American Diabetes Month: Floridians Impacted In Large Numbers
November 20, 2017
November is American Diabetes Month. As the prevalence of the disease continues to rise across the state and nation, the number of Floridians with diabetes is expected to increase.
David Becker, a spokesman for the American Diabetes Association, says the latest numbers show 29 million Americans with diabetes, and the toll on health can be great, including kidney failure, blindness, amputations and more.
“There are a lot of co-morbid diseases as far as diabetes and cancer and heart disease,” he points out. “It all kind of is interrelating.”
Becker says about 95 percent of those people who have diabetes have Type 2, which healthier lifestyle choices with nutrition and physical activity can help prevent.
In Florida a little more than 1.7 million have diabetes, but that is expected to increase to nearly three million by 2030, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Becker notes that even some simple, small changes with healthy eating and regular exercise can yield big results. “If you lose just 7 percent of your body weight, you can decrease your chances of getting diabetes by 58 percent,” he stresses.
If the current trends don’t change, it’s estimated that by 2050, 30 percent of all Americans will have diabetes.
by The Florida News Connection
Judge Blasts State Prisons Over Hepatitis Care
November 20, 2017
In a scathing ruling issued Friday, a federal judge found that Florida corrections officials have a “long and sordid history” of failing to treat inmates infected with the Hepatitis C virus and ordered the state to immediately come up with a plan to properly provide care.
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found that the Department of Corrections and its health care contractors had for years refused to treat infected inmates with antiviral medications, known as “direct acting antiviral” drugs, because of the cost.
Between 7,000 and 20,000 of the state’s 98,000 prisoners are believed to be infected with Hepatitis C, but only 13 have been treated with the antiviral drugs since 2013, and three of those who received the treatment were plaintiffs in the lawsuit, according to court documents.
The treatment, which originally cost up to $75,000 when first released in 2013, now costs about $37,000 for a 12-week regimen and cures the virus 95 percent of the time.
But in a harshly worded 32-page order, Walker wrote that cost is no excuse for not providing the treatment, scolding the agency for being “deliberately indifferent” to the medical needs of inmates, a violation of their constitutional rights.
“Preventable deaths from HCV (Hepatitis C virus) are occurring within the prison system,” he wrote.
Walker ordered the department to update its Hepatitis C treatment policy and to formulate a plan to implement the policy by screening, evaluating, and treating inmates in line with directions and timelines set out by its expert witness.
And he told the corrections agency to come up with the plan “with alacrity,” writing in the order that “this court will not tolerate further foot dragging.”
Michelle Glady, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said in an email that the agency has asked the Legislature for $19 million “to expand the treatment for inmates with Hepatitis C” and that it contracts with the firm Centurion “to provide comprehensive health services to all inmates in Florida.”
“FDC (the Florida Department of Corrections) is absolutely committed to ensuring all inmates in our custody are provided medically necessary treatment that is in line with national standards and our constitutional responsibilities,” Glady said in the email.
Hepatitis C is usually contracted through intravenous drug use but can also be transmitted through tattooing or blood transfusions. The disease causes liver scarring, which can significantly impair liver function and ultimately lead to death.
The lawsuit was filed in May by the Florida Justice Institute on behalf of three inmates and a class of others infected with the virus. Walker also certified the case as a class-action lawsuit on Friday.
“We are very pleased with Judge Walker’s order, and we hope that it will result in thousands of inmates getting much-needed treatment so they will not die,” Randall Berg, executive director of the institute, told The News Service of Florida on Friday.
Corrections officials maintained that the case was moot because they had made several changes to their policy about treating infected inmates since the lawsuit was filed.
But even the most-recent revision — finalized a week before a five-day hearing in the case last month — is inadequate, Walker found.
“FDC needs to clear up the loosey-goosey language in its treatment policy so that it can no longer hide behind the consequences of its own obfuscations,” Walker wrote in a footnote.
The department’s latest policy doesn’t guarantee that inmates will be screened or receive treatment quickly enough, Walker found, based on testimony from the corrections department’s own expert.
The judge gave the department until Dec. 1 to come up with a new plan and ordered the agency to “increase its capacity and outline a timetable for doing so” because agency officials have maintained they do not have enough staff to start screening all inmates who could be at the highest risk of having advanced liver disease due to Hepatitis C.
