The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported a preliminary count of 6,620 manatees in Florida waters. A team of 15 observers from 10 organizations counted 3,488 manatees on Florida’s east coast and 3,132 on the west coast of the state. The FWC is encouraged by a third straight year of a minimum count higher than 6,000 manatees in Florida waters.
Researchers conduct synoptic surveys annually, weather permitting, to count manatees that are visible in Florida waters at the time of the survey. These surveys are conducted after a cold front and cover all of the known winter habitats of manatees in Florida. This year’s counts were aided by warm, sunny weather with low winds and good visibility.
“Successful conservation of manatees is a product of the commitment made by many different organizations over multiple decades. The relatively high counts we have seen for the past three years underscore the importance of warm water habitat to manatees in Florida. The FWC will continue to work diligently with our many partners to ensure the long-term viability of these habitats and the well-being of the manatee population,” said Gil McRae, FWC biologist and head of FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
Aerial surveys provide information about manatee distribution throughout the state. Manatees use warm water sites, like springs and power plant discharges, during the winter. Sustaining adequate winter habitat for manatees remains a statewide conservation goal and a key factor in the long-term recovery of manatees.
FWC biologists, managers and law enforcement staff work closely with partners to evaluate current data and identify necessary actions to protect this iconic animal. Florida has invested more than $2 million annually for manatee conservation, and the FWC will work toward continued success for manatees in our state.
You can support manatee research and conservation by purchasing a manatee license plate at BuyaPlate.com and a manatee decal at MyFWC.com/ManateeSeaTurtleDecals.
For more information about manatees and synoptic surveys, visit MyFWC.com/Research and click on “Florida Manatee.” To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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Sen. Campbell and Rep. Duran Move Forward with Bright Futures Scholarship Service Hours Bill
The amended SB 540/HB 253 revises the Bright Futures Scholarship Program award renewal criteria to include a minimum of 15 volunteer service work hours per semester.
Senator Campbell (D-Miami) and State Representative Nick Duran (D-Miami) have amended SB 540 / HB 253 respectively. If enacted, SB 540/HB 253 would add an additional requirement of fifteen volunteer hours per semester to maintain eligibility for the Bright Futures scholarship. The current scholarship renewal guidelines only specify requirements for credit hours and grade point average. This bill serves to encourage civic engagement and community connection among Bright Futures Scholarship recipients.
The originally filed bill required 30 hours of volunteer service per semester. After hearing feedback and working with constituents, the bill has been amended to 15 hours of community service per semester. “We heard our community, and as a public servant I listen to my constituents,” said Senator Campbell.
Constituents said the original filed bill had good intentions, but 30 hours was too heavy a load for working students trying to balance between maintaining high grades and paying their way through school.
“The amended bill gives students the time they need to dedicate to their commitments but still ensures that these students are also giving back to their community. Fifteen hours of community service can be finished in one weekend and is much more feasible for these dedicated, but busy students,” said Senator Campbell.
The required hours can be completed by volunteering with a variety of organizations such as: nonprofits, government agencies, schools, hospitals, retirement facilities, or assisting a disabled or elderly individual. This requirement exempts active duty military members.
“An education is not just about what you can learn in the classroom, but also in the valuable life experiences that can be gained from immersing yourself within your community,” said Representative Duran. “The lower service hour requirement will still add valuable capacity to the diverse efforts across the state while inspiring our young, bright minds.”
“The 15 required hours is a start. This bill is a tiny catalyst so that young students give back to the community. It encourages—those who can—to volunteer more hours,” noted Senator Campbell.
Florida Lottery Celebrates $31 Billion to Education
Another Milestone in Revenue Generated for Education
The Florida Lottery today announced that its latest transfer to the state’s education trust fund brings its life-to-date education contributions to more than $31 billion.
“This milestone would not have been possible without the support of our loyal players, dedicated retailers and hardworking Lottery staff,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie. “The Lottery will continue working hard every day to advance our mission of maximizing contributions to education in a manner that is consistent with the dignity and integrity of the state.”
Over the past 29 years, the Florida Lottery has established itself as a dependable funding source for public education. For 14 consecutive years the Lottery has transferred more than $1 billion to education, while remaining one of the most efficient lotteries in the nation. Additionally, the Lottery has contributed more than $5 billion to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to send over 750,000 students to college.
