This week, we reached the 100-day mark of our new administration. It has been an exciting, challenging first 100 days, but in this short period of time, our office achieved several major victories and implemented important changes to better protect Floridians.
While campaigning to serve as Florida’s Attorney General, I made fighting the opioid crisis a top priority. From my first day in office, I fought for a Statewide Opioid Task Force to establish a formalized structure to meet this crisis head-on. I am proud to now chair the new Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse and look forward to working through this task force to end this crisis.
Fighting fraud and protecting seniors is another major focus of our new administration. To accomplish this mission, we formed Florida’s new Senior Protection Team. Our team is comprised of leading experts from the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, Consumer Protection Division, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Criminal Justice Programs Unit, as well as specifically designated FDLE agents from around the state. This team is working together to fight senior fraud and abuse statewide. Expect to hear more from them soon. Continue reading
We are fighting the opioid crisis on many fronts. Soon, our Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse will begin meeting to identify innovative strategies for prevention, treatment and interdiction. State litigation to hold the nation’s largest opioid distributors, manufacturers and pharmacies responsible for their roles in this crisis is in full swing. And our Office of Statewide Prosecution continues drug interdiction efforts with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to lock up heroin and fentanyl traffickers.
Now we need your help. This Saturday, the Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting the 17th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The biannual event is a safe and responsible way to properly dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs or controlled substances. Disposing of unwanted or expired pharmaceuticals can help prevent drug abuse, addiction and overdose deaths. Continue reading
Eglin AFB, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Governor’s Initiative on Lawyers Assisting Warriors (GI LAW), an initiative to leverage the talent of Florida’s leading law firms to provide pro bono services to military members.
Joined by Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Executive Director Danny Burgess, Enterprise Florida President and CEO Jamal Sowell, U.S Coast Guard Chief of Legal Assistance Chris Dunne and several of the state’s most prominent legal professionals, Governor DeSantis unveiled the new program as well as its leadership.
To spearhead the initiative, the Governor announced Chuck Faircloth, General Counsel of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will serve as Executive Director. Steering Committee members include: Major General James O. Eifert, Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard, Danny Burgess, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs’, Bruce Grant, Vice President of Military and Defense Programs at Enterprise Florida, partners from Greenberg Traurig, partners from Holland & Knight, partners from Shutts & Bowen and partners from the Gunster law firm. Continue reading
The attached letter was transmitted on April 23, 2019 to Warden Barry Reddish of Florida State Prison, pertaining to Robert Joseph Long, who was sentenced to death for the 1984 murder of Michelle Simms.
On or about May 27, 1984, Long approached Simms, and she entered his car. Long drove Simms to a remote location, forced her to undress at knife point, and tied her to the car seat. Long then raped Simms and attempted to strangle her. When his attempts failed, he hit her head with a club and pushed her from the car. Long slit her throat and left her on the side of the road to die. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office found Simms’s nude body. Her face was bloodied, her hands and body were tied, and she suffered rope burns on her neck and chin. Fibers located near her body matched fibers found in Long’s car. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—Here’s a delicious twist on an old favorite: creamy, cheesy, scalloped sweet potatoes, an easy-to-make casserole that will wow everyone at the table. High in fiber and loaded with vitamins and minerals, California sweet potatoes add just a hint of sweetness to this rich and savory dish. Serve it next to your Easter ham, your Thanksgiving turkey or with a store-bought roasted chicken on a regular old Wednesday night. Deliciously indulgent, it’ll be your new favorite side dish.
Creamy, Cheesy, Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Serves 8 to 10
1½ pounds each orange-fleshed and yellow/white-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices, divided
2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese, divided
2½ cups heavy cream Continue reading
Going Away? Tips To Keep Your Home Safe While You’re On Vacation
(NAPSI)—Peace of mind is important to just about all homeowners, including when they’re away on a hard-earned vacation. When warm weather arrives, however, crime rates increase, according to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Fortunately, you may be able to reduce any vacation time stress by taking five steps to improve security—protect your windows, monitor your doors, secure your AC, make your house a difficult target and stay in the loop about what’s happening at home.
How to make it look like someone is home, even when you’re away
- Stop your mail. Nothing says “there’s nobody home” like an overstuffed mailbox and a pile of newspapers on the front porch. You can fill out a simple form with the United States Postal Service asking it to hold your mail. Or, perhaps better yet, have a trusted neighbor stop by to pick it up.
