FDLE Investigating Cyber-Attack Against Florida’s School Testing
March 10, 2015
State officials announced Monday they were investigating a cyber-attack against Florida’s online-testing program for public schools, while the House Education Committee approved its version of legislation meant to scale back the amount of time students spend on exams.
The testing problems prompted several districts, Escambia County included, to delay testing for several days.
In a joint statement, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Education said the FDLE had launched an investigation into the attacks on the testing platform operated by American Institutes for Research, a non-profit group that signed a six-year, $220 million deal to design the tests.
The news came after the rollout for the new Florida Standards Assessment was plagued by slow logins and other technical glitches.
In announcing the investigation Monday, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said that “some of the delays in testing late last week” were caused by the attack — but she also noted that concerns about an attack did not emerge until Thursday morning, well after the highest-profile problems for the system.
“Our highest priority is to make sure students can complete their tests, and we will continue to work with AIR to ensure their system operates effectively,” Stewart said. “It is important to point out that AIR has reported that while access to the test has been delayed because of the cyber-attacks, no student data has been compromised.”
Still, the attack added another dimension to calls for the state to rethink its move to the Florida Standards Assessment, particularly when it comes to using the results on state-issued report cards for schools. Some educators, parents and lawmakers have urged the state to suspend the school-grading system and disregard or de-emphasize the use of the test when it comes to decisions about teacher contracts and student promotion for at least couple of years.
“It doesn’t serve anybody’s purpose to do this,” Florida Education Association President Andy Ford said of the attack. “If it’s true, it’s the wrong approach. And it just shows that not only weren’t you ready, but you’re vulnerable to the outside world, and the DOE really needs to take a look at what they’ve done and what they’ve built and try to make sure that in the future it can’t be attacked.”
Meanwhile, the House Education Committee unanimously approved a measure (PCB EDC 15-04) meant to ease the testing burden on students, teachers and schools.
The proposal would eliminate an 11th-grade language arts test that Gov. Rick Scott has suspended. It would also bar final exams in classes for which the state or a local school district has end-of-course tests, and make a college-readiness test given to some students optional.
The measure would reduce how much of a teacher’s evaluation is tied to student performance, from 50 percent to a third. And it would require the Department of Education to publish a testing calendar that districts can use, along with their own schedule, to inform parents about when students will be tested.
It would also provide local districts more flexibility when it comes to testing.
The bipartisan approval for the bill came in contrast to a vote last week in the Senate PreK-12 Education Committee, which passed a testing measure on a party-line vote.
“I think this product that we have here in the House is better than what’s moving through the Senate,” said Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee.
Ford also indicated that his group preferred the House legislation, even if problems remain.
“But we’re still concerned about the total amount of time that testing consumes in a school year,” Ford said. “We are also concerned, as parents and students are, about the rocky implementation that took place last week.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Man Gets 25 Years For Shooting Domino’s Driver
March 10, 2015
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to prison for shooting a pizza delivery driver.
David Trevor Burgess, 20, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Edward P. Nickinson, III, to a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years instate prison. Burgess will be required to serve the sentence day for day with no gain time. He previously pleaded guilty on November 19 to aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and shooting within a building.
The charges stem from a shooting that occurred on June 18, 2014, when Burgess shot a Domino’s delivery man. Burgess had been smoking marijuana and took what he believed to be acid, a hallucinogenic. Burgess’ roommate ordered a pizza thinking it would help him. When the delivery man arrived and the roommate went out to pay, Burgess shot through the front door multiple times with his 9mm pistol. The delivery man was stuck one time in his back, puncturing his lung. The delivery man was able to drive away and call 911 for medical assistance.
Vehicle Fire Being Investigated As Possible Arson
March 10, 2015
A suspicious vehicle fire Monday night near Cantonment is under investigation as a possible case of arson. The vehicle was discovered fully involved in a wooded area about 75 feet off the 200 block of Jacks Branch Road. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Free Computer Classes Begin Thursday At Century Branch Library
March 10, 2015
Two free computer classes are scheduled for Mrach at the Century Branch Library:
Word 2010 Basics – Thursday, March 12 – 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This class is designed for participants to create a document by learning the basics of Word 2010. Instruction will cover ribbons; spelling and grammar check; saving work and printing a document.
