Senate’s Budget Chief Says Scott Prison Cuts Worth Considering
February 16, 2011
The Senate’s chief budget writer said Tuesday it is worth considering Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to cut the Corrections Department by $82.4 million next year and close two prisons, despite criticism from the chairman of the committee that writes the criminal justice budget.
“I believe we need to look at cost saving efforts across all aspects (of the state budget),” said Sen. JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales after hearing a presentation on prison privatization plans Tuesday. “Ruling out any aspect at this point would be inappropriate. If we can save money so we can fund our schools and health care and pay for other critical needs, it’s worth looking at.”
However, Civil and Criminal Justice Budget Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Mike Fasano maintained on Tuesday his criticism of the plan to increase the number of prisoners in private facilities by 15,000.
“Is there any room in private prisons in the state of Florida?” asked Fasano, R-New Port Richey. “There’s no more room. We would have to give them additional money to take 15,000 prisoners when we have approximately 10,000 beds in the system that have already been paid for by taxpayers. I don’t get the rationale behind that.”
Particularly worrisome to Fasano is that Scott’s plan to increase the privatization of prisons calls for eliminating 1,690 jobs, including 619 corrections officers. During Scott’s campaign and transition, he promised to eventually slash $1 billion from the state’s prison system, drawing the ire of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which ran campaign ads saying Scott would release prisoners if elected.
Tuesday, Fasano called Scott’s comments about maximizing the existing private prisons in Florida “deceitful” because he said they are already maxed out.
Alexander’s openness to the proposal followed a presentation from new Corrections Secretary Ed Buss, who spoke to the committee in his second day officially on the job. Buss told the Senate Budget Committee that privatization plans had worked well where he came from.
“Indiana probably has the most aggressive private-public (prison) partnerships in the country,” Buss said. “We saved hundreds of millions of dollars even in a smaller state like Indiana by having public-private partnerships.”
Buss noted that in Indiana, privatized prisons have a specific purpose: housing sex offenders, which he says allows the state to narrowly focus their missions.
Alexander said the new corrections secretary’s experience in Indiana with private prisons could be instructive to lawmakers in Florida grappling with a $3.6 billion budget shortfall this year with no promise of federal stimulus money, unlike the past three years.
“Looking around the nation, I’m not an expert, but there does seem to be some real savings (from privatization),” said Alexander, R-Lake Wales. “His experience is informative of what we maybe can do here. If we’re short $4 billion, we have a choice. We can cut programs in health and human services, reduce our support for education or we can look at efficiencies in prisons.”
By Keith Laing
The News Service Florida
Firefighters Battle Numerous Brush Fires
February 16, 2011
Firefighters across Escambia County responded to numerous brush fires both Monday and Tuesday. In most cases, the fires were started when trash fires got out of hand. Here is a collection of photos from fires Tuesday:
Above: Cedar Tree Lane, Cantonment. Residential trash fire out of control, about 4:15 p.m.
Above: Cedar Tree Lane, Cantonment. Residential trash fire out of control, about 4:15 p.m.
Above: Pilgrim Trail, Molino. Residential fire out of control, about 12:15 p.m.
Above: Pilgrim Trail, Molino. Residential fire out of control, about 12:15 p.m.
Above: Pilgrim Trail, Molino. Residential fire out of control, about 12:15 p.m.
Above: Lillian Highway, Lillian. Controlled burn that got out of control, about 1 p.m.
Above: Eden Lane, Cantonment. Residential fire out of control, about 1:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Northview FBLA Students Place At Districts
February 16, 2011
Several members of Northview High School’s Future Business Leaders of America placed at the FBLA District 1 Leadership Conference at the University of West Florida recently.
NHS students taking part included:
Business Calculations
Taylor Dukes , 6th
Erin Fremin , 3rd
Derrick Portis, 5th
Business Communication
Taylor Byrd , 3rd
Hannah Hinton , 5th
Business Mathematics
Victoria Wright , 5th
Health Care Administration
Alissa Fiellin , 1st
Casey Godwin , 2nd
Intro to Business Communications
Kasie Braun , 1st
Deidre Steele , 4th
Job Interview
Jessica Imholte , 2nd
Public Speaking II
Elizabeth Wright , 2nd
Technology Concepts
Darwin Robinson , 3rd
Web Design Team 1
Brandon King , 1st
Joshua King , 1st
Jacob Morris , 1st
Winners first to fourth place (first place for performance events) are eligible to attend the FBLA State Leadership Conference in Orlando April 25-28.
Man Suspected In Over A Dozen Church Burglaries
February 16, 2011
Multiple charges have been filed on a Pensacola man suspected of burglarizing over a dozen churches, daycare centers and businesses within the past few weeks — and authorities say he may be responsible for other burglaries in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
James William Cole Jr., 40, of 102 South L St. is charged with three counts of burglary, one count possession of burglary tools, two counts of grand theft, two counts of criminal mischief, one count of larceny, and one count of driving with a suspended/revoked license. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $38,250.
Pensacola Police Capt. Paul Kelly said additional charges are pending as detectives continue investigating 13 burglaries that have occurred during the past 25 days within city limits. Kelly said Cole also is a suspect in numerous burglaries committed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Computer equipment, electronic items, food, and money were among the items taken in the burglaries; a dollar amount of the thefts is not available.
Cole had been under surveillance for a couple of days after being identified as a suspect, Kelly said.
He was taken into custody Monday night while members of the department’s Criminal Investigations Division were monitoring his activities. Around 10 p.m., officers followed him to Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 410 S. Fairfield Dr., and arrested him after he used a screwdriver to dismantle two large electrical boxes.
In addition to Monday night’s burglary, he also has been charged with burglarizing the daycare center at Gadsden Street United Methodist Church, 901 E. Gadsden St., on February 3 and the First Presbyterian Church Child Discovery Center, 33 E. Gregory St., on February 6.
A box of hamburger patties taken from the Gadsden Street United Methodist Church were found in the freezer at Cole’s residence, Kelly said.
State Farm Rate Increases Questioned
February 16, 2011
State Farm property policyholders in higher risk areas could see premium increases of 40 percent or more on their homes under a 27.9 percent average rate hike request that insurance officials said Tuesday will shock many customers and place an increased burden on the state-run pool.
State Farm Florida Insurance, the state’s largest private insurer of property, told state regulators Tuesday that non-hurricane losses — especially sinkhole claims– over the past few years are forcing the company to double rates for rental customers and seek hefty hikes from homeowners in some inland counties to cover the losses.
But the state’s insurance Consumer Advocate, Steven Alexander, said the request is bloated. State Farm is paying its agents far more than the national average for policies and is skimping when it comes to providing discounts to property insurance customers when it drops sinkhole coverage as part of its basic multi-peril package and offers it instead as an optional add-on, he said.
Speaking during a public hearing on its latest rate increase request, State Farm representatives said sinkhole losses over the past couple of years have escalated dramatically and have been the major driver in ramping up losses for the company, which has not seen a hurricane hit land in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
“Our financial position has deteriorated over the past few years,” said State Farm actuary Adam Swope. “This company has lost a substantial amount of surplus despite having no hurricanes.”
State Farm is requesting a 27.9 statewide increase in residential homeowners’ rates. Premiums for rental insurance, a relatively small percentage of the company’s portfolio, would increase 95.7 percent if the rates are approved. Officials at the Office of Insurance Regulation say they will likely have a ruling within the next two weeks.
As part of the statewide average, policyholders in some counties would see increases that are significantly higher.
Policyholders in Orange and Seminole counties for example, would see premiums jump more than 46 percent if the request is approved. Customers in other locations would see rates fall, with policyholders in Manatee County paying 6.7 percent less and Panhandle customers seeing 20 percent reductions.
Sarasota County policyholders would see a 2.5 percent increase, while rates in Charlotte County would rise 16.5 percent.
One likely offshoot of the rate hikes is that more policyholders will be transferred into Citizens Property Insurance Corp. the state-run pool that is now the largest single property insurer in Florida. State regulators Tuesday appeared skeptical when company staffers were unable to determine how many policyholders would leave State Farm if the rates were approved. They asked why the rates were not being phased in to cushion the blow.
“Has the company told its agents what to tell customers if these rates are approved?” asked OIR Acting General Counsel Belinda Miller. “Some of them are going to be shocked.”
Alexander, the consumer advocate, said State Farm could lower costs by not paying its agents so much for renewing policies. The company’s selling expenses are more than double the national average of $149 per policy. Alexander also estimated that the company is saving about $325 per policy by not offering comprehensive sinkhole coverage, yet it is offering discounts to customers of only about $150.
Company officials said they have not broken out the sinkhole component among a list of non-hurricane damages from which it has suffered losses, a lack of information that Alexander and other panel members said they would like to see before making up their minds on whether to approve the request.
“We shouldn’t pass on this rate until we get the sinkhole figures,” Alexander urged. “It’s such a big part of the filing.”
By Michael Peltier
The News Service Florida
NHS Opens Varsity Softball Season With Loss; Win For JV
February 16, 2011
The varsity Northview Lady Chiefs dropped their regular season opener Tuesday, while the junior varsity picked up a big win.
The Pine Forest Eagles defeated Northview in varsity softball action, 5-2. In the season opener for the junior varsity chiefs, Northview beat Pine Forest 20-4.
The varsity team will be in action Friday at 5:00 as they host Pensacola Catholic. The JV and varsity will travel to Jay on February 22.
One Dead, One Injured In Escambia House Fire
February 15, 2011
An Escambia County house fire claimed the life of an elderly man this morning.
