Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Featured

Featured

Gov. Scott Directs FWC to Ease Regulations, Waive Fees for South Florida Commercial Fishing Industry Following Hurricane Irma

Posted on

MARATHON, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to implement several changes to help South Florida’s commercial fishermen recover from the effects of Hurricane Irma and get back to work. The elimination of these regulations combined with the waiving of fees will allow more commercial fishermen in South Florida, especially the Florida Keys, get back to work by easing certain tag requirements and allowing more cooperation in the industry. The Governor has been laser focused on ensuring that the entire state recovers from Hurricane Irma, as well as the Florida Keys, which was one of the hardest hit areas. The Governor has set a goal of October 1st to have the Keys open for business. 

Governor Scott said, “Hurricane Irma affected nearly our entire state, and we are aggressively working to make sure the every family and industry has the ability to recover quickly. This week, I’ve travelled across the state to tour damage and hear directly from families and communities on what we can do to help. The Florida’s commercial fishing industry plays a large role in our economy, and I am proud the FWC can waive fees and reduce regulations so they can get back to work.”

Brian Yablonski, Chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said, “FWC has been on the front lines of Florida’s preparedness, response and recovery to Hurricane Irma. By partnering with the Governor and helping get South Florida commercial fishermen and women back on the water, we are demonstrating our commitment to Florida’s full recovery. As a Commission, we are glad to reduce these regulations and waive fees so this important livelihood can begin to move forward.”

This action includes extending the renewal period for some commercial fishing permits set to expire Sept. 30, 2017 and relaxing regulations for commercial lobster harvesters in Collier, Dade and Monroe counties by not requiring traps to be tagged until Dec. 1, 2017. This allows commercial fisherman to replace traps that were lost in the storm while waiting for no-cost replacement tags. Fees for replacement tags have also been waived. The orders also allow for authorized commercial fishers to cooperate with each other to retrieve trap gear from the water and return it to the owner. The commercial harvest of spiny lobster has a dockside value of more than $40 million dollars per year.

EO 17-42 – Hurricane Irma: Regulatory Relief for Commercial Fishers Statewide http://myfwc.com/media/4293035/EO17-42.pdf 

EO 17-43 – Hurricane Irma: Regulatory Relief for Commercial Spiny Lobster Trap Fishers in Collier, Dade and Monroe countieshttp://myfwc.com/media/4293038/EO17-43.pdf 

DCF, USDA PROVIDES $133 MILLION IN FOOD ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE FOOD DESTROYED BY HURRICANE IRMA IMPACTS

Posted on

TALLAHASSEE – The State of Florida, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this week provided $133 million in Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for current food assistance recipients in areas most severely impacted by Hurricane Irma. On September 15, DCF received a waiver of regulations from the USDA to make the mass benefit replacement possible.
This effort, coordinated by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), helps current food assistance households that lost food destroyed by the storm or due to power outages. The action provides aid to nearly 1.5 million households in 52 counties.
Households received 40 percent of the amount of their regular September benefits amount. Benefits were automatically loaded into each household’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) account and households can use the benefits in USDA authorized retailers.
More information about food assistance is available at www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/.

Commissioner Putnam Announces Reopening of State Forests Closed for Hurricane Irma

Posted on

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Florida Forest Service will reopen 20 of the 30 state forests closed for Hurricane Irma today and Friday, Sept. 22. Certain tracts, roads, recreation areas or campgrounds in these state forests may remain closed until damage from Hurricane Irma is cleared or repaired.

The following state forests open today, Sept. 20:

  • Belmore State Forest
  • Big Shoals State Forest
  • Carl Duval Moore State Forest
  • Cary State Forest
  • Etoniah Creek State Forest
  • Four Creeks State Forest
  • Goethe State Forest
  • Indian Lake State Forest
  • Lake Wales Ridge State Forest
  • Myakka State Forest
  • Newnan’s Lake State Forest
  • Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
  • Ralph E. Simmons State Forest
  • Ross Prairie State Forest
  • Seminole State Forest
  • Welaka State Forest
  • Withlacoochee State Forest

The following state forests open Friday, Sept. 22:

  • Lake George State Forest
  • Matanzas State Forest 
  • Tiger Bay State Forest

State forest visitors should contact their local Florida Forest Service office to ensure the area they plan to visit is open. Citizens are also encouraged to take precautions when visiting areas of state forests that may have storm water or debris from Hurricane Irma.

For Florida Forest Service team contact information regarding state forest campground, trail or road closures, visitFreshFromFlorida.com/State-Forests.

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.

Gov. Scott: Disaster Relief Employment Available to Floridians Affected by Hurricane Irma

Posted on

MARATHON, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the state has been awarded federal Dislocated Worker Grants to provide temporary employment to Floridians affected by Hurricane Irma. The Dislocated Worker Grants, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, provide disaster relief employment in the form of temporary jobs that support storm response and recovery efforts.

Governor Scott said, “As we all recover from Hurricane Irma, we are doing everything we can to help Floridians get back on their feet. This federal funding will provide important employment opportunities to Floridians who may have lost their jobs due to the impacts of this massive storm and will also support ongoing recovery efforts. Now, Floridians can get back to work helping those in their communities. We will continue to work together to make sure everyone has the support they need to rebuild.”

Disaster relief employment pertains to projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims and projects that involve demolition, cleaning, repair, renovation and reconstruction of damaged structures and facilities. Individuals who qualify for disaster relief employment are people who are temporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of the disaster, dislocated workers, and individuals who are long-term unemployed.

DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “DEO is working with local CareerSource Florida workforce boards across the state to connect dislocated job seekers with cleanup opportunities. We will continue to use these grants and all other resources we have available to help communities fully recover from Hurricane Irma.”

For information regarding National Dislocated Worker Grants, visit your local CareerSource Center athttp://www.careersourceflorida.com/your-local-team.

 In addition to the Dislocated Worker Grants, DEO is also providing the following programs to assist in recovery from Hurricane Irma:

  • The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program provides cash flow to businesses damaged by a disaster. The short-term, interest-free loans help bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and when a business secures other financial resources, including payment of insurance claims or longer-term Small Business Administration loans. Go to www.floridadisasterloan.org for more information.
  • DEO is currently surveying businesses in affected counties to determine damage. To access the business survey, please go to http://flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=bda and select “Hurricane Irma” from the drop-down menu. 
  • The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Program provides assistance to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of Hurricane Irma. To apply for DUA, go to www.floridajobs.org or call the Florida Disaster Unemployment Assistance Line at 1-800-385-3920.

Flagler Forum lecture welcomes national correspondents from McClatchy Newspapers

Posted on

St. Augustine, Fla. — Veteran Washington correspondents David Lightman and William G. Douglas will give a talk at Flagler College on Thursday, Oct. 5, on the political conflicts over the federal budget, debt limits, immigration and tax reform, and the impact those conflicts could have on next year’s midterm elections. Their talk, titled “The bumpy road ahead for Congress: A look at the 2018 elections,” is part of Flagler College’s Forum on Government and Public Policy series and will be held in Lewis Auditorium.

The debated topics are significant because they will shape future American policy, said Lightman, the congressional editor for McClatchy Newspapers.

“Who will be allowed into this country?,” he said. “Will the next budget dramatically cut social programs? Will taxes go down, and perhaps starve the government of much-needed revenue? Or will it boost the economy by putting more money in people’s pockets?”

Lightman previously worked at the Baltimore Evening Sun, where he covered the Maryland General Assembly, and was Washington Bureau Chief of the Hartford Courant from 1984 to 2007. He is a member of the Gridiron Club and is current chairman of Congress’ Standing Committee of Correspondents. He has taught at the University of Maryland since 1994.

Douglas, McClatchy’s congressional correspondent, started out as a reporter for The Charlotte Observer in 1980. He then moved on to report for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Evening Sun, and New York Newsday. In addition to serving as congressional correspondent, he is co-host of the podcast Majority Minority, which focuses on the impact of minorities in Washington politics and beyond.

For more than 30 years, the Flagler College Forum on Government and Public Policy has invited nationally recognized journalists and commentators to St. Augustine to discuss issues of importance in regional, state and federal government. All Forums take place in Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., at 7 p.m. Forums are free and open to the public, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are a person with a disability and need reasonable accommodations, please contact Lynn Francisco at 904-819-6460. Sign Language Interpreters are available upon request with a minimum of three days’ notice.
 
Call (904) 826-8572 or visit here for more information.

