State Faces Legal Tab In ‘Docs Vs. Glocks’ Fight
July 25, 2017
Florida will pay $1.1 million in legal fees to attorneys who challenged a controversial state law that sought to prevent doctors from asking patients about guns, a group representing opponents said Monday.
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence announced the legal-fees agreement more than five months after a federal appeals court sided with doctors and medical groups in striking down key parts of the 2011 law — which became known as the “docs vs. glocks” law. The state did not appeal the Feb. 16 decision by the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
A copy of the legal-fees agreement had not been posted in an online court file Monday morning. But documents indicate the state and the law’s opponents had been in mediation on the fees.
The law, which was backed by groups such as the National Rifle Association, included a series of restrictions on doctors and health providers. For example, it sought to prevent physicians from entering information about gun ownership into medical records if the physicians knew the information was not “relevant” to patients’ medical care or safety or to the safety of other people.
Also, the law said doctors should refrain from asking about gun ownership by patients or family members unless the doctors believed in “good faith” that the information was relevant to medical care or safety. Also, the law sought to prevent doctors from discriminating against patients or “harassing” them because of owning firearms.
Opponents argued, in part, that the law violated free-speech rights. The full appeals court found that the record-keeping, inquiry and anti-harassment parts of the law were unconstitutional, but upheld the portion of the law that bars doctors from discriminating against patients who have guns.
“Legislators across the country should learn from Florida’s example that if you side with the corporate gun lobby instead of your constituents, you endanger the safety of children and families, impinge upon First Amendment rights of doctors, and force taxpayers to pay millions to unsuccessfully defend unconstitutional laws,” Jonathan Lowy, director of the Brady Center’s Legal Action Project and an attorney in the case, said in a prepared statement Monday. “Thankfully, in this case justice prevailed and the court recognized that doctors have a First Amendment right to tell the truth about guns, and the risks they can pose to children and families.”
When asked for comment Monday about the legal fees, John Tupps, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott, said in an email that Scott signed the 2011 law after it “was approved by a large, bipartisan majority in the Florida Legislature.”
“Governor Scott is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” Tupps said. “Much of this law was either never challenged or upheld in court. This (legal fees) settlement is in accordance with Florida law and a recommendation from the Department of Financial Services.”
The challenge to the law was filed in June 2011 and played out over nearly six years. A U.S. District Court judge blocked the law from taking effect, but a three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld the law in three rulings before the full appeals court agreed to take up the case.
Supporters of the law said it was necessary to prevent doctors, such as pediatricians, from harassing and discriminating against patients and parents about gun ownership. The also described the law, formally known as the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act, as a Second Amendment issue.
But Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, an attorney with the firm Ropes & Gray, who argued the case for the plaintiffs, said in a prepared statement Monday that the case allows doctors to “go back to giving their best advice to patients when it comes to gun safety.”
“From day one in bringing this case, our commitment has been to protect doctors’ First Amendment rights to ensure the safety of individuals, families and communities in Florida,” Hallward-Driemeier said. “The successful resolution of the litigation and subsequent fees and costs award are both critical to furthering that goal.”
by The News Service of Florida
No Serious Injuries In Molino Road Rollover Crash
July 25, 2017
There were no serious injures reported in a single vehicle rollover Monday night in Molino. The accident happened just before 10 p.m. on Molino Road between Highway 95A and Highway 29. The driver lost control of his pickup truck and flipped into a wooded area. He refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
b
Summer Reading Wrap-Up Parties This Week At The Library
July 25, 2017
Summer Reading wrap up parties will be held this week at West Florida Library branches across Escambia County:
- Tuesday, July 25, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library*
- Tuesday, July 25, 3 p.m. – Westside Branch Library
- Wednesday, July 26, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
- Wednesday, July 26, 3 p.m. – Pensacola Library
- Thursday, July 27, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
- Thursday, July 27, 3 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library
Come blow off some Summer STEAM with tons of bubbles and wrap up your summer adventures with highly active volcanoes. Celebrate reaching your summer reading goal at the library’s wrap-up party.
