Feds: FL Officials Bilked FEMA of Millions

Several former Lynn Haven, Fla. officials have been charged with conspiring to bilk billions of hurricane cleanup money from the federal government, according to the U.S. attorney's office Tuesday.

Former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael White and former community services director David Horton were arrested, as well as Erosion Control Specialists owner David White and Greenleaf Lawn Care owner Joshua Anderson, according to NBC Miami. U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe said that the former Lynn Haven officials "approved false invoices for the two companies...for work they never performed," using $5 million in Hurricane Michael cleanup money.

According to NBC Miami, "The officials approved payments to the companies and then sought reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency."

However, according to Panama City News Herald article, other Lynn Haven city officials were also linked to corruption in the case ("Four more Lynn Haven city officials linked to public corruption case"). According to the article, "indictment records obtained by The News Herald make mention of the mayor, city attorney, community services director, and one commissioner in the unfolding public corruption case."

To read the NBC Miami story, go to https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Florida-Officials-Bilked-FEMA-Out-of-Hurricane-Money-Feds-565187772.html. To read the Panama City News Herald article, go to https://www.newsherald.com/news/20191119/four-more-lynn-haven-city-officials-linked-to-public-corruption-case.

New Overtime Rules To Affect Florida Workplace

New overtimes rules unveiled by the U.S. Department of Labor will impact an estimated 331,000 Florida workers, according to an article in the Tampa Bay Times. That number is out of 4.2 million workers nationwide affected by the new ruling.

The rule "doubles the eligible salary threshold for overtime from $23,660 per year to $47,476." The article ("New Labor Department overtime rule expected to jolt Florida workplace") states that businesses will have until December to comply with the Department of Labor's ruling. Employees who have made $23,660 or less a year have qualified for time-and-a-half when working more than 40 hours a week. The ruling now makes it that employees making the higher amount or less will qualify.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

New Treatment For Dogs?

When Jenny Conley noticed her English gold retriever, Moses, limping, eventually unable to put weight on his leg, she brought him to the vet's. X-rays showed severe osteoarthritis in the 6-year-old dog. While taking medication for the pain for the remainder of Moses's life was an option, Dr. Cara Erwin-Oliver of Belleview Animal Hospital in Belleview, Florida offered up another option: stem cell therapy, according to The Gainesville Sun.

While the pricey surgery ($1,500) holds no guarantee, Moses is now back to walking with Conley after his November surgery. "It's like he never had anything wrong with him," Conley said.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

School Bus Driver Credited For Helping Save 6-year Old

A St. Johns County School District bus driver alertness helped keep a 6-year-old safe recently, possibly saving the child's life. Driver Bill Buckley was approaching the first-grader's bus stop when a car driving behind the bus sped up to pass the bus, which already had its stop signals out and red lights flashing. Meanwhile, the first-grader ran into the street toward the bus, according to The Florida Times-Union. Buckley laid on the horn to alert the child, who stopped. Buckley's actions "saved his (the child's) life," according to his mother, Joy McMillen.

Buckley, who joined the district's transportation department on Jan. 29, 2013, has been honored by the school district.

To read The Florida Times-Union's article in its entirety, click here.

Earthquake Felt In Tampa Bay Area

A 5.1-magnatude earthquake struck just before 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon in the Straits of Florida between Cuba and Florida. The quake, which lasted about 30 seconds, caused highrise buildings in Havana to sway, startling workers, according to Tampa's WFLA.com. The city closest to the epicenter is Corralillo, 17 miles to the southwest; the quake was approximately 106 miles east of Havana.

According to the U.S. Geological Service, there were five reports from Tampa and seven reports from St. Petersburg of people reporting that they had felt tremors. The USGS site mentioned one report from as far away as Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Happiness Is Not Having These Women As Mom

Most of us who lived through our teenage years can remember thinking we had the worst (or meanest) parents. We did what we wanted to do (read: something we were told not to do), and suddenly, we'd find ourselves grounded for the rest of our lives (read: a week, a month, or until next Tuesday afternoon). If our parents were really mean, they'd inform us in front of our friends that we were grounded. How could they be so unfair?

It could have been worse. In honor of Mother's Day, I present to you Florida's Six Worst Moms, according to the New Times Broward-Palm Beach. The wrong colored bike for Christmas when you were 9, or didn't let you have that extra piece of toast? Number one on the list "let her 9-year-old eat some crack on Christmas morning." (At least she called paramedics once the child started convulsing.)

Read about this mom (and the other five) here, while being glad you were only grounded. And if you're able to, you might want to call mom and thank her for not making the list! Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Florida's Unemployment Comp System Biased, Feds Claim

The U.S. Department of Labor has accused Florida's unemployment compensation system of violating the civil rights of unemployed individuals, beginning in 2011. According to the DOL, Florida makes it difficult for the disabled and those who speak Spanish or Creole to file for unemployment benefits, according to an article in The Miami Herald.

Florida ranks the lowest in the percentage of eligible people receiving unemployement benefits. The state stands to lose millions in federal aid if the system is not fixed.

To read more, click here.

Worker's Rights in Florida

While most Florida workers are aware that Floria is a "Right To Work" state, many may not be completely aware of what that means.

According to the state website (http://MyFlorida.com), Article 1, Section 6 of the Florida Constitution states, "The right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organization. The right of employees, by and through a labor organization, to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged. Public employees shall not have the right to strike." (http://myflorida.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1065/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzY1OTYwNzA4L3NpZC9wTTQyRklubA%3D%3D).

So, while working Floridians may be allowed to work without joining a labor union, these same workers are not allowed to strike.

Another legality facing Florida workers deals with work and meal breaks. While many federal and state laws deal with working conditions, some things are not regulated by laws but by customs or agreements between companies and workers. According to the United States Department of Labor, the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) "does not require breaks or meal periods be given to workers." (http://www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/faq.htm) The FLSA does state, however, that some states may legislate these breaks, but that in states that don't legislate breaks, these breaks may be part of an agreement between employer and employee.

This is where Florida fits in. The state, in its wisdom to promote business (and, as many would point out, possibly exploit workers), has made absolutely no provisions or allowance for Florida workers to work or meal breaks, unless that worker is a minor. (http://myflorida.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/985/related/1/session/L2F2LzIvdGltZS8xMzY1OTYwOTg3L3NpZC9wTTQyRklubA%3D%3D)

Any Floridian wanting to contact Govenor Rick Scott or their legislators, check out the following links:

Govenor Rick Scott: http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/;

State Senate President Don Gaetz: http://www.flsenate.gov/Offices/President/Message;

House Speaker Will Weatherford: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4399&SessionId=73;

to find your Florida state senators: http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/;

to find your Florida representative: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx.