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Foreclosure Settlement Dollars For First Time Homebuyers

January 24th, 2013 by flanews

There’s 60 million dollars available to Floridians right now through the foreclosure crisis settlement. The nation’s five largest banks are dolling out 25 billion dollars to make amends for bad lending practices that collapsed the housing market. But as Whitney Ray tells us, the bulk of the 60 million dollars announced in Tallahassee today isn’t going to the victims of the housing crisis, It’s going to first time homebuyers.

Shady lenders and over-zealous borrowers collapsed the house market in 2006. As a result, millions lost their homes. To make restitution the nation’s five largest banks are paying back 25 billion dollars.

“Florida’s total monetary benefits under this settlement are over eight billion dollars,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Bondi laid out plans for spending the first 60 million dollars of the settlement money. Legislative leaders were on hand praising Bondi’s work securing the cash.

“That settlement between the attorneys general and the banks did not just happen. It had to be worked for, it had to be fight for,” said House Speaker Will Weatherford.

But the bulk of the money from this program won’t go to people who lost their homes in the foreclosure crisis. Of the 60 million dollars available through this program, 35 million will go to first time homebuyers with the remaining 25 going to people fighting foreclosure.

I asked why new homebuyers, were getting a bigger cut than people who’ve already lost their homes.

“The settlement provides, as settlements do, that there are other areas related to housing that settlement money can be used for,” said Senate President Don Gaetz.

Under the down payment assistance portion of the program, first-time homebuyers will get 75-hundred dollars a piece to make a down payment on a house.

“If you provide the right kind of assistance in terms of a little bit of guidance and insight as well as money, you have less likelihood for a foreclosure in the future,” said Gaetz.

Another program started with the settlement money promises about a thousand dollars to people who’ve lost their homes to foreclosure. Last Friday was the deadline to claim the cash, but after a lackluster turnout, the deadline was extended.

Part of the problem with getting money to foreclosure victims is tracking them down, but there will be other opportunities. There’s another 200 million dollars available for future programs. Plus banks are working with underwater borrowers to lower payments and assist with short sales.

Posted in State News | 11 Comments »

Gov. Scott Proposes Teacher Raises

January 23rd, 2013 by flanews

Governor Rick Scott wants to give the state’s 168-thousand teachers a pay raise. 25-hundred dollars more a piece to be exact. As Whitney Ray tells us, the announcement comes after Scott’s first budget cut education spending by more than a billion dollars.

Call it an about-face, a revolution of thought or just a shift in priorities, but however you explain why Governor Rick Scott is now proposing a pay raise for teachers one thing’s clear; it’s what educators have been dying to hear.

“Right now the right thing to do is across the board pay raises for all of our full time teachers,” said Scott.

I caught up with Scott before he headed to Orlando, to unveil the details of his pay raise plan.

“I’ve traveled the state. I’ve talked to teachers. They’re working tirelessly to make sure our students have achievements. So I’m appreciative of what our school teachers do,” said Scott.

The raise proposal seems out of line for Scott, especially if you consider his first budget. Scott cut 1.3 billion dollars from education. In his defense the cut was federal stimulus dollars that had run dry. But Scott also forced teachers to contribute three percent to the state pension a move many saw as a pay cut.”

But if Scott’s latest proposal is an about-face, it’s a welcomed one. Florida’s new Commissioner of Education says teachers support the move.

“I think the governor recognizes the heavy lift Florida teachers have made, since he came to office, and I think he is appreciative of their efforts,” said Tony Bennett.

And of course lawmakers have the final say on all budget items, but at least for now, they’re doesn’t seem to be many legislative opponents of the plan.

“Teachers have really paid a heavy price over the last several years and hopefully we can find a way to give them some bonuses where they can feel more appreciated,” said State Representative Doug Broxson.

If the plan makes it through the budget process, then all of Florida’s 168-thousand teachers will get an estimated 25-hundred dollars more next year, costing the state 480 million dollars.