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT’S SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

Posted on

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT’S SCHEDULE

FOR

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

9:40am                       MEETING WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTING SECRETARY ELAINE DUKE REGARDING HURRICANE IRMA RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

Location:         Marathon, FL

10:00am                     VISIT TO HURRICANE IRMA SHELTER IN MONROE COUNTY WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTING SECRETARY ELAINE DUKE

Location:         Marathon Middle High School

Address:          350 Sombrero Beach Road

                        Marathon, FL 33050

10:45am                     MEETING WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ON HURRICANE IRMA RESPONSE AND RECOVERY IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

Location:         Monroe County Emergency Operations Center

                        Media Room, 1st Floor

Address:          2798 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050 

2:15-2:45pm               STAFF AND CALL TIME (VIA PHONE) 

3:00pm                       MEETING WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ON HURRICANE IRMA RESPONSE AND RECOVERY IN LEE COUNTY

Location:         Lee County Emergency Management

Address:          2665 Ortiz Ave.

Fort Myers, FL 33905 

5:00-7:00pm               STAFF AND CALL TIME (VIA PHONE)

###

LT. GOVERNOR CARLOS LOPEZ-CANTERA’S SCHEDULE

FOR

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

3:00-5:00pm               STAFF AND CALL TIME

###

Gov. Scott to Discuss Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts in Lee County

Posted on

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Today, September 20th, Governor Rick Scott will meet with state and local officials in Lee County to discuss Hurricane Irma response and recovery efforts.

WHAT:                   Meeting on Hurricane Irma Response and Recovery

WHEN:                   3:00 PM

WHERE:                 Lee County Emergency Management

2665 Ortiz Ave.

Fort Myers, FL 33905

CONTACT: GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE

(850) 717-9282
[email protected]

U.S. Forecast: Economic Health Hinges on Trump Administration’s Proposed Policies

Posted on

ORLANDO — If the Trump Administration’s proposed economic policies gain traction, the U.S. can expect faster economic growth and higher inflation, says University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith, but that’s a big “if” given the administration’s tumultuous first eight months.

“Tweeting and talking about policy is one thing,” said the director for the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the UCF College of Business, “being able to continue the regulatory roll back and move tax reform and infrastructure spending into legislative action is the key to accelerating economic growth and extending the life span of economic recovery.”

In his third quarterly national economic forecast of 2017, Snaith said to expect the Federal Reserve to call for another 25- basis-point hike this December and that future hikes will come at a faster pace during the next three years, with the federal funds rate hitting 3.25 percent by the end of the first quarter of 2020.

Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, which slowed to 1.5 percent in 2016, is forecasted to hit 2.3 percent in 2017 and 3.4 percent in 2018 before slipping to 3.1 percent in 2019 and 3 percent in 2020.

The odds of a recession in the final quarter of the year continue to decrease, according to the most recent release of the Survey of Professional Forecasters by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.  The 35 forecasters surveyed put a 10.46 percent chance that a decline in real GDP will occur in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Average monthly payroll employment growth has decelerated the past three years, and uncertainty and regulatory burden have been hindering payroll job growth, which slowed to 1.8 percent in 2016. The forecast shows payroll job growth slowing to 1.6 percent in 2017 before stabilizing at 1.5 percent for 2018-2020.

The unemployment rate is expected to decline to 4 percent in early 2020, and job growth will be enough to keep up with labor force growth through the end of the forecast horizon. Underemployment, which has been a persistent problem in this recovery and stands at 8.6 percent as of August, also will continue to decline through 2020.

“Continued gains in employment, more rapidly rising wages and improving household balance sheets should continue to provide a solid foundation for continued consumer spending growth,” Snaith said. “Tax cuts and spending programs proposed by the Trump administration should also boost consumer spending growth.”

The forecast states the foreign sector will continue to be a drag on U.S. growth, as a stronger dollar and rising U.S. interest rates boost imports and depress exports. As a result, Snaith said, net exports will continue to fall through 2020.

The housing market, which continues to recover, is expected to slowly improve through 2020, even with rising interest rates. Housing starts are forecasted to rise from 1.24 million in 2017 to 1.63 million in 2020.

For the full forecast, visit:  https://issuu.com/ucfbusiness/docs/ucf-us-forecast-sept2017http://issuu.com/ucfbusiness/docs/ucf-us-forecast-september2016  

Snaith is a national expert in economics, forecasting, market sizing and economic analysis who authors quarterly reports about the state of the economy. Bloomberg News has named Snaith as one of the country’s most accurate forecasters for his predictions about the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate, the Federal Funds rate.

