Florida Lawmakers Will Need To Go Overtime On Budget
March 7, 2018
Florida lawmakers will need to go into overtime because of an impasse about hospital spending in final negotiations over a new state budget.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, told House members Tuesday night that lawmakers will have to extend the session, scheduled to end Friday, or hold a special session.
“Make preparations because that’s kind of where we are headed,” Corcoran said after a day of behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Senate.
Corcoran (pictured) said a “best-case scenario” would be finishing the session Saturday. But he also said it was possible the session would be extended to Monday or that Gov. Rick Scott could call a special session that might start as soon as Monday.
It will mark the second year in a row that the Legislature was unable to complete its annual session in the allotted 60 days.
Last year, lawmakers extended the session for three days to vote on the budget and then had to return for a special session after Scott vetoed the public-school portion of the budget, which he deemed inadequate.
Corcoran did not detail the reasons for being unable to reach agreement.
But earlier, Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R- Fleming Island, said the House and Senate were continuing to negotiate payments to Florida’s hospitals. At least part of the issue involves whether to scrap a long-standing payment system for a new system that would increase base Medicaid rates paid to every hospital, regardless of Medicaid patient load.
Late Tuesday morning, Bradley said it was “too early to tell” whether lawmakers would be able to reach agreement on an $87 billion-plus spending plan by midnight. Meeting the deadline would have given lawmakers enough time to adhere to a mandated 72-hour cooling-off period before a final budget vote on Friday, the last scheduled day of the 2018 session.
But when Corcoran spoke to House members about 8:15 p.m., he made clear the budget wouldn’t be done in time.
The House’s proposed spending plan for hospitals in the upcoming year is essentially a continuation of the current year’s budget. But the Senate has proposed redistributing $318 million in Medicaid “automatic rate enhancements” currently paid to 28 hospitals with large Medicaid caseloads and use it to increase the rates paid for all hospitals.
The Senate budget also includes $50 million to offset the recurring effect of the current year’s budget cuts on hospitals. The Senate plan has been endorsed by some rural hospitals that say the additional $50 million in the Senate plan is what they need.
But the Senate proposal would reduce Medicaid payments to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami by as much as $58 million and Orlando Health by nearly $9 million. House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, said the House would not let safety-net facilities such as those face steep reductions.
HCA Healthcare, a for-profit chain that owns 43 facilities in the state, could see nearly $40.5 million in Medicaid increases under the Senate plan. Tenet, which owns nine hospitals in Florida, would see a nearly $4 million increase in Medicaid payments under the Senate plan, and Community Health Systems, which owns 23 hospitals in Florida, would see as much as a $7.7 million bump in Medicaid payments.
The Senate budget also includes an additional $130 million increase in Medicaid payments for nursing homes that aren’t included in the House budget.
Bradley said Tuesday that once the chambers agree on the hospital spending they will discuss nursing homes.
Negotiations have been completed on a $21 billion public school budget and a $7.9 billion budget for state universities and colleges, including financial aid, Bradley said. But as of Tuesday evening, lawmakers had not released the details of the agreement.
Based on earlier public negotiations, lawmakers will not increase state performance funding for universities and state colleges. That funding would remain at $245 million for the universities and $30 million for the 28 state colleges.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said Monday night he expects the university system to receive an additional $20 million that would be shared by schools that have reached “pre-eminent” status, including the University of Florida and Florida State University. The University of South Florida is also expected to achieve that status in the coming year and would share those funds.
Negron also said he expects a $20 million increase in the “world class” program, which is money shared by all the universities to attract top-level professors and researchers. Another $10 million increase would go to rewarding high-performing medical, law and professional schools.
In the public-school system, lawmakers have agreed to roughly a $500 million increase in the funding formula for the 67 school districts, which should yield a per-student increase in the range of $100 in the new academic year.
School funding was impacted by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, with lawmakers agreeing to spend an additional $400 million on school-safety and mental-health initiatives.
School-safety legislation (SB 7026) debated Tuesday in the House includes a $97.5 million increase for the “safe schools” program in the funding formula. It would boost the program, which helps the 67 school districts hire school resources officers, to $162 million in the 2018-2019 academic year.
The legislation also would provide $67 million to the school districts in a new mental-health category in the funding formula.
