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Less than a month after two killers were fraudulently released from a prison in the Panhandle – lawmakers are now demanding answers. The state is looking to see if more inmates have been released by mistake.

A month ago – Floridians were on high alert after two convicted killers were mistakenly released from a prison in the Panhandle because of forged release forms.

“It sounds like a big mistake,” said James Hahl in October. “It’s just not right.”

Now lawmakers like Senator Rob Bradley want answers behind the big mistake.

“I will tell you one thing,” said Senator Rob Bradley. “It is embarrassing for all of those who were involved because it’s unacceptable.”

Monday afternoon officials with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Clerk of Courts and Department of Corrections were meeting with lawmakers. Corrections Secretary Michael Crews says they are working to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

“We’ve got to make sure that we’re all working collectively together; because ultimately, this was a public safety issue,” said Michael Crews, Department of Corrections Secretary.

D-O-C has 40 people across Florida looking to make sure are not any other fraudulent escape cases. After the release D-O-C enacted a new rules to make sure felons do not wrongfully walk away from state prisons.

“Before we release any inmate – that we will ask the judge to authenticate that order was valid,” said Crews.

Several hearings are scheduled this week. Lawmakers say they’re going to keep asking the tough questions – because at the end of the day they say the escape was a public safety issue.

“We in the Florida Senate are particularly outraged about what occurred and that is why we’re having these hearings,” said Bradley.

Lawmakers say after the meetings they will be able to gauge what all needs to be enacted to prevent a similar situation.

The Clerk of Courts is also reviewing their processes and FDLE is still investigating the wrongful release from October.

Florida’s 44th Governor announced today he wants to be its 46th Governor. Republican turned Democrat Charlie Crist won the job in 12006, left in 2011 and is running again as a Democrat. It didn’t take Republicans long to come out fighting.

As former Republican Charlie Crist was finishing up his morning announcement that he was running against the Governor, “Yea I’m running as a Democrat,” says former Governor, Charlie Crist.

The state GOP was circulating an email with a new web site and TV ad bashing the former GOP Governor. Rick Scott TV Spot says, “Democrat Alex Sink says he failed to lay out a business plan to get Florida out of its worst recession.”

Governor Rick Scott has been laying the ground work for the attack for months, blaming Crist for the economic downturn and taking credit for making the economy better. “We shouldn’t have a downturn, we shouldn’t have lost those 832 thousand jobs before I became governor,” says Governor Rick Scott on June 14, 2013.

GOP consultant Rick Wilson has worked on Crist campaigns before. “Under Charlie Crist we had record foreclosure rates, we had record unemployment rates and Rick Scott has helped clean up the mess that Charlie Crist made,” says Rick Wilson, GOP Consultant.

State Senator John Thrasher replaced Crist’s handpicked GOP chairman after financial irregularities were uncovered.  “Charlie Crist left us, he didn’t handle his problems,” says Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine.

Republicans are putting a half million dollars behind that ad, virtually nothing in a state the size of Florida, the point is to let everyone know they are going to attack.

Democrats say the early attacks may actually help convince a skeptical Democratic base that Crist is now one of them. “Think that’s going to help him in some sense within the Democratic party is that ‘why are the republicans so scared? Why are they attacking so hard,'” says Screven Watson, Democratic Consultant.

Rick Scott has vowed to spend a hundred million dollars to be re-elected.

In what may be the worst kept secret in Florida politics, former Governor Charlie Crist has filed paper work with the state to run for Governor in 2014 as a Democrat. Crist had previously scheduled a “Major Announcement” for ten am Monday in St. Petersburg. The Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry responded with this statement: “Charlie Crist has now officially filed to run for the position he once abandoned. When Florida needed Charlie Crist the most during difficult economic times, he ran away. If he really wants to be Governor now, why did he quit the first time?” 

 

 

The State of Florida will be spotlighted this weekend for one of the biggest college football games of the year.

Football fans are packing Tallahassee for one of the biggest college games of the season.

“Oh, it’s huge,” said Elliot Waterbury, FSU Senior. “Miami is always a big rivalry.”

Undefeated in-state rivals Florida State and Miami are meeting for more than bragging rights, a national title could be at stake this year. The hype surrounding the game is bringing people to Florida from all over the country – along with millions of dollars.