Florida Lottery contributions represent approximately six percent of the state’s total education budget. Lottery funds are appropriated by the Florida Legislature and are administered by the Florida Department of Education.
Media Alert: Florida’s United Ways Reveal the State of ALICE in New Report Findings
Officials to provide update on Asset Limited Income Constrained
Employed and highlight advocacy efforts for Florida’s working
WHAT:
Two years ago, United Ways introduced ALICE®, which stands for – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – to place a spotlight on a large population of residents who are working, earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but still have difficulty affording the basic necessities of housing, food, child care, health care and transportation. In a press conference, United Way officials will reveal the new 2017 ALICE Report and highlight key report findings as well as legislative issues important to working families throughout Florida.
WHEN:
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Begins promptly at 12:15 PM
WHERE:
Florida State Capitol Building
4th Floor – Rotunda
400 S Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
VISUALS:
- Dozens of United Way officials gathered from all over the state
- ALICE Family (Mother with two teenage sons) who has been helped by United Way
- Large graphic of report cover
INTERVIEWS:
- Ted Granger, President, United Way of Florida
- Lars Gilberts, Statewide ALICE Director, United Way of Broward County
- Business leaders and United Way CEOs from across Florida
- An ALICE family
- Senator Audrey Gibson
- Representative David Santiago
MEDIA CONTACT:
Primary – Lars Gilberts, 786-223-5277, [email protected]
Secondary – Lynne Takacs, 850-728-2520, [email protected]
About United Way of Florida
The United Way of Florida is a statewide association representing Florida’s 32 United Ways on legislative and administrative issues, training, and disaster preparation, response and recovery issues, among others. The mission of the United Way of Florida is to enhance Florida United Ways’ efforts to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another.
Florida Health Care Association to Detail Legislative Priorities at Media Roundtable
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) will hold a media roundtable TODAY, February 20, at 10:30am. Officials from FHCA, the largest advocacy organization in the state for nursing centers and the residents under their care, will discuss its priorities for the upcoming legislative session, including Certificate of Need, Managed Care, and Prospective Payment System legislation.
What: Media roundtable on legislative priorities
When: Today, February 20
10:30am
Where: Florida Health Care Association
307 W. Park Avenue
Tallahassee
Call-in Info: 1-866-951-1151
Room # 7059080
Flagler College’s Theatre Arts Department wins awards at regional festival
Fifteen Flagler College students recently returned from the nationally-recognized Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Statesboro, Ga., where they competed regionally in categories ranging from design and technical theatre to performance, stage management and dramaturgy.
One of the college’s productions, “The Maids,” written by Jean Genet and translated by Andrew Upton and Benedict Andrews, was selected as one of six in the region to be showcased. In addition, the Theatre Arts Department received a departmental award, Associate Professor Paul Denayer and Resident Costume Designer Elaina Wahl-Temple won design awards and Guest Director Joe Kemper received a directing award. Student Terrence Christopher Scott was passed from the initial Irene Ryan Acting Competition to the semi-finals on the second day. His acting partner was Kaitlyn Mollohan. Students Mykala Bazzell, Megan Williams and Rylee Kuberra presented a Devised Theatre piece.
Other students in attendance included: Taylor Anderson, Dustin Delgross, Elijah Eyerly, Sarah (Sissy) Hofaker, Emily Gilmer, Corlina Kiernan, Brian Matthews, Amelia Temple, Shelby Walker and Rebecca Woods.
KCACTF, which hosts the Irene Ryan acting competition, is comprised of a network of more than 600 schools throughout the country. Theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents. Of the eight regions nationally, Flagler College is a part of Region IV. Students are able to compete and present nationally alongside the best theatre students from around the South. This year’s competition, held at Georgia Southern University, took place Feb. 8 to 11.
Scott Pruitt won’t protect Florida’s air, water or families
The Senate voted today to approve President Trump’s nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Environment Florida’s State Director, Jennifer Rubiello, issued the following statement in response:
“This country needs an Environmental Protection Agency Administrator whose top priority is protecting our air and water and our families’ health. We need somebody willing to enforce and defend our bedrock environmental laws and a leader guided by science when creating and implementing policy.
