1 dead, another seriously injured in an accident on Saturday in South Hall

Mary Angela Bell, 39, of Buford, was driving a Hyundai Santa Fe on Spout Springs Road near Williams Road at about 12:15 p.m. when she crossed the center line and met Cohen’s Odyssey in the driver’s side, according to Georgia State Patrol Post commander DA Rathel.

Bell suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Rathel said.

Rathel said both drivers had been properly restrained.

“Although there was no suspicion of alcohol and drugs, a voluntary blood sample was drawn from (Bell),” Rathel wrote in an email.

The Specialized Crash Reconstruction Team is supporting the investigation and charges are pending.

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Ex-Miami-Dade Court Overseer Accused of $ 100,000 Filing Fee and Fund theft – NBC 6 South Florida

A former supervisor of the Miami-Dade bailiff was arrested after authorities said he stole more than $ 100,000 in filing fees and deposit funds over a two-year period.

Tyrone Derise Smith, Jr., 35, has been charged with over $ 100,000 in grand theft and over $ 50,000 in organized fraud, both first degree crimes, according to the Miami-Dade District Attorney.

Smith served in the New Laws Division of the Family Courts Department for nearly 11 years until he resigned on June 4, 2018.

Miami-Dade corrections

Tyrone Derise Smith Jr.

After Smith’s resignation, an internal review was initiated after the discovery of a lack of funds, the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors said a man had complained that his civil lawsuit had not been brought through the court and a search of the court’s database revealed that he had not paid the filing fee.

The man insisted that he paid the fee in cash and had a receipt with him as evidence, but investigators discovered that the receipt was forged.

The issue led to an audit of all Smith’s transactions between August 2016 and April 2018, which revealed 201 cases Smith handled that appeared in the database as filed cases but showed no filing fees charged, prosecutors said.

The filing fees, all of which were paid in cash, came to $ 80,817, and some of the customers also had the fake receipts, prosecutors said.

Investigators searched Smith’s work computer and found a saved form that could provide the same fake receipt, prosecutors said.

Between filing fees and more than $ 28,000 in deposits that had been stolen, the total financial loss for the State of Florida and the Miami-Dade bailiff was $ 108,938.16, prosecutors said.

Smith was sent to jail and no legal information was available.

“When government employees steal, they are not only grabbing the public’s money, they are also wasting the public’s trust in their local government,” Miami-Dade prosecutor Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement. “Such actions betray our community and can never be accepted or tolerated.”

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Styx is coming to Tallahassee in February 2022

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (WCTV) – Legendary rock band Styx is heading to Tallahassee for their world tour in February 2022. The concert is scheduled for Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

Tickets will be on sale on Friday, December 17, 2021, at the box office and on the Tucker Center website.

For the concert, Styx will draw from more than four decades of burning chart hits, happy singalongs and hard driving deep cuts, according to the press release.

The group of six is ​​entering its second decade with an average of more than 100 shows per year, the press release said.

Styx’s latest studio album, “Crash of the Crown,” according to the release contains themes of hope, survival and prosperity. The recording was written before the coronavirus pandemic and was recorded during the troubled times, the press release said.

The band’s 17th album was released on June 18, 2021 and is available on vinyl, CD and digital platforms.

“There were absolutely no obstacles to our approach to creating this album,” said singer and guitarist Tommy Shaw. “And everything came out exactly as we wanted to hear it.”

For updates on Tucker Center events, follow the venue’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Copyright 2021 WCTV. All rights reserved.

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Naples Pier pelicans could be protected with new fishing rules

Members of the Naples City Council will vote on Wednesday whether to approve changes to the fishing rules at Naples Pier to protect pelicans.

Proposed changes include regulating the possession of large hooks and bait, closing the pier for fishing every day between 11pm and 5am, banning unsupervised fishing, and starting a pilot program that will run the pier from January to May would be closed to fishing every Sunday next year.

The Arx Wildlife Hospital in the Conservancy of Southwest Florida first proposed a range of solutions to the Naples City Council in June to reduce the number of injured pelicans caught with fishing gear on the city’s landmark.

“I just want you to know that all we have tried is a very balanced approach, based on a lot of research and a lot of data, that also appears to be similar to communities across the state of Florida,” Rob Moher, president and Conservancy CEO said at the June meeting.

Similar news:Protect the Pelicans: Board recommends changes to the fishing rules at Naples Pier. Now the council has to decide

Continue reading:Conservancy of Southwest Florida aims to protect pelicans from fishing gear on Naples Pier

The conservancy reported that nearly 200 pelicans were brought to the wildlife hospital in 2020 after becoming tangled in fishing gear.

“Our budget cannot support this number of injured animals,” Joanna Fitzgerald, director of the Arx Wildlife Hospital, told council members in June. “Over $ 70,000 is being donated by the Conservancy to rehabilitate injured animals – and that’s really just pelic counts. This does not include any other species. “

The council sent the matter to the Community Services Advisory Committee in September to clarify the fuller details of the proposed changes, and the Naples Police Department suggested other changes to help officials comply with the municipal ordinances on the pier regardless of the efforts of the Enforce Conservancy. Both efforts have been combined so that the Council can vote on Wednesday.

Between August 1, 2017 and November 11, 2021, the Naples Police Department reported 11 incidents related to fishing violations at the Naples Pier, according to the Department. Violations at the pier included using oversized fish hooks or reels, catching sharks, using triplets, feeding birds, and using multiple fishing rods.

Some of the police reports find birds and pelicans entangled in equipment that violates city law.

Southwest Florida Fishing Report:Quieter conditions for redfish, pompano, and more

More:Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Snapper, Gag Point Action On The Rise

At the Advisory Board meeting, citizens expressed concern about the proposed changes.

In a letter to the board of directors, W. Andrew Jack urged the council to keep pier fishing times intact, support the expansion of the Conservancy’s Pelican Patrol operation, and encourage stakeholder collaboration.

“These collaborations were designed to increase education and awareness – especially for first-time visitors – to reduce the risks to the pelicans while enjoying the unique fishing opportunities on the pier,” wrote Jack.

The city funds Pelican Patrol seven days a week to help birds injured by fishing gear.

In November, Councilor Ted Blankenship spoke out against the all-day fishing closure at the pier and supported the new language of the regulation. He suggested leaving the ordinance in force first and reconsidering the all-day closure if the number of injured pelicans remains high.

