Scott: Consider More Early Voting, Shorten Ballot
December 20, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott said in media interviews Wednesday that the state must consider adding early voting days and shortening the ballot to avoid the long lines that plagued elections in some counties this year.
Scott also suggested in interviews on CNN and WNDB radio in Daytona Beach that local supervisors of elections should have more flexibility on polling locations in order to allow for more voting machines where they’re needed.
But the most surprising thing the Republican governor suggested may be that he and GOP legislators may have erred in reducing the number of early voting days from 14 to 8 for the 2012 elections.
“We’ve got to go back and look at the number of days of early voting we have,” Scott said on CNN’s Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien.
“People are frustrated in our state,” Scott said. “We’ve got to restore confidence in our elections.”
Scott signed the law in 2011 that reduced the number of voting days, though when asked on CNN whether that meant he bore some of the blame, Scott replied that he simply followed the law.
“I comply with the law,” Scott said. “But we do need change.”
Scott said he wanted a bipartisan group to look at the number of early voting days, but wasn’t specific on CNN or in the later radio interview about how many more days he thinks might be needed.
And in the interview on WNDB radio he suggested that it wasn’t a given that more days are needed – saying only that investigation is needed to see if that’s the case.
“We need to look at early voting days to see if we need to add more days,” Scott said. He also acknowledged the number of critics who have suggested that possible solution. “We need to listen to the citizens of the state,” Scott said. “They come up with the best ideas.”
Scott also said the long ballot was part of the problem. He pointed specifically to the 12-page Miami-Dade ballot, which was loaded down with local issues in addition to statewide races, legislative and judicial races and 11 constitutional amendment questions.
“Twelve pages… this took some people 40 minutes to get through,” Scott said. “It was just too long.”
Scott’s interviews came as former Gov. Charlie Crist – who as a GOP governor in 2008 expanded early voting times by executive order, angering his fellow Republicans – told the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that lawmakers should err on the side of allowing as many people as possible to vote. Crist has since become a Democrat, and is seen as a possible challenger to Scott in 2014. The Judiciary Committee held a hearing Wednesday on “the state of the right to vote.”
Crist suggested Florida should return to 14 days of early voting instead of 8 and also suggested that national standards on early in-person voting might be worth studying.
Overall, Crist said generally making it easier to vote, rather than harder, is the way to go.
“America wins and democracy thrives when more people vote,” Crist said. In considering any changes to voting laws, Crist suggested that policymakers should “just be respectful to the voters.
“Allow them to exercise this wonderful opportunity and privilege that we have in America to choose our leaders,” Crist said.
Also speaking to that panel, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida alleged that the 2011 law that reduced early voting and made other changes that some said made it harder to cast a ballot was done intentionally to reduce turnout among Democrats – a charge backers of the plan have stridently rejected.
The law, Nelson said, was “clearly designed to disenfranchise likely Democratic voters.”
Backers of the 2011 law said they were targeting fraud in tightening the voter identification rules and that the effort to reduce early voting days was aimed at cutting costs.
By The News Service of Florida
Local Extension Offices Collect Half Ton Of Peanut Butter For Needy
December 20, 2012
County Extension Offices in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties collected nearly a half ton of peanut butter during a recent “Take a bite out of Hunger” food drive.
The Escambia County Extension Office collected 336 jars of peanut butter weighing in at 430 pounds, and the Santa Rosa County County Extension Office collected 378 jars weighing 490.6 pounds.
During the peanut butter food drive campaign, Extension Office is 15 Northwest Florida counties collected a total of 2,039 jars of peanut butter weighting 2,843 pounds. In addition, the the Florida Peanut Producers Association donated a 1,400 jar pallet of peanut butter.
The peanut butter will be donated to local food pantries.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Killed In I-110 Crash
December 19, 2012
A motorcyclist died Tuesday night when he struck a barrier wall on I-110 and was ejected into the parking lot of the Pensacola Bay Center below.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 27-year old David Wayne Bryant, Jr., of Pensacola, was southbound at 11:35 p.m. on I-110 at a high rate of speed. He failed to negotiate a curve, struck a barrier wall and was ejected onto the parking lot below. Bryant was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Sunny Today, Rain For Thursday
December 19, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
- Christmas Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Smoldering Fire At Cotton Gin Keeps Firefighters Busy For Hours
December 19, 2012
Fire departments from across the area responded to the West Florida Gin on Meadows Road in Davisville. It took firefighters hours to control the smoldering cotton seed and fiber fire after the initial report of a blaze about 2:10 p.m.
There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Century and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department responded to the fire.
Pictured: Firefighters remained on scene hours after a blaze was reported Tuesday afternoon at the West Florida Gin on Meadows Road in Davisville. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
So Far, New Gun Proposals Are Few In Florida
December 19, 2012
The tragic mass killing at a Connecticut school last week has produced a stream of ideas on gun control and school safety at the national level — but reaction in Florida has been muted, at least in the form of concrete legislation.
Gov. Rick Scott has called for school districts to review their safety procedures after the shooting, which left 20 students and six adults dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in addition to the shooter and his mother, who was killed at her home.
But no gun legislation has been introduced in either the Florida House or the Senate since the tragedy. Legislative Republicans, who have traditionally worked to expand gun rights, have largely steered clear of the issue. A spokeswoman for Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, responded vaguely to questions about whether the Senate was planning a legislative response.
“As a former school superintendent, Senator Gaetz supports Governor Scott’s call for Florida’s school districts to review emergency procedures and determine if there are ways to improve security in Florida schools and to communicate these actions with Florida’s families,” spokeswoman Katie Betta wrote in an email.
Democrats have also seemed hesitant, mindful that the GOP-dominated Legislature is unlikely to pass sweeping new laws to control firearms.
“You have to look at the recent history of the Legislature,” said Rep. Mark Pafford, a West Palm Beach Democrat who heads up his caucus’ policy efforts. “The Legislature is very, very pro-gun lobby.”
Some lawmakers are still talking about the possibility of firearms legislation. A spokesman for House Democrats said members were discussing how to respond to the shooting.
And Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said his office was researching potential changes, including whether to transfer responsibility for background checks for concealed weapons permits from the Department of Agriculture to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Ideas for making it easier to check an applicant’s mental health history are also under consideration, Smith said.
“It’s not just the guns,” Smith said. “It’s the guns in the hands of people with mental illness.”
One Republican who spoke out on the issue of gun control Monday wound up trying to walk back statements he made seeming to suggest that guns should be allowed on school property.
“In our zealousness to protect people from harm we’ve created all these gun-free zones and what we’ve inadvertently done is we’ve made them a target,” House Judiciary Chairman Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said Monday, according to the Associated Press. “A helpless target is exactly what a deranged person is looking for where they cannot be stopped.”
Baxley is telling constituents that he wasn’t trying to float a legislative proposal, his office said Tuesday. He also issued a media statement attempting to blunt the remarks.
“Our focus should be on the victims and their loved ones,” Baxley said. “Out of respect for them, we should not politicize a national tragedy. There will be plenty of time for debate in the near future.”
Even some Democrats say the larger issues, such as whether to limit access to high-capacity ammunition clips that can hold dozens of rounds, could be better handled on the federal level, instead of taking a state-to-state approach that could make rules harder to enforce.
“You don’t want a mish-mash of gun laws … by which all you have to do is (buy) a tank of gas and you have a different law apply,” said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith.
Pafford said the state should at least take a look at the resources it devotes to mental health, where Florida ranks as one of the lowest-spending states in the nation.
“If it’s easier to actually fund mental health in this state, let’s do that,” he said.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Bill Dropped To Tie Bright Futures To Living, Working In Florida
December 19, 2012
A proposal to require Bright Futures scholarship recipients to return the money if they drop out or move to another state is being mothballed, its sponsor said in a statement Tuesday.
Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, filed the proposal (HB 35) last week.
The bill was “intended to make sure that Bright Futures has the longevity it needs to benefit the most students possible,” Smith said in a statement. “However, after thoughtful discussion with constituents, I feel this goal could be better achieved by different means and look forward to working diligently to find answers to the issues that need to be addressed concerning Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program.”
The popular scholarship program has seen its costs rise rapidly with more students using the assistance. Lawmakers have made changes in recent years to tighten academic requirements for the Bright Futures program.
By The News Service of Florida
Photos: Byrneville Christmas Play
December 19, 2012
Students in grades K5-2nd at Byrneville Elementary School presented their Christmas program “Granny McBee’s Christmas Eve” at Northview High School Tuesday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Submitted photos by Raja Atallah, click to enlarge.
Manna Hat Fetches Record $2,000
December 19, 2012
A new record was set during the seventh year of the Annual Manna Hat Auction by CatCountry 98.7. Last year the CatCountry 98.7 Manna Hat raised $1,676 but this year the Manna Hat auction collected $2,000. That will allow Manna to feed 66 local residents who need food.
John Cheney and his wife from Pensacola were the high bidders. He said, “as business owners, we felt like it was the right thing to do to help out with a very worthy
cause”.
Country artists like CMA Entertainer of the Year Blake Shelton and his wife, CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert, helped out by autographing the special hat that was put up for auction on the eBay this week.
Eric Church (CMA Album of the Year), a three time signer, said, “I’m honored help and be asked again”. One hundred percent of proceeds from the auction will be presented to Manna Food Pantries before Christmas.
Manna Food Pantries has seen a 60-percent increase in usage in the last two years. “Manna gives people Hope,” said Brent Lane from Cat Country 98.7.
Manna is a private, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to alleviating hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties of northwest Florida. Manna is nonsectarian, community focused, volunteer supported and committed to the philosophy, “waste not, want not”. Manna believes that every person has a right to live free from hunger and that every person is to be treated with respect and dignity.
Manna Food Pantries began serving the hungry on January 3, 1983, then known as Manna Food Bank. Since then Manna has served over half a million people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, from Century to Navarre.
CatCountry 98.7 is a family-owned radio station with a history of putting community service first. What started off as a way to do something fun, and do good for our community has really taken off.
“The artists all signed it enthusiastically,” said morning host Lane. Artists who signed the hat included Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer, Craig Morgan, Lee Brice, The Eli Young Band and Eric Church.
“CatCountry 98 7’s mission is to help our community in every way that we can. All the artists who were involved in this should be applauded for their contributions as well,” said Dave Huxeng, station owner.
Pictured: Brent Lane, DeDe Flounlacker (executive Director of Manna), Kim and John Cheney from Pensacola , presenting Manna a check for $2,000. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Teen Hit By Van
December 18, 2012
A Century teen was hit by a van as he tried to cross a busy street in Pensacola Monday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 18-year old Ryan Wade Qualls Stephens was standing in the driveway of a Whataburger restaurant at Fairfield Drive and Pace Boulevard when he tried to run across the street without using a crosswalk.
He was struck by a full size Chevrolet passenger van driven by 43-year old Thearthur Tyron Thomas of Pensacola.
Stephens was transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries. He was cited by the FHP for failing to cross in a crosswalk.