Google Street View Car Spotted In North Escambia
March 3, 2019
The Google Street View car was spotted in Molino and the Quintette community on Saturday.
The real magic is mounted above the car taking 360 degrees of photos. It has motion sensors to track its position. Three lasers are used to create 3D maps of the surroundings.
GPS sensors, along with sensors that measure speed and direction are used to make sure the images are placed in the right place on the Google Maps and in Google Earth. The sensors even provide enough information to tilt and align the images with hilly terrain.
Google uses face and license plate blurring technology to make sure that people and vehicles captured in the images can’t be identified.
There’s no word when the new images from North Escambia will be available on Google Street View.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Damage Control Before Day One
March 3, 2019
The 2019 legislative session hasn’t even begun, but the mea culpas are already rolling in.
House Speaker José Oliva sparked a firestorm in a discussion with South Florida TV journalist Jim DeFede that went viral Thursday.
Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, repeatedly referred to pregnant women as “host bodies” when asked about the perennially controversial topic of abortion.
The conservative lawmaker is a fierce small-government proponent who believes people should be able to make their own decisions, he told DeFede, a veteran Miami reporter who works for the station CBS4.
But when asked about a slew of bills backed by anti-abortion legislators, the House leader said abortion is a more complicated issue because “there are two lives involved.”
“It’s a complex issue because one has to think, well there’s a host body and that host body has to have a certain amount of rights because at the end of the day, it is that body that that carries this entire other body to term. But there is an additional life there,” said Oliva, who used the term “host body” five times during the interview.
Asked if the term was demeaning to women, Oliva said he was using a “technical” term to be accurate.
But the Republican leader’s comments quickly went viral, drawing rebukes from critics including Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo, who blasted out a statement calling his words “hurtful, dehumanizing, and misogynistic.”
“You’d expect to hear this offensive language in the Handmaid’s Tale — not from the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. With the start of the legislative session just days away, Speaker Oliva has insulted Florida women — and made clear he will not be their champion in Tallahassee,” she said.
Friday morning, Oliva issued an apology elaborating on his parlance and acknowledging he made a mistake.
“It was an attempt to use terminology found in medical ethics writings with the purpose of keeping the discussion dispassionate. The reaction undoubtedly shows it had the exact opposite effect. I apologize for having caused offense, my aim was the contrary,” he said in a statement.
Abortion is society’s “greatest challenge,” he said, adding, “both mother and child have rights and the extent and balance of those rights remain in question.” Oliva again apologized and said he regretted that his words had become a distraction.
But the speaker’s concession wasn’t enough for abortion-rights supporters.
“Access to a popularly supported and constitutionally guaranteed form of health care is hardly our society’s greatest challenge; perhaps climate change or gun violence, but to characterize access to abortion as our greatest challenge is yet another reason why people don’t want politicians interfering in the first place,” Amy Weintraub, reproductive rights program director for Progress Florida, said.
WELCOME TO THE FOLD
The kerfuffle over Oliva’s remarks came just days before the advent of the 60-day legislative session Tuesday.
The Sunshine State has undergone a lot of changes in the prolonged break since the last time House and Senate leaders dropped the white hanky signifying the end of the 2018 session.
At the top of the list is a new chief executive, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will deliver his first State of the State address on opening day and who’s already set himself apart from his predecessor, former governor-turned-U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.
DeSantis is poised to test his influence with an extensive agenda heavily focused on the environment and expanding school choice.
Many people expected DeSantis to govern as the staunch conservative who parlayed his close ties to President Donald Trump into a November victory. But two months into his term, some of the governor’s proposals have drawn bipartisan praise.
The Republican governor has assembled an administration with former powerful lawmakers in key posts that could help some of his policy priorities.
Former House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who now serves as education commissioner, will advocate for the governor’s education agenda, which includes a $422 million teacher-bonus package, changes to a state scholarship program for bullied students and creating a new voucher program that would allow low-income students to use taxpayer-funded scholarships to go to private schools.
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, a former high-ranking House member, also will be a powerful voice in the administration, and DeSantis has appointed former Rep. Halsey Beshears to run the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and former Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, to head the Division of Emergency Management.
“DeSantis seems to value legislators and our input more than his predecessor. … There’s just a general good faith and good will,” Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said.
But don’t expect the Legislature to roll over for DeSantis, Galvano said.
“What the governor does is not going to be rubber-stamped here in the Senate, and vice versa,” he said. “It is a check and balance.”
CLOUDS CLEAR FOR POT PATIENTS
Florida policymakers readily admit they’ve taken baby steps when it comes to dealing with pot, both before and after voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana.
Even a new governor — and with him, an administration that’s no longer hostile to the concept of cannabis as a cure — might not change that, at least during the legislative session that begins next week.
The Republican-dominated Legislature, however, is on target to make one high-profile expansion to the state’s cannabis laws.
Responding to an ultimatum issued by DeSantis, lawmakers are almost certain to repeal Florida’s ban on smoking medical marijuana. If they don’t act by March 15, the Republican governor has threatened to drop the state’s appeal of a court ruling that said the ban runs afoul of the 2016 constitutional amendment.
Over the past month, House and Senate leaders have drawn closer to reaching consensus on a repeal, but two differences remain.
The House proposal (HB 7015) would allow dispensaries to sell pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes, but smoking would be off-limits to patients under age 18.
Unlike the House version, the Senate measure (SB 182) would require marijuana operators to sell at least one type of pre-rolled cigarette and would allow them to sell other whole-flower products. It would also let patients buy smoking equipment at other retail outlets, such as smoke shops. The Senate plan would let minors smoke medical marijuana if the patients get a second opinion from a pediatrician.
The House and Senate bills are headed to the chamber floors for votes after the session begins.
