Why Not Keep Daylight Saving Time Year Round In Florida?
November 1, 2020
Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio say the practice of “falling back” as Daylight Saving Time (DST) is an antiquated process that should come to an end.
Most recently, in September, Rubio and Scott introduced legislation that would keep the United States on DST through November 7, 2021. The bill failed but if it had been enacted it would have prevented the United States from “falling back” to Standard Time, and Americans would have avoided changing clocks in March 2021 when the United States typically springs forward to DST. Rubio and Scott introduced the bill in an effort to provide one year of stability for families who are already dealing with enough change with virtual learning, work from home, and other disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
n March 2019, Rubio re-introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make DST permanent across the country, excluding Arizona and Hawaii. The bill reflects the Florida legislature’s 2018 enactment of year-round DST; however, for Florida’s change to apply, a change in the federal statute is required. More than 10 other states, including Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Arkansas, Alabama, and Wyoming, have passed similar laws, and dozens more are considering. In 2018, California voters overwhelmingly passed a proposition to authorize the state legislature to move to permanent DST.
“As families across the nation prepare for yet another disruption to their daily routines this weekend, I want to remind Americans that we have another option — to stay on Daylight Saving Time,” Rubio said. “More daylight in the after school hours is critical to helping families and children endure this challenging school year. Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Daylight Saving Time, and 7 in 10 Americans don’t want to change their clocks. I urge my colleagues to work with me to make this Sunday the last time our country ‘falls back’.”
“After months of uncertainty and staying indoors amid the coronavirus pandemic, all of us could use a little more consistency and sunshine,” Scott said. “I was proud to join Senator Rubio to introduce legislation that would keep Daylight Saving Time year-round, and I hope our colleagues join us to pass this common-sense bill.”
According to Scott and Rubio, permanent Daylight Saving Time:
effects of making Daylight Saving Time permanent for the nation:
· Reduces car crashes and car accidents involving pedestrians: better aligning daylight hours to drivers’ standard work hours’ increases visibility, according to the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Safety Research. Also reduces the number of vehicle collisions with wildlife by 8 – 11 percent by shifting normal traffic patterns to an hour off from nocturnal wildlife’s behavior.
· Reduces risk for cardiac issues, stroke and seasonal depression.
· Reduces the number of robberies by 27 percent, according to a 2015 Brookings Institution because of additional daylight in the evenings.
· Benefits the economy, according to a study by JP Morgan Chase, which found that there is a drop in economic activity of 2.2 percent – 4.9 percent when clocks move back.
· Reduces childhood obesity and increases physical fitness, according to studies published by the International Journal Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity and the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, children see an increase in physical activity during DST. The Journal of Environmental Psychology found that DST increased pedestrian activity by 62% and cyclists activity by 38% because of additional daylight.
· Benefits the agricultural economy, which is disproportionately disrupted by biannual changes in time by upsetting the synergy between farmers’ schedules and their supply chain partners.
· Reduces energy usage, a 2008 study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that during the 4 weeks the U.S. extended daylight savings from the 2005 law, there were savings of about 0.5 percent in electricity per day. Later studies have also shown that the energy savings are minimal but a small savings does occur.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Monday Morning At Nine Mile Road Church
November 1, 2020
St. Luke United Methodist Church will be giving away 10,000 pounds of food Monday in in partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast.
The church parking lo will open at 8 a.m. for pre-registration. Individuals must have a Florida identification and will remain in their vehicles.
The distribution begins at 10 a.m. on first come, first served basis at 1394 East Nine Mile Road.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Spots
November 1, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- · Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – For the latest information visit FDOT.gov/PensacolaBay.
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers may encounter the following lane closures the week of Sunday, Nov. 1:
o Motorists traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage, median and pavement operations.
- · East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent nighttime lane closures as crews continue construction activities. Eastbound traffic can also expect daytime, right turn lane closures.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations. Drivers are also advised to watch for debris as cleanup efforts are still underway from Hurricane Sally.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. as construction activities continue.
- · I-10 Escambia Bay Bridge Maintenance– Motorists will encounter nighttime outside lane restrictions Sunday, Nov. 1 and inside lane restrictions Monday, Nov. 2 as crews perform deck work on the bridge.
Santa Rosa County:
- Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – For the latest information visit FDOT.gov/PensacolaBay.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
One Person Shot In Parking Lot Of The Pensacola Fair
October 31, 2020
One person was shot at the Pensacola Interstate Fair early Saturday morning.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting occurred about 1:30 a.m. in the parking lot during a fight between juveniles. The victim was transported to a Pensacola hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.
A witness told NorthEscambia.com that they heard what sounded like a gunshot or a firecracker in the parking lot. He said there were a couple hundred of people that quickly “took off” to get out of the main parking lot.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation. The ECSO did not say if a suspect was taken into custody and has not released the name of the victim.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Two Children Killed, One Firefighter Injured In Escambia County Mobile Home Fire
October 31, 2020
Two children died in an early morning mobile home fire in Escambia County.
