Broxson Files Pledge Of Allegiance In Schools Bill
January 14, 2016
Florida State Representative Doug Broxson has filed a bill relating to the Pledge of Allegiance. This new legislation would require the notice of students’ right not to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance to be included in the student handbook or similar publication, rather than posted “in a conspicuous place” such as in a classroom
Recently, the Santa Rosa County Legislative Delegation was approached by area school board superintendents to craft legislation that would simplify the school requirement to comply with a Florida law that states, “Each student shall be informed by posting a notice in a conspicuous place that the student has the right not to participate in reciting the pledge.” Additionally, upon researching the matter, it became clear that the statutes needed to be amended to comply with the 2006 Frazier v. Alexandre ruling from the U.S. District Court. the bill will also require unexcused students to show full respect to the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.
“This is an issue that will affect every classroom across the state of Florida. I believe this statute needs clarification before more school districts begin to succumb to pressure from outside groups that do not want students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. We have received input from superintendents, teachers, parents, and students; and all of them have implored us to clarify this statute,” Broxson said.
“As a proud veteran of the US Air Force, it is my honor to cosponsor a bill pertaining to the American Flag and Pledge of Allegiance. I believe this bill will create better clarity for school board administrators to implement an existing policy in a more unified manner,” said Rep. Mike Hill.
“The Pledge of Allegiance is something every American should recite with pride. This good bill will resolve the current controversy in Santa Rosa County and remove the signs currently in classrooms that state students do not have to say the Pledge of Allegiance,” added Sen. Greg Evers.
Appeals Court Overturns Arson Conviction Of Century Man For Stolen Car Fire
January 13, 2016
The First District Court of Appeal has overturned the arson conviction of a Century man that stole a a car that was accidentally burned after a a cigarette lighter was used to illuminate the passenger compartment, which contained a stolen gas can.
Joshua Jackson Grimes, 31, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied structure, second degree arson and second degree petit theft. He was sentenced by Judge Jan Shackelford to four years in state prison, plus ordered to $1,434 in court costs, fees and the investigative cost of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
In reverse the arson conviction Tuesday, the appeals court remanded the case back to Escambia County for re-sentencing. The court said for the conviction to stand, Grimes would have to be responsible to starting the fire. But prosecutors agreed that the fire was started by a juvenile.
“It cannot be said that appellant caused the fire, nor that the fire occurred during the theft of the motor vehicle,” according to the appeals court ruling. “The state concedes Mr. Grimes did not start the fire. H.L., a juvenile who was not present when the car was taken from where its owner left it, accidentally set the interior of the car on fire well after the appellant had taken the car and reached “a place of temporary safety.”
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Grimes took a 2003 Hyundai Sonata without permission from a female on Tedder Road. Grimes allegedly drove to Wallace, AL, where he pickup up a teen male, the two of them riding around until the vehicle ran out of gas after dark back in Florida. Grimes then reportedly stole a gas can containing about four gallons of gas from the carport of a residence on Highway 168.
The teen said Grimes poured a “little bit” of gas into the vehicle to get the pair out of the area and then placed the gas can in the backseat of the vehicle.
A short time later, the teen used a cigarette lighter to illuminate the inside of the vehicle, accidently igniting the gas can and inside of the vehicle. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to a vehicle fire with a possible burn victim on Highway 168, but the vehicle was gone by the time firefighters arrived.
Grimes allegedly drove the vehicle to his home on nearby Wawbeek Road until morning and then returned the burned vehicle back to the owner’s home after daylight. According to deputies, the vehicle was charred on the inside, with a melted five-gallon gas can and a melted ice chest in the backseat.
The teen male was found to have suffered burns during the incident, and the case was referred to the Department of Children and Families for further investigation.
Florida Lottery Warns Of Online Powerball Ticket Scam
January 13, 2016
The Florida Lottery is warning players of a lottery scam in which scammers are selling shares of Powerball tickets online.
The website includes the official Florida Lottery logo as well as information about all Florida Lottery games. They promote that they are a “USA POWERBALL Syndicate”, in which players purchase shares and all winnings are divided equally between each share.
Under Florida law, players cannot purchase any lottery ticket, including Powerball, over the internet, phone, or by mail. All lottery tickets must be purchased from an authorized Florida Lottery retailer in the state of Florida.
Florida Prison Boss Calls For More Staff, Shorter Shifts
January 13, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott is backing a request by Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones for 734 more prison workers and a reduction in staff shifts from 12 to eight hours.
The recommendations come after three separate audits blamed prison problems, including contraband like cell phones, on inadequate and overworked staff. Scott’s budget request, which came on the opening day of the 2016 legislative session, asks lawmakers for an $82 million increase in prison spending this year, which would bring the agency’s total budget to nearly $2.6 billion.
The additional workers will “make our institutions safer for inmates, agency staff and communities,” Scott said in a press releas
e. In the release, Jones blamed other prison woes on the current 12-hour shift model.
“Poor staff retention, increasing overtime expenditures, introduction of contraband, and staffing shortages are all due in some part to the officer fatigue and burnout associated with 12-hour shifts,” Jones said.
Jones’ budget request is part of an ongoing effort to clean up the state’s corrections system, which has been in the spotlight for allegations of cover-ups regarding prisoner deaths, brutality by prison guards and reports of widespread smuggling of contraband — including cell phones, cigarettes and drugs — into the facilities.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Celebrate Senior Night
January 13, 2016
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs 63-40 Tuesday night in Bratt.