“We’ve been traveling for the last ten years with them and this is a great rivalry,” said Tom Parry, who traveled from Pennsylvania to watch the game.

Police will be busy. This game traditionally has the highest number of ejections, and one of the highest numbers of people arrested.

“When you get that many people packed into such an emotional atmosphere, sometimes people go a little too far,” said James Russell, FSU PD Deputy Chief of Police.

FSU is expecting 4-million dollars in ticket sales alone.

But, the game is expected to be a win-win for the entire state. ”Whether the game is here in Tallahassee or Miami or wherever its being hosted in Florida it will have a impact on the bottom line of the state’s economy,” said Carol Dover, CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

With millions coming into the state economy – FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox says the whole economic impact of the game will not felt until after it ends.

“For FSU – just from an advertising, just from notoriety perspective, you can’t even quantify it,” said Wilcox.

Hotels have been sold out for weeks.

If you’re trying to get tickets to the game, you’re out of luck – because the game is sold out.

The sheriff of rural Liberty County was acquitted this week of falsifying a document  in a gun arrest, and the case is a window into the likely outcome of a hearing next week on the stand your ground law.

Liberty county, population just over eight thousand is Florida’s smallest county. It’s name inspired from our founding fathers. Guns here are a way of life.

Reporter asked, “Do you own a gun?”

Jody Bunkley replied, “Mhmm”

“Do you hunt and fish?”

“Yup,” said Bunkley

“Do you know anyone that doesn’t own a gun?”

“Not around here, Mayo anyway,” says Bunkley

In June, state police arrested liberty county’s sheriff after he set a man free who been arrested by a deputy for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

When prosecutors here asked a jury pool two dozen, how many of you own a gun? Virtually every hand in the room went up.

Thursday, Sheriff  Nick Finch was acquitted. He’s already back on the job. “I think that in this case, you know, second amendment issues are important, and I believe in the second amendment. I think that, you know, people do have the right to keep, bare arms,” says Nick Finch, Liberty County Sheriff.

Next week state lawmakers hold a stand your ground hearing. The committee chairman represents  the western Panhandle. He’s already vowed not to change even a comma in the law.

Harold Revell was sheriff here for 24 years, which means he knows his voters. “I didn’t worry about people carrying a gun, if you need it you got it,” says Harold Revell, Former Sheriff.

As for the sheriff Nick Finch, he thinks stand your ground has been misused, but “I’m a supporter in the Stand your ground law,” says Finch.

And the people who elected Finch agree, right down to the jury that concluded the second amendment is as much as a way of life in this rural part of the state as anything else.

In its 16th day – the new CONNECT unemployment system is still creating problems for out of work Floridians who need unemployment benefits to survive. The state says they are working on fixing issues, while one U.S. politician says he’s working on getting the feds involved.

The new unemployment system is still causing problems for people trying to apply for their benefits.

“We know that some people out there are still experiencing issues and we are working day and night to make sure those issues are solved for those claimants,” said Monica Russell, Department of Economic Opportunity.

The new system – the first of its kind in Florida was unveiled October 15th. Since then – a number of glitches have bogged down the system. U-S Senator Bill Nelson said he is working to get the Federal Government involved in finding out what went wrong and getting it fixed. In a statement he said: “The main purpose behind this federal-state program is to help stabilize the economy during recessions. But it certainly won’t be of much help in my state if those who have lost their jobs face protracted delays in seeking or receiving benefits.”

The Department of Economic Opportunity responded with talking points.

”As our executive director said yesterday: we welcome any input Senator Nelson or the Federal Government has on our website as we identify and address problems as they arise,” said Russell.

Published reports say the company behind the new system, Deloitte, has had similar problems in at least two other states. The company spent between 20 and 40-thousand dollars on seven lobbyists so far this year.

When asked why Deloitte, a company which has had a reputation in the past would you be hired by the state, DEO responded: “We secured the contract through a competitive bid process, we’ve been assured the issues that happened in these other states were not prevalent in Florida.”

The state says they expect other issues including the adjudication and appeals delays to be fixed by Sunday.

