Supreme Court Gambling Ruling Not A Winning Ticket In Florida
May 15, 2018
A U.S. Supreme Court decision viewed as a major win for the gambling industry opened the door to sports betting in states across the country, but Florida almost certainly won’t be one of them — at least for now.
Monday’s decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, a case the state of New Jersey brought as a challenge to a law known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, found that a federal ban on state-sanctioned sports betting is unconstitutional.
As the Supreme Court considered the case, some states filed legislation to authorize lucrative sports betting in anticipation of the federal law being struck down.
But in Florida, two major obstacles — a ballot initiative and the need for a special legislative session — stand in the way of joining states such as Mississippi and Pennsylvania, which have cleared the decks to allow gamblers to bet on professional and collegiate sports teams as soon as the NFL season begins in the fall.
A proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot will allow Florida voters to decide if they want to control decisions about gambling, something now largely left up to the Legislature. If Amendment 3 passes, voters statewide would have to sign off on future gambling expansions.
Sen. Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican who has been a lead negotiator on gambling issues for several years, told The News Service of Florida on Monday the high court ruling won’t have an immediate impact on Florida, where sports betting is illegal.
“The ruling does not automatically change the gaming landscape in Florida,” said Galvano, a lawyer who will take over as Senate president after the November elections. “I believe it will create more interest in pursuing some types of sports betting, on behalf of the pari-mutuels as well as the (Seminole) tribe and some independent entities. But all of that is overshadowed by the pending constitutional amendment, which may create tremendous obstacles for any type of sports betting to come into the state.”
Galvano and his House counterpart, Miami Lakes Republican Jose Oliva, last month raised the possibility of a special session to address perpetually elusive gambling issues but abandoned the notion after Gov. Rick Scott secured a yearlong gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe. The agreement is focused on the tribe’s promise to continue making payments to the state in exchange for “exclusivity” over “banked” card games, such as blackjack.
A special session in reaction to Monday’s court decision is “very unlikely,” Galvano said.
Florida’s gambling operators could lose out on big bucks if the state doesn’t get into the sports-betting game.
“The economic impact of allowing sports betting cannot be understated: Legal sports betting in Las Vegas takes in over $5 billion each year, and most estimates put the value of illegal sports betting in the United States at up to $100 billion,” Amy Howe wrote on the SCOTUSblog website, which closely covers Supreme Court cases, after Monday’s decision.
Sports gambling is “a benefit for anybody with a tourist-based economy,” Marc Dunbar, an attorney who represents the gambling industry and who teaches gambling law at Florida State University, told the News Service.
“Florida’s going to miss out. Mississippi is going to implement it, and it’s going to benefit the Biloxi casinos on the coast. Unfortunately, our hoteliers and our resorts and casinos won’t be able to benefit from that,” he said.
The proposed constitutional amendment would make it harder for Floridians to have sports gambling, said Dunbar, a Tallahassee-based partner with the law firm Jones Walker.
“This would probably be another reason why folks should vote against Amendment 3. If you want to have sports gambling in Florida, you probably want to vote no on Amendment 3,” he said.
But John Sowinski, the chairman of Voters in Charge, a political committee behind the amendment, called the court ruling another reason to support the proposed constitutional amendment because the measure would give voters a say in gambling activities.
“A lot of people in Florida would be relieved to know that, if we’re going to have sports gambling in this state, it’s going to happen by design of Florida voters, not by Tallahassee politicians and gambling lobbyists,” he said.
If the amendment doesn’t pass, sports betting will become an integral component of the Legislature’s discussions about thorny gambling issues, which some have likened to a three-dimensional game of chess even without the latest gambling twist.
“I’m just letting things play out. We’ll see what happens in November,” Galvano said.
by Dara Kam with contribution from Tom Urban, The News Service of Florida
Quick Look: This Year’s Graduation Dates And Times
May 15, 2018
Mark you calendars – graduation dates for the Class of 2018 have been scheduled for high schools in Escambia County.
The schedule is as follows:
May 18 – 6:00 p.m. Escambia Westgate School at B.T. Washington High School
May 19 – 4:00 p.m. Northview High School at Northview High School
May 21 – 11:00 Camelot Academy at First Baptist Church of Warrington
May 21 – 6:00 p.m. Judy Andrews (Second Chance) at Pensacola High School
May 24 – at Pensacola Bay Center:
11:00 a.m. J.M. Tate High School
2:30 p.m. West Fla. High School
6:00 p.m. Pine Forest High School
May 25 – at Pensacola Bay Center:
11:00 a.m. Escambia High School
2:30 p.m. Pensacola High School
6:00 p.m. B.T. Washington High School
Tryouts Set For Northview Summer Softball
May 15, 2018
Northview High School will hold summer ball tryouts Wednesday and Thursday for girls interested in playing softball. Incoming ninth graders through the twelfth grade are eligible. Tryouts will be held on the softball field at 3:45 p.m. For more information, contact Coach Holland at (850) 327-6681.
