Advances:  Week of November 11, 2018

By NSF Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- After the unthinkable happened in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Robert Runcie, Scott Israel and Scot Peterson drew national scrutiny.

Runcie is the superintendent of the Broward County school system, which includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Israel is the Broward County sheriff. And Peterson was a school-resource officer who was on duty when a gunman killed 17 people, including 14 students.

In the nearly nine months since the Feb. 14 massacre, the nagging question remains: What could the school system, law enforcement and the broader community done differently to prevent the shooter from destroying the lives of so many people?

A state commission, known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, has looked at numerous issues, ranging from how 911 calls are handled to the background of alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz, a former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student.

The commission will gather again for four days during the coming week in Broward County. And as part of that meeting, members are scheduled to hear testimony from Runcie, Israel and possibly Peterson as they continue working to find answers.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2018

HILLSBOROUGH COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting to resolve issues at impasse between the college and the Service Employees International Union. (Sunday, 8 a.m., Hillsborough Community College, Dr. Gwendolyn W. Stephenson District Administrative Center, 39 Columbia Dr., Tampa.)

BOOK SPEAKS AT GLAMOUR SUMMIT: State Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat who is the founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, will take part in a panel discussion about resilience during Glamour’s Women of the Year Summit. (Sunday, event starts at 10 a.m., with Book panel scheduled in afternoon, Spring Studios, 50 Varick St., New York City.)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed for Veterans Day.

MUELLER INVESTIGATION AT ISSUE: U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., will hold a news conference about the exit of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the effects on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. (Monday, 10:30 a.m. Federal Courthouse, 701 Clematis St., West Palm Beach.)

SEMINOLE STATE TRUSTEES MEET: The Seminole State College of Florida Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Monday, 2 p.m., Seminole State College of Florida, Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford.)

MORRIS SPEAKS TO TRUMP CLUB: Political commentator Dick Morris is slated to speak to the Palm Beach County Trump Club. (Monday, 7 p.m., Palm Beach Kennel Club, 1111 North Congress Ave., West Palm Beach.)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018

SCHOOL SAFETY PANEL MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, formed after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Parkland High School, will start a four-day meeting in Broward County. Among the topics Tuesday will be a presentation about 911 calls on the day of the shooting. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., BB&T Center, Chairman’s Club, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise.)

REAL ESTATE COMMISSION GATHERS: The Florida Real Estate Commission will meet in Orange County. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Zora Neale Hurston Building, North Tower, 400 West Robinson St., Orlando.)

‘TANF’ NUMBERS ANALYZED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze caseloads and expenditures in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Hillsborough County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district Tampa office, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., St. Petersburg College, Downtown Campus, 244 Second Ave. North, St. Petersburg.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings. (Tuesday, committees start at 9:30 a.m., with full board tentatively scheduled at 11 a.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in St. Lucie, Indian River, Manatee and Brevard counties. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Port St. Lucie City Hall, 121 S.W. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Also, 12:30 p.m., North Indian River County Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. Also, 1 p.m., Manatee Chamber of Commerce at the McClure Center, 4215 Concept Court, Lakewood Ranch. Also, 2:30 p.m., Sunflower House, 777 East Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island.)

BEAN MAKES APPEARANCES IN NASSAU: State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is scheduled to speak to third-grade students from Fernandina Beach Christian Academy during a field trip. Later, he will speak during a Leadership Nassau Youth Government Day. (Tuesday, 9:50 a.m., Nassau County Commission chamber, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee. Also, 11 a.m., Hilliard Town Hall, 15861 County Road 108, Hilliard.)

FAU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus, Administration Building, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

PENSACOLA COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Pensacola State College Board of Trustees will hold committee meetings, followed by full board meeting. (Tuesday, committees start at 10:30 a.m., Pensacola State College, board room, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola.)

HEALTH, RETIREMENT ISSUES CONSIDERED: The Florida Retirement System Actuarial Assumption Conference will discuss issues related to a health insurance subsidy for state retirees and supplemental retirement benefits for members of the Florida National Guard. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD MEETS; The Florida Development Finance Corp. Board of Directors will meet. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Florida Development Finance Corp., 156 Tuskawilla Road, Suite 2340, Winter Springs. Call-in number: 1-646-741-5292. Code: 1118431854)

SANTA FE COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Santa Fe College Board of Trustees will meet in Bradford County. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Santa Fe Andrews Cultural Center, 201 East Call St., Starke.)

FLORIDA GATEWAY TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Gateway College Board of Trustees will meet in Columbia County. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Florida Gateway College, Administration Building, Lake City.)

PALM BEACH COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Palm Beach State College Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Palm Beach State College, Boca Raton Campus, Countess De Hoernle Humanities & Technology Building, 801 Palm Beach State College Dr., Boca Raton.)

MACMANUS, SMITH ANALYZE ELECTIONS: The Bob Graham Center at the University of Florida will host a discussion about the 2018 elections, with speakers expected to include Susan MacManus, a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of South Florida, and Dan Smith, a professor and chairman of the Department of Political Science at the University of Florida. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., University of Florida, Pugh Hall Ocora, Gainesville.)

FIVE-YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN ON TABLE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a hearing in Miami-Dade County on the District 6 five-year transportation plan. (Tuesday, 6 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 1695 N.W. 111th Ave., Sweetwater.)