Kenneth Trehern, 78, died in the fire that was reported just before 6:30 a.m. in the 6600 block of Suwanee Road. His body was found in the living room of the home after the blaze was extinguished. His wife, Laurie Trehern, 58, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital and then transferred to the UAB Burn Center in Birmingham for treatment of her injuries. Her condition was not available.
The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Suwanee Road is located between West 9 Mile Road and Frank Reeder Road in the Beulah area.
Pictured above and below: An Escambia County man died in this mobile home fire this morning in Beulah. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
2010 Hit And Run Lands Century Man Behind Bars
February 15, 2011
A Century man is now jailed on several traffic charges in connection with a hit and run crash near the Century Piggly Wiggly last year.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Steven Allen Lashley, 53, was westbound on Ivey Street at Highway 29 in a 1995 pickup truck when he turned into the path of a 2006 Chevrolet car that was eastbound on State Line Road onto Highway 29. The driver of the Chevrolet, Kelly R. Morgan, 17, of Century, was not injured in the August 21, 2010, crash.
Lashley fled the scene, headed west on State Line Road.
Lashley was arrested early Monday morning on outstanding warrants related to the crash. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $17,000 on charges of leaving the scene of an accident, no valid driver’s license, driving with a suspended license, expired driver’s license and using an out-of-state driver’s license while suspended in Florida.
5,100 Acre Dump Planned Upstream From North Escambia Draws Protests
February 15, 2011
Protesters gathered at a county commission meeting in Evergreen, Ala., Monday to show their solidarity against a 5,100 acre landfill.
Conecuh Woods LLC has formally applied for the landfill, which will include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, through Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River.
Holding signs that proclaimed “No Dump!”, the protesters gathered as the Conecuh County Commission met to discuss plans for public hearing next month on the landfill, which will accept about 15,000 tons of waste per day from across the country.
Many local governments downstream from the proposed Conecuh Woods, including Atmore, Escambia County (Ala.), and the Poarch Creek Indians, have adopted resolutions opposing the landfill.
The Citizens for a Clean Southwest Alabama has hired a law firm to fight the proposed dump.
The public hearing for the Conecuh County Commission to consider approval for Conecuh Woods is set for March 10, 9 a.m., at Reid State Technical College in Evergreen. The commission has until April 2 to make a decision on the proposal.
Pictured top: Residents gather Monday in Evergreen, Ala., to protest a planned 5,1000 landfill. Photos courtesy WALA FOX 10 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sacred Heart Ranked Among Nation’s Top 5 Percent Of Hospitals
February 15, 2011
The nation’s leading independent health care ratings organization has ranked Sacred Heart Hospital among the top 5 percent of all U.S. hospitals for clinical excellence.
As part of its ninth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study, HealthGrades identified those hospitals performing in the top 5 percent nationwide across 26 different medical procedures and diagnoses.
Based on the results of the national study, HealthGrades recognized Sacred Heart by presenting hospital leaders with the Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence Award™. The rankings are based on a comprehensive study of patient death and complication rates at virtually every hospital in the country.
“Sacred Heart Hospital is among an elite group of hospitals in the United States,” Lisa Esch, vice president of professional services for HealthGrades, told an audience at the hospital. ”There are 268 hospitals in the nation and 26 in Florida that are recipients of this year’s award. Our study showed that those top-rated hospitals had a mortality rate among Medicare patients that was almost 30 percent lower than all other hospitals.”
In presenting the award to Carol Schmidt, president of Sacred Heart Hospital, HealthGrades also recognized Sacred Heart’s quality in specific categories of care, noting that Sacred Heart ranked among the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for treatment of stroke. The study showed Sacred Heart’s risk-adjusted inpatient mortality rate for Medicare patients diagnosed with stroke was 51 percent lower than the average nationwide.
Based on the data, HealthGrades awarded special Excellence Awards to Sacred Heart in the areas of:
- Stroke Care
- Critical Care
- Pulmonary Care, and
- Bariatric Surgery
In comparing the performance among hospitals for specific medical conditions and treatments, HealthGrades assigns a rating of 1-star (poor), 3-star (as expected) or 5-star (better than expected.) HealthGrades gave Sacred Heart a 5-star rating in 14 categories that included: treatment of heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture repair, pneumonia, gastrointestinal bleeds, peripheral vascular bypass, and respiratory failure.
“This award is a milestone in our journey toward excellence in clinical care that began more than seven years ago at Sacred Heart and continues today,” said Laura S. Kaiser, president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System. “This achievement is the result of an unwavering focus on the quality of care provided to our sickest patients at the most important times. It truly has been a team effort by many physicians and clinical staff across multiple departments.”
Unlike other hospital quality studies, HealthGrades evaluates hospitals solely on patients’ clinical outcomes: rates of deaths and complications in hospitalized patients. HealthGrades’ analysis is based on approximately 40 million Medicare patient discharges for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.