Court Sets Hearing On Requiring Drug Tests For Welfare
September 25, 2014
A federal appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments November 20 in a long-running battle about Gov. Rick Scott’s attempt to require drug testing as a condition for people receiving public-assistance benefits.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week scheduled the arguments in an appeal filed by the Scott administration after a federal district judge blocked the program, according to an online docket.
The state is seeking to require drug testing for people who receive welfare benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
But it has faced a series of legal setbacks, with U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven in December issuing a 30-page ruling that concluded the urine tests would violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government and that “there is no set of circumstances under which the warrantless, suspicionless drug testing at issue in this case could be constitutionally applied.”
The Scott administration, however, argues in part that drug use can impede the ability of public-assistance beneficiaries to get jobs and also harms families.
The case stems from a 2011 law, which was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Luis Lebron, a Navy veteran and single father.
by The News Service of Florida
Poll Shows Florida Governor’s Race Too Close To Call
September 25, 2014
Less than two months before Election Day, Florida voters are split between their top two choices for governor, but they agree on one thing — neither candidate is a perfect fit.
That’s according to a poll by Quinnipiac University released Wednesday. The survey found that Republican Gov. Rick Scott has a slight edge over Democrat Charlie Crist but, because that two-point lead falls within the margin of error, the contest is too close to call.
“The race is likely to be won by the candidate who’s able to convince voters that he is the least objectionable,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, told reporters.
The poll found that 44 percent of likely voters support Scott, while 42 percent back Crist and 8 percent support Libertarian Adrian Wyllie.
The poll also found that 17 percent of voters might change their minds, further proof that the race is a toss-up just a week before absentee ballots go in the mail and a month before early voting begins.
With the support of 83 percent of Democrats queried in the survey, Crist — the one-time Republican governor who left the GOP in 2010 in a failed bid for the U.S. Senate as an independent — appears to have solidified support from his new party. Similarly, 80 percent of Republicans favored Scott.
The key to the November election rests with independent voters and Wyllie supporters, Brown said. The level of support in the poll for the relatively unknown Wyllie, whose campaign finances are eclipsed by the war chests amassed by Scott and Crist, might not pan out at the ballot box, according to Brown.
“The big question is, will those who tell us today that they’re going to vote for Mr. Wyllie actually vote for Mr. Wyllie? And if they don’t vote for Mr. Wyllie, will they stay at home, or will they vote for one of the two major party candidates? That’s the $64,000 question,” he said.
Third-party candidates’ popularity tends to fade closer to the election, Brown said.
“Eight percent isn’t chopped liver, but at this point it doesn’t look like Mr. Wyllie’s competitive to win. But his voters could make the winner,” he said.
The survey comes after months of mudslinging on the air by Scott’s campaign and his backers, who have spent more than $30 million on television ads, mostly bashing Crist. Crist and his supporters have spent at least another $10 million, including ads attacking his opponent.
The negative campaigning appears to have paid off for Scott, at least in part. Crist’s popularity has dropped since the ads started airing, according to earlier Quinnipiac polls. But Brown cautioned against comparing Wednesday’s results with previous surveys because the most-recent poll was conducted of likely voters, while the earlier polls were conducted of registered voters, an important distinction.
Voters gave both Scott and Crist low marks on character. By a 49-37 percent margin, voters said Crist is not honest and trustworthy. Fifty-one percent of respondents said that Scott is not honest and trustworthy. Voters were split 46-45 percent on whether Crist cares about their needs and problems, while only 42 percent said they think Scott has those cares.
“Mr. Scott and Mr. Crist are both looked at, meehhhh, by voters in a less than complimentary way,” Brown said, shrugging. “Fewer than four in ten voters think either man is honest and trustworthy. That’s not unheard of, but it is unusual.”
Quinnipiac, which frequently conducts polls in Florida and other states, surveyed 1 likely Florida voters from Sept. 17 to Sept. 22. The poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac results mirror other recent polls that showed Scott closing a gap in the race or taking a narrow lead. But Democratic pollster Steven Vancore said the Quinnipiac University survey is flawed.
Thirty-two percent of the voters who participated in the poll identified themselves as Republican, 30 percent as Democrats, and 31 percent as belonging to neither major party.
But those party affiliations don’t reflect actual turnout in the last two gubernatorial elections, Vancore said. In 2010, 46 percent of voters who cast ballots were Republicans, 38 percent were Democrats and 16 percent belonged to either minor parties or no party at all.
Republican voters are expected to edge out Democrats in November by at least four percentage points, while independents are predicted to comprise — at most — about 22 percent of the total turnout, Vancore said.
“They slightly under-sampled Republicans and they dramatically over-sampled (no-party affiliation) voters,” Vancore said.
by Dara Kim and Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Numerous Families Homeless After Multi-Unit Apartment Fire
September 24, 2014
The American Red Cross is assisting several families after a multi-unit apartment fire that broke out late Wednesday morning at the Briarwood Condominiums on East Olive Road.