The proposal comes as state economists predict a 437 million dollar budget surplus, making it a lot easier for Scott to find cash for the increases.

Here is what the President of the Florida Education Association, Andy Ford, is saying about the Governor’s Proposal.

“A $2,500 increase in pay would certainly be welcome, but it’s important to put it in its proper context,” Ford said. “Teachers and other school workers lost 3 percent of their salary in 2011 and saw another 2 percent disappear when Social Security and Medicare tax breaks expired earlier this month. But this is a step in the right direction because investing in public schools and the people who work in them is the way to create the workforce of the future,” said Ford.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

BP Claims Czar Addresses State Cabinet

January 23rd, 2013 by flanews

The man in charge of doling out 20 billion dollars in BP money met with the governor and State Cabinet today.

Patrick Juneau took over for former BP Claims Czar Ken Fienberg this summer. He’s in charge of the account BP set up to pay business owners hurt by the 2010 Deep Water Horizon disaster. Juneau says under his watch the claims process is running more smoothly.

“This whole system was designed to have uniformity in payment of claims. In other words if 10 claimants had the identical, same information, they ought to get the same amount of money,” said Juneau.

Cabinet members wanted to know what people can do if they made a claim under the Fienberg regime and feel they were ripped off. Juneau says their only recourse is to go court.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

New Education Commissioner Focused on Core

January 23rd, 2013 by flanews

Florida has a new education commissioner and a new focus for students.

Dr. Tony Bennett spoke in front of the Governor and State Cabinet for the first time today. Bennett says he’s focused on phasing out the controversial FCAT and helping schools transition to the new Common Core Standards.

“I think the most important thing we have to do is think about how we are going to transition to the next generation of assessment which will be the assessment of the Common Core state standards and that’s something Governor Scott asked me to put at the top of my priority list,” said Bennett.

Bennett also spoke to the Senate Education Committee. He comes to Florida from Indian where he lost his bid for a second term as the head of education in the Hoosier State.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

State Lawmakers Study Gaming Expansion

January 22nd, 2013 by flanews

Representatives from some of the world’s largest casinos are pushing Florida lawmakers for a gaming expansion, but as Whitney Ray tells us, lawmakers are vowing to move slowly on the issue.

It’s a classroom of sorts. The students, members of the Senate Committee on Gaming. The teachers, lobbyists for some of the largest casinos in the world. State lawmakers have promised to spend the year studying gaming, to avoid going all-in on an expansion without all the details.

Vice Chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee Maria Sachs says the issue needs to be explored in depth.

“We as a state need to make sure that we have thoroughly vetted it before we reach any decisions,” said Sachs.

Despite the small odds for gaming legislation this year, mega casino organizers and their opponents aren’t taking any chances. They’re here at the state capitol making their cases.

John Sowinski, President of No Casinos.org, isn’t taking anything for granted.

“You have to be on guard always. We have to vigilant always because if the other side sees and opportunity they will seize it,” said Sowinski.

But it’s not just anti-gaming groups opposing an expansion. The Seminole Indians, which operated seven Florida casinos, are also in opposition. They worry new mega casinos would cut their profits.

And they have good reason to be afraid. Genting Malaysia, the largest casino corporation in the world, spent 300 million dollars for prime land in Miami. Now they just need the go ahead from state lawmakers to build this mega casino.

The Seminole Indian Tribe and state lawmakers reached an agreement in 2009, giving the tribe exclusive rights to Blackjack and other Vegas-style games. The deal expires in two years.

Posted in State News | 2 Comments »

Marching 100 Misses Inauguration

January 21st, 2013 by flanews

As President Barack Obama took the oath of office, there was something missing from the celebration. The FAMU Marching 100. The world-renowned band played at the President’s first swearing in ceremony in 2009, but as Whitney Ray tell us, for killing one of their own in a hazing ritual, the band is on indefinite suspension.

