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Statement on introduction of 20-week abortion ban

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Below, please find a statement from Laura Goodhue, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates on the introduction of a 20-week abortion ban by Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), HB 203:
“This bill poses a serious threat to women’s health, ignoring women’s individual needs and circumstances. This kind of legislation seeks to deny a woman the dignity to make personal, private decisions.
“However we feel about abortion at different points in a pregnancy, a woman’s health should drive important medical decisions – not political agendas. Politicians are not medical experts and this is not an area where they should be interfering. Throughout her pregnancy, a woman must be able to make her own decisions with the advice of the health care professional she trusts.
“We’ve seen what happens when politicians stand in the way of women’s health and interfere in these deeply personal medical decisions. In states that have passed laws like this, some women and their families have been put into unimaginable situations – needing to end a pregnancy for serious medical reasons, but unable to do so.
“At the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, we believe that all people – no matter where they live or how much money they have – should have access to affordable health care. We will continue to work every day to ensure Planned Parenthood patients get the highest quality care, without judgment and without stigma – no matter what.”
What do the experts say?
The American Medical Association “strongly condemn(s) any interference by the government or other third parties that causes a physician to compromise his or her medical judgment as to what information or treatment is in the best interest of the patient.”
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists opposes the 20-week abortion ban, calling it part of legislative proposals “that are not based on sound science (and that) attempt to prescribe how physicians should care for their patients.”

Please visit www.fappa.org for more information.

 

Governor Scott Appoints Matilde Miller as Interim Secretary of DBPR

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Governor Rick Scott today appointed Matilde Miller as the interim Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DPBR). She has been at DBPR for more than 16 years and has held numerous positions including Legislative Affairs Director, and most recently, Chief of Staff. As Secretary, she will oversee the licensing and regulation of businesses and professionals throughout Florida. She will begin to serve as interim secretary on January 11, 2017.
Governor Scott said, “Matilde has spent many years at DBPR serving in numerous leadership positions and understands how important it is to help businesses open and create jobs in our state. Like Secretary Lawson, she will focus on reducing burdensome regulations and fees that make it harder for job creators to succeed in Florida. She has extensive legislative experience and relationships and I am confident she will be a great leader at DBPR.”
Matilde Miller has served as Chief of Staff since 2014, and began her career at DPBR as a Legislative Specialist in 2000. She also served as a Legislative Coordinator, Deputy Legislative Affairs Director and Director of Legislative Affairs before becoming Chief of Staff. She previously worked in the Florida House of Representatives and as a High School English and Spanish teacher. She received her Associates of Arts degree from Brevard Community College and is currently attending Florida State University.

Social Justice Advocate Jonathan Jackson, Son of Jesse Jackson, to Keynote FAMU’s MLK Convocation

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University Celebrates Second Annual Day of Service in Honor of Dr. King

This week, Florida A&M University (FAMU) will host two significant events that will honor the late Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and commemorate his remarkable legacy of service and advocacy.

