Florida

Investing in Florida’s green technology to be focus

April 29, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change. The conference will be held June 25-26, 2008, at the Intercontinental Miami. Building on the foundation for Florida’s energy future began at last year’s summit, the 2008 summit will focus on stimulating economic development in clean technologies as well as “greening” Florida’s business community.

Florida everglades: Photo by Craig ONeal (CC)    » read more »

April 27, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Barack Obama campaign spokesman, Hari Sevugan, released the following statement in response to Senator McCain's comments made earlier today in Florida:

"By sinking to a level that he specifically said he'd avoid, John McCain has broken his word to the American people and rendered hollow his promise of a respectful campaign. With each passing day, John McCain acts more and more like someone who's spent twenty-six years learning the divisive, distracting tactics of Washington. That's not the change that the American people are looking for."

MCCAIN SAID THAT HE KNOWS OBAMA DOES NOT AGREE WITH WRIGHT...    » read more »

INVEST program targets high-risk victims in five counties

April 17, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today formally announced the expansion of a successful pilot program to address rising numbers of fatal domestic violence cases in Florida. The INVEST program, which stands for Intimate Violence Enhanced Services Team, provides intensive prevention and protection services to domestic abuse victims identified as at high risk for fatal attacks in Alachua, Duval, Orange, St. Lucie and Seminole Counties. These five counties had the highest rates of domestic violence fatalities in the state in 2006.    » read more »

April 17, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp today announced the steady decline in youth drug use since 2000, as he rolled out the results of the 2007 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey. The Florida Office of Drug Control Policy, state agencies, law enforcement and substance abuse prevention coalitions have partnered to reduce substance abuse across the state.

“Florida’s children are a treasure, one that we must protect,” said Lt. Governor Kottkamp. “Drug use threatens the safety and security of our children. The survey is vital to understanding how to prevent drug use.”

According to the survey, Florida’s youth drug use is down in 20 out of 21 areas measured. Among the findings:    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, of Clearwater, Florida, died April 14 in Tuz, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Source: DOD

April 15, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced Florida’s participation in the American Diploma Project Network, a nationwide movement designed to improve preparation of high school students for the 21st century workforce. The Governor’s announcement came after discussing the benefits of participation with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

“Florida has a proven record of improving student performance across all grade levels,” Governor Crist said.“By working collaboratively with other states, we can maximize our efforts on behalf of our students.”    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- FORT MYERS – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today visited Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers to discuss proposed legislation that will provide affordable health insurance for Florida’s uninsured. Senate Bill 2534, sponsored by Senator Durell Peaden of Crestview, would allow state government to negotiate with health insurers to develop affordable coverage for Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured individuals. Private health insurers have indicated that benefits packages would cost about $150 or less per month.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jeremiah C. Hughes, 26, of Jacksonville, Florida, died April 9 in Balad Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident in Abu Gharab, Iraq.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DoD

April 09, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Mark E. Rosenberg, 32, of Miami Lakes, Florida, died April 8 in Baghdad, Iraq of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Source: DoD

April 08, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died April 6 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with indirect fire.

Killed were:

Col. Stephen K. Scott, 54, of New Market, Alabama. He was assigned to the 356th Quartermaster Battalion, Laurel, Miss., and

Maj. Stuart A. Wolfer, 36, of Coral Springs, Florida. He was assigned to the 11th Battalion, 104th Division, Boise, Idaho.

Source: DoD

April 8, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today met with business owners and individuals struggling to afford health insurance coverage as part of a Tallahassee Tuesday informal discussion at the Governor’s Mansion. The group talked about the Governor’s proposed health care legislation that can provide preventive, primary and urgent care benefits, including hospitalization, to uninsured Floridians ages 19 to 64.

Tampa General Hospital: Photo by Judy Malley (CC)    » read more »

April 04, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Charles A. Jankowski, 24, of Panama City, Florida, died March 28, in Arab Jabour, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

He was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Source: DoD

Scams are evolving to look more “official,” often appearing to be government documents

April 3, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory warning Floridians about evolving email and internet scams, particularly those which solicit assistance in moving large sums of money through wire transfers or bank deposits.

The Attorney General cautioned that as technology develops, con artists are becoming more adept at using the internet to prey on their victims, hiding behind the internet’s anonymity while offering business opportunities that cannot be passed up or stories begging for a recipient’s compassion.    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today launched the inaugural meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Autism Spectrum Disorders with a press conference at the Capitol to observe World Autism Awareness Day. Established by executive order in March, the task force was created to recommend a unified and coordinated agenda for addressing autism in Florida and to advance public policy for the research, screening, education and the treatment of autism.

“Our children deserve the best possible means for success, and I understand the toll autism can take on a family,” Governor Crist said. “The task force will explore how we can help families navigate the system to locate and coordinate care and develop a strategy to increase early diagnosis.”    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- Miami, FL – A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld an injunction protecting eight federally listed species and their habitats in the Florida Keys. The court denied an appeal by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) seeking to overturn the 2005 injunction, which prohibits FEMA from issuing flood insurance for new development in the sensitive habitats of the Florida Key deer and seven other threatened and endangered species.    » read more »