New material has been posted to the Supreme Court website in:
- Jacqueline Luongo v. State of Florida (order denying petition to stop death-qualification of Broward jury)
Follow the links at: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org.
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ICYMI: Representative Bob Cortes Condemns State Attorney's Decision
The District 30 State Representative Says State Attorney Aramis Ayala
owes an explanation to the victims of Markeith Loyd’s heinous crimes.
In case you missed it, State Representative Bob Cortes released the following statement yesterday regarding State Attorney Aramis Ayala’s decision to not seek the death penalty in the case of Markeith Loyd:
“I am outraged by the decision of State Attorney Aramis Ayala not to seek the death penalty in the case of Markeith Loyd. This is a decision that should be arrived at by a jury of Markeith Loyd’s peers, and to take it off the table is a slap in the face to his victims and to the wider law enforcement community.
“Heinous crimes like the ones committed by Mr. Loyd are the reason our law allows for the death penalty. Because we believe life is precious, justice for taking innocent life must be done. Senate Bill 280, which Governor Scott recently signed, helps to ensure the integrity of our system by requiring jury decisions for the death penalty be unanimous. It is why the decision whether a person should live or die should be the decision of twelve jurors, not the personal feeling of a State Attorney.
“I have reached out to the Members of the Florida Legislature and our staff about the possibility of drafting legislation to ensure that our laws are followed. I am also seeking whether this is a possible violation of public integrity by our State Attorney.
“The State Attorney owes the people an explanation for this appalling decision. But more importantly, she owes an explanation to the families of Lt. Clayton, Sade Dixon, her baby, and the men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect us and all the residents of the state of Florida.”
About Bob Cortes for State Representative
Bob was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2014. Previously, he served as mayor of Longwood and on the Longwood City Commission beginning in November 2009. In 2012, he was re-elected to a second term. He is a member of the Seminole County Community Traffic Safety Team and a graduate of the Florida League of Cities Institute for Elected Municipal Officials. He is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). With this organization, Bob has participated in several institutes, including the Newly Elected Leadership Institute, the Redistricting Institute, and the Fiscal Policy Institute hosted by NALEO and the Kellogg School of Business. Bob grew up in New York and Puerto Rico and moved to Central Florida in 1989. He founded Cortes Towing Service, a successful small business now in operation for over two decades. In 2011, he started another venture, Cortrans Shuttle Service, a transportation provider that serves Orlando Sanford International Airport, Orlando International Airport, the Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal, and area attractions. He was recently named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. He and his wife, Virginia, are members of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs. They are blessed with three grandchildren.
ON THE WEB: www.bobcortes.com
Paid by Bob Cortes, Republican, for State Representative
Florida League of Mayors to Discuss Legislative Priorities Emphasizing Local Control
The Florida League of Mayors will host a press conference on Wednesday, March 22, to discuss the League’s priorities for the 2017 legislative session, including measures that would undermine the authority of local governments to make appropriate decisions regarding the future of their communities. Featured speaker will be Florida League of Mayors President Carol McCormack, mayor of Palm Shores. She will be joined by other mayors from around the state.
What: Press Conference on 2017 Legislative Priorities
Who: Carol McCormack, President of the Florida League of Mayors and Mayor of Palm Shores
Other members of the League of Mayors
When: Wednesday, March 22, at 8:30 a.m.
Where: 4th Floor of Capitol Building
The Florida League of Mayors is an organization for mayors, founded and developed by mayors. Only mayors are eligible for membership. The organization provides the mayors of Florida with the ability to explore, in great depth, areas of mutual concern and opportunity. Governed by a 21-member Board of Directors and staffed by the Florida League of Cities, the Florida League of Mayors forges a powerful voice that serves Florida’s cities well. For more information, visit www.floridamayors.org.
City Officials from Around State Gather for Florida League of Cities Legislative Action Days
Florida’s municipal leaders bring the fight for local control to Tallahassee
City officials from across the state will gather next week in Tallahassee to discuss the latest issues and developments affecting municipalities and how they are being addressed in Tallahassee during the current legislative session. These issues are all part of the Florida League of Cities 2017 legislative agenda.