“I think that’s a step too far,” he said. “The ordinance is fine with me, but the idea of ​​closing the pier one day a week is premature in my opinion.”

From the past:Limited fishing times and more? Suggested fishing rules at Naples Pier are of public interest

Councilor Raymond Christman said he was an initial skeptic about the full-day shutdown, but conversations with Pelican Patrol officials changed his mind.

“This overall package here, including closing the pier one day a week for fishing, really is an excellent compromise that brings people with different views together,” he said.

If the city council passes the amendments to the ordinance, Naples Police Lieutenant Michael O’Reilly said officials will start an education initiative at the pier before handing out written warnings.

Once the changes were made public, he said first-time offenders would be fined $ 100, with each subsequent offense adding an additional $ 100.

Members of the public can speak for three minutes at the Wednesday meeting at City Hall after filling out a form in the back of the council chamber and placing it in the speaker request box near the podium.

Karl Schneider is a reporter for the Naples Daily News. You can reach him at kschneider@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @karlstartswithk

See similar https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2021/12/13/naples-pier-pelicans-could-get-protection-new-fishing-rules-florida/6448287001/

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Tornado outbreak kills Tallahassee father and son, another father is missing

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Friday night’s disastrous tornado outbreak left a Tallahassee family in mourning and searching for a loved one.

According to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a tornado tore through Tiptonville, Tennessee on Friday night, killing two people who were staying at Cypress Point Resort.

WCTV learned that the father and son were killed, according to another family member from Tallahassee.

Ashleigh Hall lives in Houston but returns to live with her family in the capital.

Hall said her father, Jamie Antonio Hall, is still missing after the storm.

Hall said a group of at least six or seven people went to west Tennessee on a duck hunt.

Her father’s brother-in-law and nephew were killed in the storm, she said. Now she hopes that her father will be found soon.

“Please keep our family prayers as we go through this terrible time,” she told WCTV on Sunday morning.

She said her father’s phone wasn’t working. Hall’s brother is working with search parties in Tennessee to find his father.

Copyright 2021 WCTV. All rights reserved.

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What should happen if abortion returns to the states? An expert explains

To say there’s a lot riding on the U.S. Supreme Court’s eventual ruling in a case challenging Mississippi’s restrictive abortion ban is a galactic understatement.

If, as currently appears the case, the court effectively topples Roe v. Wade, the 1973 precedent that declared a constitutional right to abortion, and without a uniform federal statute making abortion the law of the land, regulation of abortion would return to the states — a nightmare scenario if ever there was one.

As many as two-dozen states could move to ban abortion if the high court gives them the green light, The Chicago Tribune reports.

Experts believe some states, such as California and Pennsylvania, would become havens for people seeking reproductive care, while others would become reproductive healthcare deserts, putting the health of millions of pregnant people at risk.

But, according to one Pennsylvania attorney, the practical realities of abortion rights reverting to the states are much more complicated and more nuanced.

In an op-Ed published Monday by the Legal Intelligencer, an industry trade paper, attorney Howard J. Bashman, an appellate lawyer from Willow Grove, argues that a decision overturning Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, its 1992 adjunct, “will present numerous issues of fairness rarely encountered in the judicial process.”

If it does toss Roe, Bashman argues that the justices should confront these fairness issues “head-on” by “[decreeing] that all laws having the effect of outlawing or restricting abortion in a manner contrary to Roe and Casey that were in effect when Dobbs is decided will remain unenforceable because they were contrary to governing precedent when enacted.”

And the nation’s highest court should go one better by “[specifying] that the earliest any law having the effect of outlawing or restricting abortion in a manner contrary to Roe and Casey would be allowed to take effect is after all the legislators who voted to enact that law, and the governor of the state who signed the law, were elected to their positions after the court’s ruling in Dobbs had issued,” Bashman wrote.

So, for instance, since voters choose the entire U.S. Senate over six years, with a third of seats on the ballot every two years, the earliest that the federal government could pass a law “having the effect of outlawing or restricting abortion in a manner contrary to Roe and Casey would be in 2029.”

Under such an approach, Bashman continued, Mississippi’s existing law would be declared unconstitutional, and the state could not move on a new statute until its entire state House and Senate were re-elected after any high court ruling.

Undertaking such an action would be unprecedented, but would recognize that the high court has traditionally moved to expand individual rights, rather than “sometimes expanding and other times contracting.”

Unspoken in Bashman’s piece is the reality that such an action also would turn already contentious legislative, gubernatorial, congressional, and U.S. Senate races into the political equivalent of demolition derbies, as the Big Two parties, and their voters, mobilized by a seismic issue, vied for control of statehouses and the halls of Congress.

*That’s particularly true of battleground states, such as Pennsylvania, which was determinative to President Joe Biden’s 2020 win, and helped hand the U.S. House to Democrats in 2018.

For the last seven years, Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, and his veto pen, have stood as a bulwark against repeated Republican attacks on abortion access. Wolf, who has served the constitutional maximum of two terms, will leave office in January 2023.

State Attorney General Josh Shapiro, currently the only Democrat running for the party’s nomination, has vowed to continue that policy, upping the ante in an already competitive contest for an open seat.

The fight for retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.’s soon-to-be open seat already is attracting national attention. One of the leading Democratic contenders, Valerie Arkoosh, a physician from Montgomery County, has called on the narrowly divided Senate to vote on a previously approved U.S. House bill that would legalize abortion nationwide.

The kind of action Bashman suggests, in GOP gubernatorial and U.S. Senate fields filled with anti-choice candidates would raise the stakes to thermonuclear levels.

In his op-Ed, however, Bashman, again remaining silent on the political implications of such an action, says he doesn’t see any other way for the court to proceed.

“Ordinarily, the court will merely postpone those issues for another day,” he wrote. “But here, if the court in fact decides to overrule Roe and Casey, the best course is for the court to address those issues head-on in a manner that is most fair to all concerned.”

That conclusion will most certainly not cheer people who can get pregnant, and their supporters, but it does give them a fighting chance.

(*This column was updated at 2 p.m., on Thursday, 12/9/21 to include additional analysis on abortion rights and electoral politics)

This commentary was originally published by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, an affiliate of the nonprofit States Newsroom, which includes the Florida Phoenix.

