New material has been posted to the Supreme Court website in:
- Leon Davis, Jr. v. State of Florida (denial of rehearing in post-Hurst death case)
Follow the links at: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org.
Florida
Florida PSC Commissioner Donald Polmann Begins Term
Commissioner Donald Polmann today began serving on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates the state’s investor-owned electric, gas, and water and wastewater companies. He was appointed by Governor Rick Scott for a four-year term ending in January 2021.
“With my technical background, I look forward to working with the Commission to achieve the balance needed for sound regulatory decisions,” said Commissioner Polmann. “I have a keen awareness of serving the public interest and will be thorough in my approach to ensure that Florida’s residents and businesses receive reliable, affordable utility service at fair and reasonable costs.”
Prior to his appointment to the PSC, Commissioner Polmann served as Director of Science and Engineering for Tampa Bay Water, the largest wholesale drinking water supplier in the Southeastern United States. Commissioner Polmann also served as a consulting engineer in private practice for a decade, most recently at ATKINS as Senior Project Director for public sector clients concerning water and environment. Before this, he was at AMEC in environmental and water resource engineering, serving a broad set of public and private clients.
Commissioner Polmann received his undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Minor in Economics. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Florida League of Cities, Police Chiefs Association Hail Governor’s Proposal for Counterterrorism Unit
Leaders for the Florida League of Cities and Florida Police Chiefs Association today embraced Governor Rick Scott’s call for $5.8 million to create a special unit dedicated to fighting terrorism in Florida. League of Cities President Susan Haynie, who is mayor of Boca Raton, and Florida Police Chiefs Association President Albert “Butch” Arenal, police chief of Coconut Creek, said the counterterrorism squad would help protect Floridians by effectively coordinating law enforcement resources across Florida.
Mayor Haynie and Chief Arenal issued the following statement:
“The majority of Florida’s 20 million residents live in our cities, towns, and villages, and our municipalities face the constant threat of being targeted by terrorist acts. Governor Scott’s plan will institute a dedicated team of highly skilled, well-trained, and resolute experts whose sole mission will be to address the modern scourge of terrorism. This smart, forward-thinking, and unfortunately necessary proposal represents a cost-effective way to provide Floridians with a measure of assurance that their public servants are doing everything possible to protect them. We applaud the Governor’s leadership in advocating for these 46 agents and analysts, and we urge the Legislature to help protect the people of our state, not on the basis of what this costs but because of what it likely will save: lives.”
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.
Grand Prize Drawing Held Today in Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE
534 Prizes from $500 to $1 Million Were Won!
The Florida Lottery held the Grand Prize drawing for the Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ today . The one-million-dollar-winning ticket numbers, along with the location of where the tickets were purchased are listed below. In addition to the seven $1 million grand prizes, 527 other prizes ranging from $500 to $50,000 were awarded. All winning numbers are available on the Florida Lottery website at www.flalottery.com.
In addition to today’s drawing, the Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE offered 2,500 $50 instant win prizes and five weekly drawings in which a total of ten $10,000 prizes, 250 $1,000 prizes, and 1,000 $500 prizes were won. With only 750,000 tickets available, the game offered the best odds of winning $1 million among all Lottery games currently on sale. For more information about Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE, visit flalottery.com.
Delray Beach Golf Club Featured as Florida Historic Golf Trail Course of the Month
Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that the Delray Beach Golf Club, located in the City of Delray Beach in Palm Beach County, has been chosen as the featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail for the month of January.
“We are pleased to feature the Delray Beach Golf Club as a partner on the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Secretary Detzner. “For over 90 years, this course has been providing a challenging round of golf for both professional and amateur golfers.”
Image Courtesy of Delray Beach Golf Club
In 1923, the City purchased land for a municipal golf course and two years later, legendary golf course architect Donald Ross designed an 18-hole golf course for the property. In 1926, the golf course officially opened but only nine holes were built. The 9-hole course continued in operation until it was closed during World War II. After reopening in 1945, city leaders voted to add a second nine holes that opened in 1950. Red Lawrence and Robert Bruce Harris made course additions and redesigns during the 1960s.
Today, the 18-hole, par-72 golf course at the Delray Beach Golf Club features four sets of tees playing from 5,100 to 6,800 yards. The course is open and well-bunkered with elevated greens. Water comes into play on seven holes.
“Delray Beach Golf Club is thrilled to be chosen as January’s featured course for the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Director of Golf Tommi Ylijoki. “Since our founding in 1923 by Donald Ross, we have proudly provided fun and affordable golf, and an experience that will last a lifetime. We look forward to continuing our rich tradition and serving the south Florida community in the years to come.”
For more information about the Delray Beach Golf Club or the Florida Historic Golf Trail program visit Delray Beach Golf Club , Florida Historic Golf Trail or Facebook.com/FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.
About The Florida Historic Golf Trail
Florida’s golf history, recognized as one of the oldest in the nation, dates back to the late 1800s when a number of early courses were created along with the development of railroads and hotels in the state. The Florida Historic Golf Trail is a collection of more than 50 historic, publicly accessible golf courses throughout the state that can still be played on today. Through the Florida Historic Golf Trail, golfers can play on courses designed by world-class architects and played by famous golfers such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Babe Zaharias, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Information about the history and current day contact information for each partner course can be found at FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.com. Find the historic course near you and Come Play on History!
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.
PSC Commissioner Brisé Named to FCC’s IAC Committee
Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ronald A. Brisé has been reappointed to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) for 2017-2019. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler appointed Commissioner Brisé, who will serve another term as the public utility commission member on the Committee. He was nominated for the position by National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) President Robert Powelson.
“I’m honored to have been nominated by President Powelson and appointed by Chairman Wheeler,” Commissioner Brisé said, “and I look forward to continuing our Committee’s work with the FCC on facilitating programs that best serve the public interest in today’s communications sector.”
The 2017-2019 IAC will focus on the role of state, local and Tribal governments in facilitating broadband deployment and adoption, initiatives related to wireless infrastructure deployment, Universal Service programs, consumer complaints processes, and public safety issues.
Commissioner Brisé was first nominated to the FCC’s IAC in May 2011 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Advisory Committee. He is a member of NARUC and has served as NARUC’s representative to the Federal State Joint Board on Universal Service and the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company. He also serves as Chair of an internal NARUC Presidential Task Force on federal communications policy.
For more information, click here.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
