Major Tuition Hike Bill Gets Final Approval
March 9, 2012
Senators approved a plan Thursday that could allow the University of Florida and Florida State University to pass along major tuition increases to students.
The bill drew little discussion before passing on a 36-3 vote, with Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and Sens. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, dissenting.
It passed the House last week and now goes to Gov. Rick Scott, who has expressed reluctance about raising university tuition.
The bill would allow universities that meet 11 of 14 standards to submit plans for tuition increases that go beyond ordinary state limits. Supporters say the state’s top research universities need more control over tuition, but opponents question passing along potentially far-higher costs to students and families.
While the bill does not name specific institutions, it is at least initially targeted at UF and FSU.
By The News Service of Florida
High School Sports Recruiting Bill Headed To Governor
March 9, 2012
A bill curbing the authority of the Florida High School Athletic Association to sideline transferring students narrowly passed the Senate on Thursday, sending it to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature.
The measure (HB 1403) cleared the chamber on a 21-18 vote, with a diverse group of eight Republicans joining the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats in opposing the bill. Among Democrats, only Sens. Larcenia Bullard of Miami and Gary Siplin of Orlando supported the proposal.
The bill would allow transfer students to largely remain eligible in the same year they transfer and would limit the ability of FHSAA to sideline students for recruiting violations.
At the same time, the measure would crack down on schools and coaches involved in the violations.
Supporters said the proposal was intended to punish the adults responsible for violations instead of often unwitting students at the center of the controversies.
“This is about kids,” said Senate Education Chairman Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville. “This is all about kids. I don’t think that you want to disenfranchise kids because of a bad coach that goes out and particularly recruits a student to come there.”
Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, echoed the complaints of some schools that FHSAA had become an unaccountable organization.
“They rule with a hammer,” Thrasher said. ” … If there was ever a top-down process in Florida high school athletics, this is the organization that represents it.”
But opponents argued that the bill would instead open the door to more of the recruiting that the FHSAA has worked hard to combat and could turn athletics into a lawless scramble to recruit the best student athletes, or even some who should be ineligible.
“The driving issue is that every child in Florida should be playing on a team that follows the same rules,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee. “I do not want my grandson playing football when he’s 17 against another player who is 19 years or older.”
Recruiting scandals, often involving private schools that reportedly try to draw the best athletes away from public schools, have periodically broken out in high-school athletics. But most private schools have opposed the measure, something opponents seized on.
They said a few disgruntled schools who had run-ins with the association seemed to be the driving force behind the bill — undermining the reasons for supporting the measure.
“Now, there’s something wrong when we’re trying to fix this for privates and publics who work cooperatively, and then you’ve got the privates saying that they’re against it,” Lynn said.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Story by The News Service of Florida
PSC To Set Higher Rates For Gulf Power; Nothing For McDavid Plans
March 9, 2012
The Florida Public Service Commission will hold conference Monday in Tallahassee to consider to set new higher rates for Gulf Power Company customers. The new rates will not include any money specifically for a potential Gulf Power plant in North Escambia.
Customer rates will be based on the PSC’s February 27 decision that reduced the company’s request by $37.5 million. The PSC also lowered the company’s requested return on equity from 11.7 to 10.25 percent., setting its revenue requirement increase at $64.1 million.
While the increase was less than the company sought, it was more than attorneys for consumers and business groups said the Pensacola-based utility should receive.
Gulf Power oiginally requested a $93.5 million hike, but that number increased to $101.6 million because of accounting-related issues stemming from improvements to a power plant.
The Public Service Commission did not allow Gulf Power to pass along costs related to a potential nuclear-power plant site in North Escambia because the utility has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project.
The PSC also trimmed a company request to pay for new employees.
Gulf Power serves approximately 431,000 customers in eight counties in Northwest Florida.
The Special Commission Conference will be broadcast online at www.floridapsc.com (look for the “Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the web page).
Pictured top: One of many house that now sit abandoned near McDavid where Gulf Power has purchased thousands of acres for a possible nuclear power plant. One of many Gulf Power “Posted” signs that line the roads in the area of the potential plant. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Funeral Arrangements Announced For Northview’s Tommy Weaver
March 8, 2012
Funeral arrangements have been announced for Northview High School coach and teacher Tommy Weaver.
Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Petty Eastside Chapel in Atmore. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 1:00 at Petty Eastside Chapel in Atmore.
A graveside service will follow at Old Town Cemetery near Evergreen, Ala.
Beloved Northview Teacher, Coach Tommy Weaver Passes Away
March 8, 2012
The Northview Chiefs and the North Escambia community are in mourning today after the passing of beloved teacher and coach Tommy Weaver.
Weaver passed away Wednesday at a Pensacola hospital. He was 61.
He is survived by his wife, Northview Principal Gayle Weaver, son Toby and daughter Tara Smith.
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon.
