23 October 2020
{Presented|Provided} by Masterworks
{Hello|Hi|Hey there} and welcome to Friday.
2020 BY THE NUMBERS– {So far|Up until now}, 3,195,870 vote-by-mail {ballots|tallies} {have|have actually} been cast for the November election, according to {the latest|the most recent|the current} {information|info|details} on the state {Division|Department} of Elections {website|site}. Of those, 1,533,525 {have|have actually} {come from|originated from} Democrats and 979,838 {have|have actually} {come from|originated from} {registered|signed up} {Republicans|Republican politicians}. {Overall|In general}, there are {nearly|almost} 2.7 million mail {ballots|tallies} {requested|asked for} {but|however} not yet returned. Of those, more than 1.1 million are held by Democrats and more than 859,000 are with {Republicans|Republican politicians}. {A total|An overall} of 1,060,232 {voters|citizens} {have|have actually} cast {ballots|tallies} at an early {voting|ballot} {site|website}. Of those 392,530 were Democrats and 483,443 are Republicans.
Ghosts of 2016 — {Four|4} years {ago|back|earlier}, Florida was targeted by Russian hackers ahead of the {presidential|governmental} election, {an incident|an event|an occurrence} that still {remains|stays} shadowy today even after {information|info|details} {finally|lastly} emerged that {indicated|suggested|shown} {at least|a minimum of} {two|2} counties had their {voter|citizen} registration systems {successfully|effectively} {penetrated|permeated}.
{Debate|Argument|Dispute} {topic|subject} — The {threat|risk|danger|hazard} of another round of election {interference|disturbance} briefly took {center stage|spotlight} Thursday night {between|in between} President Donald Trump and {former|previous} Vice President Joe Biden {during|throughout} the {final|last} {debate|argument|dispute}. The {candidates|prospects} were {asked about|inquired about} threatening {emails|e-mails} that targeted {voters|citizens} in Florida and other states, which {national|nationwide} intelligence authorities {have|have actually} {subsequently|consequently} {said|stated} appear to {have|have actually} {come from|originated from} Iran. {{But|However} it {also|likewise} appears that the Russians are back {again|once again} and {have|have actually} {extracted|drawn out} {data|information} from state and {local government|city government} servers.
| It {also|likewise} appears that the Russians are back {again|once again} and {have|have actually} {extracted|drawn out} {data|information} from state and {local|regional} {government|federal government} servers.
} {Different|Various} takes — Biden {vowed|promised|pledged|swore} that “any {country|nation} that {interferes with|disrupts|hinders} us will in {fact|truth|reality} pay {a price|a cost|a rate} {because|since|due to the fact that} they’re {affecting|impacting} our sovereignty.” In his {response|reaction|action}, Trump {maintained|preserved|kept} that the Russians {wanted|desired} him to lose the election.
Reflections — No matter the political {response|reaction|action} from the {two|2} {candidates|prospects}, the news that the Russians are {once|when|as soon as} again at work is disquieting. {This week|Today}, {an array|a range|a variety|a selection} of election {officials|authorities} and {experts|professionals|specialists}– {including|consisting of} Secretary of State Laurel Lee– {said|stated} Florida {learned|discovered|found out} lessons from the 2016 Russian hacking (which targeted {voter|citizen} registration systems, not vote tallying systems) {and that|which} {time and money|money and time} {has|has actually} been {spent|invested} {readying|preparing} state and {local|regional} elections systems.
Let us {know|understand} what’s going on — Florida Reps. Michael Waltz and Stephanie Murphy, who were {frustrated|annoyed|irritated} by the {limited|restricted|minimal} {information|info|details} {released|launched} last time, on Thursday both {asked for|requested|requested for} {a classified|a categorized} {briefing|rundown|instruction} on {Russian and Iranian|Iranian and russian} {interference|disturbance}. “We have long argued that our {government|federal government} {should|ought to|must|needs to} err on the side of {telling|informing} {citizens|residents|people} more, not less, when foreign powers {interfere with|disrupt|hinder} our democracy,” the bipartisan duo {wrote|composed} in a letter to FBI director Chris Wray, National Intel director John Ratcliffe and {Attorney General|Attorney General Of The United States|Chief Law Officer} {Bill|Expense|Costs} Barr. “Our {citizens|residents|people} can then counter the {threat|risk|danger|hazard} by {scrutinizing|inspecting} the {information|info|details} they {view|see} online, {checking|inspecting|examining} their {voter|citizen} registration {data|information} to {confirm|verify|validate} it wasn’t {tampered with|damaged}, and holding {accountable|responsible|liable} state and {local|regional} {officials|authorities} who {fail|stop working} to {protect|safeguard|secure} election {infrastructure|facilities}.”
