Incoming Senate President Says Lawmakers Won’t ‘Slow Walk’ Amendments
November 20, 2018
Incoming Senate President Bill Galvano is promising that lawmakers won’t do anything to block the nearly dozen constitutional amendments that voters passed this month.
The Legislature has come under fire in the past for allegations that it ignored amendments or approved laws limiting their scope. But Galvano said during a media availability Friday that the “people have spoken,” and “I want to make sure we are being true to the intent of the voters.”
He added that legislators are not going to “slow walk” implementation of the amendments.
Voters on Nov. 6 passed 11 measures dealing with topics ranging from taxes to vaping indoors and casino gambling.
The gambling measure, known as Amendment 3, requires voter approval for proposals that would expand casino gambling in the state. Galvano said he would like Florida to follow other states and permit betting on sports events such as football games.
But he said the Senate is still looking at whether the newly passed amendment would require lawmakers to put a sports-betting referendum on the ballot.
Voters approved 11 of the 12 amendments that appeared before them on the ballot. Only Amendment 1 — which would have increased the homestead property-tax exemption — failed to get the required 60 percent approval from voters to pass.
Voters also gave the nod to Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to most felons who have served their sentences. The amendment is estimated to impact 1.4 million people. Galvano said he didn’t support the amendment, but he said it comes to the Legislature with “greater weight” because it was passed by voters.
“We have to do it right, we’re not going to slow walk it, but we have to make sure it’s done right and implemented correctly,” said Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who will formally become Senate president during an organization session Tuesday.
While it received relatively little campaign attention, a measure that called for new lobbying restrictions was the most popular of the amendments. The lobbying proposal, known as Amendment 12, received support from 78.9 percent of voters, far exceeding the 60 percent threshold needed to pass constitutional amendments. The measure, in part, will ban state and local elected officials from lobbying for six years after they leave office.
The constitutional amendments were put on the ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission, the Legislature and through petition drives.
Others that passed included Amendment 5, which will make it harder for the Legislature to authorize or raise taxes; Amendment 9, which bars offshore oil drilling and vaping and the use of electronic cigarettes in indoor workplaces; and Amendment 13, which will ban greyhound racing at pari-mutuel facilities.
Lawmakers have clashed with backers of some constitutional amendments in the past. As an example, the Legislature has been embroiled in a series of lawsuits about whether it has properly carried out a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
West Florida’s Morgan Signs With Coastal Alabama
November 20, 2018
West Florida High School senior Meredith Morgan of Molino has signed with Coastal Alabama Brewton Warshawks Softball. Pictured top: The signing ceremony. Pictured below: Morgan with WFHS coach Belinda Pittman and (bottom) Coastal Alabama coach Misti Nims. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Academic Team Ranks In Tournament
November 20, 2018
The Ransom Academic Team competed in the Lewis Falcons Middle School Academy Tournament on Saturday.
Team members were:
Team A
- Jake Bures, Captain
- Callie Hastings
- Aidan Webster
- Kriseya Wheeler
Team B
- Connor Ryan, Captain
- Otis Evans
- Alseha Wright
They played five morning rounds against experienced competitive teams. Both teams won preliminary matches. Team A finished in fifth place and Team B finished in ninth place out of 16 teams. In individual player rankings, Jake Bures ranked in third place her second tournament ever. Callie Hastings earned an 18th place ranking out of 69 players.
Molino Man Found Incompetent To Stand Trial For Arson, Burglary
November 19, 2018
A Molino man has been found incompetent to stand trial for arson, burglary and several other charges.
Judge John Miller ordered Ivy Dwayne Little committed to the Florida State Hospital.
On April 10, a resident of Fairgrounds Road near the Molino Boat Ramp and her family had a recreational fire in a fire pit by the river. Later that night, she told deputies that she saw Little, 55, by the fire pit and called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived, but were unable to locate Little.
The following morning, the resident smelled smoke in her home and found a small fire smoldering on a concrete floor inside her enclosed porch. The fire was still smoldering when deputies arrived on scene.
The fire caused burn marks on the floor and possible smoke damage. The resident reported a a pair of shoes, a tent and two umbrellas missing.
Deputies located Little walking on Highway 29 near their Molino Precinct and placed him under arrest on a first degree felony charge of arson of an occupied dwelling, along with burglary of an occupied dwelling, criminal mischief and petit theft.
