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Women’s March Florida and PBC Democrats Organizing Protest Against Trump on Bingham Island

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Throughout his entire career, Trump has put his own profits before American workers. Instead of using American workers and American goods, Trump makes his ties in China using foreign workers and uses cheap Chinese steel to make his buildings.
On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Mar-a Lago. Trump will be able to thank the Chinese President for the cheap Chinese goods, which has made Trump very rich at the expense of US manufacturing jobs.
To mark the occasion, members of Women’s March Florida, along with members of Palm Beach County Democrats, will show up on Bingham Island- the doorstep to Mar-a-Lago- to protest Trump’s reliance on Chinese goods & labor, which hurt working Americans. We intend to send a very clear message that Palm Beach County (and the majority of America!) does not endorse Trump’s hypocrisy and conflicts of interest.
Who: Women’s March Florida and Palm Beach County Democrats
What: Protest on Bingham Island
When: April 6th, 2017 4-6pm
Where: Bingham Island (Southern Blvd Bridge), West Palm Beach
Interviews: Alex Newell Taylor or Terrie Rizzo
Links: https://www.facebook.com/events/1398412893551394/

Florida Supreme Court Regular Weekly Opinion Release

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Filings for the Florida Supreme Court
April 6, 2017

SC12-1350 – Terence Tobias Oliver v. State of Florida
SC13-1002 – Victor Guzman v. State of Florida
SC14-582 & SC14-2039 – Dane Patrick Abdool v. State of Florida and Dane Patrick Abdool v. Julie L. Jones, etc.
SC14-703 – Rodney Renard Newberry v. State of Florida
SC14-1800 – Justin Curtis Heyne v. State of Florida
SC15-1364 – Richard Todd Robards v. State of Florida
SC15-1542 – Calvin Weatherspoon v. State of Florida
SC16-218 – R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company v. Phil J. Marotta, etc.
SC16-323 – In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases – Report No. 16-01
SC17-312 – In Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.205

ICYMI: Daytona Beach News-Journal: Gov. Scott holds up Boston Whaler as proof of Enterprise Florida’s worth

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Gov. Rick Scott holds up Boston Whaler as proof of Enterprise Florida’s worth
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Casmira Harrison
April 4, 2017
For the second time in two years, Gov. Rick Scott dropped into Southeast Volusia to do some cheerleading for boat manufacturer Boston Whaler.
…
The first visit came in May 2015 when the boat-building company underwent an expansion that added more than 120 jobs, leading Scott to tout the plant’s 600-strong workforce. By Tuesday’s visit, the company had increased its numbers to around 750 employees with plans to add a whopping 350 workers over a two-year run.
…
AN ENTERPRISING VISIT: Enterprise Florida is at the center of a prolonged legislative fight. Scott has been promoting business incentive programs like the Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program Boston Whaler took advantage of in its 2015 expansion, and is pushing to keep both Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida intact.
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Scott has proposed $85 million for incentives offered through Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development agency, according to a News Service of Florida report last week. The House voted to abolish the organization on March 10 and House Speaker Richard Corcoran has engaged in a battle with Scott over its value.
…
Amid the scent of laminate resin and surrounded by Boston Whaler’s massive warehouse facility, Enterprise Florida got several plugs, including from Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys.
“They’re doubling our efforts,” said Denys of the state tax incentive program.
Boston Whaler President Nick Stickler touted the partnership he said the company has with Enterprise Florida.
“They can help introduce us to the right people,” Stickler said. “They can help move projects forward and those things allow us to do what we’re good at.”
 