— WHERE’S RON?– Gov. DeSantis is {scheduled|arranged|set up} to be with President Donald Trump in The {Villages|Towns}.
The {daily|everyday|day-to-day} rundown— {Between|In Between} Wednesday and Thursday, the {number of|variety of} Florida coronavirus cases increased by 5,557 (0.7 percent), to 768,091; active hospitalizations {went down|decreased} 54 (2.5 percent), to 2,071; deaths {rose|increased} by 57 ({nearly|almost} 0.4 percent), to 16,267.
{TRAIL|PATH} MIX
THAT DOESN’T {SOUND|NOISE} GOOD — “U.S.: Russian hackers targeting state, {local governments|city governments} on eve of election,” by POLITICO’s Eric Geller: The Russian {government|federal government} {is behind|lags} {a recent|a current} {campaign|project} of cyberattacks on state and {local governments|city governments} and {aviation|air travel} networks that {has|has actually} {stolen|taken} {data|information} from {at least|a minimum of} {two|2} victims, federal {officials|authorities} {said|stated} Thursday in {the latest|the most recent|the current} public alarm about foreign hackers’ efforts in the run-up to Election Day. A Russian hacking {team|group} best {known|understood} for attacks on energy {companies|business} “{has|has actually} {conducted|carried out|performed} {a campaign|a project} {against|versus} {a wide variety|a wide range|a wide array|a variety} of U.S. targets” {including|consisting of} “{dozens|lots}” of state and {local governments|city governments}, the FBI and DHS’s Cybersecurity and {Infrastructure|Facilities} Security {Agency|Company|Firm} {said|stated} in an alert.
— “Emailed {threats|risks|dangers|hazards} in Florida dry up as congressional delegation {asks for|requests|requests for} FBI {briefing|rundown|instruction},” by Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos and Samantha J. Gross
THAT DOESN’T {SOUND|NOISE} GOOD, PART 2– “{Voter|Citizen} {websites|sites} in California and Florida {could|might} be {vulnerable|susceptible} to hacks, report {finds|discovers},” by NPR’s Dina Temple-Raston: “Back in July, {two|2} cybersecurity {firms|companies} {sent|sent out} the Department of Homeland Security {a troubling|an uncomfortable|an unpleasant} report that {described|explained} a possible vulnerability in the online {voter|citizen} registration systems in {dozens|lots} of counties in California and Florida. The report, {obtained|acquired|gotten} by NPR, {warned|cautioned|alerted} that {flaws|defects} that {might|may} have {allowed|enabled|permitted} hackers to {change|alter} a handful of {voter|citizen} registration files {four|4} years {ago|back|earlier} are still {likely|most likely} to exist in some {places|locations}, and {could|might} be {used|utilized} {again|once again}. {A spokesperson|A representative} for DHS’ Cybersecurity and {Infrastructure|Facilities} Security {Agency|Company|Firm}, or CISA, called the report ‘{questionable|doubtful}’ and ‘{unverified|unproven},’ and {said|stated} the department ‘takes vulnerability reporting and {remediation|removal} seriously.'”
UNDERWAY– “Does {a ballot|a tally} count? These boards are {already|currently} making {critical|crucial|vital|important} {calls in|hire|contact|employ} Florida,” by Miami Herald’s Jay Weaver: “A week into the {process|procedure}, the Miami-Dade canvassing board {has|has actually} {rejected|declined|turned down} about 125 mail-in {ballots|tallies}. {Ultimately|Eventually}, a stream of irregular {ballots|tallies} will {wind up|end up} {before|prior to} the board, which will {give|provide|offer} a thumbs up or down on hundreds, {probably|most likely} thousands, of votes that {could|might} {prove|show} {critical|crucial|vital|important} in what is {expected|anticipated} to be a tight {presidential|governmental} race.”
