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James Call - page 18

James Call has 398 articles published.

FBI seizes Leon County School’s email server, working with U.S. grand jury in corruption probe

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The Tallahassee Democrat is reporting that FBI agents have seized the email archiving system of the Leon County District Schools. The FBI is working with a grand jury investigating how the district has awarded construction projects. The story dates to last summer and involves allegations between Superintendent Jackie Pons and a high-ranking administrator involving district funds and supplies. The Democrat has more here.

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As Charlotte’s Web struggles to the finish line, Rob Bradley promises to help

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“The latest challenge is probably the last straw for many in the Legislature,” said state Sen. Rob Bradley, sponsor of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. “I expect the Regulated Industries Committee will have a serious discussion very soon about what we need to get this substance in the hands of suffering families” A regulatory structure implementing the law authorizing five licenses to grow marijuana and dispense medicinal oil was supposed to be in place by January 1. The…

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Read without downloading: Florida House budget allocations

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Sharpen your pencils, grab a bunch of erasers and put the coffee on. Folks, we’re starting to write a state budget. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli released general revenue budget allocations for the 2015 2016 fiscal year on Friday. The total General Revenue Fund Allocations lawmakers have to spend is $28,517,800,000 – $900 million more than the current spending plan. Keep in mind, it’s just a starting point. GR is one of the planks used to build a $77 billion budget; it’s combined with federal…

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House Democrat opposition to FRS reform is like apple pie

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State House Democrats say the push to change the pension system for government workers is based on flawed and unlikely assumptions. Speaker Steve Crisafulli wants to overhaul the Florida Retirement System. The goal is to move new workers out of the traditional defined-benefits plan to a 401(K) type defined-contribution plan that would be more portable for when workers leave government jobs. Reform efforts in the past stalled in the Senate where members note that with the ability to pay 86.6…

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Another challenge to Charlotte’s Web rule — this time from mother of child with inoperable brain tumor

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The mother of a 4-year-old afflicted with an inoperable brain tumor has challenged the proposed rule for the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. Moriah Barnhart’s Jacksonville attorney filed the paperwork Wednesday with the Division of Administration Hearings. Ian Christensen attacked, among other things, the makeup of a negotiated rulemaking panel DOH had assembled in an attempt to reach consensus on a regulatory structure for a medicinal marijuana industry. The document reveals he intends to argue before an administrative law…

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4th Floor Files talks with Taylor Patrick Biehl on Springsteen, loyalty and Abe Lincoln

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Today’s chapter of the “4th Floor Files” talks with lobbyist Taylor Patrick Biehl, a fan of both Bruce Springsteen and Abraham Lincoln.  Last year, Biehl and Dr. Jeffry Sharkey created the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida. Biehl has served as the director of governmental affairs for the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, as an associate with Uhlfelder & Associates, P.A. and on the staff of the Senate Community Affairs Committee. Biehl credits a former history professor with his…

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TaxWatch finds mental health providers doing a good job and need more money

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A Florida TaxWatch study finds the state’s network of nonprofit mental health providers is doing such a good job it deserves more money. Florida provides substance abuse and other services to the uninsured through seven regional Behavioral Health Managing Entities. The network enables services to be tailored to the community needs. TaxWatch found the model does lower costs, increased accountability and is an efficient use of tax dollars. “It is critical that our state’s mental health dollars are spent most…

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