DeSantis told reporters he’s “talked about some broad strokes with folks” but hasn’t seen the legislation yet. He said he’s “willing to sign things if I can have good faith that it’s implementing the will of the voters” fairly.
“It may not mean I agree philosophically on every little nook and cranny, but we’ve got to meet the constitutional threshold. So if their bill does that, then I’ll look at it. So we’ll see how it shakes out, but both leaders know my position on that,” DeSantis, a Harvard Law School graduate, told reporters Tuesday.
Galvano and Oliva, whose fortune was made in the cigar business but who has been reluctant to repeal the ban, have deferred to DeSantis, setting aside objections about a paucity of research and concerns about the ill effects of smoking.
“I want to be able to say this is not going to be something that the courts are going to overturn. People voted. We’re going to implement. And then we’re going to move on,” DeSantis said.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Granting a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday impaneled a statewide grand jury to investigate whether school districts are complying with mandatory safety requirements following last February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I regret my wording has distracted from the issue. My apologies to all.” — House Speaker José Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, apologizing for referring to pregnant women as “host bodies” during a discussion about abortion.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Molino Woman Charged With Meth Possession After Traffic Stop
March 2, 2019
A traffic stop on Highway 29 led to the arrest of a Molino woman on drug charges.
Angie Dahl Hart, 43, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by an Escambia County deputy on Highway 29 at Cedar Tree Lane for no brake lights. She was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hart allegedly had 7.7 grams of methamphetamine inside a book bag and a glass crack pipe, according to an arrest report.
The driver of the vehicle was not arrested.
Hart remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $11,000.
Florida Gas Prices Jump 25 Cents In Just 10 Days
March 2, 2019
Florida gas prices jumped 14 cents in the past week, for a combined total increase of 25 cents in 10 days. After selling for nearly $2.23 per gallon – just 10 days ago – the average price for a gallon of gasoline in Florida is now up to nearly $2.50.
In Escambia County the average price per gallon was at $2.31 on Friday.
“While it may be hard to stomach, the recent jump at the pump is common this time of year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Maintenance season is underway for refiners along the Gulf Coast. While conducting spring cleaning at their plants, they have also begun sending out summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce. This likely isn’t the end for rising prices. AAA forecasts the national average will peak at around $2.75 by Memorial Day.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Crazy Hat Day Raises Money For Childhood Cancer Research
March 2, 2019
Hats off to Jim Allen Elementary School. Friday, the school raised $425 to donate to childhood cancer research with their Crazy Hat Day. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Tate Softball Beats Lincoln
March 2, 2019
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Lincoln Friday 4-3 in the Florida USA Challenge in Panama City Beach.
After three scoreless innings, the Lady Aggies held a four-run advantage after the top of the fifth, as Lincoln attempted a comeback with three of their own in in the bottom of the inning.
Beauchanie earned the win for the Aggies allowing three runs on three hits in six and two-thirds innings while striking out seven.
Cawby led the Lady Aggies at the plate going 2-4 with one run.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Holding Career Fair, Open House
March 2, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will hold an Open House and Career Fair on Tuesday, March 5 at the administration building at 1700 West Leonard Street.
ECSO personnel from SWAT, K-9, Dispatch, Investigations, Patrol, Crime Scene, Evidence, School Resource Office, and Cadet I & II Recruiters, will be on hand to answer questions.
The ECSO is currently hiring for law enforcement personnel: deputy sheriff (certified), cadet I, and cadet II positions; as well as, dispatchers, and dispatcher trainees. There are also careers available in accounting, IT civil, legal, human resources, mechanical, public relations, personnel, secretarial, crime scene technicians, evidence technicians, and administration.
All applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED), be a United States citizen and have no previous felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving perjury or false statements.
Click image to download flyer.
Regulations Coming On Plastic Drinking Straws In Florida?
March 2, 2019
A Florida Senate committee Monday will take up a proposal that would prevent local governments from regulating distribution of plastic straws, amid a broader national debate about discarded straws causing pollution problems in oceans and other areas.
The bill (SB 588), filed by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, will be considered by the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. It would give regulatory power over single-use plastic straws to the state — a practice known as “preemption” of local government authority.
“A municipality, county, or other local governmental entity may not adopt, enforce, or implement any ordinance, rule, or law that would further restrict a food service establishment from distributing single-use plastic straws to customers,” the bill says.
The bill would restrict restaurants and other establishments to only providing single-use straws if the straws are requested by customers. But that restriction would not apply to such things as take-out orders, delivery orders and orders placed with apps.
An identical bill (HB 603) has been filed in the House by Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, and Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills. The bills are filed for the legislative session that starts Tuesday.
by The News Service of Florida
Passenger Killed When Molino Man Runs Off I-10 In Santa Rosa County
March 1, 2019
A passenger in a Molino man’s vehicle was killed in single vehicle crash Friday on the interstate in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 27-year old Dustin Broxson of Molino was westbound on I-10 when he lost control, ran off the roadway and his 2003 GMC overturned. His passenger, 21-year old Nykolas Parodi of Gulf Breeze, was ejected and pronounced deceased at an area hospital.
Broxson was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Any charges are pending the outcome of the FHP investigation.
Ransom Middle, Kingsfield Elementary Placed On Precautionary Lockdown
March 1, 2019
Kingsfield Elementary and Ransom Middle schools were placed on a precautionary lockdown Friday afternoon.
A person off campus called in an unspecified threat against personnel at Kingsfield Elementary School, said Amber Southard, chief public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged perpetrator was taken into custody under the Baker Act. Florida’s Baker Act allows officers to take an individual into custody for an involuntary mental examination when it is believed they are a danger to themselves or others.
The lockdown was lifted by 2:40 p.m.
File photo.