Michelle Obama, Jill Biden to rally at FAMU on Saturday
TALLAHASSEE — The Democratic presidential campaign released details late Tuesday for a youth-outreach rally Saturday featuring the wives of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
United Way's role in social-service alliance in doubt
The future of the 12-year social-service partnership involving United Way, the city and Leon County is in question — because the nonprofit fears it might be subject to open-meeting laws.
Fishermen rescued after holding on for hours to capsized boat
Authorities are attributing the use of safety vests as being crucial to the rescue of two men Tuesday after their boat overturned on Lake Seminole.
Poll shows Obama slightly ahead of McCain in Florida
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is slightly ahead of Republican Rival John McCain in Florida, 47-45, according to a Mason-Dixon poll released this morning.
Gerald Ensley: Here's why our power lines aren't all underground
People are streaming back to their homes in Houston. Electric power has been restored, more than a week after Hurricane Ike knocked out power to most of the nation's fourth-largest city.
Updated: About 400 attend the Third Annual Celebration of Human Services
It's the type of job where the thank-yous aren't always often. But that doesn't stop human services professionals from working as many as 14-hours a day. Then, they go home only to come back to work four hours later, said Kelly Otte, executive director of the United Partners for Human Services.
United Partners for Human Services held its Third Annual Celebration of Human Services Tuesday night at the University Center Club as a tribute to the workers of nearly 80 agencies that are members of the organization. Nonprofit agencies such as Ability First, Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend and Workforce Plus were represented.
"I need you to know that you are so appreciated," Otte said to the audience of 400 people. "Even in times when you may not feel it ... there are people with you always."
But the thank yous didn't stop there. UPHS gave special appreciation and awards to individuals or organizations in five categories — the Board Leadership Award; the Community Partner Award; the Above and Beyond Award for administrative services; the Above and Beyond Award for direct service and the Leadership Achievement Award.
But Ott and others wanted to stress that while those five recipients are special, it's the community-wide investment from all in human services that is felt. Ken Armstrong, president of the United Way of the Big Bend, compared what human services professionals do everyday to the building of an eagle's nest — that 200-pound structure that is built to withstand "times of sun, rain and storms."
"The nest is not the objective," Armstrong said. "A refuge is ready for the vulnerable, the fragile person. There is no other place but your community nest that the fragile can go. I thank you for building that nest."
City of Tallahassee, but not Leon County, earns you discounts on flood insurance
The city of Tallahassee on Tuesday released the 2008 annual progress report on its strategies for coping with flooding and other hazards, thereby earning property owners a 20 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums.
The federal government mandates that local governments, in order to be eligible for certain grants, have in place a local hazard mitigation strategy, which covers everything from fires to terrorism. The city has also rolled up into the process the annual floodplain management updates that are mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages the National Flood Insurance Program.
"It's intended to cover all the potential hazards that the community might face and come up with strategies to mitigate them," said David Henry, program engineer with the city's Underground Utilities Department. "It's something to harden the community against disaster."
Highlights of this year's report include updates on almost $65 million the city is set to spend over the next five years on 16 drainage improvement projects throughout Tallahassee, most notably in Frenchtown ($11.6 million).
Henry pointed out that participation in the federal program benefits both people who buy flood insurance and the whole community through improved floodplain management, but it requires extra staffing.
Leon County does not participate in the program.
Bob Finch, whose home in Timberlake was heavily damaged by Tropical Storm Fay — a month after the storm, he's still eating out because the kitchen is unusable — said the county should get involved if the cost isn't unbearable.
"What's the cost-benefit analysis?" Finch said. "I have no problem in (the county) increasing stormwater fees (to pay for it)."
Other highlights of the city's report include an update on the ongoing countywide revision of flood maps. The new maps are expected to be adopted around the middle of next year, Henry said.
"The main thing is to try to keep the flood risk for the community as accurately represented on the maps as possible," Henry said, "to let people know if they need flood insurance."
Suspected Gadsden County gang members convicted of racketeering
Two suspected Gadsden County gang members were convicted by an Orange County jury today on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Two arrested in connection with Lake Basin Drive car burglary
Police arrested two men today on charges of car burglary in the 7000 block of East Lake Basin Drive.
Updated: Judge's order expected on Rachel Hoffman reports
Circuit Judge Kathleen Dekker could file her order as soon as Wednesday on whether reviews of the Tallahassee Police Department's handling of the Rachel Hoffman case will be released to the public.
The city of Tallahassee had asked the judge whether it could release two reports: one by the attorney general on TPD's role in the death of the 23-year-old informant during a botched drug sting; and TPD's own internal-affairs investigation.
Today, Dekker considered the city's request at a closed hearing. At the end of the nearly two-hour hearing, Chief Assistant State Attorney Jackie Fulford and defense attorney Ines Suber bolted from the courtroom and declined to comment.
Deneilo Bradshaw, 23, and Andrea Green, 25, have been charged with Hoffman's murder. Prosecutors and the defense are concerned about releasing evidence that could bias potential jurors in Leon County.
Dekker ruled earlier that pretrial evidence in the case is subject to a temporary seal.
City Attorney Jim English said he couldn't discuss what had happened in the closed hearing. He did say that Dekker would issue an order soon.
If the judge orders the reports open to the public, the city will move quickly to prepare them for release, said Michele Bono, assistant to the city manager.
United Way's role in social-service alliance in doubt
The future of the 12-year social-service partnership involving United Way, the city and Leon County is in question — because the nonprofit fears it might be subject to open-meeting laws.
Rasmussen gets early appointment to Leon County School Board
The Leon County School Board is getting a new face.
Texas man dies while cave diving at Blue Springs Park
Texas native Richard Mork, 39, died Friday, doing what his friends say he loved, cave diving.
Some unhappy with how community money is distributed to nonprofits
Even before doubts surfaced about United Way's continued involvement in its social-service partnership with Tallahassee and Leon County, the method of doling out dollars for needy residents was poised to get a fresh look.
Fire chief, union reach agreement
A proposed cut in fire services could be avoided thanks to a last-minute agreement between Tallahassee's firefighters union and Fire Chief Cindy Dick.
Big-Bend briefs
TALLAHASSEE
Construction, health plans on School Board agenda
A tentative five year construction plan, a new policy on school concurrency and a discussion of Leon County's health plan are topics for tonight's School Board meeting.
Crime Stoppers Corner
People wanted by local law-enforcement agencies and Big Bend Crime Stoppers will be featured here on a daily basis. If you know how to locate one of these people, call the Crime Stoppers hot line at 574-TIPS or (888) 876-TIPS.
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