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50,000 Unclaimed Assets Held By the State Will Soon Be Auctioned Off

July 12th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
One in Five Floridians has something of value that has gone unclaimed. It is now in the state’s hands.
There are seven million accounts totaling just shy of 2 billion dollars.
The items could be an uncashed paycheck, a lost utility deposit, or jewelry left in a forgotten safety deposit Box.
“We found a rather large diamond ring that an individual didn’t want to claim, because it reminded her of a previous relationship that she didn’t want to think of,” said Ashley Carr, Director of Communications for the Chief Financial Officer.
After property sits unclaimed in a bank account for up to five years, it’s forwarded to the state and deposited in the state school fund.
But it’s always your’s for the claiming. You can find out if you left something unclaimed by going to the Great Florida Treasure Hunt dot Org.
“Fill out some documents, send us all that information in the mail and we’ll send you a check. It’s as simple as that,” said Carr.
Between 2016 and 2017 The state returned $313 million the most in the programs 56 year history, back to Floridians.

It’s important that you claim any lost tangible assets quickly because after two years. they go up for auction.

But don’t worry. Even if grandma’s jeweled watch has already been auctioned off, you are still entitled to the cash from the sale.
“So if the owner ever does come forward, we’ll give them every penny that we received at auction. They’re still not losing out. It’s available to them for free anytime,” said Carr.
This year two auctions will be held.
The first is at the end of July, which means you only have a few weeks to find out if the state is holding something of yours that could soon be sold.
Around 50,000 items will be available at the first auction.
To see if you have any unclaimed assets or for more details on the Division of Unclaimed Property’s upcoming auctions, go to FLTreasureHunt.org.

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Mental Health Advocates Fear Repercussions of Budget Cuts from Drug Treatment

July 11th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
Governor Rick Scott spent the day touting new legislation increasing penalties for opioid dealers, but advocates say the lawmakers failed to address a key issue… treatment for addicts.
Ten Floridians die each day from opioids.
Florida ranks 49th for per capita spending on mental health.
This year lawmakers cut mental health and addiction services by over 11 million.
“Those communities are now going to have to figure out how do they reconfigure to still try and accomplish that task, but obviously with 40% less money they wont be able to live up to that goal and expectation set,” said Mark Fontaine, Executive Director of Florida Health Behavioral Association.
Advocates say community treatment centers are already experiencing high volumes of patients.
In many cases there aren’t enough beds or resources to help everyone who comes through their doors.
Lawmakers did beef up spending for law enforcement to fight the crisis. Penalties for dealers were increased.
Mental health advocates say without increased addiction services, they’re fighting a losing battle.
Jane Johnson with Florida Council for Community and Mental Health says the state can’t arrest its way out of the problem.
Jane Johnson
Florida Council for Community Mental Health
“If we had an adequate infrastructure in our communities, through our community mental health centers so that those folks who would get picked up can go into a recovery oriented environment,” said Johnson. “They could get the support that they need so they could come out on the other side and contribute to society.”
Many drug addicts deal with addiction as well as mental health issues.
That’s why advocates say until the state prioritizes services to help with underlying issues, nothing will change.
“We have to change our view of that and look at it as a disorder like diabetes or cancer,” said Melanie Brown-Woofter with Florida Council for Community Mental Health.
In addition to the $11 million dollar cut this year, $21 million in federal funds end after 2 years, putting the state in an even more precarious situation.
The federal funding does help with medication assisted treatment, but doesn’t go towards detox or residential treatment facilities.

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Activists Believe Legislature’s Failure to Include Smoking in Medical Marijuana Law Could Lead to Recreational Passage