Word 2010: Beyond Basics – Thursday, March 26 – 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This workshop will cover creating tables and newsletters along with inserting WordArt, pictures and clip art.
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library, 7991 North Century Boulevard, at (850) 256-6217.
US Supreme Court To Weigh Death Case From 1998 Nine Mile Popeye’s Murder
March 10, 2015
In a case stemming from the murder of an Escambia fast-food restaurant manager, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to take up constitutional questions dealing with juries in Florida death-penalty cases.
In a two-sentence order announcing it would hear an appeal by Death Row inmate Timothy Hurst, the Supreme Court did not spell out the details of issues it will consider.
Hurst was convicted in the May 1998 murder of Cynthia Lee Harrison, a Nine Mile Road Popeye’s Fried Chicken manager who was found in a restaurant freezer bound, gagged and stabbed, according to a brief filed by the Attorney General’s Office. Hurst, now 36, was an employee of the restaurant.
But Hurst’s appeal focused heavily on Florida’s lack of a requirement that juries be unanimous in recommending imposition of the death penalty. The appeal also focused on Florida not requiring juries to be unanimous in finding what are known as “aggravators” that justify death sentences. Another issue in the appeal was whether juries should have a role in determining whether capital-case defendants are intellectually disabled.
In death-penalty cases, juries make sentencing recommendations to judges, who ultimately decide whether defendants should be sent to Death Row. The appeal said Florida’s lack of a requirement for unanimity in jury recommendations and in finding aggravators is unusual.
“In the death penalty arena, while a clear majority of states have approved a spectrum of death penalty schemes, Florida remains unique among them in not requiring unanimity of either the finding or recommendation of death or of the aggravating factors that justified that verdict,” said a petition filed in December by Hurst’s attorney. “It is a position the Florida Supreme Court has recognized, and it is one that court feels ill at ease about.”
The U.S. Supreme Court’s order Monday cited a 2002 capital-sentencing decision known as Ring v. Arizona, which is a foundation of Hurst’s appeal. Also, it said the question in Hurst’s case is whether “Florida’s death sentencing scheme violates the Sixth Amendment or the Eighth Amendment” of the U.S. Constitution.
Hurst’s attorney, David A. Davis, could not be reached for comment Monday. Briefs in the case were posted on the website of SCOTUSblog, which closely tracks U.S. Supreme Court proceedings.
In 2000, a jury voted 11-1 to recommend the death sentence for Hurst, and a circuit judge agreed with the recommendation. After an appeal, the case was later sent back to circuit court for a new sentencing proceeding.
In that proceeding, the defense argued that Hurst was intellectually disabled, a position that the state disputed. A jury voted 7-5 to recommend the death penalty for Hurst, and Circuit Judge Linda Nobles sentenced him to death. A divided Florida Supreme Court rejected an appeal last year.
Monday’s order came a day before the Senate Criminal Justice Committee considers a bill that would address key issues in the Hurst case. The bill, filed by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, would require juries to be unanimous before recommending the death penalty and also would require unanimity in determining whether aggravating circumstances justify death sentences.
But in the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, Hurst’s attorney wrote that the Florida Supreme Court has asked the Legislature to resolve such issues in the past, but lawmakers had refused.
Northview Remains Undefeated With Nine-Inning Win Over Central
March 10, 2015
It was a battle of the undefeateds Monday in Santa Rosa County, and when the dust cleared after nine innings, the Northview Chiefs added another win to their so-far perfect season. Northview remains undefeated after a 5-4 win over Central (3-1) The Chiefs will travel to Freeport Friday for a district game. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Two Major Business Groups Back Seminole Gambling Compact
March 10, 2015
In a new television ad, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association — two of the Capitol’s most-influential business lobbies — are urging an extension of a state gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The ad comes as a key part of the agreement, allowing games such as blackjack at Seminole casinos, is scheduled to expire this summer. Under the existing agreement, known as a compact, the tribe agreed to pay the state a minimum of $1 billion over five years.
The Chamber of Commerce and the Restaurant and Lodging Association have fought gambling-expansion proposals, such as allowing resort casinos in South Florida. The television ad draws a line between extending the Seminole compact and allowing expanded gambling at other facilities
“The Seminole compact has been good for Florida and the economy, while controlling the expansion of gaming, and that’s good for everybody,” Mark Wilson, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce, says in the ad.
