Takeaways from Tallahassee — 15 years of Tobacco Free –

Turning 15

Tobacco Free Florida is celebrating 15 years of serving to Floridians cut back their use of tobacco, saving a whole bunch of 1000’s of lives alongside the way in which.

When Florida voters authorized the use of tobacco settlement funds for training and prevention applications in 2006, the Division of Well being responded the next 12 months with Tobacco Free Florida. Since then, this system has decreased smoking charges in youth and adults, helped greater than 254,000 Floridians give up tobacco and saved the state an estimated $17.7 billion in smoking-associated well being care prices.

“For the reason that late 1990s following the tobacco business settlement, the state of Florida has been acknowledged as a worldwide chief and mannequin program as a result of now we have been efficient in addressing the great public well being harms of tobacco use on our society,” stated Laura Corbin, bureau chief for Tobacco Free Florida. “By modern and efficient campaigns and applications, now we have continued to evolve to satisfy new challenges because the tobacco business has tailored.”

Youth cigarette use in Florida declined from 10.6% in 2006 to 1.1% in 2021, however the group is opening one other entrance within the battle in opposition to tobacco. This 12 months, Tobacco Free Florida launched Reside Vape Free, a program to assist addicted teenagers quiet e-cigarettes. The textual content-primarily based program helps teenagers ages 13 to 17-years-old give up e-cigarettes and supplies adults with the instruments they should help teenagers on their give up journey.

There are fewer grownup people who smoke in Florida complete in the present day than when Tobacco Free Florida launched regardless of Florida’s inhabitants rising by greater than Three million individuals in these 15 years. Along with stopping individuals from dragging on cigarettes within the first place, there’s been fewer relapses amongst adults.

The constructive outcomes come regardless of Tobacco Free Florida persevering with to be funded at lower than 40% of the extent advisable by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

By its Give up Your Means program, Tobacco Free Florida additionally supplies Telephone Give up, Group Give up, Digital Give up and Internet Give up. Moreover, the Tobacco Free Florida toll-free quantity, 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (877-822-6669), is out there 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and designed to assist individuals in search of data on give up.

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Arising, the same old assortment of information, intel, and observations from the week that was in Florida’s capital metropolis by Peter Schorsch, Drew Wilson, Renzo Downey, Jason Delgado, Christine Jordan Sexton, Tristan Wooden and the employees of Florida Politics.

The “Takeaway 5” — the High 5 tales from the week that was:

Take 5

Gov. DeSantis indicators congressional map his workplace drew – Republicans’ probabilities to retake the U.S. Home are at a brand new excessive after lawmakers signed and Gov. Ron DeSantis authorized congressional district strains drawn by the Governor’s employees. The 28-district map consists of 20 districts during which Republican Donald Trump received the 2020 Presidential Election and eight the place Democrat Joe Biden prevailed. Though activists are already suing to throw out the map, it’ll seemingly be in place for the 2022 Election. Lawmakers authorized the map alongside get together strains. Because the Home approached the map’s closing legislative, Reps. Travaris McCurdy and Angie Nixon, two Black Democrats, began a protest with a sit-in that lasted greater than an hour earlier than Speaker Chris Sprowls known as the chamber to a vote as chanting continued.

DeSantis approves payments focusing on Disney – In an unprecedented trend that noticed the Governor — over the course of 4 days — announce and signal largely partisan laws, the Sunshine State is focusing on its largest personal employer with a pair of payments to take away the corporate’s particular protections. After DeSantis expanded the scope of the redistricting Particular Session after being “provoked” by Disney, Republicans delivered with a invoice to eradicate previous particular districts, together with Disney’s self-governing district, and a second invoice undoing a carve-out from final 12 months’s social media invoice. Disney doesn’t deserve the particular protections anyway, Republicans argue, however the current spat over the Parental Rights in Schooling invoice gave Florida a cause to reevaluate them.

