New Year Brings New Laws, Worker’s Comp Changes
January 2, 2019
In addition to a higher minimum wage, a few new laws went into effect in Florida on January 1.
Minimum-wage workers will start earning $8.46 an hour Tuesday, up from $8.25 an hour in 2018 — and more than a dollar above the $7.25 federal minimum wage.
Florida’s minimum wage ticks up each year because of a 2004 constitutional amendment that ties the rate to inflation.
Also, businesses across the state will begin to see lower workers’ compensation insurance rates. Regulators have approved an overall 13.8 percent decrease in workers’ compensation rates for 2019.
The decrease follows a 9.5 average rate reduction in 2018.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance, which files rate proposals for the industry each year, said in an August filing that the decrease is in line with trends in other states.
“Consistent improvement in loss experience is the primary driver underlying the filing. More specifically, the long-term decline in claim frequency has continued to more than offset moderate increases in claim severity,” an overview by the organization known as NCCI said. “This has resulted in continued downward pressure on the overall average rate level need and is consistent with trends across most NCCI states.”
Most laws passed during the 2018 legislative session took effect July 1, October 1 or upon Gov. Rick Scott’s signature. In all, lawmakers sent 195 bills to Scott from the session that ended in March. The governor vetoed two, while signing the rest.
A handful take effect Tuesday, including a measure (HB 1011) that requires homeowners’ insurance policies to make clear that they do not cover flood damage.
“I’ve met many constituents who had no idea that their hurricane coverage did not include protections when their homes flooded,” Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, said late last year when she introduced the Senate version of the bill. “This is especially problematic in South Florida as we face sea level rise and stronger storm surges from climate change.”
Also this week, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission will hold a conference call to vote on a report that includes findings and recommendations stemming from the Feb. 14 shooting in Broward County that killed 17 people. The commission was created as part of broad legislation approved during the 2018 session after the shooting at the Parkland high school.
The commission will finalize the report Wednesday. It is expected to deal with numerous issues, including the possibility of arming teachers and ways to bolster the security of school buildings.
With the start of the new year, however, much of the attention in state government will focus on next week’s inauguration of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis. A transition team has been gradually filling out the administration of DeSantis, who will be sworn in January 8.
by The News Service of Florida
School Report Cards: Most Escambia County (AL) Schools Are ‘C’ Rated
January 2, 2019
The Alabama Department of Education has released their annual school report cards, with the statewide grade coming in at a “B”.
Escambia County (AL) received an overall grade of “C”. Every school in Escambia County was ranked at a “C”, except Flomaton Elementary, Flomaton High and Huxford Elementary all receiving a “B”.
- Escambia County overall – 79 C
- Escambia County High School – 70 C
- Escambia County Middle School – 73 C
- Flomaton Elementary School – 87 B
- Flomaton High School – 87 B
- Huxford Elementary School – 82 B
- Pollard-McCall Junior High School – 79 C
- Rachel Patterson Elementary School – 72 C
- W.S. Neal Elementary School – 73 C
- W.S. Neal Middle School – 77 C
- W.S. Neal High School – 77 C
“The 2018 State Accountability report tells us something valuable about a school or school system, but it does not tell us everything about that school or system,” Alabama Superintendent Eric Mackey stated in a prepared release after the release of the grades for the schools and districts. “Based primarily on a particular assessment, it is a snapshot in time. When stacked together year after year, similar to snapshots of your family, these pictures of school academic performance can certainly can be used to monitor academic progress and growth. But when we describe our children, we use more than snapshots; we talk about their personalities, struggles, challenges, aspirations, successes.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Small Engine Shop Burglary Under Investigation In Flomaton
January 2, 2019
Police are looking for a suspect that burglarized Flomaton Small Engines early Tuesday morning.
The burglary occurred just after 4:15 a.m. Someone drove up to the Highway 31 business, smashed glass and entered the store. The suspect is seen on surveillance video heading down a center aisle before turning quickly and taking four chain saws from a display.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Extricated After Serious Crash On Tate Road
January 1, 2019
A female was seriously injured in a crash late Monday night on Tate Road.
Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate the woman from her vehicle after she collided with several trees about 10:40 p.m.. She was transported to a Pensacola hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The wreck is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers have not released any further information.
The Cantonment and Ensley Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
For additional photos of the rescue effort, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
What Were Your New Year’s Resolutions?
January 1, 2019
Happy New Year! Did you make New Year’s resolutions? Monday night, we asked NorthEcambia.com social media followers to share their resolutions. Here’s what a few of them had to say. If you want to join in the conversation, just leave a comment.