CHIPOLA COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Chipola College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Chipola College, Public Service Building, Marianna.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

JOLLY, MURPHY DISCUSS ‘GRIDLOCK’ IN WASHINGTON: Former Florida Congressmen David Jolly and Patrick Murphy will speak at a Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce breakfast event about “Why Gridlock Rules Washington and How We Can Solve the Crisis.” (Wednesday, 7:15 a.m., Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, 4000 RCA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens.)

‘PRIORITIES SUMMIT’ HELD: The Miami Herald will host a Florida Priorities Summit, which will include a series of panel discussions about solving policy issues facing the state. Among the numerous participants will be state Rep. Holly Raschein, a Key Largo Republican who will take part in a discussion about environmental issues, and state Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, and Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega, who will take part in a discussion about education issues. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., University of Miami, Donna E. Shalala Student Center, 1330 Miller Dr., Coral Gables.)

SCHOOL SAFETY PANEL MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, formed after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Parkland High School, will continue a four-day meeting in Broward County. Among the expected topics Wednesday is a presentation on the cell-phone content and internet searches of alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., BB&T Center, Chairman’s Club, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise.)

ELECTIONS COMMISSION HUDDLES: The Florida Elections Commission will start a two-day meeting that will include interviewing candidates to become the commission’s executive director. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

AUTISM SERVICES AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold two meeting to address proposed changes to rules regarding behavioral health services for children with autism. AHCA has proposed rules dealing with onsite therapeutic behavioral services and behavioral overlay services. The meetings come after AHCA extended a moratorium on enrollment of new behavioral analysis providers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building 3, Tallahassee.)

UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 101 Rhyne Building, 2740 Centerview Dr., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Collier, Marion, Hernando and Miami-Dade counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Immokalee Public Library, 417 North First St., Immokalee. Also, 12:30 p.m., Marion County Library, 2720 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Also, 1 p.m., Frederick Eugene Lykes Jr. Memorial Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. Also, 2 p.m., Coral Gables Library, 3443 Segovia St., Coral Gables.)

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TEED UP: The Florida Retail Federation will hold a media conference call to release a holiday shopping forecast. (Wednesday, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 1-877-868-6863. Code: 841132)

BEAN ATTENDS ‘SEE THE GIRL’ LUNCHEON: State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, will attend the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center’s annual “See the Girl” luncheon. (Wednesday, noon, Jessie Ball duPont Center, 40 East Adams St., Jacksonville.)

JUDGE HOLDS HEARING ON BALLOT SIGNATURES: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle will hold a hearing in a lawsuit challenging a Florida law that requires elections supervisors to toss out provisional and mail-in ballots if voters’ signatures don’t match the ones on file. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s campaign and the Democratic Executive Committee of Florida filed the lawsuit, contending that the law could lead to disenfranchising voters. It came as Nelson battles Gov. Rick Scott for the U.S. Senate seat. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., United States Courthouse, 111 North Adams St., Tallahassee.)

COURT FUNDING CONSIDERED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze “Article V” revenues, which are used to help fund the court system. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

REFUGEE SERVICES DISCUSSED: The Jacksonville Area Refugee Task Force is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Jacksonville Baptist Association, 2700 University Blvd. South, Jacksonville.)

AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AT ISSUE: The Florida Venture Forum, in partnership with Space Florida, will hold a Florida Aerospace Capital Forum, to “broaden the spectrum of early stage Florida-based aerospace companies and entrepreneurs.” (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. Guidewell Innovation Center, 6555 Sanger Road, Orlando.)

MULTI-USE TRAIL PROJECT EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a hearing on options for the multi-use St. Johns River to Sea Loop Trail. The hearing will focus on an approximately 18-mile stretch along U.S. 1 or an alternate route from State Road 44 to Beville Road in Volusia County. (Wednesday, 5 p.m. Piggotte Community Center, 504 Big Tree Road, South Daytona.)

BROWARD DELEGATION MEETS: The Broward County legislative delegation will hold an organizational meeting as it begins to prepare for the 2019 session. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Broward College, Bailey Hall, 3501 S.W. Davie Road, Davie.)

LOBBYIST COMPENSATION REPORTS DUE: State lobbyists face a Wednesday deadline for filing reports showing their compensation from July 1 through Sept. 30.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018           

LAWMAKERS TAKE PART IN INTERNET & TELEVISION CONFERENCE: The organization Florida Internet & Television will hold its annual conference with panels expected to be moderated by state Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud; Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay; Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville; Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg; and Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa. (Thursday, 8 a.m., Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando.)

SCHOOL SAFETY PANEL MEETS: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, formed after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Parkland High School, will continue a four-day meeting in Broward County. Among the expected topics Thursday are testimony by Broward County schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and possibly former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., BB&T Center, Chairman’s Club, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise.)

UCF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet after holding committee meetings. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 8:30 a.m., with board meeting at 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

TRUST FUNDS EVALUATED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss “outlooks” for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, the State School Trust Fund and the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DEFENSE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which works on issues related to military bases in the state, will meet in Brevard County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach, 3435 North Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach.)

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY ON TABLE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss issues related to unclaimed property. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

APALACHEE PLANNING COUNCIL MEETS: The Apalachee Regional Planning Council will meet in Gadsden County. (Thursday, 10 a.m., UF IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research Road, Quincy.)

REFUGEE SERVICES DISCUSSED: The Broward Area Refugee Task Force is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Family Success Administration Division Community Action Agency, 900 N.W. 31st Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

SENIOR SCAMS TARGETED: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of "Be Scam Smart" workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce.)

GULF COAST COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Gulf Coast State College Board of Trustees will meet in Bay County. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Gulf Coast State College, Robert L. McSpadden Student Union East, Panama City.)