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Here Are The Safest Hospitals In Tampa Bay • St. Pete Catalyst

The non-profit Leapfrog Group analyzes thousands of hospitals in the United States and ranks them based on patient safety measures. It has published its latest round of evaluations.

the Jumping frog Group also announced top hospitals across the country for patient safety, and awards went to St. Petersburg-based Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and AdventHealth.

AdventHealth, based in Altamonte Springs, has multiple locations across Tampa Bay. The Carrollwood, Dade City, and Zephyrhills locations received the Top General Hospital award. The AdventHealth Tampa and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel campuses received the Top Teaching Hospital award.

AdventHealth has received multiple awards from Leapfrog for its best results in patient safety in the past and consistently received an A.

This is the first year Johns Hopkins All Children’s is on the list, and it is the only children’s hospital from the Tampa Bay area to be on the list.

“Even with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, our great team remained focused on our mission and commitment to provide quality, safe care to children in our community and beyond,” said Angela Green, vice president of the hospital and lead patient safety – and quality officer, it says in a statement.

The testimony

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital rating that focuses solely on hospital safety. It prints out the letters A, B, C, D, or F to show how safe hospitals are.

Grades are determined based on several measures ranging from items left in patients to preventable staph infections and death.

The only Florida hospital to receive an F rating was the Halifax Health Medical Center in Port Orange.

The full list of grades for Florida hospitals can be found here.

Here’s a highlight of the performance of some Tampa Bay hospitals, according to Leapfrog Group:

Tampa General Hospital

Grade: B for autumn 2021; previously rated B in spring 2021

Factors: Overall, the hospital performed above average in the prevention of infections such as blood infections, but below average in the prevention of staph and sepsis infections after operations. TGH underperformed when it came to leaving items on patients; however, it has performed well in preventing deaths from serious treatable complications. The hospital underperformed in preventing blood clots, but did well in preventing air or gas bubbles in the blood. The hospital received a perfect score for effective leadership.

Mease Countryside Hospital

Grade: A for autumn 2021; previously rated A in spring 2021

Factors: The hospital prevented staph infection, which can be controlled by thorough hand washing by doctors and nurses, as well as cleaning hospital rooms and medical equipment. The hospital underperformed when an object was accidentally left in a patient’s body during surgery. It also performed below average for deaths from serious treatable complications. The hospital performed above average in preventing dangerous blood clots. It received top marks for the avoidance of air and gas bubbles in the blood, for the effective guidance in avoiding errors, for the care of intensive care patients by sufficiently qualified nursing staff and specially trained doctors.

Mease Dunedin Hospital

Grade: A for autumn 2021; previously rated A in spring 2021

Factors: The hospital did above average for preventing surgical problems, including measures such as leaving objects with the patient, accidental cuts and tears, and causing severe breathing problems. The hospital received an average score in the Patient Safety category, which lists potential complications and harmful events that can occur after a procedure or surgery. The hospital scored above average in the category of practices for error prevention, including ordering medication, washing hands and communicating with patients. It received top marks for effective management to avoid errors, sufficient qualified nursing staff and the care of the intensive care unit by specially trained doctors.

St. Antonius Hospital

Grade: A for autumn 2021; previously rated A in spring 2021

Factors: It received a near-perfect score in the prevention of infection, except for preventing dangerous infections in the blood. The hospital got a perfect score for avoiding leaving objects with patients, avoiding serious breathing problems, and accidental cuts and tears. The hospital underperformed in preventing death from treatable complications, postoperative kidney damage, blood loss, and other interventions. The hospital had a mix of scoring in the Safety Issues category, listing issues such as dangerous blood clots, air or gas bubbles in the blood, and falls. It received almost the best possible score for mistake prevention practices such as hand washing and communication between employees.

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg

Note: C for autumn 2021; previously received a D in spring 2021

Factors: The hospital performed well in preventing postoperative sepsis infections and blood infections; however, it performed below average in preventing staph and surgical site infections after colon surgery. The hospital got a perfect score for not leaving items with patients. It performed below average for deaths from treatable serious complications. In the safety concern category, the hospital underperforms in preventing dangerous blood clots, patient falls, and other measures. It has performed above average in preventing air or gas bubbles in the blood. Overall, the hospital scores above average in the category of practices for error prevention, which includes measures such as hand washing and ordering medication.

Largo Medical Center

Grade: B for autumn 2021; previously rated A in spring 2021

Factors: The hospital achieved above-average performance in infection prevention, with the exception of prevention of blood infections and postoperative sepsis infections. The hospital received mixed ratings for surgery issues, safety issues, error prevention practices, and communication and leadership among staff. The hospital got a perfect score for not leaving objects with patients and a perfect score for not leaving any air bubbles or gases in the blood.

St. Petersburg General Hospital

Note: C for autumn 2021; previously rated B in spring 2021

Factors: In the infection prevention category, the hospital scores below average overall. Avoidable infections include staph infections, infections in the blood, sepsis infections after surgery, and others. In terms of communication between employees and effective management, the hospital performed below average overall. The hospital performed well in avoiding other safety issues such as avoiding patient falls, dangerous bedsores, and collapsed lungs.

Northside Hospital

Grade: B for autumn 2021; previously rated A in spring 2021

Factors: The hospital underperformed in preventing staph and sepsis infections after surgery; however, it has performed above average in preventing blood infections and other possible infections. The hospital got a perfect score for not leaving items with patients. It has also performed above average in preventing accidental cuts and tears and blood leakage. However, it received a below-average score for kidney damage after surgery and patients with severe breathing problems that may occur after surgery.

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Florida State will meet Florida in Gainesville on Sunday

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Seminoles.com) – The 83rd meeting between rivals Florida State (6-2) and Florida (8-3) will take place on Sunday afternoon at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville at 1 p.m. on the SEC Network.

The Gators lead the all-time series 44-38, but under head coach Sue Semrau (since 1997, without last year’s meeting) the Seminoles lead the series 13-12.

Our rivalry matchup at UF is 2⃣4⃣ hours away # NoleFAM | #OneTribe pic.twitter.com/RdTl3h12uc

– FSU Women’s Hoops (@fsuwbb) December 11, 2021

The Seminoles have won five straight games against the Gators participating in Sunday afternoon competition, which includes an 81-75 inaugural win at Tallahassee last year, behind 22 points from Morgan Jones. Last year’s game marked the then interim head coach Brooke Wyckoff’s head coaching debut. FSU’s current winning streak, with five games in the series, is the longest since it won seven in a row from 1978 to 1980.

