Senate Passes Restore Act Bill: Bondi Seeks $5.48 Billion From BP
April 24, 2013
A Senate committee Tuesday approved setting up a non-profit organization to oversee money that might be recovered in the case. But the plan drew skepticism from northwest Florida officials, who are concerned it could infringe on money that counties are supposed to control under the federal Restore Act.
The plan, which the Senate Appropriations Committee approved as an amendment to an economic-development bill would create the non-profit Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., within the state Department of Economic Opportunity. The organization would make awards for projects and programs in Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Wakulla counties.
The plan, backed by Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, comes after a highly publicized case in Okaloosa County about the misuse of some Deepwater Horizon-related money. But officials from some of the counties expressed repeated concerns Tuesday to the committee about the new non-profit organization.
Wakulla County Commissioner Ralph Thomas said, for example, they are concerned that federal Restore Act money could be diverted to the state or to Triumph Gulf Coast. But lawmakers approved additional bill language that they said should alleviate those concerns.
“This is the double-dog guarantee,” Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said of an amendment designed to resolve the questions.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Florida is seeking $5.48 billion for lost revenue – past and future – from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Bondi, who has filed a federal lawsuit against BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP America Production Co., and Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., made a settlement offer for the same amount three months ago but she said on Tuesday that the proposal has been ignored.
The lawsuit, filed Saturday in the Northern District of Florida, in Panama City, on the three year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, seeks to recoup actual and potential lost revenue from the spill that impacted: lost sales and use taxes; corporate taxes; documentary stamp taxes; cigarette surcharges; cigarette excise taxes; beer, wine, and liquor taxes; fuel taxes; rental car surcharges; and utility taxes.
A majority of the state’s claim is for expected economic losses.
A spokesman for BP declined to comment on the suit or Bondi’s settlement offer.
Molino Park Raises $1,028 With Math-A-Thon For St. Jude
April 24, 2013
About 40 first and fourth grade students at Molino Park Elementary School recently took part in the St. Jude Math-A-Thon.
Students were asked to complete a workbook full of math problems and collect pledges from sponsors. The school worked to make sure that every student that completed a workbook had a sponsor — including some faculty and staff teaming up to sponsor some students.
The event raised a total of $$1028.91 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“The students learned more than math problems,” said Molino Park first grade teacher Angie Bodiford. “They learned a valuable lesson of giving.”
This was the first year Molino Park had participated in the fund raiser.
Pictured: Molino Park first grade student Matthew Dix works on Math-A-Thon problems. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bill That Bans Permanent Alimony Heads To Scott’s Desk
April 24, 2013
The debate over a bill that bans permanent alimony isn’t over — it’s just shifting, with the bill now headed to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott.
The measure (SB 718) has passed in the House and Senate and went to the governor on Tuesday, with thousands of Floridians urging Scott to sign or veto it.
The bill also limits alimony payments based on income and the length of marriage.
The sponsors, Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, called on Scott to sign it quickly.
“He’s never indicated he’s had a concern about it,” Workman said at a press conference Tuesday. “So this isn’t about a concern. This is about encouraging him to do it right away. Let’s get this law on the books as soon as possible.”
“It’s going to be good for families to have that consistency, where they’re not going to be litigating for years and years and years to the point that nobody has any money except for the attorneys,” Stargel said.
As the measure marched to passage, lawmakers heard painful tales of ex-spouses who have suffered financially due to either too much alimony or not enough. Workman brandished a binder he said was full of such horror stories supporting the measure.
Opponents – including the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar – say the bill is unfair to those who have been out of the workforce for years to raise children, predominantly women.
“Last year there were billboards up in Tallahassee that said ‘Don’t Get Divorced in Florida,’” said Carin Porras, chair of the Family Law Section. “If this legislation is signed, they’ll all be flocking here for divorces.”
Scott’s poll numbers have been underwater with women. According to survey results released last month by Quinnipiac University, 32 percent of women approved of his job performance and 51 percent disapproved, with 17 percent saying they were unsure.
Workman insisted his bill is family-friendly.
“If he needs the women’s vote, this is not the bill to veto,” Workman said of Scott.
Porras said one aspect of the bill that troubled her was the addition of a provision giving equal time with children to both parents. Currently the law requires that if the parents can’t agree, the judge will decide what is in the best interests of the child after considering a number of factors.