With numerous bills filed this session that attempt to limit or outright eliminate cities’ local decision making authority, the preservation of local control remains a top priority for Florida’s cities. Many of the League’s 2017 priority issues are directly related to local self-government, including public records reform, regulation of wireless communication infrastructure and short-term rentals, economic development through Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) and promoting a sustainable Florida.
“Florida’s cities are as diverse as the citizens who make up our unique communities, and Home Rule — the ability to make decisions at the local level – is what allows them to prosper,” said Florida League of Cities President and Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie. “Bringing the voice of citizens from across the state to Tallahassee will provide valuable perspective to lawmakers as they consider issues that will impact our cities, towns and villages.”
Nearly 200 city officials, including 48 mayors, are expected to participate in Florida League of Cities 2017 Legislative Action Days.
The events begin Tuesday, March 21, with an opening luncheon and legislative briefing at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Tallahassee followed by meetings with lawmakers at the Capitol. In addition to meeting with state lawmakers, attendees will also hear from such speakers as Sen. Jack Latvala, Rep. Kristin Jacobs, Rep. Danny Burgess, Rep. Jayer Williamson and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.
For more information about Florida League of Cities, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.
Gov. Scott: Florida Will Honor the Sacrifice of Air Force 1st Lt. Frederick Dellecker
Governor Rick Scott issued a statement today in response to the death of Floridian and Air Force 1st Lt. Frederick Dellecker following the crash of a reconnaissance and surveillance plane during a training flight in New Mexico earlier this week. Governor Scott will honor the memory and sacrifice of 1st Lt. Dellecker by ordering the lowering of flags in the coming days.
Governor Scott said, “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of 1st Lt. Frederick Dellecker and we pray that they may find comfort and healing during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of any of our brave service members is a heartbreaking tragedy, and we are proud and humbled by 1st Lt. Dellecker’s decision to serve our country and defend our freedom as a member of the U.S. Air Force. 1st Lt. Dellecker will be remembered as a hero and my wife Ann and I join all of Florida in honoring his sacrifice.”
The Florida Lottery introduces two new LOTERIA Scratch-Off games
The Florida Lottery is introducing two new LOTERIA Scratch-Off games that offer more than $155 million in total cash prizes. The games, LOTERIA™ GRANDE and LOTERIA™, go on sale today. All Lottery retailers are expected to have these new tickets in stock and available for purchase within 72 hours.
The $5 game, LOTERIA GRANDE, features 16 top prizes of $250,000, and more than five million winning tickets! Overall odds of winning are one-in-3.98.
For just $2, players can win up to $30,000 with LOTERIA. There are more than 13 million winning tickets totaling over $82 million in cash prizes! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.50.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Florida 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.
CEOs of Dairy Queen, Auto-Owners Insurance, Act·1 Group and L.L. Bean to Speak at UT Fellows Forum March 21
Chief Executives of International Dairy Queen, Auto-Owners Insurance,
Act·1 Group and L.L. Bean to Speak at UT Fellows Forum March 21
The leaders of International Dairy Queen, Auto-Owners Insurance, Act·1 Group and L.L. Bean are slated to speak at The University of Tampa’s Fellows Forum on Tuesday, March 21, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Ferguson Hall. A continental breakfast will be served at 7:15 a.m., and the program will run from 8–9:30 a.m.
Speakers include John Gainor, president and CEO of International Dairy Queen; Jeffrey Harrold, chairman and CEO of Auto-Owners Insurance; Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder and CEO of Act·1 Group; and Stephen Smith, CEO of L.L. Bean.
John Gainor is president and CEO of International Dairy Queen Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Gainor is responsible for overseeing more than 6,800 restaurants in the Dairy Queen, Orange Julius and Karmelkorn systems throughout the U.S., Canada and 28 other countries.
Jeffrey F. Harrold is chairman of the board and CEO of Auto-Owners Insurance, a mutual insurance company that offers auto, home, business and life insurance to policyholders exclusively through independent agents. Auto-Owners Insurance has been ranked among the Fortune 500 every year for the past 14 years.
Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder and CEO of The Act·1 Group, the largest privately held, woman- and minority-owned workforce management company in the U.S. Founded in 1978, the Act·1 Group provides employment, workforce management and procurement solutions to a wide range of organizations, companies and government agencies in 19 countries.
Stephen Smith is president and CEO of L.L. Bean, an American, privately held e-commerce, mail-order and retail company founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean. The company, based in Freeport, ME, has grown from a one-man operation to a global organization with annual sales of $1.6 billion.
The forum will be moderated by Stacie Schaible of WFLA News Channel 8.
Tickets are $40 and may be purchased through the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.tampachamber.com. Proceeds from the event go toward the Board of Fellows Endowed Scholarship, which supports students in the Sykes College of Business.
Since 1987, the Fellows Forum has been the annual flagship event for The University of Tampa Board of Fellows, bringing nationally recognized executives to Tampa to share their business experiences. Last year’s forum attracted more than 1,000 attendees.
This year’s presenting sponsor is Verizon. Platinum sponsors include the Straz Center, Design Styles Architecture, United Healthcare, Beck, UBS, Phelps Dunbar, Clark Capital Investments, Brown & Brown Insurance, Hill Ward Henderson, Harden, Jabil and Auto-Owners Insurance.
For more information, go to www.ut.edu/FellowsForum or contact Niti Shah, director of Fellows and Counselors, at (813) 257-6220 or [email protected].
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves 8,310 students from 50 states and 140 countries. Approximately 65 percent of full-time students live on campus, and more than half of UT students are from Florida.
Hearing for Gulf Power Rate Request Begins Monday
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will conduct a technical hearing on Gulf Power Company’s (Gulf) request for a rate increase beginning Monday, March 20, 2017. The hearing allows Gulf and intervenors in the case to present sworn testimony and exhibits in support of their positions.
Gulf filed its petition for a base rate increase with the PSC on October 12, 2016. The PSC held customer service hearings on January 26, 2017 in Pensacola and on January 27, 2017 in Panama City. Gulf currently provides electric service to more than 450,000 retail customers in eight Florida counties.
The hearing is set for the following time and location:
Monday, March 20, 2017
1:00 p.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
In addition, March 21-24 are reserved to continue the hearing, if needed. The starting time of the next day’s session will be announced at the conclusion of each day.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Gov. Scott Announces Resignation of DMS Secretary Chad Poppell
Governor Rick Scott today announced Secretary Chad Poppell’s resignation from the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), which will be effective on March 31, 2017. He has served in this role since 2014. An Interim Secretary will be announced in the coming days.
Governor Scott said, “Chad Poppell has done an outstanding job as Secretary of DMS and I want to thank him for his hard work to improve efficiency and foster innovation in state government. Under his leadership, Florida has remained a leader in government efficiency and provided the critical support to our state agencies to ensure Florida families and businesses receive the services and support they need. Chad has been a valued member of my team since 2013 and I am proud of the great work he has done for Florida families. I wish Chad and his family the very best in their future endeavors.”
Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Chad Poppell served as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Economic Opportunity. From 2011-2013, he worked as the Director of Employee Services at JEA, a municipally owned electric, water, and sewer provider in Jacksonville. Prior to that, he was appointed by Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton as the Chief of Human Resources for the City of Jacksonville. Poppell received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Valdosta State University.
Gov. Scott Assigns State Attorney Brad King to Prosecute Markeith Loyd
Gov. Scott Assigns State Attorney Brad King to Prosecute Markeith
Loyd Following State Attorney Ayala Refusing to Recuse Herself
Earlier today, Governor Scott called on State Attorney Ayala to recuse herself immediately from prosecuting Markeith Loyd after she refused to consider the death penalty in this case. State Attorney Ayala has refused to recuse herself and Governor Scott has removed her from the case and reassigned it to State Attorney Brad King.
Governor Scott said, “Earlier today, I called on State Attorney Ayala to immediately recuse herself from this case. She informed me this afternoon that she refuses to do that. She has made it clear that she will not fight for justice and that is why I am using my executive authority to immediately reassign the case to State Attorney Brad King.
“Let’s remember, Markeith Loyd is accused of executing a brave law enforcement hero and murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Norman Lewis was also killed while actively searching for Markeith Loyd following these heinous murders. I am outraged and sickened by this loss of life and many families’ lives have been forever changed because of these senseless murders. These families deserve a state attorney who will aggressively prosecute Markeith Loyd to the fullest extent of the law and justice must be served.”
Click here to see the Executive Order removing State Attorney Ayala from the case.
Click here to see the Governor’s statement earlier today on State Attorney Ayala’s comments.