But one of the impacts of shifting more state funding to school safety may be Gov. Rick Scott’s call for an $18 million increase in funding to help teachers buy classroom supplies. The increase sought by Scott would have boosted the annual support to $350 for each teacher, although it appears the program is likely to remain at its current level of $45.3 million, which provides $250 a year.
Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Worth Over $100K Sold In Molino
March 7, 2018
Someone is over $100,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Molino.
The ticket sold at the Molino First Stop on Highway 95A was one of two winning tickets sold for Tuesday night’s drawing and is worth $103,970.74. The other winning ticket was sold in Merritt Island.
The 277 tickets matching four numbers won $121 each. Another 9,006 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and 92,072 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Tuesday’s Fantasy 5 winning numbers were 2-4-13-19-33.
Ernest Ward Journalism Students Tour WEAR 3 TV Studio
March 7, 2018
Journalism students from Ernest Ward Middle School recently visited the WEAR 3 studios in Pensacola. They were able to tour the station and watch a live “Dayside” news broadcast from behind the scenes. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Senate Approves Year Round Daylight Savings Time
March 7, 2018
Northwest Florida took a big step toward year-round daylight saving time after a Senate vote Tuesday.
Floridians will change their clocks forward on Sunday, but that could become a thing of the past under a proposal that cleared the Legislature on Tuesday. The Senate voted 33-2 to give final approval to a measure (HB 1013) intended to eventually keep Florida on daylight-saving time throughout the year. Sen. Doug Broxson, whose district includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, voted in favor of the bill.
The next stop is the desk of Gov. Rick Scott, whose office said he will review the proposal after formally receiving it. If Scott signs the bill, Congress would ultimately be responsible for approving the proposed change.
If approved, Northwest Florida would be one hour ahead of neighboring Alabama during part of the year, including winter. For example, on Christmas Day if it were 10 a.m. in North Escambia, it would be 9 a.m. in Atmore.
The idea of year-round daylight-saving time has been promoted as a way to help the state’s tourism industry, as people would be able to stay out later with the additional sunlight.
Hawaii and most of Arizona currently don’t participate in switching from standard time to daylight-saving time and back. They stay on standard time throughout the year.
by The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com
Pictured: This clock in Flomaton, AL, would be one hour behind neighboring Century, FL, several months out of the year if year-round daylight saving time is implemented in Florida. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Big Softball Wins For Northview, Tate Aggies
March 7, 2018
The Tate and Northview softball teams recorded big wins Tuesday night:
Tate 15, Washington 3
The Tate High School Aggies beat the Washington Wildcats 15-3 Tuesday night.
Avery Beauchaine got the win for the Aggies in six innings, allowing four hits, three runs and two errors, while walking two and striking out eight.
For Tate: Belle Wolfenden 1-3, 3B, R; Kayliegh Cawthon 1-1, R; Shelby McLean R; Hannah Brown 2-2, 3B, 3R; RBI; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, R; Ashley Lunquist 1-2, RBI; Bailyn Murdy 2-4, 3B, 2RBI; Madisen Nelson 1-3, R, RBI; Kyndal Bray 1-1, R; Ryleigh Cawby 1-2, 2B, R, RBI; Katie Synder 1-1, 2R; Sydni Solliday 1-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI; Amber DeCoux 2R; Avery Beauchaine 1-4; Taylor Hedgepeth 1-2, RBI
Northview 17, Baker 1
Tori Herrignton had eight strikeouts in five innings for the Lady Chiefs while driving in a homerun at the plate.
For Northview:
Ashley Ragsdale 2-4, 2RBI; Kendall Enfinger 3-4, RBI; Tori Herrington 3-3, 4RBI, HR; Aubree Love 2-4, 2RBI; Lydia Smith 2-4, 4RBI; Heather Knowles 1-2, RBI; Rylee Huskey 1-2, RBI; Sullivan 1-3, RBI.
Tate 22, Washington 0 (JV)
Lilly Locke homered over the right centerfield wall as the junior varsity Tate High School Aggies shut out the Washington Wildcats 22-0 Tuesday.