It was a celebration. The FAMU Marching 100, in Washington D.C. performing for the nation’s first black president during his 2009 swearing in ceremony. Twice before, while then Senator Barack Obama was on the campaign trail, the world renowned band preformed for the presidential hopeful.
But Monday, the band stayed home, suspended for killing one of their own in a deadly hazing ritual.

FAMU Drum Major Robert Champion died in November of 2011, in a hazing ritual called Crossing Bus C. Since then the Marching 100 has been on indefinite suspension.

I caught up with interim FAMU President Larry Robinson, before he headed to Washington for the president’s second inauguration. Robinson says the band will be back some day and will have other opportunities

“They’ll get invitations in the future to attend events of this caliber. Now it’s kind of hard to beat an inauguration, but we will get there,” said Robinson.

Students say the band needs to come back soon.

“It feels like there’s a lack of school spirit because you don’t hear the band. That’s what the school is primarily famous for so it’s kind of sad,” said Freshman Lashawnda Morgan.

The school was close to naming a new band director last week but negotiation broke down. Now a new search is on and students are hoping the band is back before football season.

The FAMU Marching 100 played at both President Bill Clinton inauguration ceremonies.

Posted in State News | 190 Comments »

MLK March at State Capitol

January 21st, 2013 by flanews

Floridians are remembering the man who changed the country forever and helped further unite the United States.

In Tallahassee a group of students, civil rights leaders and elected officials marched from the bus station to the state capitol in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. Former State Representative Curtis Richardson was in the crowd. Richardson says the country has come a long way since King’s death.

“We still have a lot of work to do, a long ways to go, but we have come so far and I feel the future is bright because of where we are today,” said Richardson.

Richardson and other marchers were not just celebrating Dr. King, but also the second term of President Barack Obama.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

FAMU Hires Anti-Hazing Czar, Recovers Fumble

January 18th, 2013 by flanews

At FAMU the week started with a botched negotiation with a band director candidate. But now it’s ending on a high note. As Whitney Ray tells us, 14 months after the hazing death of Drum Major Robert Champion, FAMU has hired the school’s first anti-hazing czar.

Moving forward, Florida A&M University has hired a man they believe can end the dangerous tradition of hazing. It all began 14 months ago, when Drum Major Robert Champion was beaten to death in a hazing ritual called Crossing Bus C. Arrests were made. The Band Director fired.

Friday, as part of FAMU’s ongoing mission to end hazing on campus, the school hired Bryan Smith. An Atlanta charity director turned FAMU’s Anti-Hazing Czar. Interim President Larry Robinson says Smith already has a plan to stop the dangerous tradition.

“He provided me with what he called his 90 day plan. He thought through this, what he’s going to do, who he needs to do it with in the first 90 days to get the ball rolling,” said Robinson.

Smith beat 60 other candidates to land the 90-thousand dollar a year job. Students seem pleased.

“That’s a good move because it shows that they are actually trying to deal with the situation,” said Tawanna Randall, a junior from Sarasota.

“Campus is kind of dead you know. We need some school spirit,” said Freshman Lashawnda Morgan.

And with the hiring of Smith, the school’s just two positions away from completing its anti-hazing plan. FAMU’s close to naming a new compliance officer to work with Smith and the search for a new band director is underway.

Tuesday, after calling reporters to campus, FAMU’s negotiations with a band director candidate broke down. The hope is their next search renders better results. Smith starts Feb 1st. He’s graduated from FAMU in 1998 with a maters degree in public management.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Unemployment Rate Falls to 8%

January 18th, 2013 by flanews

Florida’s unemployment rate is at a four year low, despite the state having lost jobs last month.

Fifteen thousand jobs were eliminated from November to December. But since the official unemployment rate doesn’t include people who’ve stopped looking for work or are underemployed, the rate still fell. Looking at the data year-to-year shows the state still up by 55-thousand jobs in 2012. In a prepared statement, the new Director of the Department of Economic Opportunity told us, Scott’s job’s plan is working.

