Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Featured

Featured

State Board of Education Approves Four Baccalaureate Programs Aimed at Meeting Workforce Demands

Posted on

The State Board of Education today approved four Florida College System institutions to begin offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees by 2018.
To produce a future talent pipeline in Central Florida, a consortium of colleges, with the support of the University of Central Florida, requested approval for Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs:

  • Eastern Florida State College
  • Lake-Sumter State College
  • Seminole State College of Florida
  • Valencia College

Through these programs, nurses with Associate in Science degrees currently in the local workforce can remain on the job while pursuing advanced skills in the healthcare field.
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart said, “I am very excited about the State Board of Education’s approval to allow these four colleges to begin offering the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Florida colleges are known throughout the nation for their educational excellence, and this is a tremendous opportunity for students in Florida to meet their higher education goals while attending a Florida College.”
Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor of the Florida College System, said, “Our colleges produce more than 4,500 registered nurses each year that stay right here in Florida to work.  Many of our graduates take advantage of our RN-BSN programs that help nurses advance their education while they work as RN’s in our local hospitals.”
Dr. James Richey, president of Eastern Florida State College, said, “The college’s Associate in Science degree in nursing is highly popular and this will allow qualified graduates to seamlessly transition in the bachelor’s program, providing them an important educational and career opportunity that did not previously exist. The program will play a critical role in providing a new generation of nurses to hospitals and other health care providers along the Space Coast, where demand for them is rapidly growing because of an aging population and many nurses who are retiring.”
Dr. Stanley Sidor, president of Lake-Sumter State College, said, “In The Villages, healthcare providers are continuing to expand to meet the needs of the retiree population. At the southern end of our district, growth in young professionals and families are placing additional demands for healthcare. There is already significant unmet demand for nursing positions in our communities, and these jobs are expected to grow by 25 percent through 2022. Coupled with the need for nurses and the BSN becoming the preferred credential, the BSN program at Lake-Sumter State College and our peer colleges in Central Florida allow for increased access to this degree. Lake-Sumter State College is dedicated to our community and has a history of adapting to meet and support the workforce education demands of our communities.
Dr. E. Ann McGee, president of Seminole State College of Florida, said, “Our nursing graduates consistently score almost 100 percent on their national licensure exams and on graduation have a job placement rate of more than 98 percent. Seminole State has been working closely with the University of Central Florida, and our sister colleges to address the shortage of registered nurses, particularly those with bachelor’s degrees, and provide our graduates with high-growth, high-paying jobs. Seminole State’s Bachelor’s in Nursing will complement our Associate in Nursing degree and enable us to help provide the estimated 1,000 new nurses needed each year in Central Florida over the next decade. Our role in the local community is to help our industries meet their hiring goals.”
Dr. Sandy Shugart, president of Valencia College, said, “Valencia College is already expanding its Associate in Science in Nursing from 350 to more than 700 graduates over the next few years.  This represents both a huge cost to our healthcare system – perhaps more than $40 million per year in overtime costs alone – and a huge opportunity to prepare many more of our students for rewarding careers. Together we have pledged to more than double our collective production of nursing graduates at both the associates and bachelor’s levels.”
Jayne Willis, Chief Nursing Officer for Orlando Health, said “One size does not fit all. Students need options if they are interested in becoming a nurse.  Some students cannot leave home to attend a four year university. They need the option to attend close to home in their communities and continue working.”
Sheryl Dodds, Senior Executive Officer and Chief People Officer of Florida Hospital, said, “To fill open nursing positions at Florida Hospital, we must recruit nationally, but the shortage is critical everywhere which means we can’t meet the growing demands of our area, so it is important that we work with our local colleges and universities to produce more Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing graduates to meet current and future needs.”
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.