The incident was investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed On Pine Forest Road
November 19, 2018
UPDATE: Second vehicle located.
A pedestrian was struck by two vehicles and killed Sunday night on Pine Forest Road. One of the vehicles fled the scene.
The pedestrian was walking southbound in the outside lane of Pine Forest Road just south of Five Flags Speedway when he or she was struck by a 2009 Toyota Versa driven by 31-year old Jazma Jarremus Garrett of Pensacola, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A second vehicle then collided with the pedestrian before fleeing the area. The driver was later identified as 24-year old Kenneth Richardson of Pensacola.
The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS. The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000 and reference case number 718-09-054.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Nelson Concedes Senate Race, Scott Heads To Washington
November 19, 2018
With a victory margin of a little more than a tenth of a percentage point out of 8.2 million votes cast, Gov. Rick Scott has won election to the U.S. Senate, ending the four-decade political career of Bill Nelson.
In the final vote tallies sent to the state Division of Elections on Sunday, Scott, a two-term Republican governor, held a 10,033-vote edge — or 0.12 percent — over Nelson, a Democrat who was seeking re-election to his fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
The election went to an automatic machine recount when Scott failed to secure a lead of more than 0.5 percent in the initial count after the Nov. 6 election. The machine recount left the Republican with a 12,603-vote lead, or 0.15 percent, triggering the statewide manual recount that concluded at noon Sunday.
Scott’s lead was narrowed by 2,570 votes between the end of the machine recount on Thursday and the conclusion of the manual recount, but he has consistently held a lead since Election Day. The final results are expected to be certified when the state Elections Canvassing Commission meets Tuesday morning in Tallahassee.
Scott, who said Nelson “graciously conceded” in a phone call on Sunday, thanked Nelson “for his years of public service.”
While the voting recount process drew harsh accusations of fraud and political chicanery, numerous lawsuits and counter-lawsuits, Scott’s victory statement called for unity.
“My focus will not be on looking backward, but on doing exactly what I ran on: making Washington work,” Scott said. “I know change is never popular in Washington and that I’m just one person — but we have to start somewhere.”
Nelson’s defeat marked the end of the 76-year-old Democrat’s lengthy political career, which includes 18 years in the U.S. Senate, a dozen years in the U.S. House, six years on the state Cabinet and six years in the Florida Legislature.
“Well, things worked out a little differently than Grace and I had hoped. But let me say, I by no measure feel defeated,” Nelson said in a statement Sunday afternoon. “And that’s because I have had the privilege of serving the people of Florida and our country for most of my life.”
Nelson used his statement to urge support for issues including health-care policies that cover pre-existing conditions, Florida’s environment, Social Security and Medicare. He called for an end to “all forms of voter suppression.”
But he also said he would urge opposing political factions “to seek common ground with their colleagues on the other side of the aisle.”
“Inevitably, at times, that effort will fall short. But we have to try,” Nelson said. “We have to move beyond a politics that aims not just to defeat but to destroy; where truth is treated as disposable, where falsehoods abound, and the free press is assaulted as the ‘enemy of the people.’ ”
Scott’s Senate victory carried the hallmarks of his two previous statewide elections. All three campaigns were costly, hard fought and decided by extremely narrow margins.
A wealthy former health-care executive from Naples, Scott, 65, entered the 2010 governor’s race as a political novice and beat Democrat Alex Sink by a 1.2 percent margin, after spending more than $70 million of his personal fortune.
In his re-election bid in 2014, Scott edged former Gov. Charlie Crist by a 1 percent margin.
Scott’s 0.12 percent, or 10,033 votes, victory over Nelson was his costliest and tightest race. He spent more than $64 million of his own money on the contest, according to Federal Elections Commission reports. Total spending by Scott, Nelson and outside groups was well over $100 million.
Scott’s victory means that Florida will be represented by two Republican senators in the U.S. Senate for the first time since the Reconstruction era. Scott will join U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who won re-election to his second term in 2016.
In a statement, Rubio praised the working relationship he had with Nelson, despite their differing politics.
“Even though we often voted differently, not once did that interfere with our ability to work together,” Rubio said. “I will miss working with him very much.”
Nelson’s defeat underscores the fact that incumbent senators rarely lose re-election bids. The last time that happened in Florida was in 1986, when U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins, a Republican, lost her re-election bid to Gov. Bob Graham, a Democrat.