“It’s clear that Scott Pruitt won’t protect Florida’s air, water or families and we are extremely disappointed that he will now be the next EPA administrator. As attorney general, he put dirty energy interests and other polluters ahead of protecting public health. Instead of taking steps to reduce pollution, he sued to stop the agency he will now lead from enforcing critical clean air and water protections.
“In fact, as attorney general, Scott Pruitt joined with polluters to file 14 lawsuits against the very agency he will now run. These suits aimed to dismantle critical public health safeguards ranging from the Clean Water Rule that protects drinking water sources for nearly 2 million Floridians to the Mercury and Air Toxic rule that protects our kids and other vulnerable citizens from highly damaging pollution.
“In addition, as Oklahoma Attorney General, Mr. Pruitt disbanded the state’s environmental protection unit. He was the leading opponent of the Clean Power Plan which set the first ever national limits on carbon pollution and undercut actions to clean up major poultry pollution problems in his state’s river system.
“When asked during his hearing, Mr. Pruitt could not name one current EPA protection that he supported.
“Floridians and all Americans deserve an EPA administrator who will fight to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the planet we love. Scott Pruitt fails on all these accounts.
“We thank Senator Nelson for standing up for our families’ health, clean water and clean air and voting to reject President Trump’s nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. Unlike his colleague, we are extremely disappointed that Senator Rubio voted to jeopardize our families’ health and Florida’s environment by approving Pruitt to head the EPA.”
Environment Florida is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.
ICYMI: Senator Brandes files legislation to tackle insurance fraud
Bill strengthens dedicated prosecutor program statewide to address insurance fraud
Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), in partnership with Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Representative Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo), announced the filing of Senate Bill 1012, investigative and forensic services, to tackle the growing issue of insurance fraud in Florida. Every year insurance fraud adds to the cost paid by consumers for everything from automobile insurance to homeowners’ insurance. The legislation will require cooperation between the insurance industry and the state to investigate and prosecute fraud.
“Insurance fraud in Florida is evolving, and policyholders are forced to pay for it through higher premiums every year,” stated Senator Brandes. “This is a hidden tax on every Floridian who drives a car, owns a home, rents an apartment, or pays for health insurance. If left unchecked, the cost of fraud will grow and consumers will continue to pay the price. I am committed to making insurance affordable for Floridians, and I am proud to work with Jeff Atwater to address this critically important issue.”
“We must do everything possible to help hold the line on rising insurance rates—rates that are particularly high in South Florida,” said Representative Holly Raschein. “I’m proud to sponsor this common sense solution that will better align the resources that we already have in place, and allow law enforcement to use them strategically in the fight to curb the fraud that drives up rates in our state.”
“We’ve made significant strides in our fight against insurance fraud, and we couldn’t have done so without the steadfast partnership of the fraud-fighting units housed within many of our state’s insurance companies and the dedicated prosecutors who take our cases to trial,” said CFO Jeff Atwater. “With this bill we hope to further improve our processes and hone our techniques so that we can continue to stay a step ahead of the criminals who seek to defraud Floridians. I am thankful to Senator Brandes and Representative Raschein for their leadership on this important issue.”
Fraud can account for as high as 10 percent of the property and casualty insurance industry’s loss expenses every year. This proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the state’s efforts to fight insurance fraud. The bill requires the development of anti-fraud plans by insurance companies and be submitted to the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services. The bill further requires anti-fraud training for personnel within insurance companies designated to oversee the company’s fraud prevention efforts. The bill requires reporting of anti-fraud statistics to the division annually, so that the division can better track the changing trends of fraud statewide. Finally, the bill strengthens a program to assign dedicated prosecutors to different regions of the state to tackle insurance fraud. The Chief Financial Officer of Florida, based on the annual fraud statistics submitted to the division, may assign and re-assign the dedicated prosecutors as needed to address the changing trends of insurance fraud.
For more information on SB 1012 please visit http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/1012.
Peer Milk-Sharing Participants Generally Keep It Clean
Mothers who want the benefits of breast milk for their babies but can’t produce the substance often turn to milk-sharing networks.
A new study from the University of Central Florida found that although not a recommended practice, those who participate in milk-sharing networks generally follow good hygiene, which is critical for keeping milk free from bacterial contamination.