Florida state seniors Valencia Myers, Kourtney Weber and Morgan Jones have the chance to beat Florida 4-0 on Sunday in their FSU careers. Two years ago, FSU alumna Nicki Ekhomu and Nausia Woolfolk became the first seniors to go undefeated against UF when the Seminoles claimed a 66-55 win on their last trip to Gainesville in 2019.

The Seminoles continue to compete against other Sunshine State teams, holding a record 46-6 against Florida state teams in their last 52 games. This season FSU is 2-0 with home wins against UNF (78-50) and Jacksonville (64-39).

FSU Senior and returning All-American Morgan Jones was selected as one of 30 women basketball candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. Jones’ extrajudicial leadership skills include membership of Alpha Kappa Alpha, participation on various subcommittees of the FSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), mentoring newcomers to the FSU’s Summer Bridge program, and forming the Black Student Athlete Association.

. @ MorganAmari_ is one of 3⃣0⃣ Women Basketball Senior CLASS Award nominees #NoleFAM

– FSU Women’s Hoops (@fsuwbb) December 8, 2021

Jones currently has a run of seven consecutive games in the double digits, the longest of her career. Their longest distance to date was four games in a row from December 31st to January last year. 24 (15 at Virginia Tech, 14 at Louisville, 36 against Clemson in 2OT, and 14 at Georgia Tech).

In FSU’s last five games, freshman guard O’Mariah Gordon has shot 12 of 23 off the floor, an average of 5.6 points off the bench. Gordon was the top ranked player from the state of Florida in the 2021 signing class.

The FSU did well in the shot blocking division that season, leading the ACC with 6.4 blocked shots per game. Among all ACC schools, the FSU leads the conference with the fewest personal fouls per game with 14.0 (nationally in 25th place).

The Gators celebrate a 60:57 home win over Atlantic 10 favorites Dayton. Junior Guard Lavender Briggs led UF with 18 points while Graduate Guard Kiara Smith added 12 points, nine boards and seven assists.

After losing to UF on Sunday, FSU is returning home next week, starting with their Youth Basketball Night Matchup against Houston on Thursday, December 16 at 7pm. Children wearing their youth league or school jerseys can purchase tickets for as little as $ 3.

Santa Claus will also work on the FSU’s Thursday night competition against Houston and will be visiting with kids until the beginning of the second half.

The fans in attendance can also take part to win an Amazon Echo Dot at the marketing table.

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Are the Miami Dolphins even trying to play the ball?

When you look at the development of the Miami Dolphins running game, one is amazed. There is no development in production, but the running game continues to evolve. The change we’re seeing lately is the use of the gun formation.

At the start of the season, the Miami Dolphins used a more standard run / pass option. They added a twist to that, and that was the quarterback spinning during the time the running back took his hand away or faked.

The use of the gun formation seems to add a protective layer in the back field. This offensive line simply couldn’t maintain the protection required of standard RPO. Even with that extra twist of panning.

For some reason I want to take a better look at the pivot, and it can better cover the option actions. Should the pistol formation be used more often, it is likely that the pivot action will go away because there are simply too many bodies in the backfield.

Head coach Brian Flores has never stopped thinking outside the box and a lot of people are questioning what’s going on with the game in progress.

I have a guess what might happen. Getting thrown into the fire is a saying, and that is exactly what happens to Tua Tagovailoa.

Many people mention that a real running game would help the quarterback, the same could be said for a better offensive line. This is nothing new and that goes for many other quarterbacks and many other teams as well.

How do you find out if a quarterback can carry a team? Well not having the above two things can give a glimpse. As crazy as it sounds, that’s what our head coach might be doing right now, remember, he’s thinking outside the box.

We could see the same of quarterback Tua, he could show the same qualities as his coach. The last game they won against the Giants, Tua had an interesting choice of which wide receiver to throw the touchdown passes on. The top top receivers were given a lot of distance during the game, but when it was time for touchdowns it was the lower tier receivers that got one each. There was one case where the main recipient Parker appeared to be open.

Brian Flores seems like a strict coach, and I wouldn’t trust him to use a sink or swim technique to analyze what his franchise quarterback should be. To do so on purpose seems like asking for an injury, and if you remember that happened early on to Tua, he missed three games with a rib injury.

The Miami Dolphins most likely intended to have a good offensive line with an adequate running game. When the first fell by the wayside, the second fell by the wayside. Establishment of a laboratory for Flores to carry out experiments.

My two cents would be to use someone like Phillip Lindsay who can help protect the pass and / or get active and use a bigger back like Gerrid Doaks. You’ve protected him long enough on the exercise team.

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Tallahassee Music Guild Unveils 33rd Annual Sing-Along “Messiah”

This year the 33rd annual sing-along performance of the Tallahassee Music Guild of Georg Friedrich Handel’s “Messiah” takes place.

The guild needs your votes for the performance on Tuesday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church while we sing this season! The venue is on the corner of North Meridian and John Knox Road (2200 North Meridian Road). The suggested donation at the door is $ 10 for adults and $ 5 for students and children.

Vocal soloists, instrumentalists and the choir of participants bring the Messiah score to life and perform selected movements from all three parts of the oratorio. The audience will “sing along” to choirs like “Hallelujah”, “And the Glory”, “For Unto Us a Child Is Born”, “Glory to God”, “Worthy Is the Lamb” and more.

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LeMoyne Art:Art Deco the Halls: LeMoyne Arts is presenting itself for the 58th Annual Christmas Exhibition and Sale

The guild would like to thank the professional musicians who have raised money for scholarships through their performances at the Sing-Along Messiah.

Lisa M. Foltz continues in her fifth year as TMG Music Director and Conductor and sixth year as mezzo-soprano for the 33rd performance. In addition, the baritone Ed Lyon celebrates his fifth anniversary. Trumpeter Longineu Parsons and pianist Joanna Sobkowska-Parsons are returning in their third and fourth years as TMG soloists, respectively, and Adam Ravain is returning for a third year as TMG organist.

Tenors Conner Fabrega and Leo Day will make their “Live” TMG debut after attending the Guild-taped presentation of the “2020 Sing-Along Messiah”. The Guild is very excited to welcome Rebecca Edmiston, piano; Ava Anderson, soprano; and Maclain Hardin, mezzo-soprano, as first TMG soloists.

Over the years, the Tallahassee Music Guild has awarded 704 grants totaling $ 336,500 to music students at FSU and FAMU, as well as an annual donation to Tallahassee Youth Orchestras.

