enrichment Center of Columbia County Senior Services is “to assist adults (60+) in maintaining their mental, physical, nutritional, and emotional health for as long as possible, with the intent of seeing older people remain independent and in charge of their own lives.” Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, the Lifestyle Enrichment Center is located at 18829 Hwy. 47 South in Fort White.  For more information, call 386-497-1504.