Twenty units in one building were impacted by the flames or smoke and water damage. Red Cross Disaster responders are providing canteen services from their Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and will be working one-on-one with those affected to help meet their disaster-caused needs tonight and in the days to come.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office. There were no injuries reported.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Of Students Gather To Pray At The Pole (With Photo Gallery)
September 24, 2014
Hundreds of students gathered to pray at their schools in across the area Wednesday morning during the annual See You at the Pole event.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government and the nation.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top and inset: See You at the Pole Wednesday morning at Northview High School. Pictured below: Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Garbage Truck
September 24, 2014
Fire damaged a garbage truck in Walnut Hill Wednesday morning. The fire was mostly contained to the air cleaner of the commercial truck operated by Creek Waste & Recycling.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue quickly extinguished the blaze, which was reported about 8:35 a.m. on Arthur Brown Road at Kansas Road. There were no injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cop Impersonator Reported In North Escambia With Fake Traffic Stop, Chase
September 24, 2014
[EXCLUSIVE FIRST ON NORTHESCAMBIA.COM] Authorities are on alert after a police impersonator reportedly attempted multiple times to stop a local man on his way to work during the early morning hours Monday.
The victim told NorthEscambia.com that he turned off Highway 97 onto Nokomis Road about 3:45 a.m. When he stopped at the stop sign at Nokomis Road and Meadows Lane, he said pickup driven by a male was stopped on Meadows Lane even though there is no stop sign from that direction. The pickup driver turned on Nokomis Road and turned around behind the victim.
He said the pickup followed him for several miles, continually flashing his headlights “on my bumper”. At about Jakes Road in Nokomis, FL, the victim said he decided to stop.
“I began to think that maybe I had a flat tire or some other problem,” the victim said Tuesday afternoon. “So I stopped. He jumped out of his truck and told me he was an undercover cop and that he was going to write me a ticket. He said his blue lights were not working, and began to dig in his wallet for his badge…I knew something was not right, and I took off.”
The victim said he turned on Jakes Road, crossed the state line into Alabama and continued to Highway 31 and called 911.
“He caught up with me on Highway 31 and tried to pass me. I would not let him, but he eventually got around me and blocked Highway 31 with his vehicle twice,” the victim said. Eventually, the police impersonator continued east on Highway 31 toward Atmore.
The victim described the suspect as a white male of average height and build with a full black or dark-colored beard. He was driving a newer model, four-door Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck that was copper in color. The vehicle had an unknown Alabama license plate.
“He acted real funny, not like he had done anything like that before,” the victim told NorthEscambia.com. “I think he was on something…high. He never showed a gun or acted like he had one, and it was like he did not know what to do next if he was going to rob me.”
NorthEscambia.com confirmed Tuesday afternoon that when the victim dialed 911, he reached a cell phone tower that delivered his call to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. The call was transferred by a Baldwin County dispatcher to the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office in Brewton because the victim was in Escambia County, AL, at that time.
Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said his dispatchers received the call from Baldwin County at about 4:00 a.m. Monday, with the victim relaying the information about the alleged fake traffic stop and Alabama chase.
“We dispatched a deputy to Nokomis, but he was unable to find anything when he arrived,” Lambert said.
As on Tuesday afternoon, the victim had not filed a formal complaint with the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office in regards to the original stop and events in Florida, according to Sena Maddison, public information officer.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured top: The intersection of Nokomis Road and Jacks Road. Pictured top inset: Jack’s Road. Pictured bottom inset: Nokomis Road and Meadows Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium To Be Dedicated At Northview Oct. 2
September 24, 2014
The football stadium at Northview High School will be formally dedicated as the Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium during a special ceremony at 6 p.m. on October 2. The dedication will include the unveiling of a Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium sign and a Chief statue with plaques donated by the Northview classes of 2013 and 2014.
The Escambia County School Board voted in May to rename the stadium.
Tommy Weaver was a longtime DCT and Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 in March 2012. The Chiefs’ entire 2012 state championship football season was dedicated to Weaver.
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade Canceled, Has Become ‘Trashy Beer Fest’
September 24, 2014
The Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade has been canceled.
For years, the parade has been sponsored by the Chumuckla Athletic Association, with proceeds from parade entry fees and t-shirt sales used to purchase the gifts for needy children in the Chumuckla community. Each child received about $100 worth of gifts.
“The parade has gone from a wholesome family event to a trashy beer fest,” the Chumuckla Athletic Association posted on their Facebook page Tuesday night. “We hate to end what started as a family event but it has gotten out of hand over the years with the drinking, the trash people leaves (sic) all down the road tearing up the fields and vandalizing and disrespecting the property of others.”
But the Chumuckla Athletic Association is not giving up on fund raising to help needy kids at Christmas. They have scheduled the “Chumuckla Redneck Run” for November 1. “The run takes you through the beautiful countryside of downtown Chumuckla, Florida where you will find obstacles of walls, mud, low crawls, tire rolls and heavy chores no city folk are used to,” according to the run’s website at redneckrun.net.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century, Jay Mayors Serve On Northwest Florida League Of Cities Board
September 24, 2014
The board of directors of the Northwest Florida League of Cities met recently in Jay. Century Mayor Freddie McCall (back row, second from left) and Jay Mayor Kervin Qualls (back row, third from left) are Board Members. The NWFLC is made up of municipalities from Escambia County to Jefferson County, just east of Tallahassee. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Firefighters Head To California Wildfires
September 24, 2014
With California facing wildfires amid a drought, Florida this week sent 40 firefighters to help with a major blaze east of Sacramento, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
.
Two crews made up of 34 Florida Forest Service firefighters deployed Tuesday to battle what is known as the King Fire. They will do such jobs as creating fire breaks around the blaze.
Also, six Forest Service workers will help in other positions related to controlling the King Fire.
“Thanks to our current low fire danger in Florida, we are able to offer our skilled firefighters to western states while continuing to provide for the safety of our citizens,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency includes the Forest Service.
by The News Service of Florida