BEHIND THE {CURTAIN|DRAPE} — “How the Trump {campaign|project} {used|utilized} to {big|huge} {data|information} {deter|discourage|prevent|hinder} Miami-Dade’s Black {communities|neighborhoods} from {voting|ballot},” by Miami Herald’s Sarah Blaskey, Nicholas Nehamas, C. Isaiah Smalls II, Christina Saint Louis, Ana Claudia Chacin, David Smiley, Shirsho Dasgupta and Yadira Lopez: “Donald Trump’s {team|group} {knew|understood} they {couldn’t|could not} win the 2016 election {simply|just|merely} by {persuading|convincing|encouraging} {people|individuals} to {vote for|elect|choose} Trump. They {also|likewise} {had to|needed to} {make sure|ensure|make certain} Hillary Clinton {supporters|advocates|fans} didn’t come out to the {polls|surveys}. {So the {campaign|project} and its allies {used|utilized} {big|huge} {data|information} to target Black {communities|neighborhoods} along Miami-Dade County’s {historically|traditionally} disenfranchised Interstate 95 {corridor|passage}.|The {campaign|project} and its allies {used|utilized} {big|huge} {data|information} to target Black {communities|neighborhoods} along Miami-Dade County’s {historically|traditionally} disenfranchised Interstate 95 {corridor|passage}.} There, {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} {became|ended up being} {some of|a few of} the 12.3 million unwitting {subjects|topics} of a groundbreaking {nationwide|across the country} experiment: {A computer|A computer system} algorithm that {analyzed|evaluated|examined} {huge|big|substantial} {sums|amounts} of {potential|prospective|possible} {voters|citizens}’ {personal|individual} {data|information}– things they ‘d {said|stated} and done on Facebook, {credit card|charge card} purchases, charities they supported, and even {personality traits|characteristic|personality type}– {decided|chose} they {could|might} be {manipulated|controlled} into not voting. They {probably|most likely} {wouldn’t|would not} even {know|understand} it was {happening|occurring|taking place}. Internally, Trump’s {staff|personnel} {described|explained} this part of their operation with a term that {went beyond|exceeded|surpassed} the {usual|typical|normal} {strategy|technique|method} of {negative|unfavorable} {campaigning|marketing}. They called it ‘deterrence.'”
HMM– “Pinellas {sheriff|constable} will station deputies outside early {voting|ballot} {sites|websites},” by Tampa Bay Times’ Allison Ross: “The Pinellas County {Sheriff|Constable}’s {Office|Workplace} will {assign|designate|appoint} uniformed officers at the county’s {five|5} early {voting|ballot} {sites|websites}, an abrupt {personnel|workers} move that {Sheriff|Constable} Bob Gualtieri {said|stated} was {prompted|triggered} by {unverified|unproven} {complaints|grievances|problems} of {potential|prospective|possible} {voter|citizen} intimidation. {Four|4} days into early {voting|ballot} that continues through Nov. 1, Gualtieri {told|informed} {reporters|press reporters} Thursday that he {decided|chose} to {add|include} officers after {an incident|an event|an occurrence} Wednesday {evening|night} {involving|including} {two|2} armed {security guards|security personnel|guard}. They were standing {close to|near to|near} {people|individuals} campaigning for {candidates|prospects} {during|throughout} early {voting|ballot} at the {Supervisor|Manager} of Elections {office|workplace} in downtown St. Petersburg.”
