Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A hearing on a Broward County nursing home’s contempt motion against the Agency for Health Care Administration over alleged public records violations is back on for Tuesday.
Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is slated to start the hearing at 2 p.m. in the Leon County Courthouse.
As previously reported, attorneys for the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills simply didn’t show up for a hearing scheduled last month.
Geoffrey Smith, of the Smith & Associates law firm in Tallahassee, called that a “misunderstanding related to the scheduling of hearings in several ongoing related matters.”
“We continue to look forward to the production of the public record information on the deaths that occurred in Florida during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma,” he said.
No harm: Lewis had said the parties likely would have needed more than the hour allotted anyway because they needed to present evidence: “It seems like there’s really a factual dispute.”
The nursing home was the site of resident deaths as Hurricane Irma knocked out its power supply, and with it, the air conditioning. Twelve eventually died, and the state later went after the facility’s license.
In the subsequent court fight, the facility filed a public records request for death certificates filed with the state between Sept. 9 and Sept. 16, during Irma and shortly afterward. In part, the facility objects to the state’s demand for nearly $6,000 before it produces the records.
Evening Reads
“Reckless trade war? Donald Trump’s biggest Florida supporters say he’s just being savvy” via Alex Leary and Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times
“John Rutherford, Marco Rubio spotlight federal money for JAXPORT dredge” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“New Republican PAC launches $3.5 million blitz against Bill Nelson” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Democratic super PAC reserves airtime for Bill Nelson” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald
“‘Disturbing’ state didn’t review concealed carry background checks, Rick Scott says” via Steve Contorno of the Tampa Bay Times
“Jeremy Ring, too, reportedly had driver’s license suspended” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Medical cannabis supporters warn against campaign promises of legalizing pot” via Arek Sarkissian of POLITICO Florida
“Julie Brown, Gary Clark seek another term on PSC” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida
“Armed ‘guardians’ could be coming to Broward schools” via Scott Travis of the Sun Sentinel
“These students will ‘die’ at Mar-a-Lago. They want to honor the Pulse massacre victims” via Elizabeth Finny of the Miami Herald
Quote of the Day
“The headlines and stories that say that there were no background checks for a year are flat wrong, misleading and must be corrected. Today I set the record straight.” — Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Twitter, referring to reports his office failed to perform background checks on concealed weapon license applicants.
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Republican candidate for Attorney General Ashley Moody will join Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd for a “special announcement.” That’s at 8:30 a.m., Polk County History Center, 1926 Courtroom, 100 East Main St., Bartow.
The Florida Chamber Foundation will start its annual “Learners to Earners Workforce Summit.” Speakers during the two-day event are expected to include Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega and university system Chancellor Marshall Criser. That’s at 9 a.m., Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, 4200 Jim Walter Blvd., Tampa.
Florida International University, the World Bank and Miami-Dade County will host Latin American and Caribbean leaders for a conference titled, “Building Better Communities: From Economic Development to Sustainability.” That’s at 9 a.m., Hilton Downtown, 1601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.
CareerSource Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, homebuilders and Uber will combine to hold job fairs throughout the state for careers in the manufacturing and construction industries.
— 10 a.m., CareerSource Palm Beach County, 3400 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach.
— 10 a.m., Rockledge Career Center, 295 Barnes Blvd., Rockledge.
— 10 a.m., Manatee Technical College, 6305 State Road 70 East, Bradenton.
— 11 a.m., Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Dr., Crestview.
A presentation on the “multicounty benefits” of large economic-development projects will be presented to the Triumph Gulf Coast board by Becca Hardin, president of the Bay Economic Development Alliance. That’s at 10:30 a.m. Central time, Escambia County Commission chamber, Ernie Lee Magaha Building, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide its latest forecast for the citrus harvest. That’s at noon. The forecast will be posted at nass.usda.gov/fl.
Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican, is expected to attend a JAXUSA Partnership luncheon. That’s at noon, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 East Coastline Dr., Jacksonville.
The Forensic Interview Protocol Task Force, which works on issues related to forensic interviews of children suspected of having suffered abuse, will hold a conference call. That’s at noon, (888) 670-3525, participant code: 7021700355.
The Florida Board of Pharmacy will meet in Lake County. That’s at 1:30 p.m., Mission Inn Resort & Club, 10400 County Road 48, Howey-in-the-Hills.
Circuit Judge Terry Lewis will hold a hearing on arguments by attorneys for an embattled Broward County nursing home that the Florida Department of Health should be held in contempt in a public-records dispute. That’s at 2 p.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.
Candidates for two seats on the Florida Public Service Commission face a 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline for submitting applications to the Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council.
Republican Ray Pilon, who is running in Sarasota County’s House District 72, will hold a campaign event. Pilon, a former House member, is seeking to unseat Rep. Margaret Good, a Sarasota Democrat. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Gecko’s, 5585 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota.
Republican Mike McCalister, who is running for agriculture commissioner, is slated to speak during an event held by Trump Team 2020 Florida. That’s at 5:30 p.m., Abacoa Golf Club, 105 Barbados Dr., Jupiter.