Gov. Scott Recognizes Statewide Zika Preparedness Efforts

Posted on

Governor Rick Scott gave opening remarks at the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) Zika Preparedness Planning Meeting in Miami. DOH hosted the meeting with county health departments and mosquito control districts from across the state, as well as CDC officials, to discuss ongoing efforts to prepare for and combat the Zika Virus.
Governor Scott said, “While Florida does not have any identified areas with active Zika transmission, DOH, mosquito control districts and community partners across the state have been tirelessly working together to help combat the spread of this disease and keep our state safe. We know that summer means more rain, more mosquitos, and more travel-related cases, and that is why we must continue to take aggressive preparedness actions. It is also important that all Floridians do their part to dump standing water and wear bug spray in order to help fight the spread of Zika. We will continue to remain in contact with our federal and state partners and we remain fully committed to doing everything we can to protect our families and visitors.”
Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip said, “We have learned a lot about how to prepare for and respond to the Zika virus over the past year and it is crucial that we continue to work with our state and federal partners to keep protecting our communities. I appreciate Governor Scott for his leadership in this ongoing fight and the county health departments and mosquito control districts that traveled here today to further discuss ways we can combat the Zika virus in Florida.”

Florida Citrus Mutual Endorses Albritton

Posted on


Florida Citrus Mutual today endorsed Ben Albritton for the District 26 seat in the Florida Senate, calling him the “clear citrus choice.” In case you missed it, their announcement is below.

FCM Endorses Albritton in District 26 Senate Race

Florida Citrus Mutual, the state’s largest citrus trade organization, announced Monday a strong endorsement of Florida Rep. Ben Albritton in the District 26 state Senate race.
FCM’s Board of Directors, comprised of growers from across the state, unanimously supported the Albritton endorsement.
“As the District 56 House Representative in Tallahassee for the past seven years, Ben has been our industry’s horse supporting us on everything from research and marketing to regulatory issues,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “He’s actually the only two-time winner of FCM’s Champion of Citrus award. I can’t overstate what a help he has been to Florida citrus and I’m sure he will continue that tradition in the Senate.”
District 26 encompasses parts or all of Polk, Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Okeechobee and Lee counties. The seat is being vacated by Senator Denise Grimsley who is running for Commissioner of Agriculture.
“Representative Albritton is the clear citrus choice in this race,” said John Barben, a Highlands County grower who serves as FCM president. “As a citrus grower himself Ben is uniquely qualified to advocate for us in Tallahassee.”
“But even beyond citrus I think he will be a terrific Senator for the people, businesses and families of District 26.”
The Florida citrus industry creates a $8.6 billion annual economic impact, employing nearly 46,000 people, and covering about 500,000 acres. Founded in 1948, Florida Citrus Mutual is the state’s largest citrus grower organization. For more information, visit www.flcitrusmutual.com.

Paid by Ben Albritton, Republican, for State Senator

Commissioner Adam Putnam to Make Announcement Regarding Florida Concealed Weapon Licenses for Service Members and Veterans

Posted on

MEDIA ADVISORY

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam will make an announcement regarding Florida concealed weapon licenses for service members and veterans in Tallahassee and Panama City.
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: National Guard Armory
1225 Easterwood Dr.
Tallahassee, Fla. 32311
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Time: 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Location: National Guard Armory
3121 Lisenby Ave
Panama City, Fla. 32405

Mallea Releases New Ad Featuring Jeb Bush

Posted on


The Jose Mallea Campaign today released a new Spanish-language radio ad featuring former Governor Jeb Bush, who endorsed Mallea in the special election for House District 116 early in the campaign.
“Governor Bush is one of Florida’s greatest leaders, and I am honored to have him behind our campaign,” said Mallea. “I plan to keep working hard in the home stretch of this primary to make sure District 116 has a representative in Tallahassee who will work hard for conservative policies that will improve education and increase opportunity for everyone.”
The full text of the English translation of the ad is below:
This is Jose Mallea asking for your support for the special election on July 25th.
I am asking that you don’t believe the lies from the low campaign my opponent is running.
Our district deserves better! Less taxes and more opportunity.
This is why former Governor Jeb Bush is supporting me in my campaign for State Representative.
“Hello, this is Jeb Bush. Jose Mallea is a trusted friend that’s going to defend us. Jose will use his Republican values to work for you in the Florida Legislature.
That’s why I am asking you to vote for Jose on July 25th”
Paid for by Jose Mallea, Republican, for State Representative. 