Flag Football: Northview Falls To Pensacola High
March 7, 2018
The Northview Chiefs flag football team opened their premiere season Tuesday afternoon with a 37-0 loss at Pensacola High School. The Lady Chiefs will travel to Pine Forest High School to take on the Lady Eagles next Monday at 5 p.m. Pictured top: Savannah Spence gain yardage for the Northview Lady Chiefs Tuesday at Pensacola High School. Pictured below: Susannah Amerson punts for Northview. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Man For Questioning In 2017 Nine Mile Road Homicide
March 6, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man for questioning only in connection with homicide just over a year ago.
The ECSO said they want to talk to 32-year-old Jovan Lidell Proctor about a January 6, 2017, homicide in the 130 block of East Nine Mile Road, near Holsberry Road.
Deputies said a drug deal went bad, and Allen Ray Elliott was shot about 5:45 p.m. in the area behind Vannoy’s Tires. He died from his injuries on the way to the hospital.
Anyone with information on Proctor’s whereabouts or the shooting is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: The scene of a shooting on East 9 Mile Road on January 6, 2017.. Pictured below: Deputies escort an ambulance from the scene. NorthEscambia.com file photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Godwin Named Interim Century Town Clerk
March 6, 2018
Kim Godwin has been named Century’s interim town clerk.
She will be taking over for Leslie Howington, who submitted her resignation effective Friday (previous story…).
Godwin is a certified clerk. She will continue to service Century as gas superintendent during the interim period.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said the town will advertise the town clerk position by next week on NorthsEscambia.com and the weekly Tri-City Ledger newspaper in Flomaton.
Pictured top: New Interim Town Clerk Kim Godwin takes minutes during a Monday night meeting of the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECAT Planning Expanded Local North Escambia Service
March 6, 2018
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) is planning an expanded service in North Escambia as soon as October 1.
ECAT General Manager Mike Crittenden told the Century Town Council Monday night that the county transit system is looking to purchase two 9-10 passenger vehicles to run an “on demand” service. The vehicles will be based in Century and serve communities including Century, Bratt, Walnut Hill and Molino.
Riders will call ECAT a day in advance to schedule a ride in the area with pickup at the their home or other location and local transport within the area. The vehicles will not run fixed-stop routes, but will connect to current fixed route ECAT service to Pensacola.
Crittenden said the service will likely charge ECAT’s current rate of $2.50 to $3.50 per ride, Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. — or other days and hours to be determined based upon public input.
ECAT is applying for two grants to purchase the vehicles and provide the service; however Crittenden said the service will still be a go without the grants. ECAT will present realigned routes at an upcoming Escambia County Commission meeting that may cut lower performing routes elsewhere in the county but the service to Century from Pensacola through Cantonment and Molino will remain.
“The current route (to Pensacola), won’t be going anywhere,” he said.
The Century Council voted to a send a letter of support for the expanded service to the Escambia County Commission.
Pictured: Escambia County’s Transit Division Manager Tonya Ellis and General Manager Mike Crittenden address the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Appears On National TV During Oscars, More Appearances To Come
March 6, 2018
Northview High graduate Lakelynn Parker had a (sort of) Oscar moment Sunday night during the national broadcast, and we’ll be seeing more of her on national TV in the coming weeks.
T-Mobile debuted a new commercial titled “Parade” during the Oscars. It begins with seemingly disheartened boy outside his New Orleans home. But things come to life as a parade of people wearing T-Mobile pink approaches, including a shot, albeit very brief, of Parker on horse JoJo.
The Oscars commercial and several others were filmed about a month ago in New Orleans.
“It’s been so hard to hold this in,” Parker said. “It was a great experience. Everyone was so professional and fun to work with. Getting to ride JoJo made it even better.”
Monday, T-Mobile also debuted their campaign on social media with a video that features a longer scene with Parker. And we’re told there should be additional national television ads and social media posts to come over at least the next month.
As for the experience, Parker said it was a great experience working on the ad campaign and the people involved with it.
“I loved meeting so many new friends,” she said.
Parker, of Molino, said she hopes to land more commercials, and would even like to do stunt work.
And if you think you remember Parker from another recent NorthEscambia.com story, you’re right. She was in camouflage, not rhinestone cowgirl pink, in a story about two local young people that rescued and owl. [Read ...]
To view the Oscar’s T-Mobile “Parade” ad, click here. For the social media ad, click here to visit the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
Pictured: Lakelynn Parker in New Orleans in a television commercial. First below and inset courtesy T-Mobile. Additional photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