“Florida’s unemployment rate has dropped more than three points since Governor Scott took office and the rate has dropped year over year for 25 consecutive months. The bottom line is that under Scott, Florida’s trend in decreasing unemployment continues,” said Panuccio.

When Scott took office the state jobless rate was 11 percent, with a million people looking for work. The latest count shows about 750-thousand people are job hunting.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Foreclosure Money

January 17th, 2013 by flanews

There’s 170 million dollars available to Floridians who lost their homes to foreclosure and the window of time to claim the money closes tomorrow. As Whitney Ray tells us, less than half of the 167-thousand Floridians eligible to make a claim still haven’t.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is offering free money to Floridians ripped off in the foreclosure crisis, but more than half the people eligible don’t seem to want it.

“Attorney General Bondi has been diligent in her efforts to ensure that every borrower who may be eligible for this 170 million dollars that’s available to Floridians has been contacted,” said Jenn Meale, a spokesperson for Attorney General Bondi.

Bondi’s sent multiple letters and in a last ditch effort to reach the 90-thousand who’ve yet to file a claim she set up a phone bank.

“Some people may have tossed these notices out thinking they were just additional notices from the five banks in the settlement,” said Meale.

The lenders are Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Citi and GMAC. Anyone who had a mortgage with one of these banks and lost their home to foreclosure between from 2008 through 2011 may be owed money, but they need to act now.

“We want to ensure that everybody meets the January 18th deadline,” said Meale.

And as the deadline fast approaches more money is coming online for people caught in the foreclosure crises. This time the money is to help people keep their homes.

Thursday state lawmakers voted to send 60 million dollars to General Bondi’s office. The money is to help people struggling to pay their mortgages.

“I think it’s only fair to take that money and route it toward helping people who have been foreclosed on or are about to be foreclosed. Preferable we can prevent those foreclosures,” said Senator Alan Hays.

The money is part of a 25 billion dollar multi-state settlement. Florida’s portion is 334 million, which means more relief is in the works.

Claimants have until 5 PM EST tomorrow to make a claim. If you think you’re eligible, you can call 1-866-430-8358 or file a claim online at NationalMortgageSettlement.com.

Posted in State News | 33 Comments »

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January 17th, 2013 by flanews

The Department of Children and Families is trying to raise awareness about human trafficking. Countless thousands of women, children and migrate workers are being forced to work against their will here in Florida. Many are sold as sex slaves. Governor Rick Scott signed a proclamation designating January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. DCF Secretary David Wilkins says his department is helping more than a hundred former child sex slaves recover and is being helped by a network of communities throughout the state.

“We now have human trafficking work groups and support functions in just about every community in the state and that new awareness and those new individuals who see this as a call to action is exactly what we need, to not only identify the problem but to get more people engaged in helping those who are in trouble,” said Wilkins.

Last year the state legislature passed a bill creating safe houses for people caught in the sex trade and another bill to exempt sex slaves from being prosecuted on prostitution charges.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

TaxWatch Cost Saving Recommendation

January 17th, 2013 by flanews

They’ve already helped the state save 3.5 billion dollars and today, Florida TaxWatch was back at the capitol pitching more cost savings ideas.

The government watchdog released a list of 25 cost savings measures that could save the state an additional one billion dollars. TaxWatch Chairman John Alexander says one way to help the state budget is to collect sales taxes on internet purchases.

“Online vendors have an unfair advantage over the citizens of this state who have invested their money in bricks and mortar stores,” said Alexander.

Other ideas include more cuts to Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship program by raising the grade eligibility criteria, and putting more non-violent offenders on house arrest.