Students who have received scholarships for the spring semester 2022 will be presented at the Messiah performance on December 14th. Your presence will help the Tallahassee Music Guild continue to award music scholarships. Donations from patrons attending this annual event fund the grants in conjunction with larger contributions from donors made in advance and earmarked for music grants.

If you have a Messiah score at home, bring it with you or rent a score for the evening to sing about and visualize the solos. The score is $ 10 while supplies last, with a $ 5 discount if the score is returned at the end of the concert. Funds raised from loaning scores also directly fund scholarships.

Because of our attention to CDC recommendations that affect our lives for the past 21 months, we will not have our usual Fellowship Hall meeting after the performance.

Visitors are encouraged to allow additional time for holiday traffic and to park and take seats. Once you enter the venue, ushers and signs will direct you to the designated seating for your vote. Anyone who just wants to listen is always welcome.

For more information, call Doris Pollock, a member of the Tallahassee Music Guild, at 850-893-5274 or visit www.Facebook.com/TallyMusicGuild.

When you go

What: Tallahassee Music Guild 33rd Sing-Along “Messiah”

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 14th

Where: Faith Presbyterian Church, 2200 North Meridian Road)

Costs: Donation at the door is $ 10 for adults and $ 5 for students and children

Never miss another story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

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Adaptation to changing fishing conditions in southwest Florida is crucial

Cold fronts rushing across the peninsula and beyond into the Florida Strait provide fishing opportunities both before and after arrival.

Adapting and taking advantage of the ever-changing conditions they bring can be difficult, but it is paramount for fall and the upcoming winter catch.

Before a typical frontal boundary, the winches begin to turn clockwise, combined with a drop in air pressure. These conditions in front of the front traditionally lead to increased feeding activity both in coastal wild fish and in coastal pelagic / reef species.

After a front moves through the region, the wind component will be on land with a gradual shift to the north and east, again with high pressure building up and the weather pattern dominating. Many target species become more difficult to catch as they acclimate again, while other species actively feed in cool water.

More:Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Anglers must be aware of changing weather patterns

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More:Collier is changing the rules for companies operating on the county boat ramps

Ahead of the recent front, shallow water enthusiasts across the region tangled up with redfish and snook in the middle and rear bays. When throwing live bait, bait, and flies, the action around points, areas of overturned deadwood, and deeper shorelines was constant.

Northwest winds and cloudy water temporarily slowed wild-fish action, only to replace it with a moderate bite of speckled trout, pompanos, and sheep’s heads, throwing jigs, slicing shrimp, and showcasing live shrimp under a traditional popping cork.

It is important to note that speckled trout or spotted sea trout are again open for harvest in all waters of southwest Florida. Temporarily closed due to the devastating red tide outbreak in 2018, the harvest was closed on 1.Anglers may own speckled trout 15 to 19 inches in length and no more than one fish per vessel over 19 inches in length.

Out in the distant offshore areas and in the nearshore arena, the catches were mixed. Cooling golf temperatures have resulted in the dispersal of king mackerel and bonito, but not the large schools that typically appear in mid-November. Stay tuned though, as solid reports of outstanding pelagic catches are only a county or two away.

As Gulf temperatures plummet into the low to mid 1970s, combined with levels of cloudiness caused by cold fronts, anglers targeting snapper have found they are quite cooperative. Heavy chumming tactics and a light tackle presentation will result in easy boundaries for yellowtail, mangrove, and vermilion snappers along with a good number of high quality mutton snappers to complement the crate of fish.

Remember that success in catching in the fall depends on your ability to fish with and around the conditions. While the elements actually add to the overall challenge, figuring out where to go and what to throw keeps us all busy, and things are certainly more than interesting, both shallow and deep.

Offshore: “For us, all day fishing on board the Solo Lobo was active,” said Captain Eric Root. “Typically for mid-November, some king mackerel, mangrove snapper and gag grouper come over the railing.”

Root ventured more than 50 miles offshore aboard Port O Call Marina-based Solo Lobo and found a beautiful variety of reef fish feeding over rock piles, wrecks and ledges. Live squirrels and pinfish were Roots top gag grouper bait, while live shrimp and small squid fooled its crews.

During his travels, Root has crossed the trails with large schools of baitfish that are 55 to 70 feet deep. Roots anglers often stop to look and hook up on a variety of king mackerel and bonito casting wire-rigged 2-ounce white bucktail jigs and trolling No. 2 planer / spoon combinations.

Naples / Estero Bay: On board my Port O Call Marina-based guide, the Grand Slam, I’ve kept my anglers busy catching a variety of exciting species. While exploring the entire coastal arena, the action was constant.

Along the beaches and the inner passes during the high tide phase, we kept our rods bent and tangled up with Spanish mackerel, Jack Crevalle, blue fish and Marian fish. Flashy bucktail jigs that are stocked with fresh prawns and quickly brought in were our best tactic.

Speckled trout and pompano, both chartreuse and darker soft plastic jigs, and pink tube jigs have been snapped in the middle bays, deeper back bays, and island cuts. Even tipped with shrimp, slow hauling in was required for the bites.

Ten thousand islands: “Fly fishing was good to excellent in the upper reaches of the Ten Thousand Islands,” said Captain Paul Nocifora. “With fronts pulling through, the conditions for some excursions become a bit challenging.”

Nocifora’s leadership skills have resulted in his diligent working on small to medium sized bays and oyster bars during the low tide. Snook and redfish are throwing a white lightbulb pattern and have bent the rods for Nociforas Caster.

During the flood phase, Nocifora turned its attention to mangrove coasts and currents. Snook, mangrove snapper, and big Jack Crevalle are fooled by throwing a variety of sinking baitfish patterns.

When you have a report, email captwill@naplessportfishing.com.

Anglers, email your photos to news@naplesnews.com or post them at www.naplesnews.com/participate and we’ll put your pictures together in an online gallery that is presented every Thursday morning on www.naplesnews.com will. Do not send photos of illegally caught fish.

See similar https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/2021/11/17/adjusting-changing-fishing-conditions-crucial-southwest-florida/8646864002/

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‘Americans always rebuild’: Biden promotes infrastructure investments

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — President Joe Biden visited here to tout the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill he signed into law last month, expected to bring billions in spending on roads and bridges, clean water, public transportation, high speed internet and the states.