Jonathan Jackson
Jonathan Jackson

On Friday, January 13, 2017, at 10:10 a.m., FAMU will host its annual MLK Convocation at Jake Gaither Gymnasium, located at 1755 Wahnish Way. The event is free and open to the public. The keynote speaker will be Jonathan Jackson, an accomplished businessman, educator, and social justice advocate, who is also the son of Civil Rights activist Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a friend of Dr. King.
“We are honored to have Mr. Jonathan Jackson address the FAMU community during our annual observance and celebration of Dr. King’s great impact,” said Interim President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “Mr. Jackson’s contributions to social justice, education, and business are impressive and inspiring. We are excited to learn about and from his experiences.”
Robinson added, “Dr. King’s life and work represented an unwavering commitment to ensuring that all people, no matter race, color, or creed, have access to the American dream. The FAMU community is humbled to have another opportunity to honor his legacy with our annual convocation and service projects.”
Jackson’s advocacy and business savvy have taken him around the world. He has met with heads of state throughout the world, including Venezuela President Hugo Chavez during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina catastrophe and Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Notably, in 1983, Jackson traveled to Syria with his father to secure the successful release of a captured American pilot, Navy Lt. Robert Goodman. In June 1984, Jackson, once again, flanked his father as he negotiated the release of 22 Americans being held in Cuba after an invitation by Cuban President Fidel Castro. On the eve of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Jackson traveled with Rev. Jackson to meet with Iraq President Saddam Hussein to negotiate the release of foreign nationals being held as a “human shield.”
Alongside his siblings, Jonathan campaigned for his father’s presidential bids in 1984 and 1988. Since that time, he has continued to support his father’s work as a national spokesman for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He can regularly be seen on Saturday mornings on the Rainbow PUSH TV show and cable TV’s worldwide show “Upfront with Jesse Jackson.”
In 2009-2010, Jackson successfully fought the closure of 16 Chicago Public Schools, causing the district to reverse plans that would destabilize communities. In 2016, Jackson served as a Democratic National Committee delegate for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, traveling to 30 cities advocating for the presidential candidate’s platform of economic and social justice.
The MLK Convocation will also mark the kick-off of FAMU’s second annual “Day of Service.” Held January 13-16, the event calls for FAMU students, alumni, employees, and supporters from around the world to host service projects in their respective communities. Last year, thousands of Rattlers participated, hosting projects ranging from clothing giveaways and providing meals to the less fortunate to offering free tutoring sessions and providing books to area youth.
Interested participants may sign up by emailing [email protected].

RoadWatch Advisory for SR 867 in Lee County

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LEE COUNTY
SR 867/McGregor Boulevard from A&W Bulb Road to Cypress Lake Drive:  Maintenance contract project: Motorists should expect intermittent outside northbound lane closures during nighttime/overnight hours from 9 p.m. Thursday, January 12 to 6 a.m. Friday, January 13 for crews to install power poles, weather permitting. Motorists should use caution as crews work in the roadway.

Florida Lottery player wins top prize playing the $1 million CASHWORD scratch-off game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Billie Brown, 61, of Jacksonville, claimed a top prize in the $1,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $760,000.00.

Brown purchased her winning ticket from Kangaroo Express, located at 14376 in Jacksonville Beach. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The $10 Scratch-Off game, $1,000,000 CASHWORD, launched on May 17, 2016 and features eight top prizes of $1 million and more than 2.9 million winning tickets. The overall odds of winning are one-in-3.39.

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.

FWC celebrates 75 years of wildlife management area conservation success

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In 2017, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is commemorating the 75thanniversary of the wildlife management area system, one of the state’s greatest natural treasures. The FWC oversees this statewide network of remote and scenic lands, managing them for conservation and recreation. To celebrate the milestone and help people discover the opportunities these public lands offer, the FWC is hosting free events throughout the year.
“Florida has one of the largest systems of public lands in the country at nearly 6 million acres, and these lands are the best of the best of what wild Florida has to offer,” said FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski. “These natural communities span a variety of habitats from longleaf pine uplands and pine flatwoods to the hardwood hammocks and sawgrass savannas of the Everglades. Not only are these areas beautiful, they are managed to provide habitat for many species of wildlife and access for people to enjoy hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and more.”
Florida’s first WMA, Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area, was established in late 1941 in Charlotte and Lee counties. By the 1960s, there were 28 WMAs. Today, the FWC is the lead manager or landowner of over 1.4 million acres, and works in partnership with other governmental or private landowners on another 4.5 million acres. These healthy habitats are essential to Florida wildlife – both common and imperiled species. The FWC uses its scientific expertise and a comprehensive ecological approach to manage a variety of wildlife while balancing public access to these wild lands.
WMAs provide many recreational opportunities including paddling, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, photography, wildlife viewing, and target shooting at areas with a public shooting range. They also offer a wide range of hunting opportunities including special hunts for families and people with disabilities. Throughout 2017, the FWC will host a variety of events to celebrate Florida’s WMAs. Events include a statewide geocaching challenge, volunteer work days, a photo contest, guided hikes, fun opportunities to explore WMAs, and citizen science bioblitzes where members of the public help document wildlife species at WMAs.
To learn more about upcoming events or to find a WMA near you, visit MyFWC.com/WMA75. Share your visits to Florida WMAs on social media by using #WMAzing.