AS PREDICTED — “{Thousands of|Countless} mail-in {ballots|tallies} {have|have actually} been {initially|at first} {rejected|declined|turned down} in Florida. {{But|However} there’s still time to {fix|repair} them,” by Orlando {Sentinel|Guard}’s Steven Lemongello| There’s still time to {fix|repair} them,” by Orlando {Sentinel|Guard}’s Steven Lemongello}: “{Thousands of|Countless} mail-in {ballots|tallies} {sent|sent out} in by Florida {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} {have|have actually} been {initially|at first} {rejected|declined|turned down} for signature {errors|mistakes} and other {mistakes|errors}, {but|however} election {experts|professionals|specialists} {say|state} there is still {plenty of|lots of|a lot of} time to make those votes count. The {problem|issue} is that {millions of|countless} Floridians are voting by mail for the {first time|very first time} {because|since|due to the fact that} of {concerns|issues} about the coronavirus and election security in {general|basic}.”
{DRAW UP|PREPARE} YOUR BRIEFS — “Trump, Biden {campaigns|projects} {lawyer|attorney|legal representative} {up to|as much as|approximately} take the election to court in Florida, rest of U.S.,” by Orlando {Sentinel|Guard}’s Gray Rohrer: “The specter of the state’s {many|numerous|lots of} election fumbles in {recent|current} history looms {large|big}, {starting|beginning} with the 2000 recount, where after 36 days of legal wrangling a U.S. Supreme Court {decision|choice} made George W. Bush the winner by 537 votes. ‘I {don’t|do not} {anticipate|expect|prepare for} any {real|genuine} {problems|issues}, {but|however} I do {expect|anticipate} there’ll be legal {challenges|difficulties|obstacles},’ {said|stated} Barry Richard, a Tallahassee {lawyer|attorney|legal representative} who represented Bush in the 2000 case. ‘There {have|have actually} {already|currently} been legal {challenges|difficulties|obstacles}, {but|however} they’re {different|various} than 2000.’ Richard {said|stated} the legal {issues|problems|concerns} would likely be {easier|simpler|much easier} to {sort out|figure out} this time {because|since|due to the fact that} the butterfly {ballots|tallies} with ‘hanging chads’ that made {determining|identifying|figuring out} {voter|citizen} intent {difficult|challenging|tough|hard} {during|throughout} the 2000 recount are gone.”
Donald Trump and Democratic {nominee|candidate} Joe Biden bludgeoned each other over energy and {climate|environment} at the end of Thursday’s {debate|argument|dispute}.|Morry Gash-Pool/Getty Images {TRICKERY|HOAX}– “No, {right-wing|conservative} congressional {candidate|prospect} Laura Loomer is not a Democrat, “by Sun {Sentinel|Guard}’s Wells Dusenberry, Eileen Kelley and Anthony {Man|Guy|Male}:”{Someone|Somebody} is {trying|attempting} to {trick|deceive|fool} Democrats into casting a vote they {certainly|definitely} would {regret|be sorry for}: for far {right-wing|conservative} conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. A blue card {passed out|lost consciousness} to {voters|citizens} in Palm Beach County lists which Democrats to {vote for|elect|choose}, {but|however} it {includes|consists of} the Republican Loomer {instead|rather} of her Democratic {opponent|challenger}, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel. Every other {candidate|prospect} on the card is a Democrat. Loomer? {Most|Many|A lot of|The majority of} {definitely|certainly|absolutely} not. {No one|Nobody} is {admitting|confessing} to the {trickery|hoax}. Not the {Republican|Republican politician} {Party|Celebration} and not Loomer, who did not {respond to|react to} {multiple|several|numerous} {requests for|ask for} {comment|remark}.”
— “Socialism, Obamacare and the pandemic: {TV|TELEVISION} attacks {intensify|magnify|heighten} in Shalala-Salazar race,” by Miami Herald’s Alex Daugherty
MUM’S THE WORD — “Jeb and George Bush {stay|remain} {silent|quiet} on Biden {endorsement|recommendation} while {speaking out|speaking up} {against|versus} Trump,” by Newsweek’s Emily Czachor: “Although Jeb and George W. Bush {have|have actually} {criticized|slammed} President Donald Trump throughout his term in {office|workplace} and {reportedly|apparently|supposedly} {decided|chose} months ago not to {vote for|elect|choose} him, the {{siblings|brother or sisters} and {politicians|political leaders}|{politicians|political leaders} and {siblings|brother or sisters}} {have|have actually} not {formally|officially} {endorsed|backed} Joe Biden’s {campaign|project}. Their failure to do so {has|has actually} brought a wave of disapproving {comments on|discuss|talk about} {social media|social networks} over the {past|previous} {several|a number of|numerous} days, with some {pointing out|explaining|mentioning} that {an endorsement|a recommendation} from George, the only living {former|previous} Republican president, {could|might} {help|assist} the Democratic {nominee|candidate}.”
