Scott Signs $82 Billion Budget
March 18, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott signed the state’s $82 billion budget into law late Thursday, following an unusual announcement this week in which he declared he would approve the spending plan and outlined which individual lines he would veto.
He signed the budget plan shortly after legislative leaders sent it to him Thursday.
The spending plan, which covers the year that begins July 1, boosts spending on education to the highest level in state history, bankrolls more than $713.5 million worth of education construction projects and funds $151 million for restoration of the Everglades and an area lawmakers are calling the Northern Everglades.
In the past, Scott and other governors have waited until lawmakers sent the budget to them to announce their actions, but Scott did so Tuesday, four days after the 2016 legislative session ended.
The governor’s office said Scott on Thursday followed the vetoes he had announced Tuesday, meaning he sliced a little more than $256.1 million in local projects and other spending initiatives. Scott made no additional comment.
In another usual move, the governor on Thursday transmitted the entire press release his office had issued Tuesday — including almost 15 pages of talking points — to the Secretary of State’s Office to serve as the official announcement of the budget signing and list of vetoes.
Scott signed the budget despite getting little of what he wanted from the Legislature; lawmakers zeroed out his proposed $250 million in spending on business incentives and sharply reduced his call for a $1 billion tax cut. Scott also signed four budget-related bills (HB 5003, 5005, 5007 and 5101) on Thursday.
The official approval of the budget marks the anticlimactic end to this year’s debate over state spending, the first one after a contentious and bitter battle in 2015 that led to the Florida House walking out on the regular legislative session and a special session being called to finish the spending plan.
by The News Service of Florida
File photo.
No Injuries In Three Vehicle Highway 29 Crash
March 17, 2016
There were no injuries in a three vehicle crash about 7:40 this morning on Highway 29 at Molino Road. The crash did block both southbound lanes of Highway 29, with drivers detoured around in a turn lane. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia To Share In $100K In Tornado Relief; Scott Asks Obama For More Help
March 17, 2016
On Wednesday, Gov Rick Scott announced $100,000 for Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Charlotte Counties through the Florida Disaster Fund to aid in recovery efforts for those affected by severe storms and tornadoes in February. The Governor also issued a request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties after FEMA denied the state’s initial request for assistance with debris removal. Last month, Governor Scott saw firsthand the tornado damage in Pensacola and Century.
“The families and businesses affected by these tornadoes have made incredible efforts to rebuild and recover, and I am proud to announce that Volunteer Florida and local organizations have partnered to provide $100,000 for communities across Florida. Today, I am also requesting a Major Disaster Declaration to continue helping those affected by these storms, and we will do all we can to support them throughout the recovery process,” Scott said.
In his letter to President Obama, Scott said the Town of Century qualifies for special consideration under federal law due to its low-income population. An estimated 75 percent of Century residents with total or major damage did not have insurance. The town estimates $3.9 million in local damages.
Scott also said that a large number of mobile homes were impacted in Century that may not qualify for any portion of $2.1 million in state housing funds previously announced for Escambia County.
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Director Bryan W. Koon said, “We are thankful for the strong partnerships our state has to assist Floridians in times of disaster. The Florida Disaster Fund will play a vital role in helping the community to recover as we continue our efforts to secure a Major Disaster Declaration.”
Chester Spellman, Volunteer Florida CEO, said, “The recent tornadoes in the Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast devastated homes and communities. Volunteer Florida is proud to play a role in helping our neighbors respond to this disaster by funding response activities including feeding, sheltering, and case work.”
$50,000 of the funding will be provided by Volunteer Florida and matched 100 percent by local organizations for a total investment of $100,000 to aid Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Charlotte Counties in recovery efforts.
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward said, “This funding will help families develop long-term recovery plans and allow local organizations to leverage volunteer teams to provide reconstruction. We are grateful to Volunteer Florida and those who have selflessly donated to the Florida Disaster Fund.”
On February 15 the town of Century in the Florida Panhandle experienced significant damage from a tornado. A rural town of approximately 1,500 residents, 45 homes in Century were destroyed and 40 homes received major damage. On February 23, Escambia County was hit by another severe storm system that also impacted Santa Rosa and Charlotte Counties, where tornadoes and straight-line winds destroyed 45 homes and caused major damage to 49 homes.