Florida Recycles Day at the Capitol

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What:   Florida Recycles Day at the Capitol
Date: Wednesday, January 11
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Plaza Level – The Capitol 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399
9:30 am – Press conference:

  • Secretary Jon Steverson, Florida Department of Environmental Protection will present Recycling Recognition Awards to:
    • Desoto Trail Elementary School
    • Northrop Grumman
    • Skanska
  • Kim Brunson, Publix Super Markets Recycling & Waste Manager and Chair of the Florida Recycling Partnership

From 9:00 am until 1:00 pm there will be displays by Florida Recycling Partnership members and other non-profit organizations on the Plaza Level.
For additional information, please contact Keyna Cory at [email protected].

Gov. Scott: We Will Fight to Make Higher Education More Affordable

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Governor Rick Scott announced today his “Finish in Four, Save More” legislative and budget proposals to encourage colleges and universities to continue to make higher education more affordable for students and also help students graduate in four years. Currently, only 44 percent of undergraduate students at Florida state universities graduate within four years and 71 percent of students are graduating with four year degrees within six years.
Governor Scott said, “Florida students should have every opportunity to earn a degree in four years without graduating with mountains of debt. While we have fought to make higher education more affordable by holding the line on undergraduate tuition, there is much more that can be done to help students. I am calling on the state Legislature to freeze all fees at state colleges and universities, and to also freeze state college tuition so students aren’t burdened with the constant sky-rocketing costs. I am also calling on the Legislature to expand Bright Futures into the summer term, helping students graduate in four years. In business, you are expected to create more efficiencies or more value. Our institutions need to provide more value to our students by becoming more affordable and helping students graduate in four years so they can save money and get a great job. I want to thank the trustees and presidents of Florida’s colleges and universities for helping us make higher education affordable, but we must do more.”
The “Finish in Four, Save More” legislative and budget initiatives continue Governor Scott’s goal of making college more affordable. The following will be included in legislation:

  • Freezing Fees: State college and university fees will be frozen at the current rates. Currently fees at universities average almost $100 per credit hour and colleges average more than $26 per credit hour. Colleges and universities will still be able to decrease fees;
  • Freezing State College Tuition: State college tuition will be frozen at the current rates. In 2014, Governor Scott signed legislation limiting state universities’ ability to establish or raise a tuition differential. His goal is to continue that with state colleges this year; and
  • Cutting graduate teaching assistant fees by 25%: This allows hardworking teaching assistants to receive a more affordable education.

The following will be included in the Governor’s recommended budget:

  • Expanding Bright Futures: Expanding Bright Futures to cover summer classes will give students more flexibility to graduate in four years. Currently Bright Futures only covers fall and spring semesters; and
  • Cutting taxes on college textbooks: This initiative and accompanying legislation will provide a sales tax exemption for students purchasing required textbooks and instructional materials and will save students $48 million next year. A student taking five courses per semester will save a minimum of $60 per year.

Governor Scott has held the line on undergraduate tuition for three consecutive years.
Last year, Governor Scott championed and signed a sweeping college affordability bill that the Legislature passed and includes the following provisions:

  • Provided greater transparency for students regarding college costs;
  • Held the line on graduate school tuition;
  • Informed students of required and recommended textbooks before the start of classes;
  • Required colleges and universities to adopt policies that make textbooks more affordable; and
  • Required the Board of Governors and State Board of Education to make annual recommendations on how to make college more affordable.