— “Obama heads to Florida for Biden, Trump {returns to|goes back to} The {Villages|Towns},” by Miami Herald’s David Smiley
— “Elections {experts|professionals|specialists} in Florida {give|provide|offer} {assurances|guarantees} as Election Day nears,” by News Service of Florida’s Dara Kam
— “Trump {looks to|wants to|seeks to|aims to} {boost|increase|improve|enhance} {voter|citizen} turnout in Northwest Florida with Pensacola {visit|go to|check out|see},” by Pensacola News Journal’s Jim Little
— “Kathy Castor {faces|deals with} a familiar {foe|opponent|enemy} in Tampa congressional race,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Charlie Frago
— “Duval County elections board: No can {object to|challenge} its {rulings|judgments} or {photograph|photo|picture} its {meetings|conferences},” by Florida Times-Union’s Andrew Pantazi
— “Faith-based rallies {planned|prepared} Saturday, Sunday to get {voters|citizens} to the {ballot|tally} box,” by Florida Today’s J.D. Gallop
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
{RIGHT {MOVE|RELOCATION}? | {MOVE|RELOCATION}? }– “DeSantis {relaxes|unwinds} {rules|guidelines} on {nursing homes|assisted living home|retirement home} to {allow|enable|permit} {children|kids}, extended {family|household} {visits|gos to|check outs|sees}; AARP {warns|cautions|alerts} of {virus|infection} spread,” by Orlando {Sentinel|Guard}’s Kate Santich: “In anticipation of {holiday|vacation} reunions, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday {ordered|purchased|bought} the state’s {nursing homes|assisted living home|retirement home} and {assisted|helped} living centers to {permit|allow} {children|kids} to {visit|go to|check out} {indoors|inside your home|inside} and to {allow|enable|permit} {outdoor|outside} {visits|gos to|check outs|sees}, {regardless of|despite|no matter} {a facility|a center}’s infection rate for COVID-19. At a Fort Myers {news conference|press conference}, the {governor|guv} {also|likewise} {said|stated} the state will no longer {limit|restrict} each {resident|local|citizen|homeowner} to {a maximum|an optimum} of {five|5} visitors {but|however} will leave it {up to|as much as|approximately} each long-term-care {facility|center}, its {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} and their {families|households}.”
{WRONG|INCORRECT} {WAY|METHOD} — “Florida coronavirus cases {once|when|as soon as} again {top|leading} 5,000 in one day,” by Palm Beach Post’s Jane Musgrave: “Palm Beach County logged the {highest|greatest} {number of|variety of} COVID-19 cases in more than {six|6} weeks on Thursday as health {officials|authorities} voiced increasing {concern|issue} that the spread of the {deadly|fatal|lethal} coronavirus {may|might} {again|once again} be {accelerating|speeding up}. The 379 cases that were {logged in|visited} the county is the most {since|because|considering that|given that} Sept. 1, when {an additional|an extra} 422 cases were reported after the state said it {had|had actually} {received|gotten} {a data|an information} dump from {a private|a personal} {lab|laboratory}. It’s the third-highest {number of|variety of} {new|brand-new} cases {since|because|considering that|given that} 420 were reported on Aug. 8, Florida Department of Health {officials|authorities} {said|stated}. Statewide, the {number of|variety of} cases {also|likewise} {spiked|surged|increased} with 5,558 cases reported.”