“This court has no doubt that without a court-ordered injunction, FDC is unlikely to treat inmates in a constitutionally appropriate manner,” Walker wrote.
In a footnote, Walker wrote that funding issues could excuse some delay, but not to this extent.
“For instance, if DAAs (direct acting antivirals) were released yesterday, this court would not expect FDC to wave a magic wand and suddenly treat thousands of inmates overnight,” he wrote. “But that is not the case. FDC has had since late 2013 to respond to this problem, and it has only just recently started doing what it should have done years ago.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The Medical Classification Unit inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Dollar General Robbed Saturday Night
November 19, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the Saturday night robbery of a Cantonment business.
The Dollar General on Highway 29 and North Tate School Road was robbed about 9:55 p.m. Multiple Escambia County deputies responded to the robbery, including a K-9 unit. There was no word of any arrests.
No injuries were reported.
Further details were not released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
UWF Dominates Wingate, 31-0, In NCAA First Round Victory
November 19, 2017
WINGATE, N.C. – Coming into Saturday’s NCAA Division II Football First Round game at No. 3 seed Wingate, No. 6 seed UWF became the fastest startup program to reach the postseason. After the 31-0 dismantling of the Bulldogs, they can now lay claim to being the fastest program to win a playoff game.
From the third play of the game when Jalen Spencer intercepted Wingate quarterback Dylan Williams and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown, the UWF defense announced it was going to be the focal point of the day. Spencer got his second interception on the Bulldogs’ next drive returning it 15 yards to the UWF 30, eventually leading to an Austin Williams 51-yard field goal – tying his own career-long.
By the end of the 60-minutes at Irwin Belk Stadium, the Argonauts held 16th-ranked Wingate to a season-low 205 yards of total offense, sacked Williams a school-record nine times, picked him off three times and did its part to put all four Gulf South Conference teams into the Super Region 2 semifinals.
Marvin Conley, Reggie Barnes and Johnathan Coleman each posted double-digit tackles. The Argos have combined for 21 sacks and 38 tackles for loss over the last three contests.
UWF (8-3) ended with 289 yards of total offense –129 on the ground and 160 through the air. Mike Beaudry was 18-for-31 with three passing touchdowns and an interception.
Beaudry’s first scoring play came at the end of the half on a drive setup by a 35-yard Antoine Griffin punt return to just about midfield. With the Argos leading 10-0, he capped a 12-play, 53-yard drive with a 10-yard pass to Tate Lehtio, where the sophomore lept over a Wingate defender from the 2-yard line to reach the end zone.
UWF left no doubt about the outcome at the start of the second half, taking the opening possession 82 yards over 13 plays that saw Griffin haul in a 17-yard pass for the score. The drive took 6:43 off the clock and was the longest scoring drive of the season while putting UWF up 24-0.
They added a final score following a fumble forced by Trent Archie that Daryl Wilson recovered at the Wingate 31. Beaudry and company needed just three plays before he tossed a ball to tight end Austin Blake-Smith for a 13-yard touchdown. It was Blake-Smith’s fourth TD in the last four games.
The UWF kicking game was also strong on Saturday as punter Colton Norris and placekicker Austin Williams battled strong winds all game. Norris punted seven times and placed five inside the 20-yard line, while Williams made all three point after touchdown attempts, drew to within one made field goal of the GSC single-season record of 23 and put four of his six kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
UWF advances to the NCAA Second Round where it will travel to West Georgia (9-3) and face the Wolves for the second time in three weeks. UWG defeated Virginia State, 35-9, in its first round game. Kickoff time and ticket prices for the game at University Stadium in Carrollton, Ga. will be announced in the coming days.
Photo by Jim Wright for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Multiple Injuries In Nine Mile Road Crash
November 19, 2017
There were multiple injuries in a two vehicle crash Saturday on Nine Mile Road at Holsberry Road.
As many as four people were reportedly transported by Escambia County EMS to a local hospital following the accident at about 9:05 p.m. Their conditions were not available.
Further information has not yet been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Airman Dove Graduates From Military Basic Training
November 19, 2017
U.S. Air Force Airman William T. Dove graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, TX.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Dove is the son of Ronald Dove of Century and Kelly B. Dove of Brewton, and husband of Taylor D. Dove of Flomaton.
