Abortion Law Face Another Court Challenge
December 15, 2016
Citing First Amendment and privacy rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has filed a federal lawsuit challenging part of a sweeping abortion law that has already had other provisions blocked by a judge.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Tallahassee on behalf of clergy members and abortion-rights proponents, targets part of the law dealing with individuals or organizations that provide advice to women considering abortions.
The law requires anyone who counsels women about abortions to provide an explanation about the procedure, including alternatives, before making referrals or assisting in obtaining abortions.
“It compels private, noncommercial speakers without medical expertise to deliver a state-mandated speech before aiding a woman seeking an abortion in violation of the speaker’s First Amendment right to decide for him- or herself what not to say,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit — the latest legal challenge to the Republican-dominated Legislature’s attempts to impose new restrictions on abortion — will be handled by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who this summer sided with abortion providers in a challenge to other parts of the law, passed during the 2016 legislative session and signed by Gov. Rick Scott.
Hinkle permanently blocked from going into effect key provisions that would have barred abortion providers from receiving public funds for other services and required a dramatic increase in inspections of abortion records by health officials.
In a separate case, the Florida Supreme Court last month heard arguments in a challenge to a 2015 law requiring 24-hour waiting periods before woman can obtain abortions.
This week’s challenge focused on provisions in the 2016 law dealing with an “abortion referral or counseling agency,” defined as “any person, group, or organization, whether funded publicly or privately, that provides advice or help to persons in obtaining abortions.”
The law requires abortion referral or counseling agencies to furnish “a full and detailed explanation of abortion, including the effects of and alternatives to abortion” before making a referral or aiding a person in obtaining an abortion. Violations of the law can result in a misdemeanor.
“This ill-conceived law criminalizes the intimate conversations a woman has with her support network,” ACLU of Florida Legal Director Nancy Abudu said in a statement.
The law “clearly intends to bully and intimidate women’s trusted advisors with a vague and complicated bureaucratic process, under the threat of criminal charges,” Abudu said.
The plaintiffs — including three rabbis, three ministers, two non-profit organizations that provide abortion funding for low-income women and the Palm Beach County chapter of the National Organization for Women — contend they don’t have any medical training and aren’t qualified to offer the information, which isn’t spelled out in the law.
“The challenged provisions burden, restrict, and interfere with the spiritual, privileged communications between a member of the clergy and the person seeking his or her spiritual guidance,” West Palm Beach lawyer James K. Green and other attorneys wrote in the 36-page complaint.
The plaintiffs are also challenging a provision that requires counselors to inform minors’ parents if the minors discuss abortions. The plaintiffs claim the provision violates the right of privacy guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment by forcing members of the clergy and others to betray the confidentiality of “the most personal and intimate of discussions.”
The lawsuit also maintains that the law would require clergy members or others to register with the state and pay a $200 fee and is an unconstitutional violation of the equal protection clause because it imposes a “discriminatory licensure and fee requirement that targets those who provide advice or seek to help women in obtaining abortions, while not imposing a similar licensure and fee requirement on others who provide counseling on other types of medical procedures.”
The lawsuit asks Hinkle to block provisions of the law from going into effect Jan. 1.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Prison For Man Caught Taking Picture Of Boy In Church Bathroom
December 15, 2016
A man is headed to prison after taking picture of a young child in a church bathroom.
Circuit Judge Scott Duncan sentenced Korey Holt, age 26, to eight years in state prison to be followed by four years of probation for one count of video voyeurism. Holt was also designated a sexual offender and will be required to register as a sexual offender and comply with all statutory requirements.
On April 24, 2016, Holt took a photograph of the victim, a young child, while the child was using the bathroom at a local church. The child told his parents, and the incident was reported to the Pensacola Police Department. Based on the child’s description and further investigation, Holt was developed as a suspect. Holt was interviewed by investigators and admitted to taking photographs of the young child in the bathroom.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
December 15, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School recently announced Students of the Month for October. They are Libby Pugh, eighth grade; Kaitlin Gafford, seventh grade; and Blake Yoder, sixth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lightning Blamed For Death Of Man Near Molino
December 14, 2016
Lightning is believed to be to blame for the death of a man found outside a home near Molino Tuesday night.