“Peer milk sharing is a growing practice despite warnings from the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics,” said Beatriz Reyes-Foster, lead author and an anthropology assistant professor. “Our findings suggest that parents who engage in these networks are taking precautions to make sure their children don’t get sick and that’s not something we knew before this study. But there is room for improvement.”
Reyes-Foster, sociology associate professor Shannon K. Carter and assistant professor Melanie Sberna Hinojosa, published their findings in this month’s edition of the Journal of Human Lactation.
The team of researchers surveyed 321 Central Florida peer milk-sharing parents who did not exchange money for milk. They asked:
- Do you freeze milk for more than six months?
- Do you leave the milk at room temperature for more than 8 hours?
- Do you use ice to transport?
- Do you sanitize pump equipment?
- Do you wash your hands before handling the milk?
The team found that 35.4 percent of recipients reported using all five safe practices and another 40.6 percent reported using at least four of the five. No recipient reported using only one or none of the safe practices. Results for donors were similar with nearly 80 percent confirming they sanitize pumps use to extract the milk.
The team also found that the behavior didn’t change even when sociodemographic characteristics did.
The research was conducted in 2014, before a Human Milk Banking Association of North America bank was established in Florida. This organization provides donors with milk-handling guidelines. The researchers suggest that the numbers may change now that the organization is in the state.
The researchers also warn that more study is needed and that the findings don’t extend to online classifieds where milk is exchanged for money. The prevalence of safety practices in those kinds of exchanges is unknown and deserves study, Reyes-Foster said.
ICYMI: Secretary Detzner in Gainesville Sun: “Arts and Culture Stimulate State Economy”
Upcoming Convening Culture Conference in Gainesville (Feb. 22-23) will
explore how arts and culture benefit entrepreneurship in the Sunshine State
“Arts and Culture Stimulate State Economy”
Gainesville Sun
Guest Column: Ken Detzner is Florida’s Secretary of State and Chief Cultural Officer
February 17, 2017
“Arts and cultural organizations bring many benefits to the Sunshine State and enrich the lives of Floridians every day. In recent years, the arts and cultural industries in Florida have become increasingly dynamic and innovative, which translates to positive economic impact in Florida’s communities.
“As Florida’s chief cultural officer, I want to continue to build on this positive impact. To facilitate this initiative, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs is holding its fourth annual Convening Culture Conference Feb. 22-23 in Gainesville. Presented by Citizens for Florida Arts (an organization whose mission is to support the Division of Cultural Affairs), and hosted by the University of Florida College of the Arts Center for Arts in Medicine, the conference offers networking opportunities to students and professionals alike, including receptions featuring renowned Florida artists and two full days of professional development and workshops.
“The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Exploring Innovation and Entrepreneurship through Arts and Culture,’ and for good reason. Florida is home to more than 29,000 creative industries establishments, which include not-for-profit and for-profit entities, ranging from art galleries to landscaping businesses. These establishments are estimated to generate more than $49 billion in annual revenue.
“During the 2015-2016 fiscal year alone, recipients of arts and cultural grants from the Division of Cultural Affairs generated more than $1.2 billion in direct economic activity in communities across the state.”
Continue reading here.
About the 2017 Convening Culture Conference
The 2017 Convening Culture Conference will be held February 22 & 23 in Gainesville and is hosted by the University of Florida College of Arts Center for Arts in Medicine. This statewide cultural conference brings together individuals working in arts and culture in Florida for two days of informative sessions, facilitated discussions and networking opportunities. Several honors will be presented at the conference, including the induction of Billy Dean, Don Felder, Lee Bennett Hopkins and Jim Stafford into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Ernest Hemingway, Zora Neale Hurston, and Robert Rauschenberg. For more information or to register for Convening Culture 2017, please visit http://dos.myflorida.com/cultural/programs/convening-culture-conference. The annual convening culture conference is presented by the Citizens for Florida Arts, Inc., a statewide non-profit organization that works to support the efforts of the Division of Cultural Affairs.
About the Division of Cultural Affairs
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs is Florida’s legislatively designated state arts agency. The Division promotes the arts and culture as essential to quality of life for all Floridians. To achieve its mission, the Division funds and supports cultural programs that provide artistic excellence, diversity, education, access and economic vitality for Florida’s communities. For more information, visit dos.myflorida.com/cultural.
