Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Free Speech And Middle Fingers
October 22, 2017
The anxiety leading up to white nationalist Richard Spencer’s speech Thursday at the University of Florida nearly eclipsed the tension on campus, where the alt-right leader struggled to deliver his message amid defiant chants of “Spencer go home!” from an audience dominated by opponents.
Spencer’s appearance culminated weeks of handwringing about free speech on college campuses, identity politics and how to handle a man characterized by UF President Kent Fuchs as a “racist” who “failed miserably” to disrupt the community.
The storm over Spencer, who held a prominent role at a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., that turned deadly in August, has subsided, for now at least.
But debate about the First Amendment likely hasn’t. Public universities may be exploring how they can avoid being caught in a similar bind as the one that confronted Fuchs.
Fuchs and politicos from Gov. Rick Scott to the mayor of Gainesville might deplore the separatist, anti-Semitic ideology Spencer and his ilk espouse. But while they can shun him, they can’t shut him up.
As Attorney General Pam Bondi, among those who urged people to boycott the speech, said earlier in the week, “you know, with free speech,” Spencer’s going to do his thing.
Voltaire is often mistakenly credited with the following well-known phrase, but it was coined by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, writing under the pseudonym S.G. Tallentyre, in a book about the French philosopher.
“I wholly disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
The message is more relevant today than ever, in Gainesville and throughout the state.
BOOS AND MIDDLE FINGERS
With their fists — and middle fingers — held high, a less-than-packed crowd shouted down Spencer as soon as he stepped onstage Thursday at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Spencer, leader of the National Policy Institute, and the crowd jeered at one another throughout his remarks, in which he called America a “white country” and attempted to preach about what he and his supporters called the failure of diversity and the success of identity politics.
But the perpetual heckling quashed much of the dialogue, angering Spencer, who mocked the university students throughout his remarks.
“You think that you shut me down, but you didn’t. You even failed in your own game,” Spencer told the crowd before departing. “The world is going to look at this event and the world is going to have a very different impression … and the world is not going to be proud of you.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered on blocked-off streets outside the venue.
Inside, about 30 white-shirted supporters lined the front two rows, cheering Spencer and other speakers during the 90-minute event. Those in the front rows were separated by several empty rows from the more inflamed audience members who were targeted by speakers for supporting “anti-white” diversity.
Many students and faculty strongly opposed Spencer’s appearance, which Fuchs and others urged the university community to shun.
“This guy is out there espousing violence and hatred and anger,” Bondi told reporters Tuesday.
Scott, who declared a state of emergency in Alachua County this week, also urged people to avoid the event.
Bondi’s and Scott’s take on Spencer and his followers is “complete nonsense,” Evan McLaren, executive director of Spencer’s National Policy Institute, told The News Service of Florida in a telephone interview. “There’s nothing hateful about what Richard or myself or National Policy Institute expresses.”
UF had initially denied Spencer’s request to speak. But Fuchs said the public university couldn’t lawfully prohibit the event based on the content or views expressed in the speech.
In his speech, Spencer said he was glad Fuchs “stood behind him” and allowed the event to go on. That drew a hasty rebuke from Fuchs.
“For the record, I don’t stand behind racist Richard Spencer. I stand with those who reject and condemn Spencer’s vile and despicable message,” Fuchs tweeted.
Spencer said those in the audience, many of them students, were acting like “childlike Antifa” — anti-fascists — and that all the world will hear is “a bunch of screeching and grunting morons.”
His jibes were delivered over a crowd whose chants included “F— you, Spencer,” “Nazis are not welcome here,” “Go home Spencer,” and “Black lives matter.”
Fuchs praised how the university dealt with what he called Spencer’s message of hate.
For all the jeering Thursday, law enforcement breathed a sigh of relief that Spencer’s appearance didn’t result in the types of skirmishes that erupted on other college campuses where he has appeared.
A $600,000 security effort resulted in “a mostly peaceful day,” with “minimal acts of violence” and two arrests, according to a joint press release issued by various law enforcement agencies.
But those arrests did not include an ugly off-campus confrontation that wound up with three Texas men, two of them brothers, behind bars after “shouting chants about Hitler” to a group near a bus stop not far from the Phillips Center and shooting at the group, according to Gainesville police. The men were charged with attempted homicide, and held on bail of $1 million to $3 million.
At least two of the three men have shown connections to extremist groups, a press release issued Friday by the Gainesville Police Department said.
The men were arrested Thursday night when an Alachua County deputy spotted their car on his way home from working at the Spencer event.
A-WISHING AND A-HOPING … FOR SCHOOLS
Even as more than a dozen school districts are challenging the law’s constitutionality, the State Board of Education on Wednesday used the new “schools of hope” law to select 11 low-performing public schools to receive additional funding.