Process Underway To Replace Tornado Ravaged Historic Homes In Century
July 24, 2017
The tornado recovery process in Century is continuing with attention being turned to seven historic homes to be replaced in the historic district.
Escambia County has announced bid solicitations with bids due August 10 for the homes.
The Century Architectural Review Board and town council recently gave approval to repair or replacement plans for tornado ravaged residential properties and a church in the Alger-Sullivan Historical District, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989.
The historic district includes 45 buildings on about 230 acres, and is roughly bounded by Pinewood Avenue, Front Street, Jefferson Avenue, Church Street and Mayo Street. Numerous structures in the historic district were damaged or destroyed by the EF-3 tornado that struck Century in February 2016.
The Architectural Review Board approved the replacement of six homes — located at 300, 307, 402, 403, 407 and 416 Front Street — and the repair of one home at 410 Front Street.
All of the replacement homes on Front Street will meet the neighborhood’s historical qualifications and will cost about $100,000 each. The homes are being paid for by with SHIP — State Housing Initiative Program — funds administered by Escambia County.
Pensacola architect Carter Quina designed the replacement homes to historically accurate with modern amenities and compliance for the disabled. He also designed the Century United Methodist Church project.
Senator Questions Fairness Of Algebra EOC Exam
July 24, 2017
While praising a recent legislative decision to eliminate an end-of-course exam for students taking Algebra II, a Northeast Florida senator is raising questions about whether the change is being applied fairly.
Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, sent a letter Thursday to top state education officials that focused on students who took the exam during the past school year. In part, the letter pointed to other students who had planned to take an end-of-course makeup exam this month but, he said, will no longer be required to do so.
The end-of-course exam was eliminated as part of a massive education bill (HB 7069) approved by lawmakers this spring. “Specifically, since the enacting of HB 7069 on July 1, students who took Algebra II last year are graded differently depending on whether they took the end-of-course exam or not,” Hutson wrote to Education Commissioner Pam Stewart and State Board of Education Chairwoman Marva Johnson.
“While the exam counted as 30 percent of the final grades for those who took it, those who were intending to take the makeup test this month can no longer do so and their grades will be calculated without the exam. This creates a scenario where some students who took the exam would see their grades improve if their grades were calculated the same way as students who did not take the exam.” Hutson, who said he was contacted by parents and teachers in his district, also raised other concerns about fairness. “The problems with the Algebra II end-of-course exam are well documented and the reasons for its elimination are well founded,”
Hutson wrote. “However, there is a current cohort of students who took the exam and had their grades negatively affected by a flawed test that their peers who will take Algebra II next year will not have to worry about. While it is too late to help those who are starting college this year, there is still time to right this wrong for the rising sophomores, juniors and seniors who have had the Algebra II exam hurt their GPAs.”
by The News Service of Florida
Escambia County Meeting Schedule
July 24, 2017
Here’s a look at public meeting scheduled for next week in Escambia County:
Tuesday, July 25
Coffee with the Commissioner – Jeff Bergosh, District 1, McDonald’s, 5 South Blue Angel Parkway, 6:30 a.m.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 1:30 p.m. (Agenda)
Wednesday, July 26
Development Review Committee, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1 p.m. (Agenda)
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting, 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach, 5 p.m.
Committee of the Whole-Economic Development Summit, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 27
Special BCC Meeting, Ernie Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 9 a.m. The Board of County Commissioners will continue its review of the 2017-2018 Proposed Fiscal Year Budget as well as other items that may need to be addressed by the board.
Military Members Boost Concealed Weapons Licenses
July 24, 2017
Florida has fast-tracked concealed-weapons licenses to 82,000 military members and honorably discharged veterans since terror-related shootings at a pair of military installations in Tennessee two years ago.
State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who along with Gov. Rick Scott helped expedite the permitting process as part of the state’s reaction to the shootings in Chattanooga, Tenn., made an appearance Tuesday to discuss the effort, which has played a part in Florida’s increased number of people allowed to carry concealed firearms.
But with Putnam running for governor in 2018, his stances on Second Amendment issues are drawing criticism from Democrats.