The president said the investments amount to a “blue collar blueprint” for rebuilding the country, providing more good-paying jobs and economic opportunities, 95 percent of which don’t require a college degree.

For the better part of the 20th century, the United States became a global leader through “our willingness to invest in ourselves,” he said citing the space race and the federal highway system. Now, he said, China and the rest of the world are catching up and moving ahead.

Running through Biden’s speech, delivered at the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, was a thread of frustration at the state of the nation’s infrastructure and the difficulties faced by those who struggle to afford prescription drugs or access the internet, implying the nation should be doing far better.

“We never break. We never stop. We Americans always rebuild, and we will rebuild this country,” Biden said.

Biden said the law does something historic in rebuilding the country, fulfilling a promise he made on the campaign trail.

“When I announced for office, I said I was running for three reasons,” Biden said. “One, to restore the soul of this country, a sense of decency and honor. Two, to rebuild the backbone of this country, working class and hard working middle class people — that’s the backbone of this country. And thirdly, to unite the country, which is turning out to be one of the most difficult things, but we’re going to get it done.”

The far-flung city of half a million people has struggled to keep up with the infrastructure needs across its 300 square miles. For years, residents’ water bills rose by double digits every year to fund a federally mandated upgrade to keep the city’s wastewater from overflowing. The city renegotiated that mandate with the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this year.

Kansas City’s iconic Buck O’Neil Bridge has long needed replacing and had to be rehabilitated in 2018 while it awaited funding for replacement. The state-owned bridge is now being rebuilt at the cost of $250 million, half of which the city contributed through a sales tax increase.

Missouri’s highways are notoriously troublesome with more than $4.5 billion in unfunded needs. The Missouri General Assembly this spring increased the tax on gasoline for the first time in almost 30 years.

Under the legislation, Kansas is expected to get $2.6 billion in highway funds and $225 million for bridges over five years. Missouri is expected to receive $6.5 billion and $484 million for those investments.

Both states would get hundreds of millions to expand broadband service to disconnected rural areas and low-income families that can’t afford internet access.

Biden said no parent in 21st century America should have to sit in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant to use the Internet, like many did during the pandemic.

“This is the United States of America, for God’s sake,” Biden said.

Biden said the bill also marked the largest investment in passenger railways in the U.S. for 50 years, joking about his own affinity for riding the train from Washington to Delaware.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat who represents the Kansas side of the Kansas City area, said she was excited by the billions of dollars that would flow into the region through infrastructure investments. She said residents can feel the economic impact of decades of underinvestment in infrastructure.

“From bridges to broadband, we’re continuing to create opportunities, because that’s what this is about,” Davids said.

The federal infrastructure bill includes $89 billion for local transit projects over the next five years, with $5.6 billion earmarked for low- or zero-emission vehicles.

In 2020, Kansas City, Mo., became the first major American city to eliminate fares for public transportation. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority operates 78 bus routes across state lines, serving 14 million riders annually. The fleet includes four battery-powered buses, and only zero-emission buses will be added.

Biden also touted the elements of the bill meant to help the environment and protect communities from the effects of climate change. He said roads and bridges would be rebuilt to be more resistant to climate change. He praised Kansas City for its move to zero-emissions buses.

Biden said he grew up like a lot of Americans in a middle class household, but he would hear his parents talk about struggles, like his father losing his health insurance.

“My dad used to say everybody deserves just a little bit of breathing room,” Biden said.

Biden also took the opportunity to tout his Build Back Better plan, which still needs approval by the U.S. Senate. He said the bill would invest in universal preschool to help America catch up on early childhood education. He noted the country ranks 34th.

During the pandemic, women have been forced from the workplace in huge numbers as school closures and quarantines upended their normal childcare plans.

He spoke of a young woman who told him she was forced to ration her insulin because she couldn’t afford it and nearly died as a result. He said the bill would ensure insulin costs no more than $35 per month.

“Think about that,” Biden said. “The difference between nearly dying and thriving is the cost of one drug that cost $10 to make. … It can cost consumers now $1,000 a month.”

This story first appeared in the Missouri Independent, part of the States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix.

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Split Supreme Court Leaves Texas Abortion Law in Effect, but Says Providers May Sue

Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News

In the second-most anticipated abortion case of the year, eight justices on the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that abortion providers can challenge a Texas law that has effectively banned most abortions in the state since it was allowed to take effect in September. But the court also ruled that the federal Justice Department could not intervene in the dispute, and it refused to block the law for now.

Nonetheless, the justices were sharply divided in their opinions on the case. The majority opinion in the Texas decision, Whole Woman’s Health et al. v. Jackson et al., did not directly address the fate of abortion rights in the United States. Rather, the conservative, anti-abortion majority on the court is expected to take on that larger question in a separate case out of Mississippi that was argued Dec. 1.

In fact, the majority opinion, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, directly acknowledged as much. Whether the Texas law is constitutional “is not before the court,” he wrote. “Nor is the wisdom [of the Texas law] as a matter of public policy.”

A hint as to the coming showdown over abortion rights is included in a plurality opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts — and joined by the three liberal justices. The Texas law, wrote Roberts, “has had the effect of denying the exercise of what we have held is a right protected under the Federal Constitution.”

The Texas law, known as SB 8, is similar to laws passed by several other states over the past few years in that it bans abortion after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually about six weeks into pregnancy. That is in direct contravention of Supreme Court precedents in 1973’s Roe v. Wade and 1992’s Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, which say states cannot ban abortion until “viability,” about 22 to 24 weeks. The Texas law also makes no exception for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.

SB 8, however, varies from other state “heartbeat” laws because it has a unique enforcement mechanism that gives state officials no role. Rather, it leaves enforcement to the general public, by authorizing civil suits against not just anyone who performs an abortion, but also anyone who “aids and abets” an abortion, which could include those who drive patients to an abortion clinic or counsel them. Those who sue and win would be guaranteed damages of at least $10,000. Opponents of the law call that a “bounty” to encourage people to sue their neighbors.

Supporters of the law have said it was specifically designed to prevent federal courts from blocking the law, since no state officials are involved in enforcement and therefore are not responsible for it.

It was specifically that enforcement mechanism that the Supreme Court considered during three hours of oral arguments that were speedily scheduled on Nov. 1. The question before the justices was not directly whether the Texas ban is unconstitutional, but whether either the abortion providers or the federal government could challenge it in court.

In the end the court ruled that while the abortion providers could sue some, but not all, of the Texas officials included in their lawsuit, the Justice Department could not intervene. In a separate, two paragraph ruling, the court said the case brought by the federal government seeking to intervene, United States v. Texas, was “improvidently granted.”

The justices also noted that Thursday a state court in Texas held the law unconstitutional, but that case affects only roughly a dozen individual suits.

As she has been since the court first addressed the case last summer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor was scathing in her criticism. By allowing the Texas law to continue in effect, she wrote in a dissent, “The Court thus betrays not only the citizens of Texas but also our constitutional system of government.”

The case returns to the federal district court in Texas.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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Castille Urbana is bringing 40 units to 3rd Avenue South in downtown St. Pete – St. Pete Rising

The Domus Urbana sale went so well that NJR Companies decided to repeat the process with Castille Urbana at 600 3rd Avenue South, just 50 meters east of Domus Urbana. Castille Urbana will follow the same concept of offering a luxurious living experience without the high prices.

The 5-story building will include 40 two- and three-bedroom apartments with floor plan options ranging from 1,158 to 1,650 square feet. Future residents expect modern design and elegantly furnished living spaces as well as lifestyle amenities such as a common room, fitness center, dog park and charging stations for electric cars.

Prices for Castille Urbana, already 35% reserved, start at a mid-range $ 500,000. For comparison: other luxury developments such as Saltaire, 400 Central and The Bismarck started this year with units starting at 800,000 US dollars.

“We are very pleased to give even more people the opportunity to experience downtown St. Petersburg,” said Rauenhorst. “We have worked hard to bring the perfect mix of design and convenience with just the right balance to offer prices that are lower than expected.”

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A new dunkin might come to this Gainesville exit

A Dunkin Donuts store could be part of a retail building planned on Jesse Jewell Parkway near Interstate 985 at Exit 24.

The store would be in a 6,070-square-foot building at 374 and 400 Crescent Drives, across from Hall County Farmers Market.

“We have a promise from (Dunkin) to occupy the first unit,” says developer Moez Hasni in a city document. “The rest of the tenants have not yet been determined, but we are confident that we will win more national tenants once construction has started.”

According to the city, Hasni is aiming to include the property in a general industrial park category.

He is due to appear before the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board on Tuesday, December 14th at 5:30 p.m. The Planning Board recommends approval or rejection. Gainesville City Council will have the final say in a later session.

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Who you should get excited about

The Miami Dolphins are finally going to have their farewell week, and it comes at a good time. Towards the end of the season there is a winning streak of 5 games. Now they have to sit back and watch the teams that are ahead of them jump further forward or fall back on them.

On Thursday evening, the Dolphins got a little help from the Vikings when they knocked down the Steelers. Pittsburgh is still ahead of the Dolphins in the overall standings for two reasons. First, they were tied with the Lions, and second, John Harbaugh went for two and failed. The Steelers have only six defeats despite six wins thanks to the draw.

While Pittsburgh will stay ahead of Miami this week, they’re not playing very well.

On Sunday, the Dolphins fan base has plenty of games to watch and get excited for teams they wouldn’t normally fight for.

• Jacksonville, Tennessee – 1:00 Sunday Root for Jax

Getting passionate about the jaguars is hard, especially if you’re a jaguar fanatic. Trevor Lawrence has had a TD in the last five games and has only thrown more than one TD once. Week one when he threw three. Needless to say, a Titans team without Derrick Henry shouldn’t have a problem knocking the Jaguars down on Sunday. Still, root for a miracle.

• Las Vegas, Kansas City – 1:00 Sunday Root for KC

The Raiders are the Jekyll and Hyde team of AFC West. One week they look great and the next they are trying to recover in the 4th quarter hoping for pass-interference calls to move the ball. Firing for the Chiefs is the best that can happen to Miami. The Raiders are 6-6 in the season so a loss holds them together with the Dolphins despite owning the head-to-head tie-breaker should it come into play.

• Baltimore, Cleveland – 1:00 am Sunday root for the ravens

Granted, I hate fighting for the ravens. I’m not a fan of the Steelers, and I’m not a huge fan of the Browns either. The only team I can really take at AFC North are the Bengals. I blame the Browns fan base for not liking this team. Normally I’d be cheering the Browns against the Ravens, but this week it’s better for the Ravens to take control of this game.

The Browns are 6-6 and one loss keeps the Dolphins attached to them.

As an aside, the Ravens’ schedule is pretty tough with games against the Rams, Packers and Bengals and wraps against the Steelers. If the Ravens finish the season with 10 wins and catch up with the Dolphins, Miami wins that tie-break. This could be a game that could work both ways in Miami’s favor.

• NY Giants at Los Angeles Chargers – 4:05 Sunday Root for the Giants

The Chargers are one game ahead of the Dolphins with seven wins. Loss will allow the dolphins to keep up with them. Problem is, the Giants are a total mess right now and the Chargers are trying to keep up with the 8-4 Chiefs in the west.

• Detroit at Denver – 4:05 am Sunday Root for Detroit

Former Miami Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell scored an emotional first win last Sunday and the Lions will have to feed on it, beating the much better Broncos on Sunday. The Broncos are 6-6 and could win a game against Miami with a win.

• San Francisco, Cincinnati – 4:25 Sunday Root for the 49ers

While it would be nice to see the 49ers drop this game and move the Dolphins picks a little closer to a top ten picks in the first round, a Bengals defeat keeps them just one game ahead of the Dolphins for that possibly last game card on site.

• Buffalo in Tampa Bay – 4:25 Sunday Root for the Bucs

There is rarely a time to fight for the bills and this is definitely not one of them. The Bills lost last Monday night to a Patriots team who threw only three passes during the entire game. Tom Brady will throw a lot more.

Buffalo is one game ahead of the Dolphins and the Bucs could keep it that way.

• When it all goes to Miami

If everything goes in Miami’s favor this weekend, the Dolphins won’t jump up the standings, but they will be in a more favorable position for the past few weeks.

The Dolphins are 6-7 in the season, with the Jets coming to Miami every week starting Sunday. This is what the table could look like if everything fits this weekend.

• Miami – 6-7
• Denver – 6-7
• Raider – 6-7
• Steelers – 6-6-1
• Buffalo – 7-6
• Bengal – 7-6
• Chargers – 7-6

The remaining top teams all lead their divisions. That weekend’s result would place the Dolphins within one game of the two wild card courses with four games remaining.

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Tallahassee Community College will hold the opening ceremony on Saturday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) – Tallahassee Community College will be holding a fall-start ceremony on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The ceremony will take place at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

According to the college, more than 450 students have agreed to attend the ceremony.

The Saturday ceremony will be the first in-person ceremony since 2019. The beginning will be available online at www.YouTube.com/YourTCC22 for those who choose not to attend in person.

“Our graduates worked so hard to reach this milestone and juggle their studies with the historic challenges of the global pandemic,” said Dr. Jim Murdaugh, President of Tallahassee Community College. “I hope you have learned that no matter what life throws in your way, you are able to overcome it.”

Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, will deliver the keynote.

TCC says it has invited its Fall 2019 and 2020 grads to attend this personal opening ceremony as their original ceremonies were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Billions targeted to wildlife conservation under bipartisan push in Congress

A bipartisan pair of senators have called for Congress to approve billions in new funding for states to manage wildlife recovery work.

During a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday, Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said a bill they introduced this year would help protect 1,600 threatened species, relieve the burden on state wildlife agencies, and spare private landowners from having to deal with federal regulations related to the Endangered Species Act.

The bill would provide $1.3 billion annually for states, tribes, and territories to do species conservation work. It would be paid for with revenue from enforcement actions against those who violate environmental regulations.

Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) introduced companion legislation in the House.

Heinrich and Blunt have won support from both parties for the bill, although senators from both sides of the aisle cautioned that the revenue source was too unpredictable — and perhaps too paltry.

Heinrich said the extra federal cash for state and local efforts would add a critical tool for species recovery. The numbers of endangered or threatened species have continued to increase, despite the successes of state programs and federal Endangered Species Act protections, he said.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change this paradigm and save thousands of species with a solution that matches the magnitude of the challenge,” he said.

Sara Parker Pauley, the director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, told the panel the bill would help states complete federally mandated conservation plans. Existing funding only enables 5 percent of the actions called for across state plans, she said.

“The states have done their parts, really without the funding,” she said. “We’ve been given a mandate. The funding hasn’t come with it.”

While boosting federal money for wildlife conservation, the bill is also meant to distance federal involvement in species management, in part by keeping species off the Endangered Species Act list.

“A significant part of the goal here is to work with these state agencies so the federal government never has to be involved in an endangered species situation,” Blunt said.

Collin O’Mara, the president & CEO of the advocacy group National Wildlife Federation, told the panel that the Endangered Species Act designations that would result from inaction would be much more costly to the federal government and private sector.

“Imagine if the monarch butterfly ends up listed. The impact on farms all across the country is massive,” O’Mara said, referring to the insect with a famously broad range in the Western Hemisphere.

“I’m convinced we can save most species through proactive, collaborative work and save hundreds of billions of dollars of private-sector cost.”

The funding would help keep species numbers from reaching critical lows, O’Mara said. Working to protect species before they reach endangered status is more cost-effective and gives species a greater chance of survival.

Funding from fines, penalties

The bill would use money raised through criminal fines and penalties from violations of natural resource and environmental laws.

Leaders of the committee, Chairman Thomas Carper, (D-Del.), and ranking Republican Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, raised concerns the source of the bill’s funding could be too unstable to support the ambitious spending.

“As drafted, the legislation identifies a funding source that may not be reliable or fully pay for the bill’s spending,” Carper said.

“As I understand it, the bill will still result in $14 billion in direct, mandatory spending over a 10-year period,” Capito said. “This is an issue that we need to consider against the background of the growth of our debt and deficit during this pandemic.”

Blunt said he and Heinrich “found a funding source we believe works.”

Carper also said he wanted to see more funding for federal agencies, including the Fish and Wildlife Service.

“While we should absolutely address the funding needs of our states and tribes, we cannot afford to ignore the legitimate needs of our federal agencies and other partners,” he said.

In addition to Blunt and Heinrich, 16 Democrats and 15 Republican senators co-sponsored the bill, although neither Carper nor Capito have attached their names. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is a co-sponsor, but not U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

In the House, Florida Democrats Charlie Crist, Al Lawson, Stephanie Murphy, and Darren Soto are cosponsors and Republicans Carlos Giménez, John Rutherford, and Maria Elvira Salazar.

Capito said Wednesday she was “eager” to work with Heinrich and Blunt to improve the bill and was hopeful the bill could move forward.

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New omicron variant found in at least 25 states; FL could see more cases soon

With the omicron variant continuing to circulate in the United States, a University of South Florida virologist warns Floridians to be on guard for the spread of the variant throughout the state, even though only few case have been detected so far.

A spokesperson from the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed two cases of the World Health Organization-designated “variant of concern” — one in Tampa and another in St. Lucie County — but declined to provide details to the Florida Phoenix.

The state has laboratories for “genomic sequencing and maintains surveillance of emerging variants in Florida,” such as omicron, state health officials said in an email this week.

But that in no way means the state has detected every case of the new variant, according Dr. Michael Teng, associate professor of medicine at USF.

“The fact of the matter is we only sequence about 5 percent of our cases so there’s probably a lot more out there that we don’t know about just because we don’t sequence everything,” Teng said in a phone conversation.

Meanwhile, as of Friday morning, the omicron variant has been detected in 25 states, according to The New York Times. The WHO classified omicron as a variant of concern on Nov. 26 as it began to spread rapidly in South Africa.

According to a map from the Times, cases of the variant have been found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

“This omicron variant is spreading and it’s spreading pretty quickly in places like South Africa and we are seeing a little bit more in the U.K. [United Kingdom],” Teng said.

Teng said that, based on findings released this week, which haven’t been peer reviewed yet, “it looks like at least the antibodies we get from vaccination or previous infection are not as effective against omicron as they are against previous versions” of the virus.

While studies are still underway into vaccine effectiveness against the new variant and its transmissibility, early reports suggest omicron is more transmissible but causes milder cases of COVID compared to the delta variant, according to a report from the Washington Post.

Still, Teng suggested Floridians continue to follow safety measures to protect themselves and others, such as wearing a mask, avoiding large crowds, and other protocols.

“I would say we’ve become really relaxed recently but I would say that it is time to really buckle up and do the things we really need to do,” he said. “If you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you’re not boosted [COVID-19 booster shot], get boosted if you’re eligible.”

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