Florida State Wide
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is recognizing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month by reminding victims of domestic violence that help is still available to them amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With many Floridians limiting social and professional interactions to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, domestic violence can be even harder to detect—and victims may not know where to turn for help. Victims do not need to isolate with their abusers and abuse counselors have adapted to the pandemic to provide more communication resources for victims. Advocates can be reached 24/7, 365 days a year through the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1(800) 500-1119.
Attorney Ashley General Moody said, “With signs that domestic violence cases may be on the rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for victims of domestic violence to know they have our support and that help is available. Domestic violence shelters across the state are open and advocates are available 24/7 to provide safety to victims and their families with protocols to protect against COVID-19 in place. If you or someone you know are a victim of domestic violence, know you are not alone. Please reach out for help.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic violence centers have worked tirelessly to ensure that services remain available to survivors and the community. These services not only meet the needs for safety from violence but also incorporate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Domestic violence center outreach and shelter services remain operational and advocates are available 24/7 to develop safety plans for survivors and families based on specific needs throughout the pandemic. Survivors, as well as their friends, family members and other community members can contact any domestic violence center through its 24-hour hotlines. Local certified domestic violence centers have increased the ability to communicate with survivors through the use of various applications. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody, along with 27 other state attorneys general, obtained a judgment against Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, Inc., and its subsidiary, CHSPSC LLC. This judgment resolves an investigation of a data breach that impacted approximately 6.1 million patients, including more than 430,000 from the state of Florida.
At the time of the data breach, CHS owned, leased or operated 206 affiliated hospitals, including 37 located in Florida. Information exposed in the breach included the addresses, birthdates, names, phone numbers and Social Security numbers of patients. The judgment, agreed to by CHS, requires a $5 million payment to the states and provides that CHS agrees to implement and maintain a comprehensive information security program reasonably designed to safeguard personal information and protected health information that will include specific information security requirements.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Health care patients are routinely asked to reveal personal information in the course of treatment. The added stress surrounding a data breach exposing personal information can be overwhelming. I’m glad we were able to provide relief to the more than 430,000 Floridians impacted by the negligent actions of this health care company.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The COVID-19 pandemic has changed daily routines around the world, but it hasn’t lessened Attorney General Ashley Moody’s resolve to end the deadly opioid crisis plaguing Florida. Even as the novel coronavirus spreads, Attorney General Moody continues efforts to curb the national opioid crisis claiming lives in Florida—issuing statewide recommendations to address the opioid crisis, creating new partnerships to help Floridians struggling with substance abuse and crafting criminal justice training to assist prosecutors in shutting down the sham sober home industry.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Our nation and our state face many challenges, but be assured that nothing will dampen my resolve to put an end to the national opioid crisis that continues to claim lives in our great state. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck Florida, we were working hard to stop opioid misuse and save lives, and as we continue to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, please know that our fight against the deadly opioid crisis has not abated.
“There are signs that the pandemic may be contributing to an increase in opioid deaths, and that is even more reason why we cannot waiver in our fight to stop drug abuse—and why I will continue to work every day, on the local, state and national level, to end this deadly crisis affecting Florida families.” Continue reading
Dear Friends,
As this is being written, Election Day is almost upon us and by the time this reaches you, Americans will have either re-elected Donald J. Trump or they will have chosen the Biden/Harris ticket. Readers know by now that my fervent prayer is that we re-elect our President, and overwhelmingly so, but more importantly, our prayer is for God’s will to be done in all things. While we are confident that President Trump will be victorious, there is no magical crystal ball that can show what the future may hold.
What we do know is this; America’s foundation is still stronger than ever. The vision that our forefathers outlined in our founding documents have stood the test of time and outlived many Presidents, some who were very good, and others who were near disasters. One man will not tear the freedoms and liberties that are stated in our constitution apart. So many of our nation’s heroes have fought and died for these God-given rights and they will not be last. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and our country still has many patriots that are willing to take that stand. If President Trump is re-elected, our job just got a whole lot easier, but only for a few short years. Continue reading
The President nominates someone for a vacancy on the Court and the Senate votes to confirm the nominee, which requires a simple majority. In this way, both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the federal government have a voice in the composition of the Supreme Court.
Are there qualifications to be a Justice? Do you have to be a lawyer or attend law school to be a Supreme Court Justice?
The Constitution does not specify qualifications for Justices such as age, education, profession, or native-born citizenship. A Justice does not have to be a lawyer or a law school graduate, but all Justices have been trained in the law. Many of the 18th and 19th century Justices studied law under a mentor because there were few law schools in the country.
The last Justice to be appointed who did not attend any law school was James F. Byrnes (1941-1942). He did not graduate from high school and taught himself law, passing the bar at the age of 23.
Robert H. Jackson (1941-1954). While Jackson did not attend an undergraduate college, he did study law at Albany Law School in New York. At the time of his graduation, Jackson was only twenty years old and one of the requirements for a law degree was that students must be twenty-one years old. Thus rather than a law degree, Jackson was awarded with a “diploma of graduation.” Twenty-nine years later, Albany Law School belatedly presented Jackson with a law degree noting his original graduating class of 1912.
How is the Chief Justice selected? Does the most senior Associate Justice become Chief Justice?