July 10th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
The man who backed amendment two, John Morgan says the Legislature’s failure to include smoking in it’s medical marijuana implementation will speed up the process of legalizing recreational marijuana.
Activists agree, but two ballot initiatives collecting signatures aren’t pulling the numbers needed.
John Morgan, is suing the state for banning smoking in the final medical marijuana law.
He believes voters didn’t get what they asked for and will take their anger out by voting for all out legalization.”
“They have opened the door fully to recreational use in Florida and I think it’ll happen in the next 3 or 4 years,” said Morgan
There are two measures gaining signatures for the 2018 election that seek to legalize recreation marijuana.
According to the Florida Department of State, one has more than 2,000 signatures, the other over 11,000.
Both are still a long shot away from the required 766,200 signatures to get the measure on the ballot.
There are patients that feel excluding smoking was the wrong move, like John Hightower.
“Opening up smoking and opening up access to more patients and then recreationally will help with some of the problems we have right now with the opiate epidemic,” said Hightower.
Drug Free America says those truly upset about the exclusion of smoking are for the most part not patients, but people who were hoping for recreational use from the beginning.
“If they can vape, I don’t see what the argument is about not being able to smoke,” said Drug Free America Deputy Director, Amy Ronshausen.
Hightower is skeptical anything will pass this year, but he says there are promising signs recreational marijuana is gaining momentum.
“You can even hear it in the hallways of the Senate office building in the Capitol, that in a few years it will be recreational no matter what anybody says,” said Hightower.
Officials with Floridian’s for Freedom say they currently are processing several thousand additional signatures in support of their recreational marijuana ballot measure.
Similar ballot measures have come up in year’s past, but none have garnered enough support to make it to the ballot yet.

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Orlando Businessman Suing Attorney General Pam Bondi

July 10th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
An Orlando businessman and inventor is suing Attorney General Pam Bondi. The two parties legal teams were in a Tallahassee courtroom for a hearing earlier today.
John D. Smith inventor of “Storm Stoppers” says his business was investigated by the Bondi’s Office back in 2015.
He says he was offered a deal to make the investigation go away, which would have required him to give money to a charity picked by Bondi.
He declined and the investigation was eventually dropped.
Smith filed suit against the Bondi claiming some of the charities she makes businesses donate to are unregistered.
“There is a need for consistency from the top levels of the government, to our small business owners for compliance,” said Scott Siverson, the lawyer representing Smith. “In this circumstance we think the Attorney General’s Office has overreached the bounds of Florida law.”
Bondi’s Office noted today’s hearing was procedural, but declined to comment on the issue any further.

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Florida Agrees to Turnover Voter Information, But Not Everything

July 7th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
The Presidential Advisory Commission for Voter Integrity asked for and will get information on every registered voter in Florida.
But they will not get all of the information on file,  says Attorney Ron Labasky, who represents the Elections Supervisors of Florida.
“I think a lot of people in the state, voters, don’t realize that the information they provide when they register to vote is all mostly public record. Now, the Department of State, Secretary of State, turned over the information to this group in washington that is public record,” said Labasy. “That would be basically your name, your address, telephone number, your date of birth, those types of things. those are all public record that anyone has access to.”
Florida is not releasing drivers license numbers or the last four numbers of voters Social Security Numbers because those items are not public record.
Voting records for law enforcement, judges and prosecutors is also not public.
Supervisors have tried for to remove voting rolls from the public records law for about a decade.

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Local Leaders Looking For Grassroots Solutions to Drivers License Issues in Florida

July 7th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
1.2 million Floridan’s have had their drivers licenses suspended or revoked.
Not having a license makes it harder to keep a job and can lead to poverty or criminal behavior
Of the more than one million Floridians who have lost their Drivers license, three out of four can’t legally drive because they couldn’t afford, or ignored a fine.
Audley Campbell lost his license three years ago as a result of failing to pay multiple tickets.
Campbell said he could have been able to pay sooner if fines hadn’t kept piling up.
“You know I was young an reckless. I got a few tickets and I let them get away from me. So it just got suspended and it just took a while to collect the money to get everything back situated,” said Campbell.
Leon County Judge, Layne Smith says loosing a license can create a cycle.
People who can’t pay a fine, drive to work to earn money, get caught, and find themselves in more trouble.
“To rub salt on the wound I’m going to add fines fees and costs. That’s not discretionary on my part, I’m following the statute by doing so. So people can get into a downward spiral,” said Leon County Judge Layne Smith.
Drivers can lose a license for not paying child support, drug offenses, or lack of insurance to name a few.
For two years running, legislation to help ease the cycle of suspensions and growing fines went nowhere in the legislature
So many people have lost their licenses in the State Capitol that prosecutors and judges have begun clinics to help people driver again.
“You have an entire disenfranchised population, and that’s what we’re trying to do on a grassroots basis, is give people a reasonable pathway to success.,” said State Attorney Jack Campbell.
Audley Campbell is one of just a few who left the clinic with a new license in hand. But, for most caught in the cycle, the road to a new license is long, complicated, and expensive.
Senator Jeff Brandes says he plans to introduce legislation for the third time when lawmakers begin meeting this fall.

