Abortion Waiting Period Back On Hold In Florida
July 3, 2015
In the latest move in a legal and political battle, a circuit judge has issued an order blocking a new law that requires women to wait 24 hours before having an abortion in Florida.
After a hearing by conference call on Thursday, Leon Circuit Judge Charles Dodson granted a motion by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights to vacate a stay that had allowed the 24-hour waiting period to remain in effect.
The new law (HB 633) was slated to go into effect on Wednesday, but its status went back and forth several times this week and is likely to continue to do so.
The law adds to the requirements for informed consent that physicians performing abortions must obtain. Under the law, the information must be provided in person to women at least 24 hours before the procedures are performed — requiring them to make two trips to abortion clinics.
As soon as Gov. Rick Scott signed the law last month, the advocacy groups filed to block it until they could challenge its constitutionality.
On Tuesday, Leon Chief Judge Charles Francis granted their request for a temporary injunction, placing the law on hold. But Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office filed an appeal within hours, triggering an automatic stay and putting the law back into effect. Ten minutes later, the advocacy groups moved to lift the stay.
For now, the law is not in effect.
“In the temporary injunction order, this court already found irreparable harm would occur if (HB 633) goes into effect,” Dodson wrote in his order.
The ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights contend that the law increases the threat to women’s privacy — especially low-income women, who must arrange for child care, time off and overnight travel — in seeking an abortion.
“We are grateful that the judge blocked this dangerous intrusion by politicians into the private, medical decisions of a woman, her family and her doctor,” Jennifer Lee of the Center for Reproductive Rights said in a statement.
The state’s position is that it has a vested interest in its residents’ well-being, and that the 24-hour wait will give women more time to reflect on their decisions.
“The Attorney General’s Office is appealing the temporary injunction and is reviewing the judge’s order vacating the automatic stay,” Kylie Mason, a spokeswoman for Bondi, wrote in an email.
The law includes exceptions to the waiting period for victims of rape, incest, domestic violence and human trafficking, but they must produce police reports, restraining orders, medical records or other documentation in order to qualify.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Andrew Lennon Moorer Sr.
July 3, 2015
Andrew Lennon Moorer Sr., of New Bern, NC, passed away peacefully in his home, Friday, June 26, 2015.
Andrew was born in McKinnonville, FL, to Clyde and Flossie Moorer. Andrew graduated from Ernest Ward High School in 1973 and shortly thereafter joined the Army where he remained until 1980. Andrew went to work for the government as a civil servant for the Naval Aviation Depot in Pensacola. Andrew and family relocated to Havelock, NC, in 1994 due to the closure of NADEP Pensacola, later making New Bern their home in 1996. Andrew retired in January 2015 as the H-1 Integrated Maintenance Concept Shop Supervisor, FRC East, Cherry Point, after a total of 38 years of dedicated service to the government.
Andrew is survived by his wife of 29 years Sylvia Moorer, his mother, Flossie Moorer of Walnut Hill, his daughters, Monique Spencer of Pensacola, Nicole (Turhan) Carroll of Dublin, OH, his son, Andrew Moorer II of New Bern, his grandchildren Ian Rockette and Lennon Carroll, his siblings William Moorer (Jeannette), Sammie Lee Moorer (Shirley), Roger Moorer, Barbara Robinson, all of Walnut Hill; Larry Moorer (Dawn) of Cantonment; Andrea Moorer (Christi) of Beaumont, TX; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Andrew was preceded in death by his father William C. Moorer, daughter Kisha Spellman, and brother-in-law Darwin Robinson.
Arrangements are being handled by Christian Memorial Funeral Home in Atmore where there will be a viewing on Thursday, July 2nd from 6-8 p.m. Andrew’s celebration of life will occur 1 p.m. Friday, July 3rd at New St. Paul Baptist Church in Walnut Hill where he will later be interred.
Congressional Members Ask Scott To Toss Some Standardized Test Results
July 2, 2015
Ten Florida members of Congress asked Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday not to allow the state’s new standardized test to be used for teacher evaluations, student promotion to the fourth grade or graduation, regardless of the results of an independent validation scheduled to be completed by September 1.