The fire was reported at 4:37 a.m. in the 1200 block of 46th Avenue, just off Lillian Highway, in Myrtle Grove. Firefighters arrived to find the mobile home engulfed in flames. The fire was brought until control about a half hour later
Two juvenile victims were discovered at the scene, according to an Escambia County spokesperson, and one firefighter was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital for a minor injury.
The ages of the children were not released.
The American Red Cross is assisting the surviving residents, and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the blaze.
Century Cancels Council Meeting After Failing At Public Notice
October 31, 2020
The regular Century Town Council meeting that was scheduled for Monday night has been canceled after the town failed to provide adequate public notice of a location change.
The council normally meets the first and third Mondays of the month. At their last meeting in October, they decided to move the November 2 meeting from town hall to Century Ag Building. The change was made because the council chambers at town hall will be unavailable due to securely stored voting equipment for the general election on Tuesday.
But the town never provided the legally required public notice of the location change, prompting a decision on Friday to cancel the meeting.
Agenda items will be moved forward to the November 16 meeting.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
ECSO Responds To Report Of Decomposed Body In Jacks Branch. This Is What They Found.
October 31, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a decomposed body found in the water near a bridge on Jacks Branch Road late Friday afternoon.
A body was discovered and recovered from Jacks Branch, according to ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard.
“It turned out to be a decomposed deer,” she said.
The Jacks Branch Road bridge over Jacks Branch is about 2.5 miles north of Muscogee Road.
Northview Beats Chipley 45-13 (With Photo Gallery)
October 31, 2020
The Northview Chiefs beat the Chipley Tigers 45-13 Friday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview’s Jayden Jackson had 832 yards and 12 touchdowns in the last two games headed into Friday night’s game, averaging 17 yards per carry. MaxPreps has Jackson ranked fifth in the nation with 267 rushing yards per game.
And Jackson was off and running early in Friday night’s matchup with Chipley with a 56-yard touchdown carry for a Northview lead with 10:52 to go in the first quarter.
On the next possession for the Chiefs, Jackson was up the middle on a handoff from quarterback Kaden Odom for an 82-yard touchdown run to make it 12-0 for a Chiefs homecoming lead.
About three minutes later, the Tigers were in to cut the Northview lead to 12-7.
Then Jackson scored on a short 2-yard run for a third TD for a 18-7 Chiefs advantage.
With 1:33 on the clock in the second, Odom handed off to Jamarkus Jefferson to give the Chiefs a 25-7 lead headed into halftime.
Northview, now 5-1 overall, will host the Jay Royals (2-4) next Friday night in Bratt. It’s the second meeting of the season for the teams; Northview beat Jay 34-15 on October 23.
For a photo gallery, including action shots, the band, cheerleaders and NJROTC, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baptist Hospital Breaks Ground On New $615 Million Campus
October 31, 2020
Baptist Hospital broke ground Friday for their new $615 million hospital campus at Brent Lane and I-110 in Pensacola.
“This new health campus will serve us now and for generations to come. When Baptist Hospital opened, it was considered a beacon of modern health care,” said BHC president and CEO Mark Faulkner. “Think how far we’ve evolved since then. Our founders’ transformative planning led to generations of care for our community. This new, bold project will allow us to continue providing patient-centered care in a setting that offers the opportunity to evolve and adapt as the needs of our community change over the next 71 years.”
The new health campus represents the single largest investment in health care facilities, services and programs in Northwest Florida’s history. It will provide a central location for clinical care, programs and services that will be easier for patients to access. Equipped with innovative technologies for diagnosis and treatment along with a concentration of related services, the facility will provide a seamless continuum of care that is more convenient for the patient and better optimizes resources.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2023.
The construction of a new campus was announced in June 2019. Since that time, preliminary work has been ongoing including finalization of financing, selection of construction partners, initial site preparation and design planning.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Catholic Gets Past The Tate Aggies 28-21
October 31, 2020
The Catholic Crusaders defeated the Tate Aggies 28-21 Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium.
The Tate homecoming matchup was the first meeting of the two teams in a decade.
Down 21-7 with 1:19 to go in the third quarter, Tate senior quarterback Caleb Shelby found senior Zamir Dyer for a 28-yard touchdown to make it 21-14.
With 8:34 left in the fourth quarter, Shelby found Dyer again for a 70-yard touchdown run to tie things up at 21-21, but the Crusaders answered late in the fourth to take the lead.
The Tate Aggies, now 1-4 on the season, will take a long detour trip around the Pensacola Bay Bridge next Friday night as they barge into Gulf Breeze to face the 1-4 Dolphins.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