In May, Governor Scott hosted the Degrees to Jobs Summit, which focused on important higher education topics including college affordability, leadership accountability and how business leaders and education officials can better connect Florida students with meaningful jobs when they graduate.

Two more $1 million HOLIDAY MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE grand prize winners come forward

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The Florida Lottery announces today that the second and third Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ grand prize winners claimed their $1 million prizes from the drawing held on January 3, 2017, at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. The two winners are Jeff Gottschalk, 54, of St. Augustine, and Gail Ferguson, 63, of West Palm Beach.
Gottschalk purchased his winning Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE ticket at Publix, located at 5415 North Oceanshore Boulevard in Palm Coast. Gottschalk said, “This win is even more special to me because the drawing was held on my birthday!”
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Jeff Gottschalk poses with his mother and oversized check after claiming
a $1 million prize from the Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE grand prize drawing.

Ferguson purchased per winning Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE ticket at Publix, located at 828 Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach. Ferguson said she has a dream board at work with a Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE poster on it. “When people would ask me what it’s for, I’d tell them ‘Because I’m going to win the Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE!’ and my dream came true!”
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Gail Ferguson poses with her husband and oversized check after claiming
a $1 million prize from the Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE grand prize drawing.

Each retailer will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling a $1 million-winning ticket.
Along with the seven $1 million prizes, 527 other prizes ranging from $500 to $50,000 were awarded in the Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE Grand Prize drawing held on January 3. Additionally, this year’s Raffle offered five weekly drawings, in which a total of ten $10,000 prizes, 250 $1,000 prizes, and 1,000 $500 prizes were won. The Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE game generated more than $1.7 million in revenue for education.

DSC’s online bachelor’s degrees continue among nation’s best

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5th year running, DSC keeps pace with prestigious national universities

Despite increasing competition, Daytona State College continues its run among the nation’s higher education institutions offering the best online bachelor’s degree programs, according to the newest rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report. DSC remains the only Florida state college in the top tier and ranks 15th among more than 300 public and private colleges and universities offering online bachelor’s degrees.us-news-best-online-programs-1-10-2017

In the 2017 Top Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings, Daytona State stood with the best through its Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management (BAS), Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) degrees. DSC’s ranking came by virtue of a five-way tie with Colorado State University’s Global Campus, Fort Hays State University, Washington State University and the Savannah College of Art and Design. DSC was the only member of the Florida College System to place in the rankings.

“Our faculty and staff have been extraordinarily innovative in delivering curricula in the online arena and in making our students career ready,” said President Tom LoBasso. “Their success comes from a college-wide commitment to a culture of continuous improvement, one that has seen us evolve our online processes and advance our methodologies to reflect the latest best practices.”

The rankings were based on criteria such as the quality and experience of each program’s faculty; student engagement, which includes retention and graduation rates; online technology infrastructure and its cost; and student services available online such as mentoring, library services, tutoring, writing workshops, advising, tech support and career placement assistance.

“Our big push since the previous year’s ranking was the full implementation of our 24/7 online technical support system,” said Andrea Gibson, chair of online studies at DSC. “We also had our instructional designers review all online bachelor’s courses in engineering and business, and revamp them where necessary to ensure that they reflect best practices.”

Daytona State began offering bachelor’s degrees in 2006 in response to a statewide need to increase Florida’s college-educated workforce. The college now offers 11 bachelor’s programs: the BAS, BSET, BSIT, seven BS in Education degrees and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Over 1,600 baccalaureate students enrolled in DSC online bachelor’s degree courses during the 2015-2016 academic year, with more than 13,100 choosing an online course in all one-, two- and four-year programs combined. This fall semester alone, 1,143 students have enrolled in a bachelor’s-level online course.

For more information on the rankings, see U.S. News & World Report 2017 Best Online Education Programs rankings. For more information on all Daytona State’s online programs, visit DaytonaState.edu/online.