Legislative Session Preview: Scott’s Higher Ed Proposals Likely To Wait
January 7, 2012
Despite the attention paid to Gov. Rick Scott’s ideas about reshaping Florida’s higher education system, it looks like a major overhaul of colleges and universities will wait until the 2013 session.
Legislators aren’t ruling out the possibility of addressing at least some of Scott’s ideas this year, but leaders such as House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and even Scott himself seem to be downplaying any expectations of a major shift. Already, lawmakers will have to tackle the once-a-decade redistricting process and balancing the budget in the face of a nearly $2 billion shortfall.
Add in an explosive debate about casino gambling in South Florida and the heavily-lobbied discussion of personal injury protection insurance, and the odds of also addressing a revamp of higher education that has drawn the ire of some college and university presidents are long.
“Because of redistricting, and the fact that we have a big budget deficit, I think everything is always a little bit harder because of that,” Scott said in a recent interview. “But I think we need to start the process of having a good dialogue.”
Cannon also tacked closely to that line when talking with reporters last month, saying he would prefer to leave the heavy lifting for when Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, take over their respective chambers.
“I don’t think we’re going to try and make any major policy reforms,” Cannon said. “This is more the type of thing that I want to honor the governor’s beginning that conversation, maybe make a few thoughtful steps in that direction, and then pass that along to incoming Speaker Weatherford and incoming President Gaetz for them to carry over into the next couple of years.”
Current Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has also sounded cautious about the plan, noting Gaetz’s interest in the issue and would support moving now “if he thinks we’re ready to move forward.” Frank Brogan, chancellor of the state university system, has also called for a go-slow approach.
Scott shook the higher education community over the summer when he began pushing for colleges and universities to focus on science and technology degrees — often questioning the need for more anthropology or journalism majors — and considering a controversial reform plan from Texas, where Scott’s political idol Rick Perry is governor.
Perry’s proposals, which mirror conservative reform efforts in elementary and secondary schools, include merit pay for professors, tenure form and a greater emphasis on measuring whether professors are turning out students that meet certain goals. Other proposals in Texas have included abandoning the traditional accreditation system, a freeze on tuition and a $10,000 bachelor’s degree.
While those sweeping changes might not be in the offing for Florida schools this year, Scott and others are laying the groundwork for change.
Cannon said, for instance, that he would be interested in taking up a plan to introduce a vision for the state’s system, echoing some of the flaws highlighted by a recent report from the Higher Education Coordinating Council.
“Right now, we don’t have an effective system,” Cannon said. “We have sort of a discordant, competing group of fiefdoms and that’s not healthy for our state.”
House Education Committee Chairman Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, said his panel will begin meetings with university presidents on Jan. 13 to begin getting their input on a variety of reform proposals floating around the Capitol.
“Then, we’ll see where we go from there,” Proctor said.
Scott, meanwhile, is proposing that policy makers begin sifting through the information universities provided him in response to an October letter asking for information, including data showing how well graduates did in the workforce.
“Probably the logical thing to do is to put together a working group to review that,” Scott said, “and work with our universities to come up with something where the public feels that they’re getting their return on the dollars that we invest in higher ed and in individuals creating jobs.”
By The News Service of Florida
Customer Stabs Nine Mile Road Restaurant Owner
January 6, 2012
A Nine Mile Road restaurant owner was stabbed in the neck Thursday afternoon after confronting a Cantonment man that left without paying for his meal.
Victim Shou Chen, owner of King Buffet, said that 19-year old Connor James Stenson ate a meal and left without paying his $16.95 food and drink bill. Chen followed him to the parking lot and confronted him. That’s when Stenson pulled out a knife, according to an arrest report, and stabbed Chen in the neck, leaving him with a non-life threatening laceration about four inches long.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Stenson on the scene and charged with aggravated battery and petit theft. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,000.
Multiple Wrecks Close Highway 113
January 6, 2012
Multiple wrecks shut down Highway 113 north of Flomaton Fridaymorning, with at least five people injured. The wrecks were attributed to extremely thick fog and smoke from a controlled burn creating near zero visibility in some locations.
The first accidents were reported about 5 a.m. Multiple fire departments and ambulances from Escambia County, Fla., Atmore and Brewton responded to the scene, which stretched over several miles.
The wrecks were between the Pineview crossroads and I-65. Both north and southbound lanes were closed for almost six hours while emergency officials worked to clear the accidents and waited for the fog and smoke to clear.
Pictured: A traffic cam look the Highway 29 and Highway 31 intersection in Flomaton at 7:50 this morning shows the fog has lifted in Flomaton. ALDOT photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Portion Of $50 Million Gulf Restoration Funds Now Available For North Escambia Area
January 6, 2012
Details have been released on exactly how a portion of a $50 million Gulf Coast restoration initiative will be funneled into the North Escambia area to improve water quality in the Escambia River and the Gulf of Mexico.
The $50 million will spent over three years in conservation assistance to farmers and ranchers in priority areas along seven major rivers in five states that drain into the Gulf.
In both Escambia counties in both Florida and Alabama, funds will be focused on the Canoe Creek watershed and the Sandy Hollow-Pine Barren Creek watershed in the Escambia River basin. Also, in North Escambia, funds will provide conservation assistance in the Little Pine Barren Creek Watershed in the Escambia River Basin. (Click map to enlarge.)