Tommy Weaver had taught for eight years. A graduate of the University of West Alabama, he was Northview’s DCT coordinator and taught horticulture. He dedicated countless hours to baseball, football, the Quarterback Club, FFA and the FFA Alumuni. He was also a Senior Class sponsor.
Weaver was the driving force in the organization of Northview’s first ever Homecoming Parade.
Wednesday night, word of his passing quickly spread on Facebook, with current and former students sharing memories of a happy man, always helpful and supportive of the Northview Chief family.
Over 350 quickly “liked” a Facebook page created in his memory (https://www.facebook.com/CoachTommyWeaver), many sharing how Weaver touched their lives.
Superintendent Reacts To Tommy Weaver’s Passing; Grief Counselors At NHS Today
March 8, 2012
As Northview High School mourns the passing of teacher and coach Tommy Weaver, grief counselors will be on campus today.
“We will make the grief counselors available to anyone that needs them,” Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas sad Wednesday night.
“It’s a sad day for Northview. Tommy Weaver was a big part of Northview,” Thomas said. “He will be very missed. The School District offers its condolences to Northview, Gayle Weaver and family.”
Sonya Luker Pleads In Cancer Scam Case, Faces Up To 5 Years In Prison
March 8, 2012
Sonja Luker entered a no contest plea Wednesday to a fraud charge for faking a cancer diagnosis for financial gain.
Luker pleaded no contest to a felony fraud charge; a previous grand theft charge against her was dropped in May 2011. She faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced on May 10, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Luker will remain free from jail on bond.
Charges were dropped against her husband, Gerald “Chris” Luker after he made restitution to each identifiable victim and made a donation to the American Cancer Society.
“The evidence indicated that he believed that his wife had cancer,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said last month, “and that he was not criminally involved.”
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Sheriff’s investigators found that about $14,000 was used in 2009 to avoid foreclosure on their home in the 4700 block of Pine Circle Drive and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle, according to an arrest report.
Chris Luker provided the funds to make restitution to those that donated to the “Sonja Luker Kickin Cancer Fund” and checks were mailed to victims in February. Victims that made donations by check received the full amount of the original donation.
By tracing bank deposits, prosecutors found $8,506.81 in donations that were made in cash by unknown donors to Sonja Luker. Chris Luker agreed to make an equal donation of $8,506.81 to the American Cancer Society “with the intent of the original donors to support the cure for cancer,” according to a letter that known victims received from the State Attorney’s Office.
Under the plea agreement, Chris Luker will be unable to claim a tax deduction for his donation to the American Cancer Society.
Pictured top: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Investigation Continues Into Wildfire That Closed I-10
March 8, 2012
The cause of two fires that closed the I-10 bridge over Escambia Bay remains under investigation.
Smoke from the wildfires prompted the complete closure of the bridge Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, snarling traffic across a large portion of Pensacola and even leading to backups on Quintette Road between Pace in Santa Rosa County and Molino in Escambia County.
“There were no prescribed fires or lightning strikes in the area at the time of the blaze, said Joe Zwierzchowski, spokesperson for the Florida Forest Service. “We are looking into this as a human caused fire.”
In the meantime, officials are discouraging outdoor burning.
“The Florida Forest Service is urging extreme caution in regard to outdoor burning and would ask that residents refrain from burning yard debris at this time. The fact that the area of I-10 at Avalon Blvd. received significant rain over this past weekend and three days later a wildfire erupts, shows how fire prone our ecosystem is and quickly a small fire can turn into a large fire,” Zwierzchowski added.
Computers Stolen From Byrneville Elementary
March 8, 2012
Computers valued at over $3,000 were stolen during an overnight burglary at Byrneville Elementary School.
School officials discovered Wednesday morning that three Apple MacBooks were missing from three different locations around campus. The computers were reportedly taken sometime between 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and early Wednesday.
One computer was stolen from the main building of the charter school, while two others were taken from two different portable classroom buildings on the campus. There were no signs of forced entry into any of the three buildings, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Sheriff’s investigators are working to develop potential suspects in the case.
The person or persons responsible for incident could face felony charges of burglary and grand theft.
Anyone who has information regarding the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP (7867).
Pictured top: Byrneville Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Senate Considers High School Sports Recruiting Bill
March 8, 2012
A measure that would limit the power of the Florida High School Athletics Association in some transfer cases is set to pass the Senate after begin subbed in for a more sweeping measure in the upper chamber.
Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, had sponsored a measure that would allow private schools to form a separate athletics association if they wanted to, but instead opted Wednesday for a House version aimed at focusing punishments for high-school “recruiting” on coaches and schools instead of students.
While the House version is far milder than the bill Wise swapped out, it has still had an up-and-down path in the Legislature; it was part of a exchange in the House Education Committee over procedure earlier in the year. A final Senate vote could come as soon as Thursday.
By The News Service of Florida