Eighth Inning Homer Sinks Wahoos, 4-1
May 15, 2018
Jake Gatewood belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Shuckers a 4-1 lead, and eventual win over the Blue Wahoos Monday night at MGM Park.
Anthony DeSclafani and Michael Lorenzen made Major League rehab appearances ahead of Jesus Reyes, the Blue Wahoos scheduled starter. Both dazzled starting with three perfect innings from DeSclafani. He struck out four. The game started with rain falling, and after back to back strikeouts in the bottom of the first the game was delayed for 21 minutes. DeSclafani returned after the delay without any issues.
Lorenzen pitched his scheduled one inning and worked around a leadoff single in the fourth. He struck out one without a walk and left the game scoreless.
Shed Long broke the scoreless tie with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning. Biloxi took advantage of a pair of errors to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Then in the eighth inning, Reyes issued a one-out walk to Corey Ray who advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a shallow fly out, the Blue Wahoos intentionally walked Lucas Erceg to set up a right on right matchup with Jake Gatewood. Gatewood launched a line drive home run just inside the left field foul pole which proved to be the difference in the game.
Reyes (L, 0-7) finished the final four innings and was charged with four runs, three earned, with three walks and four strikeouts.
Shuckers starter Zack Brown took a no decision after seven strong innings. He allowed just one run on three walks and five strikeouts. Quentin Torres-Costa (W, 1-0) got the win after working a scoreless eighth inning. Southern League Saves leader Nate Griep (S, 15) finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the win and give Biloxi a 2-1 edge in the series.
Pensacola will look to even the series on Tuesday night. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (1-5, 5.45) to the mound against Shuckers RHP Adrian Houser (0-0, 4.34).
Deputies Rescue Puppy From Hot Car; Man Arrested
May 14, 2018
Escambia County deputies saved a puppy from a hot car Saturday near Sears on Davis Highway.
Deputy Sheriff Matheny and Deputy Sheriff Trainee Waters responded to a call of a puppy locked in a hot vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle could not be located and the puppy was squealing, panting heavily, and in distress. The outside temperature was reported to be 92 degrees at the time.
Matheny broke the driver’s side window to rescue the pup. Waters gave the dog water and placed her in a cool patrol car until Escambia County Animal Control arrived and took custody.
Deputies later found and arrested the owner of the vehicle. William Sparkman, 25, was charged with an animal offense. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
Driver Airlifted After Hitting Tree In Molino
May 14, 2018
A driver was seriously injured in a single vehicle wreck in Molino Monday morning.
The male lost control on Pilgrim Trail Road off Highway 97, left the roadway and struck a brick mailbox before hitting a large pine tree. He was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Fires Recycling Company, Takes Over Program Operations
May 14, 2018
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has terminated the company that was responsible for processing their recyclables.
Zero Waste had operated the ECUA’s Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), but now ECUA has taken over over direct recycling operations.
“Zero Waste was in breach of contract and owed us for six months, about $250,000 for recyclables sold,” Nathalie Bowers, spokesperson for the ECUA said. “We delivered the recyclables to them, they sold them at market value and there was a sliding scale where we would get revenue back depending on commodity prices that change monthly. They withheld $50,000 last September and October, paid November and December, and then paid nothing in January and February.”
ECUA has hired several Zero Waste staffers to work directly for ECUA in the operation of the recycling facility at the Perdido Landfill.
The recycling facility is near capacity, but hours will be difficult to expand, Bowers said. Hours for the MRF are tied to the hours at the landfill, which must be open for trucks to make deliveries.
A nationwide recycling market downturn has not hit ECUA hard , Bowers said, because it’s still cheaper for ECUA to recycle than send materials to the landfill.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Class Of 2018 Holds Baccalaureate Service (With Gallery)
May 14, 2018
The Northview High School Class of 2018 held their Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
The program also included scripture, prayer, music provide by the Northview Senior Class Ensemble, and a message from Rev. Nathan Brown of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
Graduation for the Northview High School Class of 2018 will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19 at the school.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
May 14, 2018
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:
· State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Scenic Highway (U.S. 90)- Alternating and intermittent lane closures on Creighton Road between Davis Highway and 9th Avenue and on 9th Avenue at the intersection of Creighton Road from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 13 through Saturday, May 19 as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.
- U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 13 through Saturday, May 19 as follows:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: North and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new center bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road - Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 13 through Thursday, May17 as crews pave the roadway.