The letter, released by Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, was signed by eight other Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
“Even if the statutorily mandated independent evaluation due in September deems test questions valid, serious questions remain about whether the disruptive testing conditions rendered this test an unreliable tool for assessing student learning,” the letter says. “Children across the state suffered through blank screens, crashed servers, and repeated log outs. We cannot reasonably expect our children to perform well under these circumstances.”
The independent evaluation of the Florida Standards Assessments was approved by lawmakers as part of a broader testing bill (HB 7069) after the heavily-criticized rollout of the new exams. In addition to technical snafus, the testing platform was also struck by a cyber attack.
by The News Service of Florida
Century Sex Offender, Former Correctional Officer Back Behind Bars
July 2, 2015
A sex offender from Century is back behind bars for allegedly failing to comply with Florida’s registration laws.
Paul Edward Black, 48, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail where he was being held without bond for failure to report a residence change.
Black was sentenced to federal prison in August 2010 after being found guilty on one count of possession of child pornography. Following prison, he was remain under supervised release for eight years, participate in sexual offender treatment program and register as a sex offender.
In 2009, deputies seized a laptop computer, desktop computer and 56 CD’s from Black’s Century residence while he was at work as a correctional officer.. When sheriff’s investigators later interviewed Black , he admitted to searching the Internet for child pornography, according to federal court documents, and admitted to specific search terms that he used.
Afternoon Shower Pattern Continues
July 2, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Independence Day: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
New Law Makes More Vaccines Available At Florida Pharmacies
July 2, 2015
Floridians are now able to receive more vaccines at their local pharmacies under a law that took effect Wednesday.
Pharmacists were already able to administer vaccines that fight some viruses, like influenza and shingles, but the new measure (HB 279) added several others, including shots targeted at measles, mumps and rubella; tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (or whooping cough); and human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cancer.
The new law also allows pharmacy interns to be certified to give vaccines.
“The one way to ensure that more people receive needed vaccinations is to make it more convenient, and this legislation increases that access and will help keep all residents and visitors safe and healthy,” said Senate Health Policy Committee Chairman Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, in a statement calling attention to the new law.
by The News Service of Florida
Man Gets Federal Prison Time For Weapon Possession During Shooting
July 2, 2015
An Escambia County man is headed to federal prison on a weapons charge in connection with shooting last year at a nightclub.
Darius Devon Williams was sentenced to 14.5 years for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. His DNA was found on the weapon, according to prosecutors.
The shooting happened in the parking lot of Gene’s Lounge off West Navy Boulevard in late September 2014. The victim survived.
Williams still faces multiple state charges for the shooting.
Escambia County RESTORE Project Portal Now Open
July 2, 2015
The Escambia County RESTORE Project Application Portal is now open and can be accessed by visiting restore.myescambia.com.
The portal will be open for 90 days and will close on Wednesday, September 30, with individuals, businesses and organizations invited to submit projects for RESTORE funding via the portal during that time period.
No project proposals will be accepted after the portal’s closing date of September 30, 2015.
Submitted projects must:
- Meet at least one of the eligibility criteria outlined in the federal RESTORE Act (see eligible activities)
- Include a project budget
- Address the evaluation criteria which can be found at www.myescambia.com/restore
Several community workshops are scheduled for each Commission District in an effort to introduce the project portal, answer questions regarding application preparation and submission, and encourage collaboration. Citizens are also encouraged to bring their own projects and ask one-on-one questions. A current schedule of the workshops are listed below:
(District 3) – Monday, July 13, Central Office Complex (3363 West Park Place), 5:30 p.m.
(District 1) – Tuesday, July 21, Charity Chapel (5820 Montgomery Avenue), 5:30 p.m.
(District 5) – Monday, July 27, Langley Bell 4-H Center (3730 Stefani Road), 5:30 p.m.
(District 4) – Tuesday, August 11, Gull Point Community Center (7000 Spanish Trail Road), 5:30 p.m.
Once the application portal closes, project proposals will be evaluated by the technical review team consisting of subject matter experts, the RESTORE Act Advisory Committee and the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
During the review process, applicants may be contacted for more information. Once all projects have been ranked, a list of recommended projects will be posted on www.myescambia.com/restore. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments on the project list. The Board of County Commissioners has the final authority for approval of the project list before it is submitted to the U.S. Department of Treasury for federal level review.
For more information, contact Shelly Marshall, RESTORE coordinator for Escambia County, at (850) 595-5460, email restore@myescambia.com.