— “Florida schools are {slow|sluggish} to {spend|invest} $693 million in federal coronavirus {aid|help},” by Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek
— “Pensacola ends state of {emergency|emergency situation} over COVID-19, keeps mask order through December,” by Pensacola News Journal’s Jim Little
— “Florida {jobless|unemployed|out of work} claims dropped {last week|recently},” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Turner
— “Collier commission extends {slightly|somewhat|a little} {tweaked|modified|fine-tuned} mask {mandate|required} {until|up until|till} April,” by Naples Daily News’ Patrick Riley
TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP
GET THE {RECEIPTS|INVOICES}? — “Gaetz: {Luxury|High-end} Trump Hotel’s below-market {room|space} charges were clerical {error|mistake}. ‘I {don’t|do not} {believe|think} I {stayed|remained} there,'” by Florida Phoenix’s Daniel Newhauser: “{But|However} [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who {spent|invested} the night in {question|concern} hobnobbing with other Trump {insiders|experts} at the Trump-owned {luxury|high-end} {property|residential or commercial property|home} {during|throughout} the {Republican|Republican politician} National Convention after-party, {explained|discussed|described} in an interview that his head {never|never ever} {actually|really|in fact} {hit|strike} a pillow in the {swanky|fancy|trendy} {lodging|accommodations}. ‘I {don’t|do not} {believe|think} I {stayed|remained} there. I {believe|think} that {might|may} have been {expenses|costs|expenditures} {associated with|connected with|related to} food and {beverage|drink} for political {meetings|conferences} that I was doing,’ Gaetz {said|stated} in a phone interview, while driving {across|throughout} the Panhandle {trailing|tracking|routing} the {Team|Group} Trump bus {tour|trip} in his own {car|vehicle|automobile|cars and truck}– ‘I’m {staying|remaining} socially {distant|far-off|remote} in my own {vehicle|car|automobile|lorry},’ he {explained|discussed|described}.”
BALLARD TIME– “Florida lobbyist {thrives|flourishes|prospers|grows} in Trump-era Washington,” by Wall Street Journal’s Brody Mullins and Julie Bykowicz: “No lobbyist {has|has actually} benefited more in the Trump {era|age|period} than Brian Ballard, {a longtime|a long time} Florida political operative who didn’t have {so much as|even} {an office|a workplace} in Washington {four|4} years {ago|back|earlier}. After raising {millions of|countless} dollars for President Trump’s {campaign|project} and inauguration, Mr. Ballard opened a federal practice in early 2017, hanging his shingle {a few|a couple of} blocks from the White {House|Home}. {Since then|Ever since}, Ballard Partners– with {fewer|less} than {a dozen|a lots} lobbyists– {has|has actually} {collected|gathered} {nearly|almost} $75 million in {fees|charges|costs} from U.S. corporations, {foreign {governments|federal governments} and other {clients|customers}|other {clients|customers} and foreign {governments|federal governments}}, according to public filings. Mr. Ballard is personally {registered|signed up} to represent 122 {clients|customers} on more than 300 policy matters, {the most|one of the most} of any {registered|signed up} lobbyist in Washington, the disclosures {show|reveal}.”
… DATELINE TALLAHASSEE …
{TRANSPARENCY|OPENNESS}– “Judge orders release of ‘{confidential|private|personal}’ {emails|e-mails} in Patronis-Rubin {feud|fight},” by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: Leon County Judge John Cooper on Thursday {granted|gave|approved} {a motion|a movement} to declassify {a trove|a chest} of {emails|e-mails} at the heart of a long-running legal {fight|battle} {alleging|declaring} CFO Jimmy Patronis was {a central|a main} figure in a pay-to-play {scheme|plan} {a former|a previous} regulator claims cost him his {job|task}. The {players|gamers}: {Many of|A lot of|A number of|Much of} the {emails|e-mails} are {between|in between} Patronis, a Republican statewide {elected|chosen} {official|authorities}, lobbyist Paul Mitchell– {a longtime|a long time} Patronis ally– and {one of|among} the CFO’s {largest|biggest} donors, MCNA Dental {founder|creator} Jeffrey Feingold. Former {Office|Workplace} of Financial {Regulation|Policy|Guideline} Commission chief Ronald Rubin argues the {confidential|private|personal} messages {outline|describe|detail|lay out} how the {three|3} {men|guys|males} {created|produced|developed} a “criminal {enterprise|business}.”
