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Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Cost-Share Assistance for Agricultural Producers Impacted by Hurricane Idalia

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced a cost-share assistance program to support agricultural producers severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The cost-share assistance program will be administered though the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy and will support agricultural producers in repairing or replacing damaged irrigation systems, while simultaneously promoting agricultural water efficiency and reducing nutrient application. Additional information on this program and how producers apply can be found here.

Commissioner Wilton Simpson said, “Hurricane Idalia caused widespread crop and livestock losses and severe damage to agricultural infrastructure. This innovative cost-share program will work to support our hardest hit growers who lost much of their 2023 crop and are now looking for ways to repair or replace hundreds of irrigation systems ahead of the next growing season. While this targeted program will not be able to support every impacted agricultural producer, it is another important recovery resource. I will continue working with local, state, and federal partners to ensure that impacted producers have access to the recovery resources they deserve.”

The assistance program will focus on existing irrigation systems and offer a reimbursement rate of 75% for eligible projects, practices, and equipment, up to a maximum of $150,000 per producer or entity. Commissioner Simpson raised the maximum eligible grant amount from $50,000 to $150,000. It is important to note that these funds will not cover items already fully insured. Eligible repairs will target water and nutrient savings, with a commitment of a five-year contract by the producer or entity to ensure long-term water and nutrient conservation benefits over the irrigation system’s twenty-year lifespan.

Eligibility for the program includes operations in a severely impacted county, enrollment in the applicable FDACS best management practices program, compliance with state and federal regulations, including water use permits for pivot locations, and a commitment to minimal tillage and conservation-based practices. The maximum reimbursement amount is set at $150,000 per producer or entity per contract.

Eligible projects, tools, and equipment include but are not limited to pump bowl upgrades, irrigation retrofits, variable rate irrigation systems, electrical conductivity mapping, precision soil sampling, soil moisture sensors, new control panels, irrigation system automation, flow meters, automatic shutoff devices, fertigation systems, weather stations, variable frequency drives, and other efficiencies or enhancements identified by the Mobile Irrigation Lab.

Through existing statutory authority and agency budget, FDACS will initially use allocated funds for cost-share. Given the substantial cost of equipping irrigation systems with precision agriculture technology, the department is actively exploring additional funding avenues to assist more producers.

This cost-share assistance program is in addition to a variety of other agricultural recovery resources offered by state, local, and federal partners, including:

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North Florida News

Attorney General James Uthmeier Secures Guilty Conviction of Child Predator

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a guilty conviction for Deandre Devone Williams on four felony counts for sexually abusing a minor. Williams traveled from Illinois to Florida to commit these crimes.

“Thanks to our law enforcement partners and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Emily Frazier and Johnna Lessard for bringing this sick predator to justice,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Child sexual abuse is heinous, and anyone who harms a child will be held accountable. Our office will continue prioritizing these cases and ensure those who commit such disgusting crimes face the consequences.”

According to the law enforcement investigation, Williams, a resident of Illinois, contacted a 13-year-old victim through social media. Williams convinced the child that the two were in a romantic relationship and traveled from Illinois to meet the child in St. Augustine. The defendant then took the child to Ft. Lauderdale, where Williams spent the weekend with the victim in a hotel room. Williams sexually abused the child, then later dropped the victim off at a train station in Ft. Lauderdale, where the minor was unable to get home.

Williams was found guilty of four felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery, traveling to meet a minor, and interference with the custody of a child. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced in St. Johns County on May 2, 2025, and faces up to 50 years in prison.

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North Florida News

Representative Adam Anderson to Present $5 Million to FSU Health at Pediatric Rare Disease Symposium

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – Florida State University’s Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health will host the Pediatric Rare Disease Symposium on Monday, October 7, 2024, from 9 AM to 4 PM Eastern, bringing together the nation’s leading experts in pediatric rare disease research. The symposium aims to foster collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to advance treatment and research for pediatric rare diseases.

State Representative Adam Anderson will kick off the event with special opening remarks, where he will present a $5 million funding check to support the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health.

Florida State University is at the forefront of pediatric rare disease research. This symposium will be the catalyst for a collaborative nationwide effort, ensuring that institutions share the best knowledge and practices to bring new cures and hope to millions of children and their families,” said Rep. Anderson.

Other highlights of the event include:

  • Keynote address by Dr. Terence R. Flotte, Executive Deputy Chancellor and Provost at UMass Chan Medical School
  • Presentations from experts representing NIH, Harvard, Stanford, University of Florida, University of Miami, and Nicklaus Children’s Health System
  • Industry roundtable focusing on the intersection of industry, healthcare, and academia in advancing pediatric rare disease research

What to Bring:

  • Relevant research materials or presentations
  • Questions for the panelists and speakers

Note: The symposium is focused exclusively on pediatric rare disease research. For more information or to register, visit med.fsu.edu/iprd/.

FSUHealth, RareDiseaseResearch, PediatricCare, MedicalBreakthroughs, FSUSymposium

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North Florida News

Harris Campaign to Launch Historic Mobilization Blitz in Florida Panhandle

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – The Harris for President campaign is set to kick off its largest mobilization effort to date in the Florida Panhandle, capitalizing on the surge of grassroots energy across the state. This massive weekend of action, marking 100 days until the general election, comes just days after Vice President Kamala Harris secured her position as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

Starting tomorrow, the campaign will engage thousands of supporters through over 36 events statewide, including canvass launches, press events, and appearances by notable Democratic leaders such as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Florida House Representative and Attorney General candidate Sean Shaw, and Florida House Representative Kevin Chambliss.

Key Points:

  • Mass Mobilization: More than 36 events will take place across Florida, including the Florida Panhandle.
  • High-Profile Support: Democratic leaders like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sean Shaw will participate.
  • Grassroots Energy: Over 7,000 organic volunteer signups have been recorded.
  • Campaign Goals: Harris is focusing on strengthening democracy, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring economic opportunities for all.
  • Opposition Stance: The campaign contrasts Harris’s vision with Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, which they claim would threaten rights and hurt the middle class.

The weekend’s events, open to media, include the Harris for President – 100 Days of Action Weekend Black Men’s Roundtable in Hillsborough County on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST.

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