It was Senior Night for the Chiefs as they honored Bradley Van Pelt, the only senior on the varsity Northview team. It was also the last home game of the regular season for the Chiefs. They are on the road January 14 at Freeport, January 15 at Jay and January 21 at W.S. Neal. The district tournament begins February 1 in Freeport.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Warns Of Continuing Scam
January 13, 2016
Gulf Power is continuing to warn customers of a scam in which area businesses received calls from a person claiming to represent Gulf Power and demanding payment — or their electric service would be cut off.
Gulf Power continues to work with law enforcement in reporting these incidents, but the company has received an escalated amount of calls from customers reporting fraudulent calls in recent days.
Customers are being told their electric bill is past due and that their electricity will be cut off if the customer does not provide a credit card payment or other forms of immediate payment.
Gulf Power advises customers that:
- Gulf Power employees will never call a customer at home seeking any personal information, including credit card numbers.
- Gulf Power representatives will never ask a customer for money when they visit a residence or business.
- All Gulf Power representatives carry badges with picture identification that includes the employee’s name and the company’s name and logo.
Customers should call Gulf Power at 1-800-225-5797 if they have any questions about the identity of anyone representing Gulf Power.
Gulf Power is working with local law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators. If anyone has been victimized by one of these schemes, or has any information about suspects, call local law enforcement and to contact Gulf Power at 1-800-225-5797.
Clear, 39 Tonight
January 13, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 48. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. East wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
Missing Woman Found Safe
January 13, 2016
An Escambia County woman reported missing last month has been found safe.
Family members reported Stefanie Bown missing on December 30 after they last saw her on December 23. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that she was found safe. She had reportedly left the area by choice.
Arbor Day Free Tree Giveaway On Thursday
January 13, 2016
In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, the Florida Forest Service, Escambia County, and UF IFAS Extension will give away 250 one-gallon trees. Participants will receive two trees of their choice of Dahoon Holly, Nuttall Oak and Willow Oak. The event will be held Thursday on the main campus of Pensacola State College located at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola. The event starts at 2:30 p.m. and ends when supplies run out.
County and forest service staff, extension agents and master gardeners will be available at to advise participants on tree types and proper tree care and placement in the landscape. The Arbor Day Celebration is funded through the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Florida Forest Service.
Scott Echoes Familiar Refrain In State Of State Address
January 13, 2016
In a narrowly-tailored speech focused on his two main priorities, Gov. Rick Scott used his State of the State address Tuesday to push lawmakers to adopt $1 billion in tax cuts and boost economic-development incentives.
Scott, who told lawmakers during the first day of the legislative session that he wanted accomplishments of “lasting significance,” highlighted what he said were the successes of his administration in helping create 1 million new jobs since he took office in 2011.
The governor’s office also announced that Scott would visit Orlando, Tampa and Sunrise on Wednesday on the first leg of his “Million Miles for a Million Jobs” bus tour.
“The state of Florida is, in one word, growing,” Scott said. “Together, we have completely turned our economy around and more families are thriving here today than five years ago…But we cannot let up.”
The governor has essentially staked his legislative session on the success of two initiatives: The tax cut and devoting $250 million to a new “Florida Enterprise Fund” to help lure employers to the Sunshine State. While hammering away at those two topics in his address, the governor gave short shrift to other proposals, including an increase in education spending to record levels and measures he says would curb “price-gouging” by hospitals.
Scott used the words “job” or “jobs” 31 times in his speech, according to the prepared text, and “tax” or “taxes” another 19 times. By contrast, he used the word “education” twice.
The governor also took time to focus on the threat of the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as ISIS. The group and its sympathizers have been blamed for bloody attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif.
“No one can dispute that ISIS is evil,” said Scott, who is rumored to be interested in running for U.S. Senate in 2018. “Our next president must make it their mission to immediately eliminate the threat of ISIS to the United States of America.”
Scott did not propose any new policies for confronting the group.
Democrats hammered Scott’s focus on tax cuts and business incentives. Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, said Scott’s wealthy allies have “the best governor money can buy,” even as the governor ignores other problems.
“He’s fond of helping his Florida,” Joyner said in response to the address. “But he’d rather forget the other one.”
House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, suggested that political maneuvering shaped Scott’s remarks.
“Maybe was this was his vie for vice president under Donald Trump, I don’t know,” Pafford said. “But it was a real waste of time.”
Republicans, though, defended the governor’s focused agenda after a series of special legislative sessions in 2015 that featured grinding conflicts between the House and Senate. Counting the regular session, lawmakers met four times last year, and finished their main task in just one of those gatherings.
Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, said Scott’s approach would give lawmakers “flexibility” in dealing with issues confronting the state.
“I think that there was probably a strategy to it because of the fact that we’re coming off a rough session and, going into this session, having some narrow goals to try to get to I think was a good move,” Diaz said.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican in line to become the Senate president after the 2018 elections, said the focus on jobs was nothing new for Scott, who ran for office six years ago promising an economic turnaround.
“To his credit, he’s maintained the same message his entire tenure as governor and during his campaign as well,” Galvano said. “We do have many more issues that need to be addressed other than simply addressing tax cuts.”
Galvano said he was surprised that Scott didn’t mention a proposed extension of a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe that would bring the state an additional $3 billion over seven years.
Scott’s lobbying on his main priorities might be paying off.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said Tuesday his chamber would try to meet the governor’s goal of $1 billion in tax cuts.
However, the speaker also indicated that lawmakers instead might focus more on one-time tax cuts, to avoid weakening the state’s revenue picture in future years. Legislative leaders have expressed concern that providing too many tax cuts that continue year after year could create shortfalls down the road.
“We obviously have a lot of commitments, whether it be education or other issues in the state that we obviously have to make sure that we take care of, but at the end of the day, a $1 billion total number is what we have in mind,” Crisafulli told reporters.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida