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Advances:  Week of October 14, 2018

By NSF Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- Exactly three weeks before election day, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis and Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum are scheduled to tangle Tuesday in a televised debate.

The candidates and their supporters have spent weeks launching attacks, and the conservative DeSantis and progressive Gillum offer clear contrasts to voters.

But it remains to be seen how many Floridians will tune in for Tuesday’s debate, which will be broadcast on Telemundo stations and will be streamed online.

If nothing else, Northwest Florida will be far more focused on recovering from Hurricane Michael than listening to the politicians spar. And even if people in places like Panama City are interested in the debate, they might not have electricity or internet connections to watch it.

Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson also were scheduled to debate Tuesday on CNN in their battle for Nelson’s Senate seat. But that debate was postponed at Scott’s request.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2018

COURTS REMAIN CLOSED IN HARD-HIT AREAS: State courts in the 14th Judicial Circuit will remain closed as Northwest Florida tries to recover from Hurricane Michael. The 14th Judicial Circuit is made up of Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties. Also remaining closed Monday will be Florida State University’s Panama City campus.

EASTERN FLORIDA COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The Eastern Florida State College Board of Trustees will meet. (Monday, 9 a.m., Eastern Florida State College, Melbourne Campus, Public Safety Institute, 3865 North Wickham Road, Melbourne.)

ELECTROLYSIS PANEL HOLDS CALL: The state Electrolysis Council will hold a conference call. (Monday, 10:30 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7811783909) 

STARR SPEAKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: Ken Starr, who was the special prosecutor in an impeachment investigation of former President Bill Clinton, will speak at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. (Monday, noon, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Cohen Pavilion, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

SCOTT RECORDS DEBATED: The 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a public-records lawsuit about whether Gov. Rick Scott should be required to turn over his calendar to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which has been locked in a battle with the state about Medicaid contracts. Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ruled Sept. 5 that Scott was required to turn over his calendar --- including information about fundraising events and where the governor will reside at night --- to the group. Scott appealed, and the 1st District Court of Appeal said it would expedite the case. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation filed the lawsuit in July after the Scott administration did not provide the requested calendar information in response to a public-records request. The request was made after the state Agency for Health Care Administration did not renew a five-year Medicaid contract with the foundation’s subsidiary, Positive Healthcare, to provide Medicaid services in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The Scott administration and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement argued that releasing the information could jeopardize the governor’s safety, but Dodson disagreed, noting it “simply is information regarding the governor’s travel schedule.” (Monday, 2 p.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

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

PIRRO SPEAKS AT TRUMP EVENT: Fox News commentator Jeanine Pirro will speak during a Trump Team 2020 Florida event in Palm Beach County. (Monday, 6 p.m., Trump National Jupiter Golf Club & Spa, 115 Eagle Tree Terrace, Jupiter.)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. North, Clearwater.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Hendry, Polk and Pinellas counties. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., LaBelle City Hall, 481 West Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle. Also, 12:30 p.m., Haines City Area of Chamber of Commerce, 35610 Highway 27, Haines City. Also, 1 p.m., Clearwater Countryside Library, 2642 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater.)

CONGRESSIONAL 7 DEBATE HELD: Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy and her Republican challenger, state Rep. Mike Miller, are slated to appear at a debate held by the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida. Murphy and Miller are running in Congressional District 7. (Tuesday, noon, Varsity Club at Camping World Stadium, 1 Citrus Bowl Place, Orlando.)

DESANTIS, GILLUM SQUARE OFF: Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis and Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum will hold their first debate in Orlando. The debate will be hosted by Telemundo 31 in Orlando. (Tuesday, debate taped at noon, with air time and live stream at 7 p.m., Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, 445 South Magnolia Ave., Orlando. The debate will be broadcast on Telemundo stations and can be streamed at Telemundo31.com, Telemundo51.com and Telemundo49.com.)

SANTA FE COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Santa Fe College Board of Trustees will hold a workshop, followed by a regular board meeting. (Tuesday, workshop at noon, board meeting at 4 p.m., Santa Fe Perry Center, 14180 N.W. 119th Terrace, Alachua.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Northwest Florida College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Northwest Florida State College, Robert L.F. Sikes Education Center, 805 East Highway 90, Crestview.)

PENSACOLA COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The Pensacola State College Board of Trustees will hold a workshop about a capital campaign, committee meetings and a regular board meeting. (Tuesday, workshop at 4:30 p.m., committee meetings at 5 p.m., board meeting at 5:30 p.m., Pensacola State College, Warrington Campus, Charles A. Atwell Health Sciences Complex, 5555 West Highway 98, Pensacola.)

ROONEY APPEARS AT GOP CLUB: U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., is slated to speak to the Caxambas Republican Club of Southwest Florida. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Marco Island Yacht Club, 1400 North Collier Blvd., Marco Island.)

NORTH FLORIDA COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The North Florida Community College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., North Florida Community College, 325 N.W. Turner Davis Dr., Madison.)

INTERCHANGE PROJECTS DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing about projects within the Golden Glades interchange in Miami-Dade County. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Sunkist Grove Community Center, 12500 N.W. 13th Ave., North Miami.)

PIRRO SPEAKS IN PALM BEACH: Fox News commentator Jeanine Pirro will speak during a Palm Beach Republican Club event. (Tuesday, 6:15 p.m., The Colony Hotel Pavilion, 155 Hammon Ave., Palm Beach.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018

PAROLE CASES ON TABLE: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet in Lake County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Minneola City Hall, 800 U.S. 27, Minneola.)

SPEECH-LANGUAGE BOARD MEETS: The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology will meet in Hillsborough County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Embassy Suites Tampa-USF, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa.)

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 Marion and Miami-Dade counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Marion County Library, 2720 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Also, noon, North Dade Regional Library, 2455 N.W. 183rd St., Miami Gardens.)

WORKERS’ COMP RATES DISCUSSED: The state Office of Insurance Regulation will hold a hearing on a proposal that could lead to an average 13.4 percent reduction in workers’ compensation insurance rates next year. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, which proposes rates annually for workers’ compensation insurers, filed the proposed rate decrease. The Office of Insurance Regulation will review the details of the proposal and decide whether to approve the cut or request changes. The rate decrease is proposed to start taking effect in January. In an overview of the filing, the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, said the proposal is in line with trends in other states. “Consistent improvement in loss experience is the primary driver underlying the filing. More specifically, the long-term decline in claim frequency has continued to more than offset moderate increases in claim severity,” the overview said. “This has resulted in continued downward pressure on the overall average rate level need and is consistent with trends across most NCCI states.” (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Development Finance Corp. Board of Directors will meet. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Florida Development Finance Corp., 156 Tuskawilla Road, Suite 2340, Winter Springs. Call-in number: 1-646-741-5292. Code: 1124184256)

ST. JOHNS RIVER COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River State College Board of Trustees will meet in Clay County. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., St. Johns River State College, Orange Park Campus, Thrasher-Horne Center, 283 College Dr., Orange Park.)

HILLSBOROUGH COLLEGE BOARD MEETS: The Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees will meet. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Hillsborough Community College, SouthShore Campus, 551 24th St. N.E., Ruskin.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROAD PROJECT DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting on plans to reconstruct and add lanes to State Road 82, from the Hendry County Line to Gator Slough Lane in Collier County. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, 2685 State Road 29 North, Immokalee.)

LAKE-SUMTER COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Lake-Sumter State College Board of Trustees will meet. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Clark Maxwell Building, 1405 County Road 526A, Sumterville.)

GRUTERS RAISES MONEY IN SARASOTA: A fundraising reception is scheduled for state Rep. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican running in Senate District 23. Gruters and Democrat Olivia Babis are trying to succeed Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican running for Congress. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 North Palm Ave., Sarasota.)

WICKER FILLS COFFERS FOR HOUSE RACE: Republican Joe Wicker will raise money for his campaign in Hillsborough County’s House District 59. Wicker and Democrat Adam Hattersley are competing to replace Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican running for Congress. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Curry Law Group, 750 West Lumsden Road, Brandon.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018

FPL DEAL ON TABLE: The state Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on a proposed deal in which Florida Power & Light would buy Vero Beach’s city-run utility and charge FPL rates to Vero Beach customers. The Public Service Commission on June 5 gave approvals needed for the deal, which FPL said at the time it hoped to close Oct. 1. But challenges emerged, spurring regulators to hold the hearing. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

HEALTHY KIDS BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Florida Healthy Kids Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Thursday, 9 a.m.)

MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Massage Therapy will meet in Hillsborough County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Embassy Suites Tampa-USF, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa.)

PAROLE CASES ON ISSUE: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet in Lake County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Minneola City Hall, 800 U.S. 27, Minneola.)

MILITARY BASE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which works on issues related to military bases and missions, will hold a conference call. (Thursday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-800-501-8979. Code: 1869945)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its regular weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES AT POLK TIGER BAY: Republican Greg Steube and Democrat Allen Ellison, who are running in Congressional District 17, are slated to appear at the Tiger Bay Club of Polk County. U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., decided against seeking re-election in the sprawling district, which includes southern Polk County. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 500 West Stuart St., Bartow.)

HOUSE CANDIDATES AT SARASOTA TIGER BAY: Candidates for two open state House seats are expected to appear at a Sarasota Tiger Bay Club meeting. Democrat Tracy Pratt and Republican Will Robinson are seeking to replace term-limited Rep. Jim Boyd in House District 71, which is made up of parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties. Republican James Buchanan, Democrat Tony Mowry and unaffiliated candidate Robert Kaplan are seeking to replace Rep. Julio Gonzalez in Sarasota County’s House District 74. Gonzalez ran for Congress this year. (Thursday, noon, Michael’s on East, 1212 East Ave. South, Sarasota.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Miami-Dade, Osceola, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties. (Thursday, noon, West Flagler Library, 5050 West Flagler St., Miami. Also, 1 p.m., Osceola Council on Aging, 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee. Also, 1 p.m., North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota. Also, 1 p.m., Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 North Evers St., Plant City.)

ROTH RAISES MONEY FOR RE-ELECTION BID: A fundraising reception will be held for state Rep. Rick Roth, a Loxahatchee Republican running for re-election in Palm Beach County’s House District 85. Roth faces a challenge from Democrat Ellen Baker. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Vic & Angelo’s, 4520 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens.)

BUCHANAN SPEAKS TO GOP CLUB: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is slated to speak to the Sarasota Republican Club. Buchanan faces an election challenge from Democrat David Shapiro in Congressional District 16. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Marina Jack, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota.)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018

PSYCHOLOGY BOARD SLATED TO MEET: The Florida Board of Psychology is scheduled to meet in Bay County. (Friday, 8 a.m., Sheraton Bay Point Resort, 4114 Jan Cooley Dr., Panama City Beach.)

ETHICS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Commission on Ethics will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

CHIROPRACTIC BOARD MEETS: The Board of Chiropractic Medicine will meet in Central Florida. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, 1500 Masters Blvd., ChampionsGate.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Duval County. (Friday, 9 a.m., Veterans Caregiver Conference, UNF University Center, 12000 Alumni Dr., Jacksonville.)

MASSAGE THERAPY ISSUES ON TABLE: The Florida Board of Massage Therapy is scheduled to meet in Hillsborough County. (Friday, 9 a.m., Embassy Suites Tampa-USF, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa.)

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will release September unemployment figures. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political candidates and committees face a Friday deadline to file reports showing finance activity through Oct. 12.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2018

NEW COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The New College of Florida Board of Trustees will meet after holding committee meetings. (Saturday, committee meetings start at 9 a.m., with full board starting about 11:30 a.m., New College of Florida, Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota.)