Have Your Coronavirus Stimulus Money? If Not, These Tools Might Help You Get It Faster
April 19, 2020
The IRS has deposited the first economic impact payments into taxpayers’ bank accounts and released two tools to help others get their money faster.
The initial round of payment to 80 million people hit bank accounts over the weekend into last week.
A new “Get My Payment” tool from the IRS will show the projected date when a deposit has been scheduled, similar to the “Where’s My Refund tool” many taxpayers are already familiar with.
Get My Payment also allows people a chance to provide their bank information. People who did not use direct deposit on their last tax return will be able to input information to receive the payment by direct deposit into their bank account, expediting receipt.
Get My Payment is updated once daily, usually overnight. The IRS urges taxpayers to only use Get My Payment once a day given the large number of people receiving Economic Impact Payments.
Available only on IRS.gov, the online application is safe and secure to use. Taxpayers only need a few pieces of information to quickly obtain the status of their payment and, where needed, provide their bank account information. Having a copy of their most recent tax return can help speed the process.
Get My Payment cannot update bank account information after an Economic Impact Payment has been scheduled for delivery. To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow people to change bank account information already on file with the IRS.
In addition to Get My Payment, Treasury and IRS have a second a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return.
The Non-filers: Enter Payment Info tool, developed in partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, provides a free and easy option designed for people who don’t have a return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file. The new web tool is available only on IRS.gov, and users should look for Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here to take them directly to the tool.
Non-filers: Enter Payment Info is designed for people who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who don’t receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.
Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2018 will receive the payments automatically. Automatic payments will also go in the near future to those receiving Social Security retirement, or disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.
Gulf Power Celebrates Lineworker Appreciation Day
April 19, 2020
Gulf Power Company celebrated Linework Appreciation Day on Saturday.
It was a day to recognize line crews and they work they do each day, not matter the weather or conditions.
You might remember last Monday we told you about National Linework Appreciation day celebrated by electric cooperatives, including Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
Florida Schools To Remain Closed The Rest Of The School Year
April 18, 2020
Florida schools will remain closed to students for the remainder of the school year, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday.
“It’s obviously not the ideal situation, but given where we are in the school year, we felt that that was the best decision to go forward,” DeSantis said, adding the state’s progress with virtual education made his decision easier.
“You have huge participation. Florida’s worked very hard to be a leader on that,” DeSantis said. “We have folks all over the country watching what we’re doing, so I felt that that was a good thing.”
The Department of Education (DOE) was weighing whether a reopening advisory would be limited to some school districts and whether parents could choose to keep their children distance learning.
“I think you had kind of a division amongst folks whether this was a good idea or not, and I think the last thing you want to do is, like, force everyone in school then have half the kids not show up because their parents didn’t want, teachers didn’t want to do it.”
School administrators across the state were advising against students returning. Giving students only two weeks of in-person classes would not have provided students a big enough academic benefit, DeSantis acknowledged.
FloridaPoltics.com contributed to this report.
Escambia Commission To Discuss Reopening Beaches In Special Meeting
April 18, 2020
The Escambia County Commission will hold a special meeting on April 28 to discuss reopening public beaches.
The commission closed the public beaches and Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key back on March 21 in a effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ stay-at-home order is currently set to expire on April 30.
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Sam Parker has said he will propose reopening beaches in Santa Rosa County for exercise activities include fishing, swimming, surfing, walking, jogging and biking. The Santa Rosa County Commission could consider the idea on April 23.
The Escambia County Commission special meeting about reopening beaches will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28.
The commission meeting will be live streamed, and the public is urged to participate electronically and submit any comments or questions before the meeting to maximize social distancing. A public input form has been made available, and form comments will be read into the record during the meeting.
Florida, Escambia County Jobless Rate Soars, And The Numbers Don’t Include April
April 18, 2020
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in March 2020, up 1.5 percentage points from the February 2020 rate, it’s expected to be even worse when the April data is released next month.
There were 444,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,335,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in March.
The March labor statistics reflect some of the early effects of the coronavirus and efforts to contain it. Note that the March survey reference period that includes the week of the 12th predated many coronavirus-related business and school closures that occurred in the second half of the month.
The Escambia County unemployment rate jumped to 4.5% in March, up from 3.2% in February, representing an increase of about 2,000 people out of work.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate increased from 2.8% to 4% during the same period.
Over a half million people have filed unemployment in Florida since the coronavirus shutdowns began, which will lead to higher unemployment data for April. Almost 181,300 Floridians filed for unemployment just last week.
Mustang Reportedly Being Raced On Highway 95A Splits In Half After Hitting Utility Pole, Injuring Two
April 18, 2020
A Ford Mustang reportedly being raced down Highway 95A was split in half when it collided with a utility pole Friday evening, sending two people to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 1989 black Ford Mustang was traveling south at a high rate of speed in the northbound lane of Highway 95A near Countri Lane in Cantonment about 7 p.m.