About 9:15 p.m., Escambia County Fire Rescue and EMS were dispatched to a medical call at a home in the 3000 block of Wilder Road. When they arrived, they found a white male believed to be in his 40’s deceased in his yard. He had apparently been struck by lightning, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The man’s name has not been released.
It was not known what time the man was struck by lighting. According to the National Weather Service Office in Mobile, lightning strikes were reported in the Wilder Road area about 5:45 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Lawmaker Seeks To Repeal ‘PIP’ Auto Insurance
December 14, 2016
Renewing a long-running debate on the issue, a Senate Republican on Tuesday filed a proposal that would repeal the state’s no-fault auto insurance laws.
Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Chairman Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, said the repeal of a requirement to carry personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage would help lower premiums.
“PIP is a broken insurance system, and it does not reflect the reality of Florida’s transportation future,” Brandes said in a prepared statement. “PIP fraud impacts every driver in our state, and no proposal is more effective at reducing premiums than a full repeal of PIP. It’s time to finally bring substantive reform to the automobile insurance market.”
The bill (SB 156), which is filed for the 2017 legislative session, follows similar proposals that failed to pass in recent years. Under the no-fault system, motorists are required to carry $10,000 in PIP coverage to help pay for medical expenses after accidents.
Brandes’ bill includes a requirement for motorists to carry bodily injury liability coverage.
Molino Man Charged With Burglary
December 14, 2016
A Molino man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and running from deputies.
A deputy arrived at a home in 6300 block of Brickyard Road to find a woman screaming that someone was inside her house. As the deputy approached the residence he saw a male, later identified as Brandon Sharef Spencer, at the back corner of the home. As the deputy approached, Spencer ran into a nearby wooded area.
The deputy gave chase on foot but was unable to catch Spencer due to thick vegetation. He returned to the residence where the victim reported that Spencer is her ex-boyfriend, and that he had entered the home. The victim said she hit Spencer several times, causing him to fall to the floor. In the process, her kitchen table was broken. She also found that her 32-inch television was broken on the living room floor.
Spencer was later located on Cedar Town Road and taken into custody without further incident.
Spencer was charged with criminal mischief, burglary of an occupied dwelling, petit theft and resisting an officer without violence. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $19,356 on the charges plus outstanding support obligations.
Time Running Out To Register For Century’s Christmas Parade
December 14, 2016
Century’s 4th Annual Boats and Floats Christmas Parade is set for 5 p.m. this Saturday.
The parade will line up at 5 p.m. at Century Auto Parts and travel south on North Century Boulevard (visitors must stand on the southbound side) to Showalter Park were there will be vendors and many more festivities. Winners of the boat/float contest will be announced at Showalter Park.
For more information, or to register to enter the parade, call Kim at (850) 256-3208.