Pictured: Gov. Rick Scot tours tornado devastation in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Students Pick Clinton, Trump
March 17, 2016
Students in Escambia County participating in a mock election also picked Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, just like real world voters in Escambia County did Tuesday.
There were 19 schools across the county that participated with 2,254 votes cast from grades 4-12. About half of the voters were in the seventh grade.
Voting began March 1 and ended with the close of the school day on March 15.
Donald Trump received 36.9 percent of the student vote from Republicans, while Marco Rubio received 24 percent of the vote. Ted Cruz had 19.9 percent of the student vote, followed by Ben Carson at 15.9 percent and John Kasich with 3.3 percent.
Among the students voting Democratic, Hillary Clinton received 51.5 percent of the vote, and Bernie Sanders had 48.5 percent.
Cherie Arnette, Escambia County School District social studies specialist, created a ballot using Google form that allowed students to vote from their computers, Chromebooks or phones.
“Voting is a vital civic responsibility and students should have opportunities to practice and become informed citizens,” Arnette said. “Many teachers included voting in lessons on researching candidates and their positions on the issues.”
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Tonight
March 17, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 7pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 74. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind around 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 39.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Remainder Of Becks Lake Road Is Paved
March 17, 2016
Escambia County recently finished paving the remainder of Becks Lake Road in Cantonment. A portion of the road had been left unsurfaced many years ago due to a right of way dispute. Pictured: Becks Lake Road from the entrance to the Becks Lake Fish Camp, looking back west toward Cantonment. Photo for NorthEscambia, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names Faircloth, Stonewall As Students Of The Month
March 17, 2016
Tate High School has named students of the month for February. They are David Faircloth and Demiyah Stonewall, pictured with Principal Rich Shackle. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Officials Canvas Neighborhoods Hardest Hit By Tornado
March 17, 2016
Representatives from the Town of Century went door to door Wednesday in the areas that were hardest hit by the EF-3 tornado that struck the town on February 15.
They were canvassing residents to find out what recovery needs residents may have remaining and if they had insurance.
The survey was in advance of opening applications for Century’s share of of $2,058,028 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP, disaster funds for the two tornadoes that struck Escambia County in February. Funds will be appropriated to assist with owner occupied housing rehabilitation, replacement, and disaster mitigation as outlined in the county’s Local Housing Assistance Plan. H
Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles aid the $2.1 million split between Escambia County, Pensacola and Century won’t go very far, restoring housing for just a small number of those that lost homes during the tornadoes.
Century alone suffered $3.9 million in damage, plus another $18 million in Pensacola, she said. There were over 100 homes in Century that were destroyed or suffered major damage. About 75 percent of the structures were uninsured.
“There are going to be so many applicants,” she said. “How do we decide who gets their house rebuilt and who doesn’t,” she said. Ultimately, it will be up to the Century Town Council to decide the formula for funds distribution in Century.
Century won’t be able to to take applicants for housing assistance until April — the funds will first be dispersed to Escambia County and an interlocal agreement between the county and the town must be amended to cover the new funding.
Once available, funding may only be utilized for households directly impacted by one of the two storms and income restrictions will apply, see chart below. Household members seeking repair assistance will be required to provide proof of homestead exemption, income, assets, mortgage (if present), and insurance (if present) to certify eligibility.
For more information on disaster-related owner occupant housing repair or home replacement assistance:
- Unincorporated areas of Escambia County – County Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022.
- City of Pensacola – City Housing Office at (850) 858-0350
- Town of Century – SHIP applications are expected to be accepted in April, for more information call (850) 256-3208
Rubio’s Future Sure To Fuel Speculation
March 17, 2016
The end of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s bid for the presidency, cut off by a crushing loss Tuesday in the Florida GOP primary, raises intriguing questions about what the onetime rising star in the Republican Party might do next.