“So this (bill) appears to be saying it’s really not about what’s in the best interests of the child,” Porras said. “It’s presuming all children are the same. It’s a cookie-cutter approach.”
Scott said Tuesday he’s still reviewing the bill, noting that Saturday had been his 41st wedding anniversary.
“I like being married,” he said.
Scott has seven days to decide on the bill.
by The News Service of Florida
District Baseball Roundup: Wins For Northview, Tate; Loss For WFHS
April 24, 2013
Here’s a look at district baseball playoff scores from across the area Tuesday:
In District 2-1A tournament action at Baker, the Northview Chiefs defeated Freeport 4-2, and Bonifay downed Baker 4-0. No 1. seed Bonifay will face No 1. Northview Thursday for the district championship.
In District 1-6A play at Tate, the Tate Aggies beat Pine Forest 4-2, and Pace downed Washington 6-5 in eight innings. Pace will play Navarre at 4 p.m. today, and Tate will play Escambia at 7 p.m. in the District 1-6A semifinals.
And in District 1-5A, No. 2 seed West Florida fell to Gulf Breeze 8-4, and Rutherford slammed Arnold 10-0. No. 1 seed Rutherford will play No. 3 Gulf Breeze on Thursday at Arnold.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Billy G. Ward Courthouse Receives ‘Community Pride’ Award
April 24, 2013
The Century Chamber of Commerce’s Community Pride Award for April has been presented to the county’s Billy G. Ward Courthouse and Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office at 7500 North Century Boulevard. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Generals Down The Pensacola Blue Wahoos 2-1 In 13 Innings
April 24, 2013
Blue Wahoos outfielder Ryan LaMarre homered on the third pitch of the game to give the Blue Wahoos their only run of the game in a 2-1 loss in 13 innings at the Ballpark in Jackson on Tuesday night. The home run was LaMarre’s first of the season.
After that, the Blue Wahoos never got another runner past second base in the game. Generals starter Chance Ruffin surrendered only four hits and the one run over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two, but didn’t get a decision.
The Generals tied the game in the fifth inning, cashing in on a leadoff triple from Jack Marder. He scored on a groundout to second base by Gabriel Noriega to even the game at 1-1. That was the only run Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe would allow in his seven innings of work.
Pensacola played some great defense as the Wahoos and Generals traded zeros until the 13th inning. Steve Selsky prevented the game winning run from scoring in the 10th inning with a strike to catcher Tucker Barnhart from right field to nail Brandon Bantz at the plate for the second out of the frame. Brantz tried to jar the ball loose from Barnhart but the Wahoos backstop held on to keep the game tied.
Jackson finally broke through with a two-out double to left-center field by Abraham Almonte to score the winning run from third in the bottom of the 13th to end the game against reliever Josh Ravin. Ravin (L, 0-1) was tagged with the loss allowing the run after recording two outs in his only inning of work. Nick Hill (W, 1-1) pitched two perfect innings in relief to earn the win.
Both bullpens pitched well. Shaun Ellis, Lee Hyde and Drew Hayes all combined to work five scoreless innings for Pensacola. Jonathan Arias, Tyler Burgoon and Hill allowed just one hit over six shutout innings in relief for Jackson.
The two teams wrap up the series on Wednesday. RHP Chad Rogers (1-0, 2.04) will start for Pensacola against LHP James Gilheeney (2-0, 1.10) for Jackson. First pitch is set for 11:05 a.m. from the Ballpark in Jackson.
story by Kevin Burke
Alabama Habitat For Humanity To Hold Orientation Sessions
April 24, 2013
The Escambia County (Ala.) Habitat for Humanity is hold orientation sessions for Alabama residents nterested in becoming a homeowners through the group.
Interested person must attend an orientation session in order to receive an application. Orientation sessions are scheduled for:
- Monday, April 29, 3 p.m. Flomaton Public Library (436 Houston St) Flomaton
- Monday, April 29, 5 p.m. Flomaton Elementary School (1634 Poplar St.) Flomaton
- Tuesday, April 30, 2 Habitat Office (in Habitat ReStore. 1606 Douglas Ave.) Brewton
- Tuesday, April 30, 6 p.m. First United Methodist Church (820 Belleville Ave.) Brewton
- Monday, May 6, 3:30 Grace Fellowship Church (1412 East Nashville Ave.) Atmore
- Monday, May 6, 6 p.m. First United Methodist Church (311 S. Pensacola Ave.) Atmore
To qualify for the Habitat program a person must:
- Have been living in substandard housing in Escambia County, Alabama, for at least one year. Substandard housing can be defined as structurally unsound, plumbing or electrical problems, unsafe environment or temporary (i.e. Section 8 or Housing Authority), overcrowding, renting, living with family member.
- Have a stable verifiable income of approximately $13,000 – $23,000 per year. (Income limits vary due to family size) Documentation verifying income must accompany an application.
- Be willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity in building your home and the homes of others. Each homeowner family is required to invest 450 “sweat equity” hours into the construction of their home and other Habitat homes.
- Be willing to accept responsibility for repaying Habitat what it costs to build/renovate the home. Habitat for Humanity offers a 20 year no-interest mortgage.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County (Ala.) Habitat for Humanity office by phone or e-mail: 251-867-0095; habitat@escambiahfh.org
Panhandle Developer Gets Six Months In Presidential Campaign Finance Case
April 24, 2013
Panhandle developer Jay Odom was sentenced Tuesday to six months in federal prison after pleading guilty in February to illegally funneling campaign contributions through employees and family members, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Odom, who was a major Republican donor, reimbursed people $23,000 for contributions they made in 2007 to the campaign of former presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
He was convicted of one count of causing a presidential campaign committee to make a false statement to the Federal Elections Commission. Along with the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge Lacey A. Collier ordered Odom to pay a $46,000 fine.
Odom, 56, of Destin, also played a key role in an airplane-hanger controversy that led to the exodus of former House Speaker Ray Sansom from the Legislature in 2009.
House, Senate Ready To Take Up Dueling Health Plans
April 24, 2013
The House and Senate are ready to take up their dueling alternatives to expanding Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act.
But a third possibility — call it “Beancare” — is all but dead.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan by Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, to tap into billions of dollars in federal money to offer private health-insurance to low-income Floridians. The plan (SB 1816), which appears to have broad support in the Senate and the backing of Gov. Rick Scott, is now ready to go to the Senate floor.
But while the committee also approved a far-smaller health coverage proposal by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, the bill (SB 1844) likely won’t be heard again.
Senate Rules Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, said he doesn’t see a need for the full Senate to take up the Bean proposal because it is similar to a House bill that is expected to go to the House floor later this week. That bill (HB 7169) would reject accepting federal money and would offer $2,000 state subsidies to help poor people get health coverage.
Bean, whose proposal would reject federal money and offer subsidies of $10 a month, had asked the Appropriations Committee to approve his bill to keep options open.
“This is an alternative, because who knows where we’re going to go with expansion of health care for individuals?” he asked.
Similar questions are being asked throughout the Capitol as lawmakers speed toward the May 3 end of the legislative session. House and Senate Republican leaders have rejected the idea of a Medicaid expansion that was part of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
But they have taken dramatically different positions as they seek to come up with an alternative to the Medicaid expansion. While the Senate is willing to use federal funds to offer private health insurance to roughly 1 million Floridians, House Republicans have repeatedly said they do not think the state should rely on money from Washington.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said Tuesday it is “OK that we’re in different places right now,” and he hopes the House and Senate can reach an agreement by the end of the legislative session.
“But if we’re not, that doesn’t mean that the world comes to an end; it just means that we’re going to have to continue to talk in the off-season and see if we can’t find some middle ground later,” Weatherford said.
Scott drew national headlines in February when he announced support for expanding Medicaid. But with that idea going nowhere in the Legislature, he reiterated his support Tuesday for the Negron alternative.
As a sign of how senators have lined up behind the Negron bill, there was almost no discussion before the Appropriations Committee approved it. Also, a wide range of interest groups — including AARP, the Service Employees International Union, the Florida Hospital Association and the Florida Association of Health Plans — simply signaled their support from the audience, instead of testifying on the bill.
by The News Service of Florida
Escambia Man Gets Life For Assaulting Two Children
April 24, 2013
An Escambia County man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for the sexual assault of two children.
Brandon Wilder was sentenced by Circuit Judge Ross Goodman after being convicted on March 6 of charges related to sexual activity with two separate children.
Wilder was convicted of two counts of sexual battery on a victim less that 12 years old and one count of lewd and lascivious battery on a victim 12 years old or older but under 16.
The charges stemmed from activity between 2004 and 2008, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.