“This locally-led effort to improve the health of the Gulf Coast region will benefit Florida citizens by producing cleaner water, more abundant wildlife, and healthier fisheries,” said Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Carlos Suarez.
Financial assistance is available to help producers apply sustainable agricultural and wildlife habitat management systems that will focus on reducing soil erosion, improving water quality, and improving wildlife habitat on cropland, pastureland, and forestland.
Practices may include:
- Installing grade control structures to stabilize eroding gullies
- Implementing precision agriculture to reduce chemical application overlap and protect sensitive environmental areas
- Increasing adoption of residue and tillage management, cover crops, and conservation crop rotations to reduce sheet and rill erosion and improve soil organic matter, which will result in cleaner runoff and improved water quality
- Planting grass and trees to stabilize eroding areas
- Installing cross-fences and watering facilities to facilitate grazing distribution
- Controlling cattle access to streams to improve water quality and stream bank stability
- Planting and managing native plant species to improve wildlife habitat and to assist with restoration of a multitude of declining species
- Promoting energy conservation by eliminating the need for annual mechanical removal of sediment from split ditches
- Implementing grazing management
- Installing heavy-use area protection pads
The $50 million Gulf Coast restoration initiative was announced by the Obama administration.
For information on how to apply for the funding, contact the NRCS Molino Service Center at (850) 587-5345 or the Brewton NRCS Service Center at (251) 867-3185.
Pictured: This map shows the areas eligible for a portion of $50 million in Gulf Coast restoration funding, click to enlarge.
1,650 Trees To Be Given Away For Arbor Day
January 6, 2012
In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, three agencies will giveaway 1,650 trees at events in Century and Warrington.
Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension, and Florida Forestry Service will giveaway Shumard Oak, Bald Cypress, River Birch, Mayhaw, Chickasaw Plum and Wax Myrtle seedlings.
The first event will be held on Thursday, January 19, in the Agricultural Building at the corner of Industrial Boulevard and West Highway 4 in Century from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The second event will be held on Friday, January 20, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Jones Swamp Preserve Trail entrance at 198 Patton Drive, near the intersection of Brigadier and Patton Drive in Warrington.
Extension Master Gardeners will also be available to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape. The Arbor Day Celebration is funded through the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Florida Forestry Service with a grant administered by Escambia County Community & Environment Department.
For more information, contact county arborist Jimmie Jarratt at 595-3535 or jnjarrat@co.escambia.fl.us.
Asleep At The Wheel: FHP Arrests Century Man On Drug Charges
January 6, 2012
A Century man is behind bars on drug charges after authorities found him asleep behind the wheel at a red light on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola.
Akino Jama Jackson, 19, was charged with felony drug possession without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a valid license by the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to an arrest report, a Circle K clerk alerted the FHP that a vehicle had sat through several green cycles of a stop light on Fairfield Drive without moving. A trooper discovered Jackson and his passenger asleep with the car in drive and Jackson’s foot on the brake. The trooper shook him to wake him up, at which time Jackson said he had taken two doses of NyQuil prior to leaving Century. As Jackson stood up, an alprazolam fell onto the ground from his lap, the arrest report states.
A K-9 was called to the scene to search and quickly alerted on the vehicle. Authorities located a scale with cocaine residue.
Jackson remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning with bond set at $4,500.
Warmer Weekend
January 6, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. South wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 61.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Tate’s Rho Kappa Sends Care Packages To Deployed Alumini
January 6, 2012
Tate High School’s history honor society Rho Kappa recently sent care packages to deployed Tate High alumni. The packages included a variety of personal care items and non-perishable foods.
For more photos, click here.
Pictured above: Tate’s Rho Kappa history honor society recently collected items for care packages for deployed Tate graduates. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AAA Pushes Texting Ban, Booster Seat Bill
January 6, 2012
A ban on texting while driving and a booster seat law for older children too big for car seats top the legislative wish list for the auto club AAA in Florida.
Florida is one of three states that don’t require older children to ride in a booster seat after age 4; Bills filed in the Legislature would require booster seats for older children.
AAA also is pushing for a ban on texting while driving, which is the subject of bills filed in both chambers.
AAA said Thursday it also will urge lawmakers not to use any money from the state Transportation Trust Fund for other purposes. The fund is filled mainly by state fuel taxes and goes to improve roads and build new ones. In past years, lawmakers have raided the trust fund to balance the budget.
By The News Service of Florida
Wish List: Century Wants New Christmas Lights, Nativity Scene
January 6, 2012
The Town of Century is looking to make Christmas a little brighter next year with new decorations.
“I think ours are looking very sad,” Council President Ann Brooks said of the town’s current decorations.
Brooks said she also wants to see a nativity scene returned to the town hall lawn. A nativity scene has been displayed there for the past several years. The scene was displayed for a few days during the past Christmas season, but basically fell apart due to age.
Many of the town’s decorations, including those displayed at Century’s Roadside Park at North Century Boulevard and Hecker Road, were donated to the town by Pensacola several years ago. Mayor Freddie McCall said it has been labor intensive for town employees to keep the decorations functioning.
McCall said it would cost the town about $150 per utility pole for wiring to Gulf Power standards for electrically lighted pole decorations. He said the town could look at decorations that would reflect light from existing streetlights.
Town Council member Annie Savage said she thinks the town should price decorations with solar powered lights.
Pictured: Some of the Town of Century’s Christmas decorations on display at Roadside Park in December. The aging decorations were donated by Pensacola several years ago. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