Like the Associate Justices, the Chief Justice is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. There is no requirement that the Chief Justice serve as an Associate Justice, but 5 of the 17 Chief Justices have served on the Court as Associate Justices prior to becoming Chief Justice.
Three were members of the Court when they were elevated to Chief Justice:
Edward Douglas White (Associate Justice 1894-1910, Chief Justice 1910-1921)
Harlan Fiske Stone (Associate Justice 1925-1941, Chief Justice 1941-1946)
William H. Rehnquist (Associate Justice 1972-1986, Chief Justice 1986-2005)
Two had a break in service between their periods of service:
John Rutledge (Associate Justice 1789-1791, Chief Justice 1795)
Charles Evans Hughes (Associate Justice 1910-1916, Chief Justice 1930-1941)
How long is the term of a Supreme Court Justice?
The Constitution states that Justices “shall hold their Offices during good Behavior .”
This means that the Justices hold office as long as they choose and can only be removed from office by impeachment
Has a Justice ever been impeached?
The only Justice to be impeached was Associate Justice Samuel Chase in 1805.
The House of Representatives passed Articles of Impeachment against him; however, he was acquitted by the Senate.
Has a Justice ever been impeached?
The only Justice to be impeached was Associate Justice Samuel Chase in 1805. The House of Representatives passed Articles of Impeachment against him; however, he was acquitted by the Senate.
Folks have been seeking the clear waters of Marion County for millennia.
But it was in the years following the Civil War that Silver Springs began to attract tourists from the North via steamboats up the Silver River, according to the website for Silver Springs State Park.
It wasn’t until the late 1870s that Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell fixed a piece of glass to the bottom of a rowboat and created the first glass bottom boat.
Col. W.M Davidson and Carl Ray, who acquired rights to the springs, near Ocala, in 1924, perfected a gasoline-powered version of the glass bottom boat.
About 20 movies were filmed there, including “Rebel Without a Cause,” starring James Dean, “Distant Drums,” starring Gary Cooper, the James Bond movie “Moonraker,” “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and six Tarzan flicks, according to the website. Episodes of television shows such as “Sea Hunt” also were filmed.
(NAPSI)—Hurricane season officially runs through November, and while no one can predict what lies ahead, there are things you can do to prepare. Here, T-Mobile offers eight ways to stay connected.
1.Make a disaster kit: Include things such as batteries, snacks, water, a first aid kit, a flashlight and device chargers.
2.Update your family, friends and emergency services contact numbers. Make sure they’re saved and backed up in your devices AND written down someplace accessible.
3.Subscribe to official text alerts and connect with official social networks to learn about new developments before, during and after a disaster.
4.Keep your mobile devices fully charged. Have charging cables handy and consider picking up a car or portable charging device.
5.Protect your technology with waterproof re-sealable plastic bags.
6.Download emergency-assistance apps from the Red Cross and FEMA.
7.Make sure your phone supports Wireless Emergency Alerts and that you have enabled notifications on your device. Visit t-mobile.com/wea for details on how to set up alerts on T-Mobile and Sprint devices. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today released the 2020 Hurricane Preparedness Guide. The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins today and runs through the end of November. Attorney General Moody is urging Floridians to review the preparedness guide now and understand that planning will be different this year as Floridians continue to take measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “As Floridians, we know that hurricanes are an unfortunate reality of living in our beautiful state. As we continue to deal with the challenges presented by COVID-19, it is equally important that we not drop the ball on our preparedness for hurricane season. The safety of you, your family, pets and property, depends on you preparing now.”
Entering hurricane season with already two named storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season to be “extremely active” with 13 to 19 named storms. The Attorney General’s Hurricane Guide could serve as a useful tool to help families prepare with helpful tips, resources and information. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today launched a new website seeking to educate Floridians about the dangers of misusing prescription painkillers and other opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. The website, called Dose of Reality, provides a one-stop shop of information about opioid addiction and resources to use for businesses, caregivers, educators, medical professionals, parents, seniors, service members, students, veterans and others.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “We can defeat the opioid crisis by working together, and Florida’s new Dose of Reality website is designed to provide Floridians easy access to vital information and resources to stop opioid abuse.
“As the Chair of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse, I will work to make sure local, state and federal agencies are coordinating efforts. Identifying effective strategies and implementing them statewide will improve the state’s response by making sure everyone is using the latest and most effective data and resources. Much in the same way, ensuring the public has an online portal with the latest information and medical recommendations will help Floridians make informed decisions and fight the opioid crisis in their communities.” Continue reading
Attorney General Ashley Moody released a new resource for Floridians to use for protection against fraud as the state and nation continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Scams at a Glance is a new outreach program complete with a webpage on the Florida Attorney General’s website with information about common and emerging scams. The webpage also provides downloadable brochures designed to teach consumers how to avoid falling victim to fraud. The brochures and other information on the website are available in both English and Spanish. Scams highlighted include imposter scams, tech support scams and more. Savvy consumers can stop fraud in its tracks, but they must know what to look for.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “One of the lessons we are learning from the current health crisis, is that scammers are willing to exploit any emergency to swindle consumers. Throughout this crisis, we have been working hard to stop scammers and prevent consumer fraud. I want Floridians to have the tools they need to fight back and that is why Scams at a Glance is so important. The new program is a tool of knowledge against common scams so that Floridians and their loved ones will be protected as we continue to battle the coronavirus.” Continue reading