Pictured: The 2015 Boats and Floats Christmas Parade in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
All Star Football Game Is Friday At Wahoos Stadium
December 14, 2016
Friday, the best seniors from Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties will play in the 13th annual Subway High School All-Star Football Game. For the first time the game will be held at the Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets to the game are $11 at the gate, $9 with a canned food item for Manna Food Bank
This year’s roster and coaches are:
2016 East Football Roster
Head Coach: Kent Smith
Catholic – AJ Yates – WR
Catholic – Grant Wood – OL
Catholic – Blake Brazwell – OL
Escambia – Z’Khari Blocker – QB
Escambia – Martin McGhee – RB
Escambia – Tre Lewis – DB
Escambia – Jaylen Pant – LB
Escambia – Amarquez Moore – LB
Escambia – Chris Olshefskie – OL
Escambia – Justin Brown – OL
Escambia – Thomas Wright – OL
Escambia – Shountrell Hills – DL
Northview – Luke Ward – WR
Northview – Ohijie Elliot – LB
Pensacola – Ashton Stephens – QB
Pensacola – Walter Granderson – WR
Pensacola – Anton Brown – DB
Pensacola – Nehemiah Jones – DB
Pensacola – Robert Reeves – LB
Pensacola – Troy Davis – LB
Pensacola – Reggie Wade – DL
Pensacola – Terrell Lightening-Hall – DL
Pine Forest – Mohamed Kader – K
Pine Forest – Chris Williams – DB
Pine Forest – Travis Peacock – WR
Pine Forest – Jaden Gardner – RB
Pine Forest – James Howard – DB
Pine Forest – Xavier Saulsberry – RB
Pine Forest – Wesley Philpot – LB
Pine Forest – Chris Tubbs – OL
Pine Forest – Clarence Hicks – DL
Pine Forest – Jaiveon Gardner – DL
Tate – Rodriquez Smith – WR
Tate – Evan Legassey – K
Tate – Jake Henry – QB
Tate – Raymond Freeman – TE/LS
Tate – Jared Bethea – OL
Tate – Caleb Campbell – DL
Washington – Desmond Bettis – OL
Washington – Marsalis Jackson – TE
West Florida – Da’Quaris Gaines – DB
West Florida – Antonio Moultrie – DL
West Florida – Vidal Scott – DL
2016 West Football Roster
Head Coach: Jerry Pollard
Baker – Josh Springle – K
Baker – Logan Rickmon – WR
Baker – DiNick Thomas – DL
Choctaw – Isaac Smith – WR
Choctaw – Alex Ward – TE/Snapper
Choctaw – Graylon Johnson – DL
Crestview – Yo Fredrick – WR
Crestview – Walter Amos – OL
Crestview – Mike Robinson – DL
FWB – Evan Mitchell – WR/S
FWB – John Quitugua – DB
FWB – Ajani Huyghue – FB/SB
Gulf Breeze – Matt DeMahy – DB
Gulf Breeze – Parker Baynes – WR/RB
Jay – Matthew Saylor – LB/FB
Milton – Tristan Saterfield – LB/P
Milton – Cody Hanks – OL
Milton – Keith Waitman – OL
Navarre – Jordan Williams – WR
Navarre – Caine Adamson – QB
Navarre – Lee Jones – DB
Navarre – Xavier Fernandez – LB
Navarre – Bo Hering – LB
Navarre – A.J Neal – OL
Navarre – Lamarcus Smith – OL
Navarre – Mark-Ryan Struck – DL
Niceville – Jeff Toney – QB
Niceville – Justin Veras – DB
Niceville – Braijon Carr – DB
Niceville – Jordan Tinder – RB
Niceville – Blake McCrae – LB
Niceville – Jake Nihill – OL
Niceville – Seth Witt – DE/LB
Pace – Nate Ramirez – WR
Pace – Tony Gibson – DB
Pace – Anthony Johnson – RB
Pace – Jaxon Adams – DE/HB
Pace – Layne Plant – LB
Pace – Logan Pitts – OL
Rocky Bayou – Colton Norris – K
Sweet Christmas Treat: Students Build Gingerbread Houses
December 14, 2016
Students at Molino Park Elementary School recently created their own custom gingerbread houses.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Williams Ditch Road Area Boil Water Notice Lifted
December 14, 2016
UPDATE 12/14 12:10 pm — This boil water notice has been rescinded by the water company. Testing shows the water to be safe to drink.
Cottage Hill Water Works has issued a precautionary boil water notice for Williams Ditch Road and all the side streets connected to Williams Ditch Road. The notice was issued after a water main break at 230 Williams Ditch Road.
As a precaution, it is advised that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. A s an alternative, bottled water may be used. Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especiallly immunocompromised individuals, infants, or the elderly.
A loss in system pressure could cause the entry of contaminants, such as E. Coli bacteria, into the water system. water containing E. Coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water. Disease symptoms caused by these bacteria may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated headache and fatigue. The EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for E. Coli to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Under this standard all drinking water must be free of these bacteria.
The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of e.coli bacteria exists within the water system. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
For more information, call (850) 968-5485.