- Leave dog toys in the front yard. Even if you don’t own a dog, you can give a burglar pause by making him or her think that you do.
- Maintain a well-kept yard. Remove tree branches that give easy access to top floor windows and cut back tall shrubs that make it easy for burglars to hide behind.
- Add outdoor motion sensor lights to scare away those trying to walk into your yard and peek inside. With smart lighting technology, you can program your lights to come on even when you aren’t home. This feature has an advantage over automated timers because you can turn the lights in your home on or off as you please from anywhere with your Internet-connected device, or set routines through your home automation service, such as ADT.
- Integrate your wireless doorbell with your lights for further security benefits. Have the doorbell trigger an inside light to give the illusion that someone is home, since burglars prefer dark areas for stealth.
(NAPSI)—One of the best and most effective ways to benefit from nonpsychoactive, THC-free CBD is to use it on the largest organ of your body: your skin. CBD oil is the nonpsychotropic component of marijuana and hemp, well-known for relieving aches and pains when applied topically. Now, it’s found in skin care products such as the luxury line from Mermaid Wizdom—and with good reasons.
Here are three:
- Acne: CBD oil is an anti-inflammatory with the ability to help calm skin. Because acne is an inflammatory condition, research indicates CBD’s soothing properties can help diminish breakouts and reduce redness. Recent studies show that CBD may also decrease excessive oil production.
- Aging and Wrinkles: CBD oil’s antioxidant properties can help lessen the visible signs of aging. It’s rich in vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin A stimulates the cells responsible for producing tissue that keeps skin firm. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production. Vitamin E blocks free radicals from the body, to help slow down the aging process.
- Sensitive Skin: CBD oil has been found to sooth sensitive skin and studies indicate that it helps inhibit triggers of disorders such as psoriasis and eczema.
(NAPSI)—A growing body of scientific evidence proves getting outside (i.e., being an “outsider”) is good for our health and well-being. Exploring and appreciating nature—in our own backyards, community parks and school yards—reduces stress, improves memory, boosts heart health, and offers a host of other benefits for our minds and bodies.
“Having a living landscape of grass, trees, shrubs and flowering plants is good. Using this outdoor space to reap the health benefits it offers is even better,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), whose Foundation created TurfMutt, an environmental education and stewardship program that teaches the value and benefits of the outdoors. “Getting outside, even for just 10 minutes, can do much to boost your mood, productivity, and quality of life.”
On its 10th anniversary, TurfMutt shares 10 easy ways you can enjoy nature in under 10 minutes. Continue reading
Pressure Ulcers Cost U.S. Healthcare $10.2 Billion and Contribute to Nearly 29,000 Hospital Deaths Each Year
But new technology can dramatically curb the pressure ulcer pandemic
by Margaret Doucette, D.O.
(NAPSI)—American healthcare, renowned for pioneering new technology to save lives, has all but ignored one of the most costly and deadly Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs), which the federal government defines as preventable patient injuries.
While the number of other HACs has decreased by 8 percent, pressure ulcers have been resistant to improvement efforts. They continue to grow by 10 percent annually.
Pressure ulcers are both costly and deadly.
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that pressure ulcers add $10.2 billion to U.S. healthcare costs. As the chart above shows, pressure ulcers are associated with more than 45 percent of the nation’s 63,619 HAC-related deaths and are the leading contributor to HAC-related deaths. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—April is Car Care Month—bringing attention to the importance of preventative car maintenance. It’s the perfect time for you and your mechanic to perform a checkup on your vehicle after snow, rain and cooler temperatures have taken their toll.
Change Oil, Fluids and Air Filter
Professional mechanics recommend changing your oil every 5,000−10,000 miles to keep the engine running smoothly. Check the owner’s manual for instructions before you get started.
Mechanics also recommend replacing your vehicle’s air filter at least once a year. Check your vehicle’s instruction manual to locate the filter, open its case and review how it’s positioned. Remove the old air filter and insert the new one in the same position, before closing the metal clips.
If you don’t feel comfortable changing your own oil and air filter, your mechanic can change them for you. While you’re there, also have your power steering, brake, transmission and windshield washer fluid levels checked. Continue reading