The Institute for Economic Competitiveness strives to provide complete, accurate and timely national, state and regional forecasts and economic analyses. Through these analyses, the institute provides valuable resources to the public and private sectors for informed decision-making.

CONTACT: Erika Hodges, College of Business, 407-823-3041 or [email protected]

About UCF College of Business 
Established in 1968, the UCF College of Business offers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and executive levels. All programs, as well as the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting are accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The college provides high-quality academic programs designed to give students a competitive advantage in the world of business now and in the future. Learn more at business.ucf.edu

Zenaida Kotala

Associate Director

University of Central Florida, News & Information

407-823-6120

UCF Today: http://today.ucf.edu

After-hours media line: 407-823-5300

UCF Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month With Adelante Message

Posted on

ORLANDO – Latinos at UCF won’t let Hurricane Irma stop its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Although off to a late start, the celebration is moving ahead starting this week.

“I think it is appropriate that our theme is “¡Adelante! Leading with Courage,” said  Cyndia M. Muñiz, president of the Latino Faculty and Staff Association and advisor to the Latin American Student Association. Both organizations are sponsoring this year’s events. “Adelante means to move ahead despite challenges. The programs we’ve prepared this month are aimed at encouraging and empowering the Latino community to lead with courage and acknowledge Latino contributions here, nationally and around the world.”

Those looking to learn more about Hispanics and their impact on the community can check out an array of events from Cuban Chef and author Ana Sofia Palaez demonstrating simple and delicious recipes today to talks about the economic crisis in Puerto Rico and how to identify as Hispanic or Latino.

A diverse panel of Latino professionals will provide advice for combating adversity in the workplace and the documentary Made in L.A. will be screened as well. For a full listing of more than 15 events visit http://ucflafasa.org/.

The Closing Celebration is set for Thursday, Oct. 12, with Keynote Speaker Juana Bordas, President of Mestiza Leadership International. Her talk is entitled “Shaping the Bright Future of America.”  Bordas will also lead a workshop on the Power of Latino Leadership on Oct. 11.

“There are more than 15,000 students at UCF who identify as Hispanic/Latino at UCF,” Muñiz said.

The month-long celebration is not the only time the organizers work together. LaFaSA and LASA work throughout the academic year to highlight Latino contributions and achievement, with events like Nuestra Graduación, UCF’s Annual Latino Graduation Celebration, coming in May 2018. LaFaSA and LASA also support UCF’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and its Hispanic Serving Institution Task Force, which is leading the university initiative to achieve the federal designation of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

CONTACT: Cyndia Muñiz, LAFaSA, 407-823-2718 or [email protected]

About the Latino Faculty and Staff Association at UCF

The Latino Faculty and Staff Association (LaFaSA) at the University of Central Florida is an organization dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for the needs and goals of Latino community at UCF. LaFaSA seeks to advance educational and work opportunities that would enhance the status of Latinos/as within the university community. LaFaSA promotes a family environment that embraces and respects the various identities within the Latino/a culture through quality, bilingual programming, networking opportunities and guidance, to UCF’s Latino students, faculty and staff; and the greater UCF community. For more information please visit http://ucflafasa.org or call 407-823-2718.

About the Latin American Student Association at UCF

Established in 1985, LASA is the oldest Latino based student organization and the second oldest multicultural-based organization in the history of UCF. LASA’s mission is to provide the UCF community with knowledge of the Latino culture. LASA has three goals that go unchanged: (1) To provide UCF students with educational and cultural activities; (2) To collaborate with the community and develop a relationship between the UCF student body and the Orlando Latino community; and (3) To provide a familial experience at the college level.

Zenaida Kotala

Associate Director

University of Central Florida, News & Information

407-823-6120

JUPITER MAN TURNS $20 INTO $1 MILLION PLAYING $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER SCRATCH-OFF GAME

Posted on

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Lottery announces that Robert Barty, Jr., 67, of Jupiter, claimed a $1 million prize in the $5,000,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $745,000.00.

 Barty purchased his winning ticket from Indiantown Marathon, located at 243 West Indiantown Road in Jupiter. 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-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

 The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $32 billion to education and sending more than 750,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $52.4 billion in prizes and made more than 1,900 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.flalottery.com.