For essentially the first time since he won a city commission seat in 1998, Rubio will soon be without a government office and without a campaign. After his term in the Florida House wrapped up in 2008, Rubio took some time off, but decided in relatively short order to run for the U.S. Senate seat he now holds.
It was a lopsided loss for Rubio on Tuesday night. Real-estate mogul Donald Trump carried almost 46 percent of the vote, to 27 percent for Rubio, according to unofficial returns.
“He has some thinking to do,” said J.M. “Mac” Stipanovich, a Republican lobbyist and strategist who initially backed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the Republican race. “He was badly beaten in his home state. … That one will hurt for a while, and it could take quite a while to walk off the sting.”
Democrats argued that the beating would take its toll on Rubio’s reputation.
“Floridians will not forget that Rubio cowardly placed partisan politics ahead of doing what was right when it came to immigration reform and dealing with Donald Trump. … While it remains to be seen if Rubio will attempt to salvage the wreckage of his political career, no amount of spin can distract from the clear lesson of this campaign: ‘Little Marco’ just can’t deliver,” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant said in a statement Tuesday, using a nickname Trump had adopted for Rubio.
But Rubio is only 44 years old and is one of the most prominent Hispanic voices in a Republican Party that badly needs to make inroads with Latinos. And many of his supporters say they hope that he takes another shot at elected office in the future.
“If you know Marco, you know this is a guy who is young and still wants to be a meaningful force and positive force in American political life,” said Rick Wilson, a Republican political consultant who worked for independent efforts backing Rubio.
State Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, said he didn’t see Rubio leaving the national scene despite the loss in the presidential race. Many Rubio supporters and the candidate himself have suggested that his message was the right one — just wrong for the current political mood.
“I think it will be a disservice to the conservative movement if he just backs away from it,” Garcia said.
What office Rubio seeks, though, isn’t clear. It would be difficult for Rubio to renege on his promise not to run for Senate this year after several candidates — including Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a friend — have already lined up to succeed him.
And Wilson dismissed persistent speculation that Rubio might run for governor in 2018 as “Tallahassee insider, Governor’s Club, three-beer gossip.”
Running against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, in two years also seems far-fetched given the disdain Rubio expressed for the Senate in a partisan era. Rubio was hammered by opponents during the presidential campaign for missing votes on Capitol Hill, and he responded by essentially saying his run for the White House was more important.
“He basically said he didn’t like serving in the Senate, and he didn’t serve,” Stipanovich said.
Even if Rubio were to run for one of the two marquee offices in 2018, he would likely face resistance. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is widely viewed as the front-runner for the Republican nomination for governor, while Gov. Rick Scott is rumored to be gearing up to take on Nelson.
The most likely outcome for Rubio might be another run at the presidency. As he conceded the race Tuesday, Rubio seemed to offer a hint that he had not entirely given up on the idea of winning the White House.
“While it is not God’s plan that I be president in 2016 — or maybe ever — and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I’ve even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is and all the reason more why we must do all we can to ensure that this nation remains a special place,” Rubio said.
That could happen as soon as 2020, and would play to the idea that Rubio was simply running in the wrong environment — a year dominated by anger harnessed by Trump’s insurgency against the Republican establishment.
“I think in the absence of the phenomenon we call Trump, this might have had a different outcome,” said state Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood.
Running again also depends on what happens in the next four years. If Trump were to win the White House in November and enjoy a successful first term, Rubio couldn’t run before 2024. And by then, if Trump’s brand of Republicanism has taken hold, Rubio could still find himself out of step with the party.
“Losing to someone who loses is not as bad as losing to someone who ultimately wins,” said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.
All of those considerations are a ways off, though, for someone just finish a grueling race for the presidency. Former state Rep. Adam Hasner, one of the Florida co-chairs of Rubio’s campaign, said in a text message Wednesday that Rubio “is an extremely talented individual who will find ways to engage and make an impact in future.”
“It’s way too soon to speculate what is in his future, but for now let him enjoy being with his family and loved ones,” Hasner wrote.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Camp Fire Kids Hold Annual Easter Egg Hunt
March 17, 2016
Students from the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center visited the Century Health And Rehabilitation Center Wednesday for their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