The schools will qualify for up to $2,000 in extra per-student funding over the next two years to carry out improvement plans that will include efforts such as tutoring, after-school programs, counseling and teacher development.
At the state board’s meeting in Jacksonville, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said the schools were part of a group of 59 schools that had sought the funding. Schools that did not make the initial cut will have a chance to reapply in the near future, she said.
Miami-Dade County has five schools on the approved list, followed by Palm Beach County with three, Bay County with two and Seminole County with one. Polk, Orange and Duval counties were among those that did not make the list.
Stewart said she and Public Schools Chancellor Hershel Lyons will work on “strengthening” the proposals of schools that submitted applications but did not make the cut.
Lawmakers this year set aside $140 million in the new “schools of hope” program, specifying that a portion of the funding would be used to provide extra funding for up to 25 low-performing traditional public schools. The rest of the funding would go to “hope operators,” who could set up charter schools within five miles of “persistently” low-performing public schools.
Thirteen school districts have filed a lawsuit challenging numerous provisions of the “schools of hope” law related to the charter schools. They argued the law is unconstitutional because it limits the power of local school boards to “control and supervise” all public schools in their districts.
STORY OF THE WEEK: White nationalist Richard Spencer addressed a jeering crowd Thursday at the University of Florida.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The whole world was watching, and the whole world saw how we responded to a hateful and despicable bully.” University of Florida President Kent Fuchs, on white nationalist Richard Spencer’s appearance in Gainesville.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Family Health: Diagnosis Diabetes
October 22, 2017
by Dorothy C. Lee, C.F.C.S., UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County
Some 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes this year. How will their lives be affected? Diabetes does mean some big changes but you may be surprised how much diet flexibility remains.
The human body is a marvelous machine, made up of many complex systems. When everything runs smoothly, we are “healthy”. Diabetes is an example of what happens when things don’t work exactly as they should. People with diabetes cannot properly use glucose, also called blood sugar, the cells energy source. Some people make no insulin, which regulates blood glucose by helping it enter the cells. Other people produce too little insulin, or have trouble using the insulin they make, or both.
The exact cause of diabetes is unknown, but if you have a family history of diabetes, you are at great risk. The ADA estimates that almost half of all people with diabetes don’t know they have the disease. Some people ignore their symptoms until they have medical complications.
Some of the warning signs of diabetes may be symptoms of excessive thirst, unusual hunger, slow healing of infections, constant urination, blurred vision, weakness and fatigue. Recurring of these symptoms may signal the need to consult your physician.
A diagnosis of diabetes doesn’t’ have to mean dietary deprivation and boredom. The key dietary words are; low-fat, high-fiber, low-sodium, well-balanced and reduced sugar.
Exercise is an important factor in diabetes management for two reason. Active people have an easier time losing weight which is important for controlling glucose levels. Exercise also promotes the cells ability to use glucose, which in turn reduces the amount of glucose in the body to more favorable levels.
Stress reduction is an important part of a wellness program. Feeling stressed out, uptight, and edgy strains the entire body. We may not have control over the sources of stress in our life; therefore, change the way you react to life’s stressors. Physical exercise is one of the best stress reducers. Don’t take on more than you can handle. Use support systems, reach out to family and friends.
Diabetes affects many people and can have very serious consequences, but the good news is that your health habits can help prevent diabetes or reduce its impact on your health. A healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risks of disease that are often a complication of diabetes.
For more information, call UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County or email dclee@ufl.edu.
Domestic Dispute Turns Deadly
October 21, 2017
A domestic dispute in a vehicle turned deadly early Saturday morning on Pine Forest Road near I-10 in Escambia County.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a family was driving home from the Pensacola Interstate Fair about 1 a.m.when a domestic dispute broke out in their car.
At some point during the dispute, an adult male was shot and died from his injuries.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation. Further details, including the name of the victim, have not yet been released.
File photo.
Local Unemployment Rate Declines
October 21, 2017
The latest job numbers show the employment rate falling in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent in September, down front 4.1 percent in August.. There were 4,928 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 5.1 percent.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.0 to 3.1 percent from August to September. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,470 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 4.7 percent.
Florida’s jobless rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September — to 3.8 percent — even though the number of people with jobs fell by 42,000 from August. Gov. Rick Scott attributed the drop in the state’s unemployment rate to Hurricane Irma, a massive storm that swept throughout the state early last month. The estimated figures posted Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity also stripped Monroe County — still reeling from the powerful storm that made initial landfall in the Keys on Sept. 10 — of its long-held position of the state’s lowest jobless mark.
“Hurricane Irma was the largest storm we have seen, which affected our entire state and led to the largest evacuation and power restoration effort,” Scott said in a release Friday. “Obviously, our jobs numbers were affected because of this. Florida is a resilient state and we are working around the clock to rebuild and recover from this unprecedented storm.”