Women of Vision Advisory Board announces 2017 scholarship recipients

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Number increased from three to four

The Women of Vision Advisory Board of Flagler College recently awarded scholarships to four deserving young women, as part of the Board’s vision to create educational and leadership opportunities for women at the college. The number of scholarships was increased from three to four for the 2017-18 academic year.
Women of Vision scholarships are awarded to female students at Flagler College who maintain a competitive GPA, are actively involved in campus activities or volunteer work and who demonstrate financial need. This year’s scholarship recipients are Yasmeen Anis, Caitlin Croley, Thamara Trematerra and Faith Wyluda.
4.6.2017 WOV scholarship

Faith Wyluda, Yasmeen Anis and Thamara Trematerra

Yasmeen Anis is a rising senior from Kissimmee, Fla., who is majoring in Elementary Education. A member of the Leadership CORE program and three honor societies, she also works as a Flagler College Ambassador. Anis is the founder and president of the Muslim Student Association.
Caitlin Croley is a Political Science major from Pottsville, Pa. A rising senior, she is president of the Student Government Association and works as a tutor in Flagler College’s Learning Resource Center. She is also vice president of both Club Unity and Flagler College Democrats.

Caitlin Croley
Caitlin Croley

Thamara Trematerra is a rising senior from Atlanta, Ga. Majoring in International Studies, she is a member of the Flagler Model United Nations and the International Sociological Honors Society. Trematerra is also an intern for the Study Abroad Office and will participate in an exchange program in Germany this fall.
A rising junior from South Amboy, N.J., Faith Wyluda is majoring in Political Science. She is first chair of the Faculty Senate Student Liaisons Committee and organized a women’s leadership panel for Women’s History Month. Wyluda was an intern at the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center.
“Selecting four winners from an exceptionally talented group of 69 applicants was extremely difficult,” said Deborah Thompson, the college’s Vice President of Enrollment Management. “We were gratified, however, that there were so many deserving candidates.” She added that 89 percent of Flagler students receive financial assistance.
The scholarships are funded in part through the annual Women of Vision Power of the Purse® luncheon, which will be held on May 18 in the college’s historic Ponce de Leon Hall. The luncheon is expected to draw a crowd of more than 300 women and will follow the format of previous fundraisers: It will include a silent auction of beautiful and unique purses and an inspirational keynote address. Entrepreneur Jenny Levison, owner of Atlanta-based “Souper Jenny” restaurants and catering business and cookbook author, will be this year’s speaker.
For information, visit www.flagler.edu/wov.

Statement by FLARS President Jeff Grant Regarding AOB Legislation and Property Rights

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“True comprehensive AOB reform must protect homeowners’ property rights, including the long-standing right to assign benefits. While some want to line up behind the campaign by insurance companies and their front groups to steal homeowners’ rights, we stand on the side of the small businesses who answer the call when disaster strikes a home.
“The numbers that drive these employers – 24/7/365 – don’t appear on a balance sheet. It’s when they’re on call to homeowners. These small businesses are the homeowners’ good neighbors, not big insurance. It would be a mistake to run these employers out of business. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the insurance companies want to do.
“This is a self-inflicted fake crisis, just like the ‘crisis’ before this one and the one before last. Insurance carriers’ have always threatened raising premiums if they don’t get what they want – and then when they get what they need from the Legislature they raise rates anyway. They then find the next scapegoat crisis to keep the money train rolling.
“Just look at Senator Anitere Flores’ comments at the end Monday’s hearing on AOB when she said:

‘This is the issue du jour that property insurance companies have said is the rate driver. We went through sinkholes. We went through a variety of different issues. And as we fixed those things, the only people who have been hurt have been consumers and those who have benefited are others.’

“With OIR’s help, big insurance is seeking to trample on homeowners’ rights and put people out of business. We have been at the table for years to work on a comprehensive solution to this issue that protect long-standing rights and will continue to be there for consumers. Those are the stakeholders that matter to our small businesses.”
 
FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF RESTORATION SPECIALISTS (FLARS) is a group of restoration specialists which include vendors, contractors, suppliers, all specializing in or supporting the restoration industry.

Statement from Lyft after approval of ridesharing legislation by the Florida Senate Rules Committee

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Chelsea Harrison, Senior Policy Communications Manager for Lyft, issued the following statement after approval of ridesharing legislation, SB 340, by the Florida Senate Rules Committee:

“We are grateful to the members of the Senate Rules Committee, and especially Senator Brandes, for advancing legislation to create a comprehensive statewide framework for ridesharing in Florida. This legislation will give Florida’s residents and visitors easy access to an affordable and reliable transportation option, ultimately providing the state with increased economic opportunity. We look forward to passage by the full Senate.”