Posted in State News | 1 Comment »

Presidents Orders Not Received Well in Tallahassee

January 16th, 2013 by flanews

The president’s gun control announcement isn’t being received well at the state capitol. The GOP controlled Florida legislature has a long history of opposing gun control measures. As Whitney Ray tells us, Republican lawmakers say it’s not the president’s job to make laws and his orders should have been put before Congress.

With children by his side, President Barack Obama announced a series of executive orders aimed at stopping mass shootings.

“In the days ahead I intend to use whatever weight this office holds to make them a reality,” said President Obama.

Obama’s 23 executive orders include strengthening background checks before gun sales. Increased funding for schools to hire more resource officers and giving mental health workers more authority to report patients they deem a threat.

Minutes after the announcement, I broke the news to lawmakers here at the state capitol, most of which said the president’s action were out of bounds. Republicans, who have a majority in the state House and Senate, say Congress should have had a say-so on the measures.

“There’s no reason why the President should be treating this issue any different than any other piece of legislation he wants to champion,” said Representative Jimmy Patronis.

“That’s circumventing another branch of government and that’s the legislature and you know he may not be happy with certain aspects of Congress, but he ought to deal with them,” said State Senator John Thrasher.

Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith supports the actions taken by the president.

“I think it’s fabulous that he’s doing that. He’s not just looking at guns but looking at it as a holistic approach,” said Smith.

But says gun control measures in the state legislature don’t stand a change.

“The NRA has such a strong grip on the Florida Legislature that it is going to be hard for us to pass anything,” said Smith.

Not all Republicans thought all the executive orders were bad ideas, but they doubt the measures will stop even one deranged gunman bent on murder.

Republicans in the Florida House and Senate also take issue with the president using kids to make his announcement. They called it a cheap political stunt. Democrats, say the kids belong on stage because they are the ones the President is trying to protect

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Funding Extra Resource Officers

January 16th, 2013 by flanews

Superintendents from around the state told a Senate committee in Tallahassee today they want more money for security.

Right now most districts split the cost of their school resource officers with their county sheriff’s office. Volusia County Deputy Superintendent Robert Moll says more officers could help stave off some massacres, but admits nothing the legislature does will make schools 100 percent safe.

“You have all kinds of scenarios that can take place in schools so the best thing you can do is try to put as many obstacles in the way to not let that happen,” said Moll.

Because of Florida’s climate, many schools have open air campuses making it difficult for just a couple of officers to guard all the entry ways.

Posted in State News | 1 Comment »

State Lawmakers Explore School Safety

January 15th, 2013 by flanews

The New York State Legislature passed the toughest gun laws in the country and the President plans to follow suit with a series of executive orders. Today Florida lawmakers meet in Tallahassee to find ways to better protect students from deranged gunmen. As Whitney Ray tells us, gun control isn’t expected to be part of their solution.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, lawmakers are looking for ways to better protect Florida students, without harming gun owners.

Tuesday state senators meet with superintendents in Tallahassee to discuss solutions. Senator Bill Monford is the Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee. He says the committee will explore its options, but gun control isn’t likely to be one of them.

Monford: Gun control is not on the agenda.
Reporter: Do you expect it to ever come up in this conversation this session?
Monford: I doubt it. It may very well if the chair wants to put it on the committee I think it would be appropriate.

The fix getting the most attention is beefing up school security. But the cost of putting more armed police officers in Florida schools is 100 million dollars. Creating a funding problem, because many of the lawmakers charged with making the decision have also signed a pledge not to raise taxes.

Governor Rick Scott has signed the pledge. He’s also heavily endorsed by the NRA. I asked him what measures he supports. Taxes and gun control were absent from his answer.

“We want our schools to be safe. We want our students to be safe, our teachers,” said Scott.

The Florida Legislature has a history of killing gun control bills, but many of the new measures to muzzle the 2nd amendment are coming from Washington and are out of the state’s control.

One superintendents shot down an idea that’s been hanging around ever since the Sandy Hook shooting. They told committee members, teacher should not be armed.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

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