The state figures mirror the federal rate, which fell to 4.2 percent in September from 4.4 in August, but also saw jobless claims grow, in large part to Hurricane Harvey’s impact on Texas.
The jobless numbers released by the state do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Man Convicted Of Murdering His Girlfriend Near Jay
October 21, 2017
Friday, a Jay man was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend in Santa Rosa County last year.
Christopher Warrick shot and killed Barbara Wolfe outside a home on Tractor Trail just south of Highway 89 near Jay during July 2016.
Wolfe’s daughter Kimberly Horne was also shot in the leg but survived.
Warrick will be back in court for sentencing on December 12.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Holds Fall Festival (With Photo Gallery)
October 21, 2017
The annual Byrneville Elementary School Family Fall Festival was held Friday evening at the school. The event food, games, a silent auction, a sweet shop, a corn hole tournament, cupcake walk, lots of candy and prizes, horse drawn buggy rides, and much more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Holds Fall Carnival (With Photo Gallery)
October 21, 2017
The Molino Park PTA Fall Carnival was held Friday at the school.
The event featured a variety of carnival games, carnival food including popcorn and bake-off goodies, food vendors and a live auction.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Warns Of Possible Scam
October 21, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a possible fraud.
A potential victim recently received a call from someone who claimed to work for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He told the victim that if she did not send money by electronic payment right away, he would issue a warrant for her arrest for failure to appear for jury duty.
Anyone receiving such a call is asked not to send money and report the call to the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
There are multiple variations of this scam currently going around, and fraudsters are constantly devising new and innovative ways to take your hard-earned money. Here are a few ways you can avoid becoming a victim of fraud, from the ECSO:
- Always be suspicious of any threatening calls claiming to be from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office or any other business – especially if it is coming from a business that you do not normally patronize.
- A legitimate business will not resort to threats as a first response to a late or missed payment.
- Always suspicious when asked to send an electronic payment, “green dot” card payment, or wire transfer.
- Always rust your instinct. If you feel that something “just isn’t right”, call your local law enforcement agency and report it. It is much easier to prevent fraud in the first place than to recover your money after the fact.
In Photos: Crews Work To Complete Nine Mile Road Bridge
October 21, 2017
Crews are continuing construction work on the new Eleven Mile Creek bridge that will accommodate eastbound traffic on Nine Mile Road. This work is part of a $46 million effort to widen Nine Mile Road from two to four travel lanes, between Beulah Road and Highway 29.
Pictured below, construction workers are tying reinforcing steel, also known as “rebar”, for the bridge deck. The concrete will be placed once all the reinforcing steel has been installed. The reinforcing steel is good in tension and the concrete is good in compression and together they make for a strong bridge deck.
Pictured bottom, wet concrete is pumped from the concrete delivery truck using a specialty pump truck to the new bridge deck. Crew members consolidate the concrete into the deck forms with concrete vibrators.
In the top photo is the entire concrete deck placement sequence. On the right side of the photo is the wet concrete being delivered to the placement location by the concrete pump truck. The crew member in the white hard hat on the far right uses a remote control to move and position the discharge hose from the pump truck.
The “screed” moves back and forth to strike off the wet concrete to a smooth and uniform surface. Crew members ensure a uniform head, which is slightly above the finished surface, of the wet concrete is consolidated as the screed moves forward. Next, crews use a work platform to hand finish any small imperfections and ensure a uniform finish.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pace Tops Tate 42-41
October 21, 2017
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies 42-41 Friday night in Pace.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Patriots took an early 3-0 lead with a field goal to cap their first drive of the game.
Just 19 seconds later, Hunter Riggin was in on a 64-yard touchdown run to put the Aggies on top 7-3 with 8:01 to go in the first quarter.
Tate expanded their lead to 14-0 as a 45-yard drive ended with a Shemari Jones touchdown from a short 3 yards out with 10:32 remaining in the second. After a 77-yard touch down drive from the Patriots, Jones scored his second touchdown of the night on a second 3-yard run to expand Tate’s lead to 21-10 with 2:32 to go before the half.
The Patriots were going to close the gap before heading to the lockers; Pace scored on a 30-yard run with 1:26 in the half. But Tate scored again with just 44 seconds in the half on a 43-yard pass to Jaderian Johnson. The Aggies were looking good with a 28-17 advantage at the half.
Tate struck early in the third with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Simmons. With 10:34 in the third, the Aggies lead Pace 35-17.
The Patriots added another touchdown but missed the extra point with 2:24 to go in the third, 35-29.
Pace took a 36-35 lead with 10:13 left, but the Aggies hit again on a Riggan run from the 10, Tate on top 41-.36.
With 5:22 in the game, Pace scored from the 9. A missed two point conversion and Pace was up 42-41.
The Tate Aggies will host their last home game of the season next Friday night against the Pine Forest Eagles.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