Capital Regional Medical Center Appoints Ian Clark as Clinical Manager of Gadsden ER

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Capital Regional Medical Center announces the appointment of Ian Clark to the position of Clinical Manager at the facility’s free-standing emergency room in located in Gadsden County.
Clark brings more than 15 years of experience to this role, having served the past ten as a nursing supervisor, director of patient flow and staff nurse. Prior to this, he served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps.
“I look forward to working with the Capital Regional Medical Center team, helping staff meet the needs of our patients and becoming actively involved in the community,“ said Clark. “Capital Regional is expanding and continues to be a community healthcare partner not only in Tallahassee, but surrounding communities like Gadsden County.”
Clark received his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee and his master’s degree in healthcare management at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. During this time, he was an active member of the Naval ROTC and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. and also served on the FAMU School of Nursing Advisory Board.
“Ian is very experienced in medical operations,” said Susie West, Director of Emergency Services. “We are confident in his ability to operate an efficient and quality-driven emergency department.”
Capital Regional provides the only ER in Gadsden County, and services are available 24/7. Area residents receive the same high quality emergency care they receive at Capital Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee without having to travel. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology, lab services and radiology including x-ray and CT to meet immediate healthcare needs.
About Capital Regional Medical Center
Capital Regional Medical Center is a fully-accredited healthcare facility with more than 1,100 employees and 500 physicians. It is a 266-bed, acute-care hospital that offers 24/7 Emergency Services in Leon and Gadsden Counties including; a Pediatric ER, Senior Care ER and an Express Care ER. Offerings also include a Bariatric Center, Behavioral Health Center, Cancer Center, Chest Pain Center w/PCI, Comprehensive Breast Center, Family Center, Heart & Vascular Center, Orthopedic Center, Physical Therapy Services, Stroke Center, Surgical Services, Wound Healing Center, Network-of-Care Affiliated Physician Practices, and more.

Florida Department of State Provides Online Resources for World War I Centennial

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Florida Department of State

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner today announced that the Florida Department of State will join the nation in recognizing the centennial anniversary of the United States’ entry into the First World War by providing online educational resources that tell the story of Florida’s participation in WWI through the state’s historical documents, images and artifacts. 

“On April 6, 2017, as our nation observes the centennial of the First World War, the State of Florida joins in recognizing the extraordinary sacrifices of those who served overseas, and on the homefront in the ‘Great War’,” said Secretary Detzner. “The Florida Department of State has developed online resources that provide a foundation for understanding the history of Florida’s involvement in the war, and the lasting impact of the conflict on Florida citizens and the future of our state.”

Florida Memory, the digital outreach program of the State Library and Archives of Florida features a new online exhibit, Florida in WWI. Florida Memory provides free online access from the collections of the State of Florida to archival resources that illuminate the state’s history and culture. 

In partnership with the United States World War One Centennial Commission (WW1CC), the Florida Division of Historical Resources has created a Florida website hosted on the Commission’s webpage along with over a dozen other online state websites. The WW1CC webpage is the online portal to the United States World War I Centennial Commission which is in charge of planning and coordinating national commemorations of the centennial of World War I. The Commission is also working to establish a National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.

When the United States entered World War I (1914-1918) on April 6, 1917, Florida was a sparsely populated state, with fewer than 1 million inhabitants. But thousands of Floridians joined the millions of other Americans heeding President Woodrow Wilson’s call to make the world “safe for democracy.” Although the United States was involved in the global conflict for only 19 months, the war significantly affected the social, economic and environmental conditions of our state. Of the 4 million American men and women who joined the armed services between 1917 and 1918, over 42,000 were Floridians, serving in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard.

On the homefront, countless others performed their patriotic duty by purchasing liberty bonds, volunteering with service organizations, and conserving food and raw materials. The state’s climate and abundance of land made it an ideal location for military training, technological development, and agricultural production.

