Florida
ACLU concerned over Florida website that advocates against abortion ballot initiative
The ACLU is crying foul over a webpage on a state government site that advocates against Amendment 4, the ballot initiative that aims to expand abortion rights in Florida.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration unveiled a new page this week that warns against the citizen-led initiative aiming to legalize abortion up until viability.
The webpage reads: “Florida is protecting life. Don’t let the fearmongers lie to you.”
“It is the use of state resources for a political campaign,” said Bacardi Jackson, the executive director of the ACLU of Florida. “While it may not specifically say vote no, it is mere propaganda and it is also misinformation that’s being peddled to voters.”
The state agency said in a statement the new page serves to educate Floridians on the state’s current abortion laws and proposed policy changes that would impact care across the state.
The ACLU calls the move disturbing and an abuse of power.
“Instead of going through the proper political process, where each side raises money and garners support, the government is stepping in with this bully platform with this misinformation and undermining a political process that should be more fair than this,” Jackson said.
Charles Zelden, a political science professor at Nova Southeastern University, says it is unusual and improper for a state agency to be advocating in such a way.
“It’s one thing if a member of the state legislature or the governor takes the stance. It’s another thing when it’s the health department,” he said. “You begin to question whether this is a valid use of their authority to try and convince people to vote against an amendment.”
Zelden says he’s not sure what the Health Care Administration is doing is illegal.
The ACLU says it’s looking at whether using taxpayer dollars for political campaigns is lawful and if there are any actions they can take.
Florida
Florida takes lead in ICE arrests this year
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida has become the country’s busiest hub for immigration arrests this year, with ICE agents in the Miami Field Office — which oversees Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — logging more detentions than any other region in the nation according to our news partners at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
According to figures reported by the New York Times, agents under the Miami office are averaging about 120 arrests a day, totaling nearly 9,900 arrests as of March 10. That pace puts Florida well ahead of other regions experiencing federal “surge” operations, including Minnesota, where a high-profile enforcement push drew national scrutiny after two U.S. citizens were killed.
Florida
From the Archives: Hospital has 70-year history in Southwest Florida
The following information comes from a March 3, 2024, article in the Naples Daily News.
Founded in 1953, the first modern medical facility opened on Fourth Street South in March 1956 with the name Naples Community Hospital. The hospital’s first baby was born the next day.
Ten years later, in 1966, the hospital added 50 more beds, an emergency department and several specialized departments. Later that decade, several more departments were added including an intensive care unit.
In 1970, the hospital expanded the original building to six stories and began construction on a new, two-story building next door. This building was later expanded to six stories and was dubbed the “South Tower” while the first tower was called the “North Tower.”
Construction on the Downtown Naples facility continued in the 1980s and on Oct. 15, 1984, The North Collier Health Center opened its doors. This facility was opened as a satellite facility of the main hospital. Shortly after, on Feb. 4, 1985, another satellite facility, which included a helipad, was opened on Marco Island.
In January 1990, North Collier Hospital (the North Naples campus) opened with 50 beds at its location on Immokalee Road in North Naples. The healthcare system, as well as the local population, continued to grow during this decade.
NCH was the only hospital in Collier County until 2001.
NCH, Nicklaus announce Van Domelen Institute for Women and Children
The four-story, 156,000-square-foot center will offer advanced care for families and be housed on the NCH North Hospital campus.
In February 2007, the system expanded once again with the opening of the $64 million Jay & Patty Baker Patient Care Tower at the North Naples hospital.
In 2020, NCH purchased a 186,000 square foot office building on Immokalee Road to relocate some of its administrative support and non-clinical functions which it expects to complete in spring of 2021.
NCH also started a $35 million renovation and expansion of its Baker Hospital emergency room with a two-story, 19,000 square foot addition to expand its emergency room capacity to 47,000 square feet, with expected completion in February 2022.
In 2023, a rebrand changed what NCH stands for, becoming Naples Comprehensive Health.
Information gathered from the Naples Daily News archives, Wikipedia, Collier100.org and Collier County Museum archives.
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