Over the last half century, the majority of U.S. senators representing Florida have left office by deciding not to seek re-election.
Scott is expected to join the U.S. Senate when it convenes for a new session on Jan. 3. It will mean he will have to resign as governor before his term ends on Jan. 8, when Republican Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis takes office.
If Scott resigns early, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a former state lawmaker from Miami, will become Florida’s 46th governor for a short period, before DeSantis’ term begins.
A similar scenario occurred in January 1987, when Graham resigned as governor to join the U.S. Senate. Lt. Gov. Wayne Mixson served three days as Graham’s successor in the governor’s office before former Gov. Bob Martinez took office.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Annual Peanut Butter Challenge Continues Through Wednesday
November 19, 2018
If you want to help feed the hungry in Florida’s Panhandle this year, you can donate peanut butter during the annual Peanut Butter Challenge, coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension. Thanks to a partnership of UF/IFAS Extension and the Florida Peanut Producers Association, food pantries from Pensacola to Monticello will receive thousands of jars of donated peanut butter this December.
The annual Peanut Butter Challenger coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension is underway.
Donate unopened jars of peanut butter at the UF/IFAS Extension office and other locations in Escambia County by this Wednesday.This year, drop-off boxes can be found at:
- UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. W St., Pensacola
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Gilmore Services, 31 E. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor, Pensacola
- Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit,10650 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Since 2012, the volunteers and UF/IFAS Extension faculty have collected jars of peanut butter from residents, volunteer groups and businesses in 16 Northwest Florida counties. Last year, UF/IFAS Extension county offices received 6,388 jars of peanut butter from across the district.
In addition to these donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association also contributes, supplying more than 3,000 jars each challenge, said Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and co-organizer of the challenge.
They hope to surpass that total this year, and citizens of Escambia County are asked to help.
“Every year, the Peanut Butter Challenge continues to grow and helps support the needs of our community with a healthy, locally-grown crop,” Johnson said. “Extension is proud to coordinate the effort to reduce food insecurity for Escambia County residents.”
Tate Cheerleaders Host Charity Cheer Challenge
November 19, 2018
The Tate High School cheer program partnered with Cheer Up to host a Charity Cheer Challenge Saturday.
Tate’s JV and varsity squads both won first place in their divisions, and the varsity squad was named grand champions.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts – Where To Expect Delays
November 19, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Lane closures associated with normal construction activities along Interstate 10 and major state roads will be suspended from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25. Debris removal and disposal services across Northwest Florida will continue except on Thursday, Nov. 22. During debris removal operations traffic flaggers will be onsite to assist with traffic control. Motorists and pedestrian traffic are reminded to watch for workers and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur Sunday, Nov. 18 through Tuesday, Nov. 20. Work requiring lane restrictions will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Wednesday morning.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Wednesday morning.
- Sunday, Nov. 18 and Monday, Nov. 19: Nine Mile Road will be closed at the U.S. 29 overpass as crews place beams for the northbound bridge deck. Eastbound Nine Mile Road traffic will be reduced to one lane, detoured to U.S. 29 South, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road. Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct traffic.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 through Tuesday, Nov. 20.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road– Paving operations continue from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 through Tuesday, Nov. 20.
- · Crary Road Bridge Replacement- Crary Road will be temporarily closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road.
- · S.R. 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- The north entrance of Usher Circle from Fairfield Drive will reopen Saturday, Nov. 17.
- · U.S. 98 (East Chase Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to Bayfront Parkway- There will be paving operations from I-110 to Bayfront Parkway Sunday, Nov. 18 through Tuesday, Nov. 20. Lane closures will be in effect 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Nov.18 through Tuesday, Nov. 20.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) – North and southbound traffic will shift to the new Yellow River Bridge the week of Monday, Nov. 19. The shift will allow crews to reconstruct the roadway approaches to the existing structure. It is expected to remain in place until early 2019. Traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
- U.S. 98 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- Temporary barrier wall construction is complete from Sunrise Drive to east of Cotton Bay Lane. Drivers are reminded to use caution as crews perform construction activities in this area.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Fire Destroys Cotton Picker
November 19, 2018
Fire destroyed a cotton picker in field on Highway 178 south of Jay Saturday. There were no injuries reported. Photos by April McCullough for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