He is a 2013 graduate of Flomaton High School.
Florida Baptist Children’s Homes Honored By DCF
November 19, 2017
Florida Baptist Children’s Homes was nominated for the 2017 Champions of Hope Award that is awarded annually by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
The award recognizes organizations that go above and beyond to improve the lives of at-risk youth and children. The nomination was announced at a special Champions of Hope Luncheon on Tuesday at the 2017 Florida Faith Symposium at the Rosen Centre in Orlando.
Last year, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, The Porch Light and Orphan’s Heart impacted 171,273 children and individuals through its services, which include but are not limited to its Brave Moms program, Compassion Ministries program, foster care, residential care and sex trafficking prevention and awareness.
“What an honor it is to be nominated for a prestigious award that embodies what we are diligently striving toward each day,” said Dr. Jerry Haag, president of Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, The Porch Light and Orphan’s Heart. “This recognition is a testament to our supporters, partners and incredible staff who selflessly commit themselves to helping change the lives of children.”
Locally, the Florida Baptist Children’s Home is located on Chemstrand Road in Cantonment.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Another One Bites The Dust
November 19, 2017
There were reminders this week that governors come and go, but the rituals of the Capitol remain.
Gov. Rick Scott outlined his eighth and final state budget proposal Tuesday in Jacksonville, though it didn’t seem that long ago that he was a newly elected political novice advancing his first budget, with steep spending cuts, in 2011 in Eustis.
Scott learned a quick lesson in his first year as his $65.9 billion “austerity” budget morphed into a $69.4 billion budget passed by the Legislature. It underscored a given when it comes to state spending: a governor proposes, the Legislature disposes.
Of course, governors get the last shot with their veto pens, which Scott has used with some regularity — and could again after lawmakers pass a budget during the 2018 session.
In 2019, it will be a new governor and new set of legislative leaders repeating the annual budget ritual.
But that doesn’t mean old governors are forgotten, as evidenced by former Gov. Jeb Bush’s visit to the Capitol this week.
In an event hosted by House leaders, Bush seemed to wax nostalgic about his efforts to shake up the education establishment during his two terms in office, with proposals ranging from vouchers to school grades to the expansion of charter schools.
Ever the policy wonk, Bush lamented the lack of bold initiatives on the national scene, while praising Florida lawmakers for their recent “schools of hope” legislation and urging them to aggressively continue reform efforts.
“If you’re not moving forward, inertia sets in and ultimately you begin to atrophy,” he said.
SCOTT’S FISCAL FINALE
There wasn’t much drama when Scott rolled out his $87.4 billion spending plan for the 2018-19 fiscal year at a Jacksonville hardware store.
In a technique he has honed as a two-term governor, Scott had already telegraphed the major elements of his budget in a series of prior press conferences across the state.
His final plan follows the pattern of his recent budget proposals, with an emphasis on tax cuts, higher school funding and environmental spending and some targeted pay raises for state law enforcement officers. It also includes spending related to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, including beach-restoration funding and affordable-housing projects for the Florida Keys.
But Scott’s ambitious proposal to boost per-student funding by $200 in the kindergarten through 12th-grade school system may already be in jeopardy. He is at odds with House leaders over using the growth in local property tax revenue to help pay for public schools.
House leaders consider growth in local school property taxes, projected at about $450 million next year, to be a tax increase and will push for a reduction in the tax rate to offset the growth.
Scott and Senate leaders say because the property tax rate is not changed, the growth in revenue is not a tax increase and the money should be used. If the increased property tax revenue is not used, it will be a much more difficult task to boost education spending in the new budget.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
The accounts of sexual impropriety in Tallahassee continued this week, with the resignation Friday of Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel after acknowledging inappropriate behavior toward female employees.
His resignation came after Politico Florida reported that six women anonymously complained about Bittel’s behavior, calling it “creepy” and “demeaning.” The women said Bittel, who took over the party post less than a year ago, did not physically harass them but said they were uncomfortable in an atmosphere where Bittel kept breast-shaped stress balls in his office. Bittel apologized.
Meanwhile, the sexual-harassment investigation of Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, continued.
Latvala is facing an investigation over complaints from unidentified women, first reported by Politico, who said he groped them or made unwelcome remarks about their bodies. Latvala has denied the allegations.
Latvala also faces a sexual harassment complaint filed by a Senate employee with the Senate Rules Committee.
DRUG-RELATED DEATHS RISE
A new report from Florida medical examiners showed dramatic increases in all types of drug-related deaths.
Deaths from the synthetic opioid fentanyl rose 97 percent to 1,390 in 2016. Opioid-related deaths rose 35 percent in 2016 to 5,725. Oxycodone-caused deaths increased 28 percent.
The total number of drug-related deaths in Florida jumped 22 percent from 2015 to 2016.
“Clearly, those are shocking numbers and we have got to do something about it,” Senate Health Policy Chairwoman Dana Young, R-Tampa, said.
Lawmakers and Scott are expected to respond to the crisis during the 2018 legislative session, which begins in January.
As part of his new budget, Scott wants to spend $53 million, more than half of which comes from federal funds, on the issue.
His plan would earmark $4 million to help mentally ill patients and drug addicts get housing. It would set aside $15 million in enhancements to the substance-abuse treatment system, which would include 53 additional residential treatment beds, emergency room treatment and follow-up, and targeted outreach for pregnant women with substance-abuse disorders.
His proposal also would spend $5 million on Naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug, and provide $1.2 million on upgrades to the state prescription-drug monitoring program, which keeps track of prescriptions for controlled substances.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott proposed an $87.4 billion budget plan for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. It marks the last spending plan from the two-term Republican governor, who leaves office in January 2019 because of term limits.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Imagine if we had a plane crashing in the state every month. We would do everything we could to stop that. That’s about the amount of people who are dying every month due to opioid addiction.” — state Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, after a new report showed 5,725 opioid-related deaths in Florida in 2016.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Escambia County Unemployment Drops
November 19, 2017
Friday, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Escambia County area added 2,800 new private-sector jobs in the last year. The area’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.3 percent, down 1.5 percentage points from a year ago. Statewide, Florida businesses created 127,400 new jobs in October and the unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent, the lowest rate since February 2007. Since December 2010, Florida businesses have created 1,448,300 new private-sector jobs.
Governor Scott said, “The decline in the local unemployment rate partnered with the thousands of new jobs has helped families in the Pensacola area find the opportunities they need to succeed. I am proud to announce that Florida’s unemployment rate has also reached a more than 10-year low of 3.6 percent, and we will continue to fight every day to make our state the top destination for job creation.”
The industries with the highest growth over the year in Pensacola were professional and business services with 1,500 new jobs and leisure and hospitality with 1,100 new jobs. The Escambia County area had 4,757 job openings in October, including 1,411 openings for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations.
In the last year, 216,000 people entered Florida’s labor force, a growth of 2.2 percent. This rate is more than four times the national labor force growth rate of only 0.5 percent. In October, 23,082 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Escarosa and the state’s other 23 local workforce boards.
Escambia Academy Wins AISA State Championship
November 18, 2017
The Escambia Academy Cougars are the AISA 2A state champions after a 30-20 win Friday afternoon over top-ranked Autauga Academy at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy.
The Cougars were first on the board with a 1-yard keeper from quarterback Jabe Dawe, capping a 7-run drive that included a 52-yard run from Patrick McGhee to the three. With a missed point after, the EA Cougars were up 6-0. Dawe found senior Neikel Robinson with a 50-yard pass to expand the Cougars’ lead to 12-0.
Escambia Academy’s MJ Jones sacked an Autauga General forcing a fumble that was recovered by EA’s Jason Davis who returned 27-yards for a touchdown and an 18-0 lead. Late in the first quarter, Autauga cut their deficit to 18-7, a score that held headed into halftime.
Late in the third quarter, Dawe found Fred Flavors with a 66-yard pass and Escambia Academy was up 24-7.
Friday’s championship is the second ever for Escambia Academy; the Cougars brought home the state championship in 2014. The Cougars lost to Autauga 28-21 in the state game last year.
Escambia Academy is located in Canoe, AL, about two miles north of the Alabama/Florida line. Students from both states attend the school.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com by Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 and Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