Manny Díaz pitched for Ed Commissioner – DeSantis will advocate Miami Republican Sen. Manny Díaz to turn into Florida’s subsequent Schooling Commissioner after Richard Corcoran steps down. Díaz, the vp for monetary affairs at a college affiliated with and paid by constitution colleges and constitution college administration corporations, has lengthy been an influential voice within the Legislature over training coverage. “Manny Díaz has finished an incredible job within the Legislature on training points ranging from instructor pay to parental rights and selection,” DeSantis stated. “I’m assured that he’ll serve our state nicely because the Commissioner of Schooling.”

DeSantis indicators “anti-woke” invoice – Florida has turn into the most recent state to ban “woke ideology” related to crucial race concept after DeSantis signed HB 7. The measure, which is already being challenged in court docket over First Modification considerations, targets “discriminatory” classroom instruction and company coaching. We aren’t going to make use of your tax {dollars} to show our youngsters to hate this nation or to hate one another,” DeSantis stated. Whereas he warned that academics and textbooks are indoctrinating youngsters, Democrats argued the invoice would scare educators from educating college students concerning the particulars of Black historical past. “I actually consider this laws furthers systematic racism as an try to erase and whitewash American historical past. It’s a delusional tradition battle GOP problem,” Rep. Ramon Alexander stated.

Property insurance coverage Particular Session anticipated subsequent month – DeSantis plans to name the Legislature for one more Particular Session in late Might, this time to handle property insurance coverage. The Governor had beforehand inspired lawmakers to take up property insurance coverage laws once they met this week, giving the nod to Republican Sens. Jim Boyd and Jeff Brandes. “Points like property insurance coverage and attempting to deliver some sanity and stability, and have a functioning market, I’m assured that we’re going to have the ability to get that finished,” DeSantis stated. Democratic lawmakers are optimistic they’ll have extra enter on property insurance coverage than they did throughout this week’s Particular Session, however in addition they acknowledge there are not any silver bullet proposals that can stabilize the insurance coverage market whereas reducing charges for residents.

Drop a line

Florida’s crimson snapper fishing season this 12 months will final 57 days, DeSantis stated Thursday, the longest stretch in state historical past, he stated.

“Snapper season is one of essentially the most thrilling instances to be fishing in Florida, and I’m excited to announce the longest season because the state took over administration of crimson snapper,” DeSantis stated at an occasion in Destin to announce the transfer.

“Folks journey from throughout to benefit from the leisure alternatives now we have in Florida that may’t be discovered anyplace else. Florida is proud to proceed offering entry and alternatives to all who need to expertise the Fishing Capital of the World.”

The season will consist of a 45-day stint in the summertime from June 17 by means of July 31 and a number of other weekends within the fall: Oct. 8-9; Oct. 15-16; Oct. 22-23; Nov. 11-13; and Nov. 25-27.

DeSantis stated it was vital to incorporate the Veterans Day and Thanksgiving weekends as a lift to the business.

Unfold the wealth

DeSantis on Friday introduced greater than $15 million in grants for Florida communities by means of the Rural Infrastructure Fund and the Group Growth Block Grant – CV program.

Awards made by means of the Rural Infrastructure Fund embody $504,100 for street and utility enhancements in Gretna and $34,434 to cowl the design work for the Hardee County Commerce Park.

CDBG-CV funds had been unfold throughout seven tasks, the most important of which is a $5 million award for rural broadband growth in Fort Meade that can assist greater than 1,800 houses hook up with excessive-pace web.

Different tasks embody $3.Eight million to retool a former college constructing right into a senior middle in Chattahoochee, $2.25 million for a group middle growth in Gretna, and $1.25 million for renovations on the St. Francis Home Disaster Middle in St. Augustine.

The Governor additionally stated as soon as the state finances assessment is full, the state will direct $600,000 by means of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee to assist assemble ADA compliant amenities on the Joe Budd Youth Conservation Middle Taking pictures Complicated in Gadsden County.

“My administration is devoted to constructing infrastructure that strengthens Florida’s communities,” he stated in a information launch. “These strategic, significant investments will assist produce a stronger financial system and a extra assured workforce.”

Swap-a-roo

There’s a brand new rip-off on the rise that would flip anybody with a SIM card — or just about everybody who has a mobile phone — right into a sufferer.