{DIVIDE AND {CONQUER|DOMINATE}|{CONQUER|DOMINATE} and divide}? — “DeSantis {teacher|instructor} pay push increased {salaries|incomes|wages}, {stoked|stired} {tensions|stress},” by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Now, [Gov. Ron] DeSantis’ so-called “year of the {teacher|instructor}” is playing out {exactly|precisely} how some {predicted|anticipated|forecasted}. Experienced {teachers|instructors} and other {employees|workers|staff members} are {annoyed|irritated|frustrated|upset} that budding {teachers|instructors} are seeing pay {increases|boosts} {close to|near to|near} 16 percent in {certain|specific|particular} {instances|circumstances}. {At least|A minimum of} one district {has|has actually} {tried|attempted} to {spread|spread out} the {new|brand-new} {funding|financing} {evenly|uniformly|equally}, {but|however} had its {plan|strategy} {blocked|obstructed} by Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. And pay {negotiations|settlements} in some counties {have|have actually} reached a boiling point, with unions and school {officials|authorities} still at {odds|chances} over how to divvy up the state {funding|financing}. “Some {teachers|instructors} are getting {very|extremely|really}, {very|extremely|really} {small|little} raises while others are getting {very|extremely|really} {significant|considerable|substantial} pay raises,” Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, {said|stated} in an interview
DISMISSED — “Florida {agency|company|firm} that {handles|deals with|manages} discrimination claims fires executive director,” by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: The state {agency|company|firm} that {handles|deals with|manages} discrimination claims in Florida {has|has actually} {abruptly|suddenly|quickly} fired its executive director. The Florida Commission on {Human|Person|Human Being} Relations, which is {overseen|supervised|managed} by a panel of 12 appointees, voted {last week|recently} to {terminate|end} Michelle Wilson. The 7-4 vote came one month after the commission {had|had actually} {narrowly|directly} {voted in|enacted} favor of {retaining|keeping|maintaining} her. The commission {installed|set up} {general|basic} counsel Cheyanne Costilla as interim executive director. There was {not much|very little} {debate|argument|dispute} over the {decision|choice} {during|throughout} the {meeting|conference}, according to audio {obtained|acquired|gotten} by POLITICO, although Tampa {attorney|lawyer} and commission member Gilbert {Singer|Vocalist} {said|stated}, “This is an ambush. This is {completely|totally|entirely} {unfair|unjust|unreasonable}. It’s outrageous.”
COMING SOON– “{Insurance|Insurance coverage}, water {issues|problems|concerns} on the table for {legislative|legal} session,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Turner: “Florida senators will be asked to {eliminate|get rid of|remove} the state’s no-fault {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} {option|choice|alternative} and {increase|boost} {spending|costs} to {repair|fix} the state’s natural springs, the {incoming|inbound} Senate president {said|stated} Thursday. Senate President-designate Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, {told|informed} {business leaders|magnate} that {lawmakers|legislators} {meeting|satisfying|fulfilling} for the 2021 {legislative|legal} session {also|likewise} will {need|require} to {consider|think about} efforts to keep {polluted|contaminated} {Central|Main} Florida waters from {flowing|streaming} in Lake Okeechobee.”
— “Antonacci, Van Laningham {seek|look for} chief judge post,” by News Service of Florida’s Dara Kam
{ODDS|CHANCES}, ENDS, AND FLORIDA {MEN|GUYS}
BIRTHDAYS: Former Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) is 74 … State Rep. Patricia Williams
{Want to|Wish to} make {an impact|an effect}? POLITICO Florida has {a variety|a range} of {solutions|services|options} {available|offered|readily available} for partners {looking to|wanting to|seeking to|aiming to} reach and {activate|trigger} the most {influential|prominent} {people|individuals} in the {Sunshine|Sunlight} State. Have a petition you {want|desire} signed? A cause you’re promoting? {Seeking|Looking for} to increase {brand|brand name} awareness {amongst|among} this {key|essential|crucial} audience? Share your message with our {influential|prominent} readers to {foster|promote|cultivate} engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to {find out|discover|learn} how: [