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Seminole Tribe and State Agree to Extend Deal to 2030

July 6th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
The Seminole Tribe and the state have agreed to extend the tribe’s right to offer blackjack and other banked card games through 2030.
The deal is the result of a Federal lawsuit that found the state had violated the tribes exclusive rights to banked card games, which automatically extended the deal to the end of the compact.
The state appealed, but then settled with the tribe to end the appeal says Attorney Barry Richard.
Sot: Barry Richard
Seminole Tribe Attorney
“It’s one of those rare settlements that has everything good in it for both sides. Neither side had to make a sacrifice. It means hundreds of millions of dollars for the state and the tribe,” said Richard. “Under the deal, Florida will receive an estimated 340 million dollars next year. It also frees up about 220 million the state was holding in escrow the tribe paid with the lawsuit was in limbo.”

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John Morgan Says No Run For Governor… Yet

July 6th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
John Morgan, the man behind the 2016 medical marijuana ballot says he’s flirting with the idea of running for Governor, but says now isn’t the time to announce.
Morgan is most famous for his Orlando-based Law Firm, Morgan and Morgan and spends a year on name recognition.
He says his fame in the state will allow him to come in late.
“I own race horses and when I go to the races usually you have to bet on the race before the race starts,” said Morgan. “But I’m going to have the advantage of letting the race take off, come all the way around and I don’t have to make a decision until the horses are all coming down the stretch.”
Morgan has a little under a year to decide whether to run or not, with the deadline to announce coming up next June.

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John Morgan Sues State Over Medical Marijuana

July 6th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
John Morgan, the father of Florida’s medical marijuana amendment is following though with his promises to sue the state for failing to allow terminally ill patients to smoke cannabis.
Morgan had been threatening to sue since lawmakers made it clear smoking was not on the table.
In the amendment approved by 71 percent of the voters last November, smoking is only mentioned once. It says smoking is not allowed in public.
Morgan says the intent was clear.
“The vast majority if not 100% knew that smoke was included,” said Morgan.
Morgan accused House Marijuana Sponsor Ray Rodriquez of playing favorites with tobacco companies, not looking out for public health.
“If Ray Rodrigues is so concerned about smoking then why doesn’t he tax cigarettes at $5 a pack,” said Morgan.
Rodrigues says if Morgan wanted smoking he should have put it in the amendment.
“It would have been declared along with the enumerating conditions,” said Representative Rodrigues.
Lawmakers argued during session, smoking could cause more harm to patients than good.
“Medicine should make you better. Smoking is inherently and unhealthy act,” said Senate Sponsor Rob Bradley.
Current law allows for edibles, vaping and pills in lieu of smoking. Morgan argues smoking works better for patients with specific ailments.
“People who have ALS, people who have epilepsy, they find greater relief with smoking,” said Morgan. “Do we give a #%@$ @$$ if a person who died from ALS smokes instead of vapes?”
Democrats attempted to allow smoking through last minute amendments. each was shot down.
Morgan says the Legislature’s failure to include smoking is likely to gain momentum behind the movement to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

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Asay Death Warrant Seeks to Resume Executions After 18 Month Hiatus

July 5th, 2017 by Mike Vasilinda

A white supremacist who killed two black men in 1987 could be the first caucasian executed in Florida for the killing of an African American. Governor Rick Scott has set August 24th for the execution of Mark James Asay, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, a ruling giving some on death row new sentences, but not others, could lead to a lengthy delay.

Mark Asay, who’s execution is set for August 24th is one of about 200 death row inmates whose convictions were final before 2002.

Florida’s Supreme Court has ruled anyone convicted after 2002, the date of a U-S Supreme Court ruling, is entitled to to have a new sentencing hearing and that the jury must be unanimous. Convictions finalized before 2002 are stuck with the sentence they got, even though juries could recommend death on a 7-5 vote.

On the day the State House approved the unanimous jury law, Judiciary Chairman Chris Sprowls called the courts decision unusual.

“ I know of no other situation, where there has been a court decision on constitutionality where there was partial retroactivity. This is the only one I am aware of” said Sprowls.

Asay’s jury recommended death, twice, but only by 9-3 votes. Now his attorney is expected to tell the US Supreme Court it is unfair to execute Asay when others with 9-3 votes get new sentencing hearings, simply because they were sentenced later.

Mark Schlakman is a human rights attorney who has pushed for a review of the the death penalty for almost a decade.

 

“Where that line is drawn would not satisfy all parties would be an understatement. And then, it’s reasonable to assume that line will be challenged” says Schlakman

A second avenue of appeal open to Asay would be a challenge to a new set of lethal cocktails adopted by the state but never used in Florida.

