Tomorrow, January 5, Governor Rick Scott will highlight his proposal for $5.8 million in funding for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to add 46 counterterrorism agents as part of his 2017-2018 recommended budget.
WHAT: Counterterrorism Budget Highlight
WHEN: 10:00am
WHERE: Florida Department of Law Enforcement
4211 North Lois Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33614
Featured
ICYMI: CW18 WKCF: Gov. Scott Proposing $6 Million for FDLE Counterterrorism Agents
“Gov. Scott Proposing $6 Million for FDLE Counterterrorism Agents”
CW18 WKCF – Orlando, FL
January 4, 2017
To view the clip, click HERE.
UT Names Paul Greenwood as Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences
Paul Greenwood, currently professor of biology and previously senior associate provost and dean of the faculty at Colby College, has been named by The University of Tampa as the dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences.
As dean, Greenwood will oversee the departments of biology; chemistry, biochemistry and physics; health sciences and human performance; nursing; and sport management.
Greenwood said he looks forward to working with the UT faculty and staff to create new opportunities for our students. “I have had a long commitment to experiential education and engaged student inquiry, and UT is very well known for its particular excellence in those areas,” Greenwood added.
Greenwood has been a member of the faculty at Colby College since 1987, serving in various roles, including professor of biology, chair of the biology department and director of the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin (CBB) Biomedical Semester Program. At Colby, Greenwood was a recipient of the Charles Bassett Distinguished Teaching Award. Prior to Colby, Greenwood served as an instructor in animal diversity in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University.
Greenwood’s research is focused on the development, discharge physiology and biochemistry of nematocysts, the stinging structures common to jellyfish, sea anemones, corals and related organisms.
David Stern, UT provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Greenwood’s academic and leadership experience have prepared him well to lead UT’s programs in the natural and health sciences.
“As we look to enhance the quality of our current programs and to develop some select new programs that advance UT’s mission, Paul’s wisdom will be an invaluable asset,” Stern said.
Greenwood received his bachelor’s degree at Knox College and his master’s and doctorate degrees from Florida State University.
He will begin his post at UT on June 1.
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.
Secretary of State Recognizes Recipients of the 2017 Florida Folk Heritage Awards
Secretary of State Ken Detzner today announced the 2017 Florida Folk Heritage Award recipients. The 2017 awardees are David Peñaflor and Marilia Carrasquillo of Ocoee, Folk Advocates of Latin American culture; Haiqiong Deng of Tallahassee, traditional Chinese musician; Pastor William Emerson of Tarpon Springs, performing artist and composer of Rhythm and Blues and sacred music; and Willie Green of McIntosh, blues artist.
“The contributions of these gifted individuals illustrate the extraordinary depth and diversity of Florida’s traditional culture,” said Secretary Detzner. “They are recognized for their remarkable achievements and their dedicated role in preserving Florida’s folk cultural resources.”
The 2017 Florida Folk Heritage Award recipients (l-r) David Peñaflor and Marilia Carrasquillo
(photo courtesy of Carrasquillo); Haiqiong Deng (photo courtesy of Deng); William Emerson
(photo courtesy of Tina Bucuvalas); and Willie Green (photo by Robert Stone).
The Florida Department of State presents Florida Folk Heritage Awards annually to citizens who have made long-standing contributions to Florida’s cultural heritage by perpetuating community traditions. Like the National Heritage Awards, the Florida Folk Heritage Awards honor the state’s most influential tradition bearers for excellence, significance, and authenticity.
Additional information, including photos and bios about each award winner, is available on the Florida Folklife Program’s Facebook page.
The Florida Folklife Program is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Folk and Traditional Arts Program. For more information about the Florida Folklife Program or how to make a nomination for the Folk Heritage Awards, contact State Folklorist Amanda Hardeman, Florida Folklife Program, Division of Historical Resources, at 850.245.6427.
About the Florida Department of State’s Florida Folklife Program
The Florida Folklife Program, a component of the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources, documents and presents Florida’s folklife, folklore and folk arts. The program coordinates a wide range of activities and projects designed to increase the awareness of Floridians and visitors alike about Florida’s traditional culture. Established in 1979 by the legislature to document and present Florida folklife, the program is one of the oldest state folk arts programs in the nation. For more information, click here.