As the cost of college tuition continues to increase – paying now is one option to keep the price of college low for Florida families. However, opponents say the prepaid option can be still financially straining.

The thought of having college paid-off before a student even takes their first step on campus is ideal for a family preparing to send their child off to school.

“Prepaid or the 529, if it’s specifically for college is going to be your best bet. There are a lot of tax advantages,” said Terri Jackson, Financial Planner.

The cost of tuition in Florida has increased 60-percent over the last five years. The cost of putting money aside for college has, too. The state’s prepaid plan has jumped to fewer than 54-thousand dollars for a newborn.

“You get a very set payment schedule and when you’re finished with those payments you’re guaranteed your child will be able to attend college,” said Kevin Thompson, Executive Director Florida Prepaid College Plans.

Jackson said the program is great for families who are able to afford it. “Do the best that you can,” she said. “Any amount of money that you can put aside is going to be great.”

She was quick to add the economy has made it difficult for families to put back for their children’s education.

“A lot of people are just having a hard time working that into their budget,” she said.

The plan doesn’t force a student to attend a Florida school. If they go out of state they will only receive the amount they would for in-state tuition.

“The plans that we sell we have plans for every one of those colleges and universities in Florida,” said Thompson.

If your child doesn’t go to college – you get your money back, even the 4.66-percent interest.

The enrollment period for the prepaid program kicks off November 1 and runs through the end of February.

A four hundred thousand dollar study of increased gambling’s economic impact on Florida found little boost for the economy. State lawmakers are holding the second of four public hearings this afternoon (in Lakeland) on whether to allow mega casinos, and one of the most vehement opponents already has a piece of the pie.

Florida’s dog tracks and jai alai fronts that don’t have slots, want them. Four counties have voted to allow slots in existing facilities, but the state won’t grant licenses, and big players are pushing for at least one mega casino in South Florida. “What we really want is to have one competitively bid destination or integrated resort permit,” says Nick Iarossi, Las Vegas Sands.

State senators will hold a total of four hearing. Their goal, comprehensive regulation of all gambling in Florida but most suspect there will also be mega casinos.

The Florida Chamber is the loudest voice shouting no. “Well, our view is the juice simple isn’t worth the squeeze. These casinos, they need us far more then we need them.” says David Hart, Florida Chamber.

But the position of one of the state’s biggest players has gambling supporters crying foul. Disney has consistently opposed more gambling, but reports show the entertainment giant makes millions licensing its Marvel Comic Characters to slots and other entities.

Spider Man is prominently featured in the promo for a new high tech slot machine.

The Chamber says Disney bough Marvel after most of the licensing agreements were in place. Integrity Florida calls it hypocritical.”To say that they’re against the expansion of gaming to protect Florida’s family-friendly brand does not ring true especially since they are profiting off of gaming themselves,” says Dan Krassner, Integrity Florida.

In the end, billions of dollars are at stake and that makes for what will be the most bitter battle of the coming legislative session.

Voters beware. A new voter purge effort will look for any ineligible voters. Opponents say the state is continuing to do what it can to suppress the minority vote.

For more than a decade – Florida has been at ground zero for long lines, requiring identification, and attempts to purge voting rolls. Secretary of State Ken Detzner says his goal someone doesn’t vote who shouldn’t.

“I hear consistently 100-percent of the time from voters that they don’t want individuals on our voter rolls that are ineligible,” he said.

Detzner just finished a statewide tour meeting with county elections supervisors to look at purging non-citizen Florida voters. Opponents say the state is wasting time and money on something that is a moot issue.

“It’s inappropriate, it is politically motivated and its going to be another disaster,” said Allison Tant, Chairwoman Florida Democratic Party.

Tant says the last time voters were purged minorities were on the receiving end of it.

“60-percent of the people who are knocked off voter rolls with the last election were Hispanic or African American,” she said.

The purge will be checked by at least two Division of Elections workers before being verified by a federal database called the “Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements” commonly known as SAVE.

A time frame hasn’t been announced for the process, although elections officials will start matching a very small-batch basis. That would include comparing a person’s driver’s license with other federal information to see if they are eligible voters.

“We need to be able to provide credible and reliable information and documentation,” said Detzner.