At least 150 death row inmates are expected to get new sentencing hearings, which could take years and cost millions. It has been 18 months since Florida carried out an execution after the courts threw out Florida’s sentencing scheme.

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Stand Your Ground Ruled Unconstitutional After Legislators Shift Burden of Proof

July 5th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
A Miami Dade Circuit Judge has ruled recent changes to stand your ground unconstitutional.
The Judge says lawmakers over stepped their authority changing the law this past session.
Stand Your Ground was intended to give immunity from prosecution to those who kill in self defense.
But  Prosecutors and courts created a hearing requiring the person using deadly force to prove it was justified.
Lawmakers and the NRA say the hearing turned innocent till proven guilty upside down.
“There have been many, many people who have been wrongfully arrested and charged with crimes who were exercising lawful self defense,” said NRA Lobbyist Marion Hammer.
Hammer would not go on camera after the judges ruling.
But In a a statement she told us the argument used by the judge is, “So bad it would be impossible to explain everything that was wrong with it in one news article.”
Prosecutors like State Attorney Jack Campbell fought the change.
Campbell declined to be interviewed after the judge’s ruling, but back in June he had this to say about the change to the law.
“We’re going to have retaliations and retaliations,” said Campbell. “And because everybody is lawfully standing their ground, there’s a lot of bullets flying, but nobody taking responsibility for those bullets.”
Citing separation of powers, the Miami ruling says legislators don’t have the authority to change a court ordered hearing.
The ruling applies only to the 11th judicial circuit until an appeals courts agrees.
All other circuits are still bound by the new law.
The Attorney General’s Office says it is planning to appeal the ruling.

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Just 13 Revolutionary War Veterans Buried in Florida

July 4th, 2017 by Mike Vasilinda

13 Colonies, 13 Revolutionary War Veterans buried in Florida. Here’s the list:

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MOHP Truck Run Coming Through Two Florida Cities

July 3rd, 2017 by Jake Stofan
A team of disabled vets are driving a truck 8,500 miles on a mission… to deliver the specially modified Ford F-150 to a disabled veteran in need.
It’s called the Purple Heart Run and this week the truck will be stoping in two Florida cities.
The truck stops in Jacksonville on Thursday at Duval County Veterans Wall and will be on display in Tallahassee on Friday at the Ford-Lincoln dealership on Magnolia Drive.
Ceremonies will be held in both cities and the public is invited to come out and see how the truck works.
They can also sign the truck if they donate to the Order of the Purple Heart to help disabled vets.
“I think this is just such a great tool that this veteran will have in his possession that will get him from his home to his place of business or to his school,” said John L. Haynes, a retired Marine Major and member of MOPH.
This year the vet receiving the truck donated by Ford Motor Company is Arkansas native Marine Sergeant (Ret.) Marshall Kennedy who lost both of his legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan.

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The High Cost of Freedom

July 3rd, 2017 by Jake Stofan
It can be easy celebrate with fireworks, cookouts and parties that come with the 4th of July, But for those who have served, it’s a time to remember why they fought and served.
For Veterans, July Fourth is a time to remember freedom isn’t free.
Since 1776 and to this day, brave men and women have continue to make the ultimate sacrifice protecting the rights we are guaranteed by our constitution.
Dale Doss fought in Vietnam. He was shot down on a bombing mission to Hanoi.
“And I ejected and we were caught immediately,” remembered Doss.
Doss survived the war, but spent 5 years with John McCain as a POW.
Maj. John L Haynes enlisted at the age of 15.
He served in WWII, China, Korea and Vietnam.
“And certainly there was no American during that era that took our freedom for granted,” said Haynes.
He says during Vietnam, the 4th of July always held a special significance.
“Every weapon along the line or on a particular hill would be fired in unison.,” said Haynes.
For many soldiers, the war ended before the trip back home.
Doss remembers a friend of his who lost his life during a rescue mission attempt.
“He said guy’s they’ve got me surrounded… and then he said goodbye,” Doss said.
Haynes too lost many a comrade, but he says they didn’t die in vain.
“We must have the honor that we’re ever conscious of the price of our freedom. The price that has been paid for in the blood of the citizens of this country,” said Haynes.
Major Haynes remembers those who lost their lives on every significant holiday.
He asks you do the same.
Major Haynes works with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization that helps wounded veterans.
If you’d like to make a donation to the program go to their website… www.purpleheart.org.

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