Angel Smith – To better myself for myself and my children. Take 1 day at a time. And live life to the fullest.
PatRick Wessel — To wake up to start with. And to be nicer to people
Carmen Antone – To wake up to start with And to be nicer to people.
Keith-Tina Garrison – I quit making New Years Resolutions about 10 years ago. That prevents me from being so disappointed when I break them.
Michael Weaver — To make better financial decisions.
Angie Sanders Cotton — My New Year’s Resolution is to get more rest and have more fun!
Shiela Taylor — I have never made New Year’s Resolutions. I would forget I promised myself to change something, do it the old way, then feel bad for a long time for breaking a promise.
Talana Smith — Every day is a new day. Why wait until the new year to change?
Jessica Leigh — My New Years resolution! To not let a page of life go unturned!
2019 Brings Lower Rates For Gulf Power Customers
January 1, 2019
Beginning in January, Gulf Power customers will see prices drop nearly 2 percent thanks to additional tax savings and lower costs. The drop was approved last year by the Florida Public Service Commission. The average residential Gulf Power customer using 1,112 kilowatt-hours per month can expect to see a $2.70 drop on their monthly energy bill. Customers who use more electricity will see more savings while customers who use less will see less.
“This tax reduction and lower costs means lower energy prices beginning in customers’ January bills,” said Gulf Power spokesperson Jeff Rogers. “This will be the eighth time in 10 years we’ve been able to decrease prices with the average customer saving about $32 per year.”
In October 2018, the Florida Public Service Commission approved Gulf Power’s request to reduce rates for 2019 and beyond. This reflects the remaining tax savings resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The proposed decrease comes on the heels of a previous price drop in 2018. Gulf Power worked to reach an agreement with the Office of Public Counsel, the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, The Florida Retail Federation and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to agree on how to best deliver these savings to customers.
A portion of the price drop includes lower costs in fuel, environmental controls and energy conservation programs. These “clauses” are reviewed annually.
“We’re extremely excited that electricity prices for our customers in Northwest Florida will be the lowest they’ve been in five years,” said Rogers. “As we pass along these additional savings to our customers, we will continue to invest in Northwest Florida’s energy grid to maintain the safe, reliable and affordable service our customers have come to expect.”
Florida Minimum Wage Increases
January 1, 2019
Minimum-wage workers in Florida are getting a little more in their paychecks in 2019.
The state’s minimum wage is $8.46 an hour as of Tuesday, up from $8.25 an hour in 2018, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The minimum wage for tipped employees is now at least $5.44 an hour, up from $5.23 an hour in 2018.
Florida voters in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment establishing a state minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage.
The state minimum wage increases because it is tied to inflation. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
by The News Service of Florida
Escambia Man Sentenced For Selling Drugs From Hotel Room Where His Kids Were Sleeping
January 1, 2019
An Escambia County man that was selling drugs from a Highway 29 motel hotel room has been sentenced to 23 years in state prison.
Tony Kwabena Lovelace must serve 15 years of his sentence as a minimum mandatory.
Lovelace, 39, was convicted of one count of trafficking in heroin, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to sell, two counts of child neglect and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
On May 7, 2018, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators served a search warrant at a hotel room at the Luxury Suites on Pensacola Boulevard. An investigation began after information was received that Lovelace was selling heroin from the hotel room. Lovelace, an unknown female, and Lovelace’s two young children were located in the hotel room, along with more than 19 grams of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and over $6,600 in cash.
Lovelace’s two children were asleep in the bed near the controlled substances. Lovelace is a convicted felon and has a criminal history that includes several prior convictions for possession of controlled substances with intent to sell.
File Management: Learn How Manage Files And Folders At Century Library
January 1, 2019
The West Florida Public Library will offer a file management class at the Century Branch Library on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Attendees will lean how to create and organize files and folders. The class will include information on local and cloud-based storage options.
Escambia Man Sentenced To 50 Years For Molesting Young Girl
January 1, 2019
An Escambia County man will spend 50 years in state prison for molesting a young girl.
Monday, Christopher David McCumsey was sentenced on two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim less than 12.
Circuit Judge Stephen Pitre sentenced the McCumsey to 25 years state prison as a minimum mandatory sentence to run consecutively for a total of 50 years in state prison followed by lifetime sex offender probation. He was also designated as a sexual predator.
In December of 2017, a 7- year old child disclosed that McCumsey had sexually abused her since May of 2017.