Detzner says he is not being pressured by any other state officials to start the purge – but he reports to Governor Rick Scott.

The SAVE database wasn’t available to Florida when the state was working to last purge noncitizens votes.

It has been seven and a half months since Florida’s Lt. Governor resigned amid an internet gaming controversy. Dozens of names have been speculated about for a replacement, but one name is persistently mentioned.

Florida’s Lt. Governor resigned just days into this past springs legislative session. Rather than replace Jennifer Carroll immediately, Rick Scott said he would wait. “We will not turn our attention to this topic until after this session ends,” Governor Rick Scott said March 13, 2013.

Then the final gavel fell on the legislative session. “I’m focused on it right now,” Gov Scott said May 10, 2013.

That was the end of it, until now.

It has been seven and a half months since Florida had a Lt. Governor, but there are signs that’s about to change.

Like Washington, there are no secrets in the state Capitol. One name, former House Speaker, now State Senate powerhouse. John Thrasher keeps surfacing for the job.  Respected lobbyist Pete Dunbar says the rumors are persistent. “For several months, it doesn’t seem to go away. I don’t know that anybody knows what exactly the Governor has to do but in my mind John Thrasher would be a fabulous choice,” says Pete Dunbar, Lobbyist, former legislator.

We reached Thrasher by phone. While he says he hasn’t spoken to the Governor, he did confirm the number two job came up in a conversation with his Chief of Staff. “He brought up some conversation about it, not in any specific way,” says Voice of Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine.

Democratic Political operative Steve Vancore says Thrasher could do the heaving lifting for the Governor’s Office. “Somebody who knows the legislative process, who can work with the members. Nobody knows the process better then John Thrasher,” says Steve Vancore, Democratic Political Consultant.

Until Scott names a replacement, Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over if anything happened to the Governor.

Negotiations on Capitol Hill are about to have a drastic impact on millions of Florida’s neediest starting Friday.

“It’s a nationwide thing,” said Rich English. “It’s going to impact every state in this country.”

3-point-6 million of Florida’s hungriest are about to see the amount of money they receive for the SNAP program, also known as food stamps, to decrease. Up to 39-billion dollars in cuts are possible for the program…funds from the stimulus package set to expire on Halloween. Anticipation is leaving food banks with already spotty shelves searching for more food and money to feed the neediest.

“As the community responds with the higher need our food banks do a really good job on meeting those needs,” said Zach McGee.

“Once the money runs out, they’re going to turn to the soup kitchens and pantries which we provide food for,” said English.

The Department of Children and Family Services says they have been preparing for the budget reduction.

“As example: a family of four will see a 36-dollar reduction per month,” said Alexis Lambert. “A family of four with no income currently receives about 670-dollars.”

Six of Florida’s metropolitan areas are in the top 25 for food hardships nationwide.

“It’s about one-in-four people. We hope to see that reduced. We’ve seen slight reductions in it as we’ve seen the economy continue to recover,” said McGee.

The Senate and House are set to discuss the cuts Wednesday.

The Sunshine State also had the second-highest increase in food stamp usage nationwide from 2011 to 2012 – with a 9-point-7 percent increase.

Former Governor Charlie Crist made is abundantly clear over the weekend he will seek to get his old job back as a Democrat. Crist met with Democratic activists in Orlando at the state convention. Such a race would be history making.

Never before have two people who have taken the oath to be Governor run against each other, but former GOP Chief Executive Charlie Crist made it clear over the weekend that he would seek his old job, as a Democrat.

Historically, Republican Governor Claude Kirk tried a comeback as a Democrat in 1978. That was 8 years after he was defeated for a second term. “But everybody knows that I was already a good Governor,” says Claude Kirk, Governor 1967-1971.

Kirk’s return quickly fizzled and before him you have to go all the way back to 1916 to find someone who successfully switched parties.

Sidney J. Catts lost the 1916 Democratic Primary but he became Governor from the Prohibition party.

The state GOP has also seen the writing on the wall and has been blasting Crist in daily missives. “I mean he lost 8 hundred and 32 thousand jobs under his watch,” says Susan Hepworth, Republican Party of Florida.