Lawyer Common Ashley Moody and the FBI are calling it the “SIM Swap” rip-off. It really works like this: Scammers steal their sufferer’s private data with an electronic mail hack and use it to persuade cell service suppliers to port cellphone numbers to a brand new system and voila, they’re downloading the sufferer’s newest backup and receiving the 2-issue authentication texts for vital accounts.

The FBI says unlawful takings by means of SIM Swaps have grown from $12 million in 2020 to $68 million in 2021.

“It is a scary rip-off involving hackers who steal identities and shortly drain the monetary accounts of their victims. SIM Swap scams are accountable for greater than $80 million in losses nationwide in simply the previous two years,” Moody stated. “I’m asking Floridians to take steps to keep away from falling prey by defending their electronic mail accounts with sturdy passwords and watching out for any uncommon financial institution withdrawals or different suspicious on-line exercise.”

Moody stated tech-savvy people shouldn’t brush this warning off — SIM Swappers even caught former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey of their net, utilizing his information to hijack his Twitter account.

Right here’s some methods to forestall an assault: Use multi-issue authentication for electronic mail and different accounts, obtain and use a two-issue authentication app that doesn’t depend on calling your cellphone, arrange a robust PIN to your mobile account, use any accessible cell service safety apps, and don’t give out your quantity until you belief the particular person you’re giving it to.

Sunshine power

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried needs the Sunshine State to rely solely on renewable power by 2050.

In a information convention with environmental advocates from Our Kids’s Belief, Fried introduced a collection of targets to place Florida on the trail to renewable power, beginning with a objective of making renewable use at the very least 40% of power consumption by 2030. After that, Fried needs the state to hit 63% by 2035 and 82% by 2040 earlier than going fully renewable by 2050.

The targets additionally require every electrical utility within the state to yearly report the quantity of renewable power they produce or buy. The Division of Agriculture and Shopper Companies and the Public Service Fee will then assessment whether or not the utilities are on tempo to satisfy the targets.

“We are able to’t afford to disclaim the fact or the urgency of what’s taking place to our state. We must be doing a lot extra on the subject of discovering options and defending our surroundings,” Commissioner Fried stated. “We all know we nonetheless have an extended strategy to go and we’re going to wish everybody to do their half, however issuing these targets is a crucial step ahead.”

Members of Our Kids’s Belief hope DeSantis comes out in help of the targets.

“At this time is a really large day for Florida and our surroundings,” stated Delaney Reynolds, a lead petitioner with Our Kids’s Belief. “At this time Florida can truly start to truly tackle the core trigger of our local weather change disaster.”

Beforehand, Fried has launched proposals to cut back state greenhouse fuel emissions by 50 p.c by 2030, 90 p.c by 2050, and 100 p.c by 2055.

Instagram of the week

The Week in Appointments

Orange County Court docket — DeSantis appointed Winter Backyard lawyer Doug Walker to the court docket to fill the seat vacated by the elevation of Decide Michael Deen. Walker has labored as an affiliate lawyer at Bradford Cederberg since 2019 and beforehand served as an assistant public defender for 3 years in Florida’s ninth Judicial Circuit. He acquired his bachelor’s diploma from the College of Florida and his legislation diploma from Florida Worldwide College.

Pinellas County Court docket — The Governor named Largo lawyer Aaron Hubbard to the court docket to fill the emptiness created by the elevation of Decide Brian Gnage. Hubbard has served as an assistant state lawyer in Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit since 2007 and at the moment serves as a felony division chief. He acquired his bachelor’s diploma from Mount Vernon Nazarene College and his legislation diploma from Western Michigan College.

Incapacity care

Floridians with disabilities will quickly profit by half a billion in federal funds for house and group-primarily based care suppliers.

The Company for Individuals with Disabilities (APD) and Company for Well being Care Administration (AHCA) on Tuesday introduced the approval of $502.7 million in Federal Medical Help Proportion (FMAP) funding.