· I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 13 through Thursday, May 17:
-
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north and south (Exit 10).
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement - Alternating east and westbound lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 13 through Thursday, May 17 as crews perform construction activities. Lillian Highway (U.S. 98) Resurfacing Project- Construction activities are underway on the U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) resurfacing project. Any work which will require lane restrictions will take place from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 13 through Thursday, May 17.
· U.S. 98 Routine Maintenance over Bayou Chico- East and westbound traffic will encounter lane restrictions from 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 16 as crews replace lights and remove debris on the bridge.
· S.R. 97 Bridge Replacement Project over Sandy Hollow Creek- Crews will transition traffic from the existing bridge to a temporary detour structure Tuesday, May 15. Motorist can expect intermittent on-lane traffic throughout the day as workers make final preparations to shift traffic. Once traffic has been moved to the new configuration, replacement of the 1940 bridge will begin. The project is anticipated to be complete fall 2018.
· Mobile Highway at Beulah Road Intersection Project- Work to improve the intersection of State Road 10A (Mobile Highway) at Beulah Road in Escambia County is scheduled to begin the week of Monday, May 21. To help minimize traffic impacts, much of the construction work will take place behind a low-profile concrete barrier wall. No lane closures will be allowed Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, no lane closures will be scheduled during special school events.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, May 13 through Thursday, May 17 as crews perform construction activities.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Intermittent lane closures on S.R. 87 north and southbound, between Eglin Air Force Base boundary and two miles south of the Yellow River, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, May 14 through Thursday, May 17 as crew perform paving operations. Additionally, traffic between C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
Putnam Maintains Fundraising Lead In Governor’s Race
May 14, 2018
In the Republican race for governor, new financial reports show Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis continue to pursue different strategies in their quest for their party’s nomination.
Putnam, a two-term state agriculture commissioner, raised more than $2 million in April and spent $2.4 million, including more than $1.8 million launching his first television ad, the new filings with the state Division of Elections show.
DeSantis, a three-term congressman from Palm Coast, raised $819,000 in April and spent $570,000, the state records show. DeSantis has yet to run any television advertising but is relying on frequent appearances on Fox News to connect with Republican voters.
With total contributions of $28.85 million, Putnam maintained a solid hold as the strongest fundraiser in the governor’s race, among both Republicans and Democrats.
Even with his expenditures, Putnam had approximately $19 million in cash on hand as he moved into May.
DeSantis has raised nearly $8 million and had more than $7 million in cash heading into May, the reports show.
Putnam’s largest contributions reflect his status as the Tallahassee establishment’s favored candidate.
His political committee, Florida Grown, in April received $375,000 from the business-lobbying group Associated Industries of Florida, as well as $215,000 from a political committee affiliated with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
The committee’s April haul included $100,000 from Publix Super Markets and $100,000 from William Becker, owner of Peace River Citrus Products, last month. And Putnam’s committee received $75,000 from pari-mutuel interests, including $25,000 from Patrick Rooney, president of the Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Phosphate companies contributed $50,000 to Putnam in April. He also received $25,000 from Geo Group, a private prison company, and $25,000 from St. Joe Co., a major developer.
The largest April contribution to DeSantis’ political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, was $100,000 from Ahmad Khawaja, the California-based founder of Allied Wallet, an online payment-processing company.
DeSantis’ committee also received $25,000 from a company affiliated with MCNA Dental Plans, a company that has provided dental care for Medicaid patients in Florida. The state is currently reviewing bids for a new contract that will separate dental services from the main Medicaid managed-care program.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, who announced this week he would not run for governor and endorsed Putnam, raised $49,500 for his Watchdog political committee in April, state records show.
Corcoran raised a total $6.9 million, with about $2 million left at the end of April. He has said he may use some of the money to support Republican efforts to maintain majorities in the state House and Senate.
Among Democrats, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham had the strongest fund-raising month in April, the records show. She raised more than $1 million, with a total of $7.4 million in contributions to her campaign account and Our Florida political committee. Graham had more than $4.7 million in cash in the accounts moving into May, the reports show.
Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, the first Democratic candidate to run TV spots, spent $1.8 million on ads in April, the latest campaign finance reports show. Levine has raised a combined total of $9 million in his official campaign account and All About Florida political committee, while also loaning $5 million — including $2.2 million in April — to his campaign.
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum received $445,000 in contributions to his campaign account and political committee, Forward Florida, in April, the records show. He has raised a total of $3 million, and had $1.4 million cash on hand heading into May.
Winter Park businessman Chris King raised $115,000 in April, according to reports reflecting contributions to his campaign account and Rise and Lead political committee. He has raised a total of $3.76 million and has also loaned his campaign $825,000, including $400,000 in April.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida