Florida

8 months after News 6 requested surgeon general’s emails, Florida produces 8 pages

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2022

8 months after News 6 requested surgeon general’s emails, Florida produces 8 pages

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Almost eight months after Information 6 submitted a public data request in search of emails and different communications created by Surgeon Basic Joseph Ladapo throughout his first two weeks on the job, the Florida Division of Well being launched eight pages of unredacted paperwork.

The data — together with one web page that’s nearly completely clean — don’t instantly seem to comprise noteworthy info.

However the time it took the state company to provide the small quantity of presidency paperwork has prompted questions on FDOH’s adherence to Florida’s public file legislation.

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Beneath Florida’s Structure, each particular person has a proper to examine practically any public file made or acquired in reference to official authorities enterprise.

State companies are required by legislation to make public data out there at any cheap time.

“As I’m certain you perceive, the Division acquired a really giant variety of data requests during the last two years,” FDOH press secretary Jeremy Redfern mentioned in response to an inquiry from Information 6 in regards to the eight-month processing time. “You’re greater than welcome to use for a place or get your JD to work within the authorized workplace to help with the workload.”

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Redfern shared a hyperlink to a state job posting for a public file specialist.

“Lengthy delays in producing public data have develop into a severe, widespread drawback,” mentioned Pamela C. Marsh, the chief director of the First Modification Basis, a nonprofit that advocates for entry to Florida’s public data and open conferences.

Florida’s public file legislation doesn’t require authorities companies to adjust to requests inside a selected time restrict.

However the Florida Supreme Courtroom has dominated the “solely” permissible delay in releasing public data is the cheap time it takes for the custodian to retrieve the file and redact any info legally exempt from public disclosure.

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Such exemptions may embody social safety or account numbers, medical info or the house addresses of sure authorities staff.

Any unjustified delay in producing public data constitutes an “illegal refusal to offer entry to public data,” in keeping with Florida’s Authorities within the Sunshine guide.

Information 6 submitted a public data request with FDOH on October 5, 2021, in search of copies of all emails, textual content messages and different digital or printed communications authored by Ladapo in his official capability as surgeon common between that date and his appointment 14 days earlier on September 21.

FDOH has not confirmed when it retrieved the requested data from the company’s e-mail system. Metadata embedded in digital PDF copies of the emails indicated the duplications could have been created on November 8, 2021, roughly one month after Information 6 requested them.

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By February 2022, FDOH’s communications workplace confirmed the data had been within the possession of company attorneys for “evaluate and redaction”.

After FDOH didn’t reply to subsequent inquiries in regards to the standing of the surgeon common’s communications, Information 6 revealed a information story in early Could in regards to the withheld public data.

Three weeks later, FDOH launched the paperwork to Information 6. The company produced the data practically eight months after they had been first requested.

The batch was comprised of 5 e-mail messages despatched by Ladapo in September 2021 totaling eight printed pages. No textual content messages or different digital or written communications had been produced by the state company.

Two of the e-mail messages had been associated to an inquiry made by a newspaper reporter in search of remark for a profile story in regards to the newly appointed surgeon common. The reporter shared quotes from a few of Ladapo’s former colleagues that had been vital of the physician.

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“(Of) course, no remark,” Ladapo wrote to FDOH’s communications director in one of many emails. “I imply, for crying out loud, my opinions are on the market for the world to see and so they have been for a 12 months and a half, and these guys simply wish to hate.”

In one other e-mail, Ladapo shared a screengrab of a information article titled “Some States Restrict Monoclonal Antibody Therapy to Excessive-Threat, Unvaccinated Sufferers”.

“I are likely to suppose we shouldn’t pursue it for causes we are able to talk about,” Ladapo wrote to the company’s chief of employees. Based on FDOH, the surgeon common believed that folks in search of remedy for breakthrough COVID-19 infections shouldn’t be discriminated towards on account of their vaccination standing.

A fourth e-mail from a CNN producer invited Ladapo to seem on the cable community’s Sunday morning information program State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

“Would love to do that,” Ladapo advised the company’s communications director. FDOH indicated it later rejected the interview request.

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The fifth e-mail, which was clean aside from the e-mail header, gave the impression to be a receipt confirming Ladapo accepted an digital assembly invitation.

Not one of the emails contained any black bins masking redacted info.

After receiving the requested data, Information 6 requested FDOH to clarify the way it processes public file requests and why it believed the 5 emails contained probably exempt info that will legally justify the months-long delay in releasing them.

“You’re free to debate authorized principle along with your common counsel,” replied Redfern, the FDOH spokesperson. “I’m not an lawyer, and I can’t faux to be an lawyer.”

Marsh, who served as a U.S. Legal professional for the Northern District of Florida earlier than main the First Modification Basis, believes the general public is being denied well timed entry to public data.

“We now have heard from some data custodians, who take their jobs severely and are professionals, that in gentle of the 1,138 exemptions to the general public data legal guidelines, it’s troublesome for them handy over paperwork with out analyzing what exemptions could apply,” Marsh mentioned. “I’ve advised legislators yearly that each time they add an exemption, it creates larger authorities, slower authorities and fewer efficient authorities. However that argument appears to fall on deaf ears. Fifteen new exemptions had been handed by the Florida legislature this 12 months.”

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The First Modification Basis just lately labored with a state lawmaker on a invoice that will have established a selected deadline for companies to provide data as a substitute of the “cheap time” at present required by legislation, mentioned Marsh, however the invoice didn’t acquire traction.

“We’re seeing delays of not simply months however in some circumstances as much as a 12 months earlier than any data are offered,” mentioned Marsh. “And when the data are redacted, in some circumstances, they’re so closely redacted that the data actually present no info.”

After offering the surgeon common’s emails to Information 6, FDOH’s spokesperson posted a message on Twitter that appeared to deal with journalists who request public data.

It’s an enormous ache. They fill the workplace with data requests, and I’ve to spend days sifting by them to have the ability to reply.
They complain once they don’t get their data quick sufficient. They complain once they don’t get a response quick sufficient.
They complain… lots.
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) May 26, 2022
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Marsh mentioned the tone of such responses is extremely disappointing.

“One would hope that these finishing up the constitutional responsibility to offer public data may no less than be skilled of their responses and acknowledge they serve the residents of the state, who’ve a constitutional proper to public data,” Marsh mentioned. “Florida has overwhelmingly voted for transparency in authorities each time. Those that serve Florida’s residents ought to preserve that entrance of thoughts.”

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Florida

SpaceX readies for next Starlink launch from Florida coast. Here’s when

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

SpaceX readies for next Starlink launch from Florida coast. Here’s when

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – SpaceX is readying for its next Starlink mission launch from Florida’s Space Coast on Friday morning.

In a release, the company announced that a Falcon 9 rocket will carry 21 more Starlink satellites into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX officials said that liftoff is targeting 11:21 a.m., though backup opportunities will run until 2:15 p.m.

More opportunities will also be available on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. if needed.

The 45th Weather Squadron forecast shows that the chance of weather interfering with Friday’s launch attempt is less than 5%. However, that risk rises to 20% if pushed to this weekend.

Regardless, SpaceX reports that this is set to be the 25th flight for the first-stage booster used in this mission, which has previously been used to launch CRS-22, CRS-25, Crew-3, Crew-4, TelkomSat-113BT, Turksat-5B, Koreasat-6A, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F2, Galileo L13, mPOWER-A, PSN MFS, and 13 other Starlink missions.

News 6 will stream the launch live at the top of this story when it happens.

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Florida

Lawsuit seeks to push DeSantis to call special elections for Florida Legislature seats

Published

10 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Lawsuit seeks to push DeSantis to call special elections for Florida Legislature seats

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Accusing Gov. Ron DeSantis of violating “his mandatory statutory duty,” the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday filed a lawsuit asking a judge to order DeSantis to set special elections for two legislative seats that opened as part of a political shakeup after President-elect Donald Trump’s win in November.

Former Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre, stepped down from the state House District 3 seat last week, and state Sen. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, will exit his Senate District 19 seat on March 31 as they run in special elections for congressional seats.

The lawsuit filed in Leon County circuit court Thursday argued that DeSantis not setting special elections for the legislative seats will leave voters in Rudman’s district without representation “for the entirety of the 2025 session” and voters in Fine’s district without representation for about half of the 60-day legislative session, which begins March 4.

Voters “have a clear legal right to have the governor fix the date of a special election for each vacancy,” and the governor “has a clear legal duty to fix the dates of the special elections,” attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida wrote in the lawsuit.

Plaintiffs in the case are Christina Forrest, a voter in House District 3, and Janet Laimont, a voter in Senate District 19.

“When a vacancy arises in legislative office, the people have the right to fill that vacancy in a special election,” the lawsuit said, pointing to a Florida law. “The reason is obvious: No Floridian should be deprived of representation because of the death, resignation, or removal of their representatives. But left to his own devices, the governor would deprive the residents of SD 19 and HD 3 of their constitutionally protected voice in the Capitol.”

The lawsuit said DeSantis “clear legal duty is ministerial and nondiscretionary in nature.” It seeks what is known as a “writ of mandamus” ordering DeSantis to set the special election dates.

“Each resident of the state has the right to be represented by one senator and one representative. These legislators are their voice in the halls of the Capitol,” the ACLU lawyers wrote. “The vacancies in these districts arose over 40 days ago. No other governor in living memory has waited this long to schedule a special election.”

Mark Ard, a spokesman for the Florida Department of State, said in an email that the agency “continues to work with the supervisors of elections to identify suitable dates for special elections” in the legislative districts.

“The election dates will be announced soon,” Ard wrote.

Fine and Rudman announced their plans to run for Congress in late November, as Trump began to fill out his administration.

Rudman is seeking to replace former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned in Congressional District 1 after being tapped by Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general amid intense scrutiny related to a congressional ethics report.

Fine is running to replace U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, who will serve as Trump’s national security adviser. Waltz will step down in Congressional District 6 on Jan. 20, the day Trump is sworn into office.

DeSantis quickly ordered special elections to fill the vacancies created by Gaetz and Waltz, the lawsuit noted. Special primary elections for the congressional seats will be held on Jan. 28, and special general elections will take place on April 1.

Rudman’s former state House district is made up of parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties, while Fine’s Senate district consists of part of Brevard County. DeSantis’ delay in setting special election dates in the districts also has drawn attention because they are in areas dominated by Republicans.

Previous governors’ “routine practice” was to “quickly call a special election for the resigning legislator’s seat and hold it concurrently with the special election for the higher office,” the lawsuit said, referring to the congressional seats as being the higher office.

In the two decades before DeSantis took office, 15 legislative vacancies occurred because a state lawmaker resigned to run for another office, according to the lawsuit. DeSantis’ predecessors set special elections to fill the resigning legislators’ seats on the same dates as the elections in which the legislators resigned to run, or earlier.

“But lately, Governor DeSantis has more often chosen to deviate from Florida’s longstanding practice of timely special elections, in violation of his mandatory statutory duty,” the lawsuit said.

As an example, the ACLU lawyers pointed to DeSantis’ drawn-out response to the 2021 death of U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Broward County Democrat.

DeSantis “failed to call a special election for 30 days — longer than any Florida governor had ever taken to call a special election in at least the prior 22 years, and possibly ever in the history of the state” to fill Hastings’ seat, the lawsuit argued.

DeSantis ultimately ordered a special election to fill Hastings’ seat — more than nine months after the congressman died.

DeSantis in 2021 also waited more than 90 days to order special elections to fill three seats vacated by legislators who sought to replace Hastings.

“The governor did not call special elections until he was forced to — after residents of the districts petitioned this court for mandamus relief,” Thursday’s lawsuit said. “Following months of inaction, the governor called elections within days of this court ordering him to show cause why the writ should not issue.”

In 2023, DeSantis waited 38 days to set a special election for a legislative vacancy.

“Yet again, the governor did not call the election until he was forced to — after this court ordered the governor to show cause why mandamus should not issue in a lawsuit brought by a district resident,” the ACLU’s lawyers wrote.

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Florida

Forward Depth Powering Panthers

Published

18 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Jesper Boqvist’s two goal game led the Florida Panthers to a 4-1 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. The win kept the team within four points of the Atlantic Division lead and it also put Boqvist one goal behind his career best at just the halfway point of the 2024-2025 campaign.

Boqvist’s performance continues a trend for the Panthers. Over the past few seasons, they’ve gotten the absolute most out of their depth forwards, with many of them posting their best offensive seasons while playing in Florida. In Boqvist’s first season with the Panthers, he’s the latest in the long line of bottom-six forwards powering the team to another playoff run.

Last year, it was center Kevin Stenlund. The fourth-line center plays a gritty and feisty game, but he found a scoring touch with the Cats during their Stanley Cup-winning campaign last year. Over 81 regular season games, he netted 11 goals and parlayed that into a new contract with the Utah Hockey Club.

Before that, it was Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins. During the 2022-2023 season, Lomberg reached new offensive heights and scored 12 goals in the regular season. Similarly, Cousins matched his best offensive campaign with nine goals and 27 points over 79 games.

Now, it’s Boqvist’s turn to be the breakout depth forward. He has some competition, however. 22-year-old Mackenzie Samoskevich, the team’s 2021 first-round pick, is getting his first full-time gig with the NHL club and looks like a fit. He has seven goals and 12 points through the first 37 games and will likely be the second bottom-six forward to score 10+ goals for the Panthers this season.

Either way, the trend continues in Florida. Their star power at the top of the lineup is on par with the best in the league and receives the majority of the attention from opposing teams and media. Understandly so, but their depth is what continues to power them towards a repeat of their Stanley Cup championship.

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