Special Session Over, But Spotlight On Florida Hospitals Continues
July 2, 2015
A panel formed by Gov. Rick Scott to examine the finances of hospitals and other parts of the health-care industry held its first meeting Wednesday since the end of two legislative sessions dominated by those issues, as Scott signaled he would continue pushing for changes.
The governor’s Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding met in Jacksonville to hear from local hospitals — and particularly UF Health Jacksonville — and to consider data on executive compensation and the quality of care around the state.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Scott made it clear that, despite the end of the special session last month that focused on resolving health-care funding, he wanted the panel to come up with future modifications.
“As we prepare for the next legislative session, it is imperative that the Commission continues to look at taxpayer funded hospitals to ensure there is a measurable return on investment on any money these institutions receive in the future,” Scott said. “This review will help guide our decisions when determining how to best move forward so all Floridians can know exactly how their tax dollars are being spent and the outcomes being received at each hospital.”
The Jacksonville meeting came about a month and a half after Scott wrote a letter to Russell Armistead, chief executive officer of UF Health Jacksonville, asking why the institution “appears to be more reliant on supplemental payments through the LIP program than any other hospital in Florida.”
The Low Income Pool, or LIP, is largely used to cover the expenses of uninsured, low-income Floridians who show up at hospitals needing treatment. A conflict between the federal government and the state over extending the program derailed the 2015 legislative session and forced lawmakers to return to Tallahassee in June to approve a state budget.
The federal government eventually extended the program but cut its funding from about $2.2 billion to about $1 billion. A mix of state and other federal funds was used to fill in the hole.
In his remarks to the commission, Armistead defended his hospital, saying that the state’s return on investment from the facility “may be the best in Florida.” He said UF Health Jacksonville treats a disproportionate number of residents with Medicaid or no health insurance, is the sixth largest employer in Jacksonville and keeps many of its medical residents in the area when their education is complete.
“We do all this, as we’ll explain, despite the markedly declining levels in the LIP funding over the last several years,” Armistead said.
Armistead’s facility, formerly known as Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, also won praise from some of the members of the panel.
The hospital executive also questioned plans by some lawmakers to change the “certificate of need” program, which regulates such issues as the construction and replacement of hospitals. Supporters of the CON program say it is needed to prevent the proliferation of small, private facilities that could pick off the most lucrative patients and leave the least attractive ones for public hospitals.
“If you want business to work and do away with CON, do away with all that stuff, it’s great. Just tell hospitals you don’t have to take care of people who don’t have money,” said Armistead, who added that it wasn’t his preferred solution. “Then, I could turn Shands Jacksonville around probably (in) three weeks.”
Meanwhile, some members of the panel continued to express frustration with the inability to get hospitals to open up their books.
But doing so could require a change in law, according to an official with the Agency of Health Care Administration at the meeting.
Sam Seevers, a former Destin mayor who serves on the commission, pointed out that the members of the panel — who are volunteers appointed by Scott — have to disclose their own finances as part of their obligations under the state’s open-government laws.
“That should be part of what (hospitals) do as well if they’re receiving monies,” she said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Cunningham, Tanner Win 4-H Foundation Scholarships
July 2, 2015
Two Escambia County 4-H members who have excelled in both 4-H and academics have been awarded 4-H Foundation scholarships.
Navy Federal Credit Union 4-H Scholarship – $1,500
Amanda Tanner was a dual enrollment student at Pensacola State College and graduated with a high school diploma and associate’s degree. As a 4-H member for four years, she has held many leadership positions at the local, district and state levels, including president for the 4-H County Council of Escambia County.
Tanner has completed more than 500 hours of community service, served as a 4-H camp counselor and 4-H teen health ambassador, and is a member and president of the Escambia County 4-H Horse Club. Her plans are to attend the University of South Alabama and major in chemistry. After graduation, Tanner plans to attend veterinarian school specializing in large animals.
Escambia County 4-H Foundation Scholarship – $1,500
Donald Cunningham is a four-year 4-H member of the Molino Livestock 4-H Club. He graduated from Pace High School with honors and has completed more than 200 hours of community service at Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Youth Group.
Cunningham was very active in the 4-H livestock project and was awarded Steer of the Year and Heifer of the Year at the recent Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization (GCA & NRYO) Spring Livestock Show. Cunningham will attend the University of Florida and major in building and construction management.