Gov. Scott: We Must Defeat Terror – Proposing Funding for Counterterrorism Operations
Governor Rick Scott announced today that he will propose $5.8 million in funding for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to add 46 counterterrorism agents as part of his 2017-2018 recommended budget. The agents will specialize in counterterrorism and intelligence and will be organized into counterterrorism squads that are stationed in each of FDLE’s seven regions. Counterterrorism agents will work hand-in-hand with local, state and federal intelligence agencies to establish a planned, deliberate and comprehensive effort in support of domestic security.
Governor Scott said, “Today, I am proud to announce that I will include $5.8 million in funding for FDLE to strengthen their counterterrorism and intelligence efforts as part of my 2017-18 recommended budget. Terror is a threat to our state and nation and we need specialists that are solely dedicated to identifying these terrorists and stopping them before they attack.
“Just last year, Florida came under attack when a terrorist, inspired by ISIS and filled with hate, stormed into Pulse Nightclub and killed 49 innocent people. Following the attack, I spoke to many of the victims’ families and mourned with them at funerals. Their lives will never be the same, and as the father of two daughters the same age as many of the victims, I cannot imagine the pain these families are going through. This recommended funding is a critical investment in our state’s counterterrorism operations that will work to ensure that our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to curb this senseless violence.”
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “Governor Scott recognizes that we all have a role to play in defeating the terror which fueled the attack on Pulse Nightclub. I applaud the Governor for his leadership in recommending this funding which will allow FDLE to integrate additional specialized agents into existing counterterrorism intelligence networks. The 46 counterterrorism positions funded by the Governor’s recommended budget will serve a critical role in protecting Florida families from the evil of terrorism.”
Complete Florida, T.E.A.C.H. partner to provide funding for day care providers returning to college
The University of West Florida Innovation Institute’s Complete Florida program recently announced a new partnership with T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Program, an organization that helps day care providers earn a degree in early childhood education.
“Complete Florida has always been an easy way for busy adults to return to college and finish their degree,” said Michelle Horton, director of Complete Florida Enrollment and Retention Management. “With our new partnership, we have now made it easier for adults to fully fund a degree in childhood education.”
Through this new partnership, adult students in the Complete Florida program who are returning to college to finish their degree in early childhood education are eligible to receive up to 100 percent funding assistance. Eligible participants include currently employed child care teachers and administrators. The majority of funding is provided by the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Program, while the participant’s employer and Complete Florida each share 10 percent of the cost of tuition.
“Research shows that young children have better outcomes when their teachers are well educated,” said Lori Stegmeyer, director of the Florida T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Program. “The T.E.A.C.H. model has created real change for those working on the front lines of a critically important, but perpetually under-resourced industry. We know that lack of financial resources, lack of time, and lack of confidence are three major obstacles that impede early childhood teachers and directors from completing their college degrees. To address these barriers, T.E.A.C.H. scholars receive compensation and tuition support, paid release time, and personal support throughout their contracts. It really is a win-win for the field.”
Complete Florida offers more than 90 online degree and certificate programs at colleges and universities across the state. Through the new partnership, adult students can earn credit for credentials they have already earned and apply them toward a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, Associate of Science in Early Childhood Management, or an Associate of Arts at Florida International University and Florida State College of Jacksonville.
This program allows students to take advantage of the flexible, convenient online courses. After completion, students are immediately ready to enter the workforce.
For more information, visit completeflorida.org.
About Complete Florida
Complete Florida is a state of Florida initiative to recruit and retain the state’s 2.8 million adults who have some college but no degree. Partnering with public and private higher education institutions in Florida, Complete Florida provides one-on-one planning, support and coaching for students with adult responsibilities. Dedicated coaches work alongside students as personal advocates, counselors and advisors while participants complete college courses 100 percent online. For more information, visit completeflorida.org.
Complete Florida is a state of Florida initiative to recruit and retain the state’s 2.8 million adults who have some college but no degree. Partnering with public and private higher education institutions in Florida, Complete Florida provides one-on-one planning, support and coaching for students with adult responsibilities. Dedicated coaches work alongside students as personal advocates, counselors and advisors while participants complete college courses 100 percent online. For more information, visit completeflorida.org.
About the UWF Innovation Institute
We are re-imaging how millions of people experience learning by exploring, designing, prototyping and delivering innovation for education. We collaborate with and serve the University of West Florida, partner organizations and institutions across the state of Florida who want to improve learning for the entire Florida education system. We are a trusted partner that provides research-driven, customer-centric, systems-thinking approach to sustainable innovation.
We are re-imaging how millions of people experience learning by exploring, designing, prototyping and delivering innovation for education. We collaborate with and serve the University of West Florida, partner organizations and institutions across the state of Florida who want to improve learning for the entire Florida education system. We are a trusted partner that provides research-driven, customer-centric, systems-thinking approach to sustainable innovation.
Florida Supreme Court: New Posting, 1/4/2017, 9:40 a.m. ET
New material has been posted to the Supreme Court website in:
- Perry v. State (order denying motion for clarification in post-Hurst death case)
Follow the links at: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org.
Jacksonville man celebrates the new year after claiming a $2 million MEGA MILLIONS prize
The Florida Lottery announces that Edward Rannin, 64, of Jacksonville, claimed a $2 million MEGA MILLIONS® prize from the drawing held on Friday, December 30, 2016. The winning Quick Pick ticket matched all five of the white ball numbers, but did not match the Mega Ball.
Rannin purchased his ticket from Winn Dixie, located at 12777 Atlantic Boulevard in Jacksonville. The retailer received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the $2 million MEGA MILLIONS ticket. Total ticket sales for this series of MEGA MILLIONS rollovers generated more than $5.5 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).
The next MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be held Friday, January 6, at 11:00 p.m. ET with an estimated $117 million jackpot. MEGA MILLIONS drawings are broadcast on 17 carrier stations throughout the state. Drawings are also available for viewing on the Florida Lottery website. Winning numbers are available on the Lottery website, at retailers statewide and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY.
Senator Tom Lee Files Bill to Give Patients Greater Flexibility and Access to Quality Primary Care
Senator Tom Lee (R–Thonotosassa) announced today the filing of SB 240, designed to improve access to direct primary care by giving physicians and their patients an alternative to the traditional third party, fee-for-service system.
In a direct primary care model, patients receive access to their physician for a flat monthly fee. A full range of comprehensive primary care visits and services are included under this contract, ranging from acute and urgent care to regular checkups, labs, preventative care and chronic disease management. SB 240 recognizes these arrangements, establishes protections for both the physicians and the patients, as well as defines them as outside the scope of state insurance regulation.
“Direct primary care offers an innovative solution and greater efficiency to a healthcare system plagued by exorbitant costs and a lack of accessible, quality care for the uninsured and underinsured,” Senator Lee said. “This type of free-market approach grants patients greater flexibility and expands access to concierge-level healthcare that was once available only to the wealthy.”
Direct primary care practices allow patients to establish a personal relationship with their doctor, diminishing the dependence on expensive surgeries, urgent care, emergency rooms and other preventable hospitalizations. Physicians are able to spend more time caring directly for their patients and significantly reduce operating expenses by cutting out the hassle and costs associated with billing a health insurance company.
“These arrangements empower Florida families by giving them more control and choice in how they pay for the care they need,” Senator Lee added.
New financial planning TV series to air on WDSC TV15
Daytona State College is producing a financial planning TV series called “Plan Stronger,” with up to 60 half-hour episodes supported by Holland Financial Inc. The shows will offer financial planning guidance and will air on the college’s public television station, WDSC TV15, beginning Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.
Filmed and produced by WDSC, the episodes feature scripts, dialogue, hosts and guests provided by Holland Financial. David Holland, company owner, author and financial columnist, will host the series, airing Mondays at 7 p.m. on WDSC TV15.
“We’re pleased to partner with experts in financial education to the benefit of our local and regional viewers,” said DSC President Tom LoBasso.
The first six episodes will focus on these topics and offer guest discussion:
- Diversification – Guest Nancy Anderson
- Women and their Finances – Guest Cary Carbonaro
- Estate Planning – Guest Matthew C. Shapiro, Attorney
- “Early” Retirement – Guest Nancy Anderson
- Financial Infidelity – Guest Cary Carbonaro
- Trusts – Guest Matthew C. Shapiro, Attorney
The programs, free of advertising, are produced to the professional broadcast standards of the Federal Communications Commission and the Public Broadcasting Service.
WDSC broadcasts in the Orlando-Daytona-Melbourne television market, an area that serves 3.2 million people and is the 19thlargest television market in the nation. Counties in the viewing area include Volusia, Flagler, Seminole, Brevard, Orange, Putnam, Marion, Lake and Osceola. More than 200,000 households view programs on WDSC each week.
WDSC TV15 supports the educational mission of Daytona State by serving as a living classroom for students in the Television Studio Production Certificate program and the upcoming Associate of Science in Broadcast Television Production degree. In these programs, students receive training in video and television studio production, set design, lighting, camera, audio and broadcast production. Through hands-on training with live programs, students gain experience in television and video production.