The driver, identified as 47-year old Antony Lee Thompkins of Pensacola, failed to maintain control, as the vehicle rotated off the roadway hit a utility pole. The engine compartment and dash of the vehicle wrapped around the pole, as the remaining part of the vehicle separated and became airborne before landing by railroad tracks that run parallel to Highway 95A.
Thompkins and his passenger, 27-year old Devon Woodard of Robertsdale, were not wearing seat belts and were ejected. Both were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. Tompkins was in critical condition, Woodard in serious condition.
Witnesses on scene told the the Florida Highway Patrol trooper that the black Mustang that crashed may have been racing an older model blue Mustang that was last seen traveling south on Pauline Street. The blue Mustang was described as a mid-90s fastback or “fox body” driven by a white male. The vehicle had a black carbon fiber hood.
Anyone with information on the second Mustang or the crash is asked to call Trooper Knowles at *FHP (*347) from a cell phone, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Charges in the crash are pending, according to FHP.
Gulf Power initially reported about 750 customers lost power as a result of the crash.
NorthEcambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Four Dead, 41 Positives For COVID-19 At Blackwater Prison, Hundreds In Quarantine; Six Quarantined At Century Prison
April 18, 2020
New data from the Florida Department of Corrections provides insight into the COVID-19 situation at Blackwater Correctional Facility in Milton and Century Correctional Institution.
As of Friday, there have been four inmate deaths at Blackwater, 34 positive inmates (including the fatalities) and nine positive staff member cases. Six inmates have tested negative and 11 are awaiting results.
There are 737 inmates on medical quarantine at Blackwater and 23 inmates in medical isolation.
At Century Correctional, one staff member has tested positive and six are in security quarantine.
The Florida Department of Corrections provided the followig definitions of “medical isolation”, “medical quarantine” and “security quarantine”"
- “Medical quarantine refers to the practice of separating individuals who have had close contact with a person who has tested positive or presented with symptoms of an infectious illness to determine whether they develop symptoms. All inmates in medical quarantine are monitored by health services staff and receive temperature checks twice a day to check for signs of fever. If an inmate begins experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, FDC will place the inmate in medical isolation and immediately engage with the county health department,” the prison system said in a statement.
- “Medical Isolation refers to the practice of separating a confirmed or suspected individual with an infectious illness, to prevent contact with others and to reduce the risk of transmission. All inmates in medical isolation are tested for COVID-19 and are monitored by health services staff,” according to FDC.
- “Security Quarantine refers to the practice of separating individuals who have recently transferred to a correctional facility. These inmates are asymptomatic and entering the facility from outside court, a community/work release center, county jail, etc. Security quarantine is a precautionary measure. Medical staff monitor these inmates to ensure no inmates show symptoms of illness. At the conclusion of security quarantine, inmates are moved to the general population.”
Update: Health Department Lowers Number Of Escambia County (AL) COVID-19 Positive Cases
April 18, 2020
Update: Friday night, the Alabama Department of Health listed 14 COVID-19 cases in Escambia County (AL). By Saturday morning, two cases were reclassified to other counties, putting the total back to 12.
ADH is reporting 226 total COVID-19 tests have been performed in Escambia County, a positive rate of about 5.3%.
There have been no coronavirus related deaths in Escambia County.
The Alabama Department of Health reported 4,482 total positive cases in the state out of 42,538 tests. Their have been 154 reported deaths statewide.
USDA Approves Florida’s State Hemp Program, Growing Begins As Early As April 27
April 18, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture formally approved Florida’s state hemp program on Thursday, clearing the way for Florida growers to begin cultivating hemp later this month. Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, who will oversee Florida’s state hemp program through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), offered the following statement:
“After months of incorporating feedback from the public, growers, and industry stakeholders, we are thrilled that Florida’s hemp industry officially begins now,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “By working closely with our farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers, Florida’s state hemp program will become a model for the nation, will set a gold standard for this emerging industry, and will create billions in economic opportunity for Florida. As our economy deals with the impacts of COVID-19, this approval will give our agriculture industry a new alternative crop for many years to come.”
With the state hemp program’s rules now filed for adoption and approved by USDA, FDACS will begin accepting applications to grow industrial hemp on April 27, the first day authorized under the state filing timeframe, online at FDACS.gov/Cannabis.
Two ‘Armed And Dangerous’ Men Wanted For Escambia County Shooting
April 17, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two men in connection with a shooting Thursday afternoon at the Oakwood Terrace apartments in Pensacola.
Trayveon Alexander, 19, is wanted for attempted homicide, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. Woddie Smith Jr., 21, is wanted for battery.
The sheriff’s office said both Alexander and Smith are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The shooting victim survived and was transported to the hospital, but an update on their conditon was not available.