“APD appreciates Governor DeSantis’ persevering with help of our very important service suppliers,” APD Director Barbara Palmer stated. “We’re thrilled that our suppliers can have entry to FMAP funding, boosting House and Group-Based mostly care. The muse of this funding plan builds on APD’s dedication to making sure that susceptible Floridians have the sources they should thrive of their communities. These funds will make an enormous distinction to draw certified candidates to serve our susceptible clients.”

With the current approval of Florida’s FMAP proposal, funds can be distributed to boost, develop and strengthen house and group-primarily based companies choices for Floridians with disabilities and to help well being care employees below the Medicaid program. AHCA will ship a letter to every supplier who utilized, notifying them of their awarded quantity.

“From the start of his administration, Governor DeSantis has led the cost amongst the nation’s governors in placing Florida’s seniors and most susceptible first,” AHCA Secretary Simone Marstiller stated. “The Company is happy to award this enhanced funding to Florida’s house and group-primarily based companies suppliers who’re working laborious to handle report will increase in operational prices and challenges in recruiting and retaining employees.”

AHCA will first prioritize funds to eligible iBudget Florida suppliers and can then work in partnership with Lengthy-Time period Care Managed Care Plans to make funds to eligible suppliers inside the Lengthy-Time period Care Managed Care Program. A contract should be signed by every supplier earlier than funds may be launched. These funds should be distributed by June 30, 2023.

Energy professionals

Florida electrical lineworkers obtained a shoutout from the Public Service Fee this week as half of “Nationwide Lineworker Appreciation Day.”

Because the identify portends, April 18 was a day of thanks for many who deal with the nitty-gritty of preserving {the electrical} grid on-line.

Lineworkers have a number of roles, together with substation electricians, community specialists, meter mechanics, streetlight restore and extra. Even when there isn’t a storm or hurricane, lineworkers toil day by day with excessive voltage electrical strains whereas strapped in excessive above the bottom. And if a storm does hit, many of them head to the entrance strains — even when meaning leaving their house state.

“Established in 2013, Nationwide Lineman Appreciation Day honors those that put their lives on the road to keep up our electrical energy and defend public security,” stated PSC Chairman Andrew Fay. “Lineworkers are the primary to reply following pure disasters to revive fallen energy poles and features. Electrical energy retains the nation operating, and we are able to thank lineworkers for his or her work to maintain the facility flowing.”

Whereas Nationwide Lineworker Appreciation Day has come and gone, the facility professionals clock in day-after-day, so it’s by no means too late to say thanks with a social media submit tagged #ThankALineman.

CFO Jimmy Patronis and U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster had been among the many many Florida pols to reward linemen on their big day. In a tweet, Patronis recalled their swift response after Hurricane Michael knocked out energy for tens of 1000’s of Floridians.

“These heroes work in harmful situations to help Florida communities of their biggest time of want,” he wrote.

Magic in Orlando

NBA legend Magic Johnson joined Merely Healthcare Plans’ program at Volunteer Florida’s Psychological Well being Symposium in Orlando this week to encourage youngsters to seek out their superpower and break the stigma on the subject of psychological well being.

“At this time’s youth face challenges like by no means earlier than, and lots of psychological well being situations are left unaddressed,” stated Johnson, an envoy for Merely. “I’m so grateful to work with Merely Healthcare and take part in alternatives like in the present day the place we are able to encourage youngsters to take care of their our bodies — and their minds.”

Merely President Holly Prince welcomed Johnson to the stage to affix suppliers in a dialogue concerning the challenges youngsters face and sources accessible to help communities on psychological well being.

Johnson shared with the kids his personal childhood tales of sporting hand-me-down excessive waters to highschool and goals of being a CEO. He inspired the scholars to pursue their very own goals. He advisable they examine in on their friends and buddies. And once they need assistance, to not be afraid to get it. The afternoon was stuffed with chest bumps, fist bumps and hugs.

“Beginning the dialog about psychological well being may be tough. However with an expert like Magic Johnson, we’re working to ditch the stigma and assist households discover the sources that may assist,” Prince stated, highlighting the instruments and sources accessible at SimplyHealthyMinds.com.

The dialogue additionally featured Melanie Brown-Woofter, President and CEO of the Florida Behavioral Well being Affiliation, and Florida Division of Kids and Households Secretary Shevaun Harris, who contributed skilled recommendation and help.

Johnson, Prince and panelists lined a variety of subjects, together with understanding psychological well being, resiliency, self-care, and constructive considering, understanding despair and anxiousness, tutorial stress, and the longer term, bullying, love languages, and have interaction with somebody in disaster.

“The Florida Behavioral Well being Affiliation works laborious to attain higher behavioral well being outcomes amongst Floridians,” Brown-Woofter stated. “Proactive coaching, training and consciousness are important elements to enhance outcomes in psychological well being and substance use problems. That’s why in the present day’s occasion to coach younger leaders to higher perceive and tackle behavioral well being can have constructive ripple results on Florida for years to come back.”

Cinderella story

Golf isn’t nearly swing. There’s a lot of wheelings and dealings on the rolling greens of Florida’s golf programs and management classes to be taught.

A couple of dozen Florida A&M College legislation college students participated within the six-week program, Fairways to Management, and are poised to take part in a 5-gap commencement on Saturday April 23, on the Twin Rivers Golf Membership in Oviedo. This system was established in the summertime of 2020 by Eric Boyd and Anna Alvarez Boyd.

“We’re excited to have college students from FAMU Faculty of Legislation take part in Fairways to Management,” Boyd stated in a ready assertion. “The faculty is a pure match for our mission to supply management improvement to college students from numerous communities and we hope to serve college students within the school nicely into the longer term.”

Fairways to Management needs to extend social mobility alternatives for  those that are below-represented by offering on-line management improvement coaching and on-the-course golf coaching. College students are coached by LPGA skilled Jamie Taylor.

“It is a new and nice alternative for our college students,” stated Jennifer Smith, professor at FAMU Legislation.

Honest, sincere, correct

Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley this week joined Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) and Secretary of State Laurel Lee in backing the #TrustedInfo2022 marketing campaign.

Led by the Nationwide Affiliation of Secretaries of State, #TrustedInfo2022 is a voter training initiative that promotes state and native election officers because the trusted sources of election data.

“Florida voters may be assured that their native election directors work with the best ranges of integrity to make sure that each poll is counted precisely,” stated Earley, who can also be President-Elect of FSE. “My workplace is planning on utilizing #Trustedinfo2022 to information Florida voters to dependable data to allow them to vote with confidence.”

Lee added, “The unfold of misinformation and disinformation to affect voters and intervene with elections is a key concern. We’re grateful to be partnering with NASS and the Florida Supervisors of Elections for the #TrustedInfo2022 marketing campaign to make sure that voters in Florida know that we’re THE trusted sources for elections data.”

The objective of #TrustedInfo2022 is to make sure the integrity of Florida’s elections and to help truthful, sincere, and correct elections in Florida. Supervisors additionally need to spotlight their dedication to being trusted sources of election-associated data.

To study extra about NASS’s #TrustedInfo2022 marketing campaign, go to CanIVote.org. For trusted details about state and native elections, go to the Leon County Supervisor of Elections web site at LeonVotes.gov and the Division of State’s web site at DOS.Myflorida.com/elections.

What’s the Buzz?

Leon County Authorities and its Public Library system is internet hosting occasions and displays centered on pollination and the important position pollinators play within the pure world from April 22 by means of Might 31. The occasions embody:

— A Smithsonian Pollination Investigation Exhibit on the downtown Foremost Library from Might 1-31. The exhibit explores the who, what, when, the place, why, and the way of pollination and was created by Smithsonian Gardens in collaboration with the Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past and made accessible by the Smithsonian Establishment Touring Exhibition Service.

— BioBlitz Week from Might 9-13, the place members can turn into a citizen scientist by observing and accumulating plant and animal knowledge by downloading the iNaturalist app.

— A presentation known as What’s the Buzz?: All About Bees with Tom Hogg on Might 21 at Three p.m. on the downtown Foremost Library. Hogg,  the proprietor of Full Moon Farms, an apiary in Monticello, Florida, will talk about the method of pollination and the way pollination and bees are important to the survival of human beings and Earth’s ecosystems.

— The screening of the documentary My Backyard of a Thousand Bees in any respect Leon County libraries on Might 24 at 6:30 p.m.

— A presentation from Mark Tancig of UF/IFAS Extension Leon County on Might 28 at 10 a.m. about how pollinator communities straight have an effect on human beings and assist members determine crops and animals.

Fallen FDC officers

Florida Division of Corrections (FDC) Secretary Ricky Dixon and management gathered to honor fallen officers and workers through the annual memorial ceremony at Wakulla Correctional Establishment.

“At this time presents a possibility for us to pause for reflection as we honor the lives of these brave fallen officers and employees alongside household and colleagues,” Dixon stated. “Their legacy serves as a testomony to the braveness, compassion and selfless service of the courageous women and men of our Division.”

Management and employees from respective establishments and places of work, joined the family and friends of fallen members of FDC who misplaced their lives whereas in service to the state.

FDC management laid a wreath on the memorial in honor of the employees acknowledged through the occasion and for many who died earlier than them. The names of every particular person can be engraved upon the Fallen Officer Memorial situated on the Harry Ok. Singletary Jr. Coaching Middle at Wakulla Correctional Establishment.

And deputies

The Florida Sheriffs Affiliation can be holding its annual memorial ceremony Monday to honor 30 legislation enforcement deputies and officers of their ranks who misplaced their lives from 2017 to 2021.

The ceremony will happen on the Memorial Wall on the Florida Sheriffs Affiliation Headquarters at 1:30 p.m. Affiliation management and state officers, together with Sprowls, can be current for the ceremony.

Established in 2002, the Florida Sheriffs Affiliation included the granite Memorial Wall to honor sheriff’s officers who had fallen within the line of responsibility. It’s a tribute to recollect the sheriffs and deputies who’ve devoted their lives to serve and defend Floridians, whereas respecting those that have handed.

On the wall, the verse “‘Larger love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his good friend.’ John 15:13” is engraved to honor the fallen officers and the sacrifices they’ve made.

The ceremony can be livestreamed on the FSA’s Fb web page.

Ebook it

Senate Democratic Chief Lauren Ebook on April 28 will average a dialog with Tallahassee’s pediatric consultants on stopping childhood accidents and recognizing indicators of abuse as half of a free digital lecture collection supplied by Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Ebook can be joined by Dr. Tom Truman, pediatric crucial care physician on the Tallahassee Memorial Kids’s Middle; Dr. Ryan Worth, pediatric orthopedic surgeon at TMH and Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic. Chris Lolley, govt director of Forestall Little one Abuse Florida, is also among the many consultants who will be a part of Ebook for the panel dialogue.

As half of the annual Child and Household Honest, TMH is providing a free weeklong digital lecture collection that includes eight totally different panels of the realm’s prime being pregnant, postpartum and pediatric consultants. The objective of the digital lecture collection is to assist inform dad and mom and would-be dad and mom of pertinent points associated to having, and elevating, a wholesome household in Leon County.

Register on the Zoom hyperlink right here.

April is Nationwide Little one Abuse Prevention month. Ebook, a sufferer of childhood sexual abuse, is founder and Chief Government Officer of Lauren’s Children, a nonprofit group devoted to educating adults and kids about sexual abuse prevention by means of at school curriculum.

Capitol Instructions

Ron DeSantis – Down arrow – M

Jeanette Nuñez – Down arrow – I

Christina Pushaw – Down arrow – C

Wilton Simpson – Down arrow – Ok

Chris Sprowls – Down arrow – E

Jennifer Bradley – Down arrow – Y

Randy Advantageous – Down arrow – M

Blaise Ingoglia – Down arrow – O

Spencer Roach – Down arrow – U

Florida GOP – Down arrow – S

Orlando – Down arrow – E

Disney World – Up arrow – It doesn’t matter what these individuals do, we’ll see you actual quickly!

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