House Majority Leader Dana Young, R-Tampa, released a plan last week that would allow two Las Vegas-style casinos in South Florida and also allow slot machines at two additional greyhound tracks.
The ads come at a time when the Poarch Creek Indians are also seeking talks with Gov. Rick Scott over gaming compact, centered around one acre of land on Nokomis Road in North Escambia. The Poarch Creeks own and operate the Wind Creek casinos in Atmore and the Montgomery area.
by The News Service of Florida and NorthEscambia.com
Storm Surcharge Disappearing From Your Homeowner’s Insurance
March 10, 2015
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation on Monday formally approved an early end for a Citizens Property Insurance Corp. surcharge imposed on most homeowners’ policies because of damages from the last of the 2005 hurricanes. The state office issued an order for the 1 percent charge to end July 1, two years earlier than previously slated.
“Citizens reports it expects to enter the 2015 hurricane season with more than $4 billion in reinsurance coverage and about $7.5 billion in surplus available to pay future claims — the highest in its history,” Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said in a prepared statement. “That’s important, because Citizens can assess surcharges on all property insurance policies in Florida to cover any shortfalls that may occur in future hurricanes. A higher surplus, too, means that more claims can be paid from cash rather than relying as heavily on assessments.”
The storm assessment has been imposed on insurance policyholders — whether they were Citizens customers or not — since 2007. Citizens imposed the storm assessment to recoup $887 million of the roughly $1.7 billion deficit created by Hurricane Wilma, which hit South Florida in October 2005. The state picked up $623 million of the costs from Wilma, while the remainder was covered by additional assessments imposed on Citizens policyholders.
In September, the state-backed insurer’s Board of Governors unanimously voted to support the early end, noting that the balance of the remaining debt on the bonds issued for the 2005 storm will be paid off this year.
Mildred Elois Fore Newby
March 10, 2015
Mrs. Mildred Elois Fore Newby age 86 of Highway 31 in Brewton, passed away Thursday evening March 5, 2015, at a Jay health care facility after a brief illness. Mrs. Newby was a native of Fannie, AL, and a life-long resident of the Brewton area. She was owner/operator of Newby’s Pawn & Gun and was a member of the Catawba Springs Baptist Church.
She is survived by three daughters, Becky (Ken) Bethea of Brewton, Joyce (Quinn) Miller of Flomaton, Judy (Keith) Simms of Brewton; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Roy Newby.
Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Elois Fore Newby were hedl Sunday March 8, 2015 at Craver’s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dustin Stockstill officiating. Interment followed in Union Cemetery in Brewton.
Pallbearers were George Jackson III, Chris Saxon, Chad Saxon, Richie Brantley, Darryl Fore and Cain Ledbetter.
More Info Released In Case Of Deputies Arrested For Sexual Assault
March 9, 2015
This story has been updated. Click here.
UPDATE: At a Monday morning press conference, Sheriff David Morgan said the two deputies charged in this case — Mark Gene Smith and Walter Michael Thomas, Jr. — are now on unpaid leave.
He acknowledged that suspect Leah Manning was formerly employed by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as a nurse. Authorities are currently search through more than 100,o00 images and videos on the Mannings’ computer for any possible evidence.
As of Monday morning, the Mannings are believed to have left Florida and remain at large.
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Two Escambia County deputies have been arrested for sexual offenses with subjects under the age 18, and authorities are seeking two additional suspects.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy Mark Gene Smith was arrested and charged with felony sexual assault and misdemeanor battery. Deputy Walter Michael Thomas, Jr., was arrested and charged with felony sexual assault. Both are being held without bond and have been placed on administrative leave from the ECSO.
Smith was hired March 14, 2005, and had served on patrol since October 7, 2005. Thomas was hired April 6, 2009, and had served on patrol since September 2, 2009.
Investigators are also looking for Douglas Albert Manning, 47, and Leah Giannotti Manning, 40, (pictured top) on outstanding warrants for sexual battery and child neglect. They were last seen in the area of 2000 Berg Street and are known to drive a 2013 Red Chevrolet Camaro with Florida tag M596YZ.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911, (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The investigation is being conducted in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing and no further details will be released at this time. Sheriff David Morgan plans to release more information on the case during a press conference on Monday.
Pictured: Authorities are searching for Douglas Albert Manning and Leah Giannotti Manning. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.