Paid by Jose Mallea, Republican, for State Representative

Dr. Leslee Keys joins international preservation board

Posted on

Flagler College has joined the international arena of historic preservation. Dr. Leslee F. Keys, the college’s assistant professor of History and director of Historic Preservation and Special Initiatives, has been elected to the 21-member Board of Trustees for the United States chapter of the International Commission on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS).  She is the member representing Florida, and one of four newly-elected trustees.
Founded in 1965, US/ICOMOS is the single professional preservation organization in the U.S. with an international emphasis, fostering heritage conservation and historic preservation at the worldwide level. The organization promotes strong ties between national, regional, private and governmental organizations within the U.S. and the international preservation community.
“I am honored to be elected to the Board of Trustees,” Keys said. “This opportunity provides an opportunity to promote the heritage of Flagler College and St. Augustine. More importantly, Flagler is building its international programs, and a relationship with US/ICOMOS and this network of professionals can foster opportunities to inspire the next generation of scholars to serve as stewards for international cultural resources.”
Keys has been an employee of the college since 2005, after serving as an adjunct faculty member for three years.  Before joining the Department of Humanities faculty in 2012, she served as the director of corporate, foundation and government relations in the Office of Institutional Advancement. She has been involved in historic preservation in Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida and has served as guest faculty for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and UF’s Preservation Institute: Nantucket. Keys is the author/editor of five books on history and preservation.

UCF Energy Researchers Receive $3.1 Million to Make Solar Affordable

Posted on

The University of Central Florida recently was selected to receive two awards totaling $3.1 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative that is focused on making solar energy systems more efficient and affordable.
The UCF projects led by researchers Kristopher Davis and Joe Walters of the university’s College of Engineering & Computer Science and the Florida Solar Energy Center will address two specific areas of interest to the energy agency.
Davis, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering and a member of the new Renewable Energy Systems faculty cluster, will receive $1.58 million to develop high-speed measurement techniques that can identify potential sources of power degradation in photovoltaic modules, with a focus on degradation in the metal contacts used to carry current.
Davis said: “Our hope is to develop new measurement techniques that will give investors more confidence in the long-term performance of photovoltaic systems. I also believe it will help speed up the adoption of new contact materials by detecting potential reliability concerns and providing insight into possible solutions.”
Walters will receive $1.6 million to devise monitoring techniques to improve operation and maintenance of solar energy fields and provide more accurate predictions of future power generation.
“We want to develop tools to let the solar field operators know in advance when problems may arise and to efficiently plan to make modifications or repairs to maximize energy production,” Walters said.
The two awards with two additional DOE awards received last week for studying how to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality in homes indicate that the university is hitting its stride across the spectrum in energy alternatives, said James Fenton, FSEC director.
“FSEC was established 42 years ago to serve as the state’s energy-research institute and now we are leading the nation in multiple areas of solar energy and energy-efficiency research,“ Fenton said.
In addition to the two Sunshot awards, UCF researchers were awarded subcontracts on projects led by Case Western University and Brightspot Automotion LLC.
The SunShot Initiative’s Photovoltaics Research and Development 2 funding program seeks to transform photovoltaic module design, explore high-risk emerging technology research, and devices and designs that facilitate rapid solar installation. The projects have the potential to make solar power affordable throughout the United States.

FSU MAAPP Students to Host Roundtable on Retaining Young Professionals

Posted on

Community Leaders Join Students in Discussion About Local Opportunities for Graduates

Florida State University Master of Applied American Politics and Policy students will host a roundtable discussion of local, state and federal leaders about strategies to keep young professionals in the Capital City. FSU’s MAAPP program, and other applied graduate programs, provide working professionals with the opportunity to pursue a career while furthering their education—contributing to the retention of young talent. Roundtable participants, will discuss current and future strategies to attract and retain young professionals.
WHO: Congressman Al Lawson, Leon County Commissioner John Dailey, Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, MAAPP Director Robert Crew, Ph.D., Tallahassee Network of Young Professionals President Brittany Mukadam, Chair of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Talent Initiative Berneice Cox and Tallahassee Democrat President Skip Foster.
WHAT: Roundtable discussion about cultivating and preserving opportunities to keep young professionals in the Capital City after graduation.
WHERE: City Hall
300 South Adams Street.
Tallahassee, Fla. 32301
Commission Chambers located on the 2nd Floor
WHEN: Friday July 21, 2017 at 10:30 AM
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Roundtable participants will be available to speak to the media immediately following the event.
The MAAPP program is a terminal Masters of Science degree designed for those who seek active careers in a number of political fields: Campaigns, Fundraising, Political Communications, Lobbying, Legislative Affairs, etc. Unlike the traditional graduate program in Political Science, which is designed for individuals with career paths in academia and research, MAAPP offers practical experience and a diverse set of skills for those interested in careers as political operatives. Florida State University’s MAAPP program has two distinct advantages over other political science programs of this type: flexible enrollment options including evening courses for students holding full-time jobs during the day, and the significant political networks available due to our location in Tallahassee, the capital city of the third-largest state in the U.S.

Gov. Scott: The State of Florida Honors and Remembers Marine Sgt. Joe Murray and his Fellow Fallen Service Members

Posted on

Governor Rick Scott today issued a statement regarding the death of Floridian Marine Sgt. Joe Murray, along with fourteen Marines and one Navy Corpsman, following the crash of their U.S. military plane in Mississippi. Governor Scott will honor the memory and sacrifice of Sgt. Murray, who was originally from Jacksonville, by ordering the lowering of flags. The details on the lowering of flags will be announced in the coming days.
Governor Scott said, “Ann and I join Americans across the nation in praying for the families and loved ones of the sixteen U.S. service members who lost their lives in this week’s tragic plane crash, including Marine Sgt. Joe Murray from Jacksonville. Sgt. Murray was well known as a beloved husband, father, son, and man of faith and service. We are heartbroken by this loss. Sgt. Murray and his fellow fallen service members will now be honored and remembered across our country as heroes. We pray that this legacy of heroism will bring Sgt. Murray’s family some comfort during this unimaginably difficult time.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers our service members face each day as they selflessly protect our families and our freedom. The State of Florida is proud to be the home of brave heroes of like Sgt. Murray and we will continue to pray for the safety of all our service members at home and abroad.”

AHCA Releases Invitation to Negotiate for SMMC Re-Procurement

Posted on

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) released the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for the re-procurement of the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program. The ITN can be accessed through the Florida Department of Management Services’ Vendor Bid System.
As stated in s.287.057(23), F.S., “Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, any employee or officer of the executive or legislative branch concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing to the procurement officer or as provided in the solicitation documents. Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a response.”
As a result, per s. 287.057(23) F.S., with the release of the ITN the Agency has entered into the statutory blackout period. The Agency will not have any discussions relating to the scope, evaluation or negotiation of those procurements.
To assist prospective plans in the development of their responses to the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program Invitation to Negotiate (ITN), the Agency published a data book on March 30, 2017. The Agency held a public meeting on April 12, 2017 to present the data book and collect stakeholder questions. An updated data book and answers to questions received from stakeholders are included as exhibits to the ITN.
All health plans and potential bidders must direct their questions related to the SMMC procurement to the Agency’s Procurement Officer, Jennifer Barrett
Additional information about the SMMC re-procurement can be accessed here.