About Florida Memory
Florida Memory provides free online access to significant photographs, films, sound recordings and original documents from the collections of the State Library and Archives of Florida. With over seven million visitors per month worldwide, Florida Memory chooses materials for digitization that illuminate significant events and individuals in the state’s history and help educate Floridians and millions of people around the world about Florida history and culture. Florida Memory is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services. For more information, visit floridamemory.com. 

About the Division of Library and Information Services
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services is the designated information resource provider for the Florida Legislature and all state agencies. The Division coordinates and helps fund activities of public libraries; provides a framework for statewide library initiatives; provides archival and records management services; and preserves, collects and makes available the published and unpublished documentary history of the state. Working in partnership with citizens, state employees, librarians, archivists and records managers, the Division seeks to ensure access to materials and information that benefit all of the people of Florida. For more information, visit info.florida.gov. 

About The Division of Historical Resources
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources (DHR) is responsible for preserving and promoting Florida’s historical, archaeological, and folk culture resources. The Division Director’s office oversees a grants-in-aid program to help preserve and maintain Florida’s historic buildings and archaeological sites; coordinates outreach programs such as the State Historic Markers program and the Florida Folklife program which identifies and promotes the state’s traditional culture. DHR directs historic preservation efforts throughout the state in cooperation with state and federal agencies, local governments, private organizations, and individuals. The Division director serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer, acting as the liaison with the national historic preservation program conducted by the National Park Service. The Division is comprised of two Bureaus, archaeological research and historic preservation. For more information, visit flheritage.com.

Florida Suicide Prevention Day Thursday, April 6, 2017

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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Florida Chapters, Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition, Florida Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention, and Florida Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council invite the press and others interested in suicide prevention in Florida to the press conference at 11:00am in the 22nd Floor on April 6, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL.
In 2015, there were 3,152 suicides and 1,185 homicides in Florida. Every year in Florida and in the U.S. there are twice as many suicides as homicides. Every loss is tragic, but the hardest to understand are youth – elementary, middle, high school and college aged students who attempt or die by suicide. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for children, teens, and young adults ages 5-24 in Florida. We are working to help pass an increase in budget for the 13 state university Counseling Centers. Most of the Counseling Centers at universities do not meet accreditation standards and yet they have more students calling in crisis and distress.
The number of suicides in Florida is unacceptable. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, ninety percent of people who die suicide have a mental illness. And yet, Florida is 50th in the country in mental health spending – last in the SEC and ACC Conferences. Florida is ahead of Idaho and Puerto Rico.
The press conference will feature:
John N. Bryant, Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse and Mental
Robert Hutchinson, Alachua County Commissioner
Leah Perreault | AWARE Coordinator, UF Counseling and Wellness Center
Sofia Castro, Director, Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention
For more information regarding the press conference, contact Judy Broward at [email protected] or call 352-213-6308.

Lawmakers seek additional $130 million for mosquito control

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us-senate-logo
In preparation for the warmer summer months ahead, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) filed legislation today to bolster local mosquito-control efforts to curb the spread of the Zika virus.
The legislation Nelson filed today along with Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Richard Burr (R-NC) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) would authorize an additional $130 million per year in grant funding to local mosquito-control efforts to eliminate the mosquitoes responsible for spreading the virus. It would also authorize additional funding for public health laboratories so they can better test for the virus, and would require the Government Accountability Office to find ways to improve existing mosquito-control programs.
“One of the best ways to curb the spread of this virus is to eliminate the insects known to carry it,” Nelson said. “As summer approaches, Florida’s mosquito population is going to rise, and we need to make sure our local mosquito-control boards have the resources they need to protect their communities.”
With more than 1,300 cases of the virus reported last year, no state has been harder hit by Zika than Florida. In fact, the Florida Department of Health reported four new cases of the virus last month, bringing the state’s total for this year to 31.
Nelson, King and Burr introduced similar legislation last year, which was endorsed by the National Pest Management Association, the American Mosquito Control Association, the Entomological Society of America and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The legislation filed today now heads to the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee for consideration.

The text of the bill is available here.