Then there is the money. Scott’s predicting the most expensive race ever, he’s already raised 18 million in his let’s get to work account. But most polls show Crist with an edge. Benefactor John Morgan says people know and like Crist. “And I believe in the State of Florida that Charlie Crist has 50 million dollars in positive feelings from the state- from the people in Florida,” says John Morgan, Attorney/Crist Law Partner.

Crist does have one hurdle to the democratic nomination, former State Senator Nan Rich has been running for months and remains virtually unknown.

The race for governor in Florida is about to kick off between current Governor Rick Scott and possibly another heavy hitter. Former GOP governor turned independent turned Democrat Charlie Crist is working on connecting with Floridians.

The campaign trail is heating up in Florida… Friday morning former Republican, Independent and now Democrat, Charlie Crist released what the GOP is calling his first campaign video. In very little time The Republican Party of Florida released their own online video bashing the former governor.

Rick Scott has also been amping up his message. His ‘It’s Working’ platform is being repeated by him and echoed by groups who support the incumbent.

On social media sites online – Crist’s post is headlined with ‘its not working’.

“…against simple act of casting your vote. It’s not working,” said Crist.

“It’s broken; its not working is a willingness to open a conversation on how we do politics different in the state of Florida,” said Kevin Cate, Political Consultant.

Crist is expected to announce after a new law taking effect November 1st eases fundraising limits.

Current law limits campaign contributions to five hundred dollars. After November first they jump to three thousand dollars for gubernatorial candidates. Crist is attending this weekend’s Florida Democratic Party Convention but not speaking.

A new report shows Florida has some of the most affordable higher education in America.

Across Florida students working on a bachelor’s degree are paying nearly a third of what their peers are paying in other parts of the country.

“It’s really nice actually because you always hear things about people who have high student loans,” said Brianna Griffin, Florida State University Freshman.

A new report from the College Board ranks Florida ranks 7th cheapest for an in-state four year degree. Those degrees now cost just over 6-thousand a year.

“Public school tuition in Florida is a real bargain,” said Ed Moore, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida President.

But, at the same time, Florida’s percentage increase over the last five years ranks in the top five nationwide. Governor Rick Scott has made it his mission to keep education costs low.

“Tuition has gone up significantly in the last five years. We’ve got to stop this,” said Governor Rick Scott in an interview earlier this year.

“People who are out there paying the tuition need to look at what their real dollar casts are. Opposed to ‘oh my,’ my tuition has gone up 15-percent over the last couple of years,” said Moore.

FSU President Eric Baron says the university strives to provide quality education for students.

“We’re taking every dollar and making sure our students are successful,” he said.

Bachelor students say the low prices will help them pay off debt.

“I think we’re lucky that we do get to go to such a great school and still not have to pay the same amount,” said Celerina Dreher, FSU Senior.

The number of students seeking either a 2-year or 4-year degree is up by almost half in the last decade.

The state with the highest average cost per year for a 4-year degree was New Hampshire a little more than 14-thousand dollars.

Governor Rick Scott is asking that Apalachicla Baya Be declared an Economic Disaster Area. The harvest of oysters is down dramatically and families are suffering.

Kenny Shiver headed out on the water before sunrise and six hours later had few oysters to show for his efforts. “We got two bags, not right now, this time of year we ought to be getting 15, 20 bags a day,” says Kenny Shiver.

Alvin marks and his wife had the same results. There take for the day. “About a hundred and 30 dollars,” says Alvin Marks.

The reasons behind the low yield are complicated.

At the height of the thread of the BP oil spill, every oyster bar on the bay was opened and oystermen were told to go get every oyster they could find.

Then the fresh water flow from Atlanta was reduced, making the oysters available to salt water predators. The seafood Workers association says what should be bountiful is almost nonexistent. “These guys already went all over looking for other jobs, some of them have found some jobs temporarily, some of them went for a little while and had to come back. Two bags a day, that’s not a typical day,” says Shannon Hartsfield, President, Apalachicola seafood workers assn.

The oystermen want the bay closed for at least a year, with federal and state grants paying them to restore oyster beds with old shells.  “We have took and took and took and took and it’s time to put back,” says Shannon Hartsfield.
The restocking effort has been successful in the past. But a much larger scale restoration than ever before is needed for the bay to recover.