Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Steven A. Wellins to the North Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners.
Steven A. Wellins, 50, of Fort Lauderdale, is the senior vice president of investments for Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. Wellins received his bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Miami and a master’s degree in economics from Florida State University. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning April 17, 2017, and ending June 29, 2017.
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Upcoming I-4 Beyond the Ultimate Public Meeting for Seminole County/Segment 3
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public information meeting about the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate (BtU) design project in Seminole County. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a project update and present the preliminary design concepts. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Sanford City Hall, Utilities Training Room, 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32771. The meeting is an informal open house where project displays will be available for review. A brief looping presentation and other information will be available throughout the evening, and project staff will be available to discuss the project and answer questions.
The project involves the build-out of the interstate to its ultimate condition from one mile east of S.R. 434 to east of U.S. 17-92 in Seminole County, Florida. This project is also referred to as Segment 3 of BtU. The proposed improvements include widening the existing six-lane divided interstate to a 10-lane divided urban interstate. The design proposes the addition of two new Express Lanes and three non-tolled general use lanes in each direction. The four dynamically tolled, Express Lanes (two in each direction) will be priced according to traffic conditions. A barrier wall between the adjacent shoulders will separate the express lanes from the general-use lanes. One auxiliary lane will be provided in some areas in both directions.
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Ms. Beata Stys-Palasz, P.E., FDOT Project Manager, by phone at 386-943-5418, or by email at [email protected], at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator, by phone at 386-943-5367, or via email at [email protected].
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2016, and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT.
For media related questions, please contact the FDOT Public Information Office at 386-943-5473 / [email protected].
Additional information is available on the project website at www.i4express.com.
The Florida Department of Transportation urges drivers to not text and drive, and to always wear a seatbelt.
Motivational speaker Doug Dvorak to give commencement address at Flagler College
Flagler College will hold its spring commencement ceremony Saturday, April 29, for graduating seniors. Approximately 358 students will receive diplomas at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
The commencement speaker will be Flagler alumnus Doug Dvorak,’84, the CEO of DMG International, a worldwide organization that assists clients with sales excellence enhancement workshops, productivity training and motivational excellence management workshops. He has earned an international reputation for his powerful educational methods and motivational techniques, as well as his experience in all levels of business, corporate education and success training. His background in sales, leadership, and management has allowed him to become one of world’s most sought-after consultants, lecturers and teachers. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and is an Advisory Board Member of Best Buddies International, Inc., an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. In August 2014, Dvorak was inducted into the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame.
The commencement speaker holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Flagler College and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management from American Century University. He is also a graduate of the Player’s Workshop of the Second City, one of the oldest and most prestigious improvisational comedy schools in the world.
Commencement begins at 9 a.m. and is not open to the public. It will be streamed live here.
The Flagler College Public Administration (PAD) program will graduate 14 seniors in a second ceremony later that day at 4 p.m. in the Flagler College Lewis Auditorium.
The PAD program at Flagler College is designed specifically to meet the educational and career objectives of public sector professionals and includes courses such as management, program evaluation, public budgeting, human resources, administrative ethics, public policy and grant writing.
Gov. Scott urges legislature to fund $200 million to help fix Herbert Hoover Dike
Encourages Legislature to pass bill to help Lake Okeechobee
Governor Rick Scott today urged the Florida Legislature to include $200 million in state funding to its budget to help fix the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike and solve water issues around Lake Okeechobee. Governor Scott also commended Senate President Negron’s focus on storage south of Lake Okeechobee in the A2 Reservoir and asked the Legislature to pass a good bill which address the problems surrounding Lake Okeechobee and benefits Florida’s environment.
Below are the remarks as prepared for delivery that Governor Scott gave today in Tallahassee:
Governor Rick Scott said, “It’s important to me that as the Legislature has progressed on President Negron’s priority Lake Okeechobee bill, I give an update on how I believe we should be funding our environment and conversations I have been having with the Trump Administration.
“Florida is known for our beautiful waterways and pristine coastline. We have to be very aggressive in protecting our environment and every year I have been in office, I have fought to provide resources to protect our lands and waterways. Unfortunately, due to heavy amounts of rain, we had the Lost Summer in 2013 and last year we had the algal blooms in South Florida where I had to declare a state of emergency.
“Our environment and the local economy in South Florida were hit hard. Businesses were hurt, our tourism industry was impacted and we have to continue to do all we can to make sure we keep enhancing the quality of our water. That’s why today I am announcing two items:
“First, I am calling on both the House and the Senate to allocate $200 million in state funds to help fix the federal Herbert Hoover Dike. They are in the middle of their budget negotiations and I urge them to add this in immediately. If we can start working to fix the Dike, we can help solve a lot of the water issues we have seen with Lake Okeechobee. Repairing the Dike is key to enhancing the water quality in South Florida and I am going to be very aggressive at doing whatever we can to protect our environment.
“I have spoken to the Trump Administration about the importance of fixing the federal Dike and I know they are very focused on investing in our environment and infrastructure. As you know, we had a major win from the Trump Administration last week with their commitment of $1.5 billion in LIP funding. This was nearly a billion more than the Obama Administration gave us. With this additional funding, we now have other funds available to spend on key items in our state, like our environment. And most importantly, we now have a federal government that is our partner and actually focused on working with Florida. My goal is for the Dike to be completely repaired by 2022, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration to complete this, which would substantially reduce future discharges.
“Second, the quality of our water is one of the biggest issues facing our state and President Negron has been very focused on getting a bill done to help Lake Okeechobee. I have continued to review the legislation and watch it go through the process this session. And today, I met with many Senators on this bill to let them know my thoughts on it. There is a lot about the bill I like, and I know it is still going through the process. But ultimately, I hope the legislature sends me a great bill that addresses the Lake Okeechobee problem and benefits our environment and takes into consideration the agriculture community.
“Specifically, I support storage south of the lake in the A2 Reservoir which utilizes state-owned land and does not take people’s private land. This is a big step toward protecting our pristine environment. This additional storage, in conjunction with our currently planned projects around the Lake, will help reduce harmful discharges to the estuaries in South Florida. It’s very important to me that while we fund items in this bill, dollars are not taken away from our existing restoration plan, including projects like C43 and C44. Also, it is important to me that whatever is passed does not impact any person’s job. We have dedicated record funding toward Everglades restoration and I am confident we have the funds available to get these projects done without taking on more debt.
“I am a businessman who came into government to get things done for Florida families. Protecting our environment isn’t a partisan issue. We have to aggressively fight to protect it. I think about my grandsons who love being outdoors and I want to make sure we leave our future generations a pristine environment.”
Since taking office, Governor Scott has worked to provide record funding for our springs, pass a historic $880 million Everglades water quality plan and create a dedicated source of funding to restore the Everglades and Florida’s springs. Under Governor Scott’s leadership, Florida has invested more than $680 million in Everglades restoration. This year, Governor Scott proposed nearly $4 billion for Florida’s environment, with $360 million for water quality projects. This includes $60 million for the new Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee Clean-Up Initiative and $225 million for Everglades restoration.
Naples woman claims top prize in $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game
Ann Karrick poses with her oversized check after claiming a top
prize in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery announces that Ann Karrick, of Naples, claimed a top prize in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She purchased her winning ticket from Publix, located at 11200 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 2200 in Naples.
The $5 Scratch-Off game, $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER, launched in January, and features more than $182.8 million in prizes, including 44 top prizes of $500,000. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-3.98.
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 Passes Plan to Reduce Harmful Discharges from Lake Okeechobee
Legislation Authorizes Major Expansion of Southern Storage
The Florida Senate today passed Senate Bill 10, Water Resources, by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island). The legislation authorizes a significant increase in southern water storage to further the goal of reducing and eventually eliminating harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee, a priority of Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart).
“For too long toxic blue-green algae has been harming the health of both our citizens and our economy. This legislation provides a clear plan to address this plague in a manner that benefits communities across South Florida,” said President Negron. “Senate Bill 10 will make an important difference to families, communities, and the economy east and west of the Lake, as well as southern communities that have waited too long for additional investments in meaningful economic development to expand workforce training and job opportunities.”
“Our goal was to explore all available options to deliver this much-needed and long-anticipated storage south of Lake Okeechobee,” said Senator Bradley. “These algal blooms have occurred before and will occur again unless high volume discharges from Lake Okeechobee are stopped and pollution in the Lake Okeechobee basin is abated. Algal blooms are not simply an unsightly nuisance for residents and tourists. They bring real health risks to humans and wildlife and result in severe economic damage to local businesses.”
Senate Bill 10 expressly prohibits the use of eminent domain, leveraging land already owned by the State of Florida and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), land swaps, and purchases, to minimize impacts on agricultural workers while achieving 240,000 to 360,000 acre feet of storage. The legislation also provides grants to establish training programs for agricultural workers.
“I promised my constituents that we would dramatically expand southern storage by leveraging existing water infrastructure, and utilizing a combination of state, local, and private land, in a manner that respects the interests of the agricultural community and private land owners. After twenty years of talking about southern storage, this legislation establishes a concrete plan to achieve this critical component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan in a reasonable amount of time,” continued President Negron.
“Nearly half way through the original timeline of CERP, less than 20 percent of the estimated total cost has been funded. It is time to invest in additional projects needed to complete the plan and that is exactly what the voters have been trying to tell us in passing Amendment 1,” continued Senator Bradley. “This legislation demonstrations fidelity to the Constitution by using Amendment 1 funds, the very funds Florida voters dedicated to improving our environment, to address a critical and ongoing problem that impacts our residents, visitors, business, economy and quality of life.”
Senate Bill 10, Water Resources
• Requires the SFWMD to develop a plan to provide a minimum of 240,000 acre-feet of storage through a deep storage reservoir and water quality treatment features, using the A-2 parcel, land swaps, and purchases. The district may consider alternate configurations using the A-1 parcel if a minimum of 360,000 acre-feet of additional storage can be achieved (60,000 acre-feet currently provided by A-1 FEB).
• Requires the SFWMD to use DMSTA2 modeling to determine the amount of acreage needed in order to meet water quality standards.
o Directs the SFWMD to negotiate modifications of lease terms on state and district owned lands to make land available for the reservoir project.
o Directs SFWMD to negotiate for the acquisition of privately-owned property, if needed for the reservoir project, through purchase or land swap.
o The bill terminates the current PRIDE work programs, on state owned land using inmate labor for agricultural work, in light of the high unemployment rate in the EAA for these types of jobs. This land would then be available to swap for any privately-owned land needed for the reservoir project, further minimizing any impact on agricultural workers in the EAA.
• Establishes a number of timelines for achieving milestones for approval of the post authorization change report and requires reporting to the Legislature.
• Moves up the date for the EAA reservoir project planning study to commence if the post-authorization report is not submitted for Congressional approval, or Congressional approval is not obtained in accordance with the time frames in the bill.
• Clarifies that ongoing Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects will continue to receive funding.
• Authorizes the district to begin planning and discussion with the owners of the C-51 Reservoir project to determine if the state should acquire or enter into a public private partnership for this water storage facility that will add approximately 60,000 acre feet of storage south of the Lake.
• Establishes the Everglades Restoration Agricultural Community Training Program in DEO for the purpose of stimulating and supporting training and employment programs, to match state and local training programs with identified job skills associated with non-agricultural employment opportunities in areas of high agricultural unemployment. The bill expresses the Legislature’s intent to promote the implementation of the Airglades Airport in Hendry County and an inland port in Palm Beach County to create job opportunities in areas of high agricultural unemployment.
• Establishes a revolving loan fund to provide funding assistance to local governments and water supply entities for the development and construction of water storage facilities.
• Revises the uses of the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund to include the water storage facility revolving loan program.
• Provides funding for the reservoir projects, including an authorization to bond funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF). The total cost is approximately $1.5 billion, half of which could be paid by the federal government. The bill includes an appropriation of $64 million from the LATF for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year.
• Allows for funds not spent on the reservoir projects to be used for other Everglades Restoration projects as provided in Legacy Florida.
Background:
Record rainfall this past year resulted in unseasonably high water levels in Lake Okeechobee, which threatened the integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike. To maintain safe water levels, the Army Corps of Engineers authorized the release of billions of gallons of water from the Lake to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers. Such freshwater discharges cause significant environmental damage by lowering the salinity levels of the estuaries and introducing pollutants into coastal waters. Due to the discharges this summer, massive amounts of toxic algae that originated in Lake Okeechobee were sent to the estuaries and coastal waterways.
As a result of the high volume discharges, coastal communities experienced enormous harmful algal blooms with devastating impacts not only to the ecology of local waterways, but also to residents, fishermen, and local businesses. The extent and severity of the blooms resulted in Governor Scott declaring a state of emergency in four Florida counties.
For more information, please visit www.FLSenate.gov.
FAMU Announces Spring 2017 Commencement Speakers and Honorary Doctorate Recipients
Nearly 1,200 Florida A&M University (FAMU) graduates will begin the next chapter of their lives this month as they receive their diplomas during the spring 2017 commencement exercises in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium.
There will be three ceremonies. The first will take place on Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. and two ceremonies will follow on Saturday, April 29 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Arnold Donald, president and chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & PLC, the largest travel and leisure company in the world, will address graduates on Friday, April 28. Under Donald’s leadership, Carnival’s portfolio of 10 cruise brands includes Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn, all based throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
The ceremony will include graduates from the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, College of Education, School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Business and Industry and School of Journalism & Graphic Communication.
During the ceremony, alumnus Garth C. Reeves will receive an honorary doctorate. Reeves is a business executive who is the former publisher and CEO of the Miami Times newspaper and U.S. Army combat veteran who served during World War II.
He was the organizing chairman of the board of the National Industrial Bank, widely recognized as the first integrated bank in the state of Florida.
Also, alumni from the classes of 1947, 1957 and 1967 will celebrate their respective anniversaries as graduates from the University. Among the alumni celebrating will be former FAMU President Frederick S. Humphries, Ph.D., who will mark his 60th anniversary as an alumnus.
Roslyn M. Brock, chair emeritus of the NAACP Board of Directors and vice president for Advocacy and Government Relations for Bon Secours Health System, Inc., will serve as the commencement speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony on Saturday, April 29. Brock is the youngest person to be elected chair of the NAACP Board of Directors.
The 9 a.m. ceremony will include graduates from the College of Science and Technology, College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities and the School of the Environment.
Thomas W. Dortch Jr., a member of the FAMU Board of Trustees and chairman and CEO of TWD, Inc., will serve as the commencement speaker at 2 p.m., on Saturday, April 29. Dortch is chair emeritus of the 100 Black Men of America, which expanded globally under his leadership. He is the first African American in U.S. Senate history to serve as state director and chief administrator for a U.S. Senator.
The ceremony will include graduates from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, College of Law, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Architecture and Engineering Technology and School of Nursing.
An honorary doctorate will be awarded posthumously to Raymond A. Brown, one of the most influential criminal and civil rights attorneys of the century. A U.S. Army Veteran, who served during World War II, Brown became one of the first African-American officers in the desegregated Army before retiring from the National Guard at the rank of full colonel. In addition to serving as a volunteer lawyer for the NAACP, he also served as president of the New Jersey Chapter of the NAACP for 12 years.
App aims to take the risk out of routine traffic stops
Members of the student team that created Virtual Traffic Stop, from left to right: Dekita Moon
(CISE PhD Student), Isabel Laurenceau (CISE undergrad and now PhD student), Michelle
Emamdie (CISE undergrad), and Jessica Jones (CISE PhD Student). Photo by Lyon Duong.
Many police officers will tell you the riskiest parts of their job are responding to domestic violence calls and making traffic stops.
A group of University of Florida students has come up with a way to make the latter a little less dangerous – for everyone.
The group, all students in UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering department of computer and information science and engineering, developed Virtual Traffic Stop, an app that allows the officer and the driver to remain in their vehicles during routine stops.
While the idea was inspired by a series of police shootings starting with events in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2015, the students say their goal is to make the interaction between law enforcement and citizens safer for all involved.
“At the end of the day, everyone just wants to make it home,” said team member and doctoral student DeKita Moon.
Said her fellow team member and doctoral student Jessica Jones: “The goal is not to keep the police and the community separate; the goal is to keep the police and the community safe.”
Here’s how it works: A motorist downloads the app and enters their vehicle information, driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Police download a different version of the app that an officer can use on his or her laptop.
When the officer stops a driver, the officer enters the vehicle’s license plate number and can see the driver’s information. The officer can then request a real-time video conference with the driver.
The app also makes it possible to bring a third party into the interaction — for instance, the parent of a minor or a translator to help someone whose knowledge of English may be limited.
For routine stops, the students said, the interaction could be conducted entirely from the safety of the vehicles involved. But police will also tell you that they gather much valuable information from the face-to-face encounter – the smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath, for example.
That would still be possible. Jones said if an officer sees anything during the video conference that raises concern or prompts suspicion, he or she could still approach the driver in person.
The app, team members say, would also reduce the risk officers face stepping out onto the shoulder of a busy highway or during dangerous weather conditions. In addition, they say, it would address the fear some motorists experience being pulled over at night and not knowing whether the person in the vehicle behind them is actually a cop.
“Virtual Traffic Stop has the potential to save lives. That statement alone justifies testing this app. If we can save a single life with this app, it’s worth it,” said Juan Gilbert, chairman of UF’s computer and information science and engineering department and Andrew Banks Preeminence Chair in Engineering.
The team is working with two law enforcement agencies in hopes of launching a pilot program to try the app in real-world settings this summer. If all goes well, they say, the app could be available to consumers later this year.
The team also was scheduled to present Virtual Traffic Stop at the National Academy of Inventors sixth annual meeting in Boston in April.
Writer: Steve Orlando, [email protected]
Source: Juan Gilbert, 352-562-0784, [email protected]
Kissimmee man celebrates 61st birthday with $2 million LUCKY MONEY jackpot win
The Florida Lottery announces that George Lozano, of Kissimmee, claimed the $2 million LUCKY MONEY™ jackpot from the March 28, 2017, drawing at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee, four days after his 61st birthday.
Lozano chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,469,793.60. He purchased his winning LUCKY MONEY Quick Pick ticket from Publix, located at 3839 Pleasant Hill Road in Kissimmee.
Total ticket sales for this LUCKY MONEY jackpot generated more than $3.4 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
The next LUCKY MONEY drawing will be tonight at 11:15 p.m. ET, with a $550,000 jackpot. The LUCKY MONEY drawings are broadcast on 17 carrier stations throughout the state. Winning numbers are available on the Lottery website, at retailers statewide and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY.
UNF Awarded $1.4M National Science Foundation Grant
The University of North Florida has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Fellowship, which will support the Jacksonville Teacher Residency, a program in UNF’s College of Education and Human Services.
“The NSF awards are highly competitive and prestigious. By being selected to receive this award, the National Science Foundation recognizes the important work that DCPS and UNF are doing together. We are truly partners in the work of improving education by strengthening student and teacher learning,” said Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, COEHS dean.
The Jacksonville Teacher Residency is a teacher preparation program for graduates of science, technology, engineering and math disciplines who want to become math or science teachers in urban secondary schools in Duval County Public Schools. The program prepares AmeriCorps Residents for a teaching career through a yearlong teaching apprenticeship in a Duval County urban school as they complete a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University.
The principal investigator is Dr. Wanda Lastrapes, University program director for the Jacksonville Teacher Residency, while the co-principal investigators include Drs. Dale Cassamatta, professor in the Coastal and Marine Biology Flagship Program; KoSze Lee, assistant professor, and Brian Zoellner, assistant professor, both in the Department of Foundations and Secondary Education; and Pali Sen, professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
“We’re honored to receive this support for JTR from the prestigious National Science Foundation. This grant will allow us to broaden and deepen our preparation and support of new math and science secondary teachers,” said Lastrapes. “Faculty from the COEHS and College of Arts and Sciences will explore innovative strategies to make STEM relevant and engaging for students in Duval County high-needs urban schools.”
The grant will support 15 members of JTR’s fourth cohort by providing a living stipend during the apprenticeship year; funding collaboration between faculty in UNF’s COEHS and COAS to deepen math and science content and instructional practices; and providing an induction and professional development program to support the new teachers in their first four years of teaching. The Noyce Fellows will receive a $10,000 salary supplement to support their work during the induction program.
During the 2016-17 school year, JTR AmeriCorps Residents served 537 students in Duval County public middle and high schools. 78 percent of students who completed services demonstrated growth of at least one achievement level in math.
JTR is a partnership between UNF and Duval County Public Schools, with support by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. It was created in 2014 and has prepared 26 secondary math and science teachers for Duval’s urban schools, namely middle and high schools, in the Raines, Ribault and Jackson feeder schools.
The mission of the JTR program is to recruit, prepare and retain a diverse population of highly effective teachers who serve in high needs schools to ensure that Duval County students are college and career ready.