Since Putnam first won statewide office in 2010, the number of concealed-weapons licenses has soared from about 800,000 to more than 1.78 million. Putnam’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issues the licenses.
The tens of thousands of active-duty military members and veterans getting expedited permits has come as the state has seen “heavy” demand for concealed-weapons licenses, Putnam said.
“This is just one example of what we do through our department to make Florida the most veteran- and military-friendly state in the nation,” Putnam said during an appearance at the National Guard Armory in Tallahassee.
The fast-tracking for military members, who don’t have to wait until they’re age 21 as do civilian applicants, was established as part of Florida’s reaction to the July 16, 2015, terrorist-motivated shootings in Chattanooga that resulted in the deaths of four Marines, a Navy sailor and the gunman. Florida also upgraded security at National Guard recruitment centers, including arming guard members.
During his appearance at the armory, Putnam said the Legislature “continues to wrestle with the right way to get there” when asked about allowing concealed-weapons license holders to carry firearms on college and university campuses or to openly carry handguns.
Efforts to pass such proposals have failed in the Senate in recent years.
“Gun-free zones, where the victims have no opportunity to defend themselves, ought to be modified in a responsible way so that people can exercise their Second Amendment rights and protect themselves,” Putnam said.
As Putnam was speaking, Democrats criticized him about a comment posted online Monday about people protesting in Tampa over a recent National Rifle Association recruitment video.
“Classic progressive move,” Putnam said on Facebook. “Desperate attempt to limit our 2nd Amendment rights.”
Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone called the video, narrated by NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, an attempt to “provoke fear and stoke the flames of division.”
“If Adam Putnam is endorsing this video, he’s encouraging violence against fellow Americans,” Cervone said in a prepared statement. “Could Putnam be more transparent in his pandering to the far right? It’s clear Putnam is more than a little insecure about his credentials as a conservative.”
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is running as a Democrat for governor, was also critical of Putnam for supporting the video.
“It’s a shameful day when someone who wants to lead our state stands behind such violent, divisive rhetoric, and against commonsense gun protections for Floridians,” Gillum said in a prepared statement.
In the video, Loesch called out progressives in education, the media and Hollywood for their resistance against President Donald Trump.
“The only way we stop this, the only we save our country and our freedom, is to fight this violence of lies with the clenched fist of truth,” Loesch said in the video.
by The News Service of Florida
Escambia Unemployment Rate Falls
July 24, 2017
Governor Rick Scott announced that Pensacola added 3,200 new private-sector jobs in the last year. The area’s unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, down 0.8 percentage point from a year ago. Statewide, Florida businesses created 17,800 new jobs in June and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent, the lowest rate since June 2007. Since December 2010, Florida businesses have created 1,397,400 new private-sector jobs.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Pensacola added more than 3,000 new jobs over the past year and that Florida’s unemployment rate has dropped to the lowest rate in a decade. The newly established $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will help continue the economic success across the state, and I encourage Northwest Florida communities and businesses to learn more about the opportunities available through this fund today.”
The industry with the highest growth over the year in Pensacola was leisure and hospitality with 1,700 new jobs. The Pensacola area had 5,547 job openings in June, including 1,800 openings for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations.
For 63 consecutive months, Florida’s annual job growth rate of 3.1 percent is exceeding the nation’s rate of 1.7 percent. In June, 22,977 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Escarosa and the state’s other 23 local workforce boards.
New Book Drop Available At The Molino Branch Library
July 24, 2017
A new book drop was installed recently at the Molino Branch Library at 6450-A Highway 95A in the Molino Community Complex.
The library is open 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday toThursday, and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The outside book drop is available for library returns outside business hours.
For more information about the Molino Branch Library, call (850) 435-1760.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball To Host Coed Softball Tournament
July 24, 2017
The Northview Baseball team will be host a coed softball tournament Saturday, July 29 at Bradbury Park (NWE).
Entry fee is $200 per team and each team must have a minimum of three females. Rules will be based on USSSA rules. This is a two loss elimination tournament, so each team is guaranteed two games.
To participate or donate, call (850) 232-3205.