Florida

It’s In Our Hands – Safety Week 2017

Published

9 years ago

April 24, 2017

CHICAGO, JACKSONVILLE, Fla., LOS ANGELES, and TORONTO, (FNN NEWS) — Our communities come to life through the hands of construction crews. Men and women spend hours making the places we live, work and play better. On May 1-5 we are celebrating their work and our shared commitment to jobsite safety as part of Safety Week, an industry-wide education and awareness event.

During Safety Week, construction companies will take the opportunity to thank their employees for their dedication to safety and work to educate, inspire and share best practices. Many companies will conduct on-site safety awareness activities.

“This week is about the men and women who step on jobsites every day,” said Matthew Walsh, co-chairman, The Walsh Group and 2017 Safety Week co-chair. “Safety Week is a chance to celebrate our workers’ ongoing commitment to safety, and demonstrate the daily habits we need to take to remain safe.”

The theme for Safety Week 2017 is “It’s in Our Hands” – signifying the personal stake each worker has in safety. The theme also puts a focus on hand safety – particularly relevant considering hand injuries are second only to back strains as a cause for missed work days, according to government agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

“We want to make safety personal,” said Ross Myers, CEO and chairman of Allan Myers Incorporated and Safety Week co-chair. “It’s not about numbers, following rules or complying with regulations. It’s about empowering everyone — from the CEO to the craft worker — to recognize the responsibility each of us has to ensure a safe work environment.”

To symbolize this year’s theme, workers will leave handprints on commitment boards to show the individual obligation each employee has to maintain a safe work environment. Four organizations in the U.S. and Canada will host ceremonial events to showcase the industry-wide focus on safety.

Safety Week events are planned for:

The Florida Department of Transportation: An event is planned for the I-295 Express Lanes project in Jacksonville on Thursday, May 4, 10 a.m. FDOT manages more than 122,000 highway miles, 20 airports, 31 urban transit systems, 15 seaports, a 2,895-mile railway corridor and two spaceports.
Ontario, Canada in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario: Monday, May, 1, 9 a.m.: A Safety Week kick-off breakfast at Etobicoke General Hospital. May 3, Noon: Safety Week lunch at Credit Valley Hospital. Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is a Crown agency owned by the Province of Ontario that provides a wide range of services to support the Ontario government’s initiatives to modernize and maximize the value of public infrastructure and real estate.
L.A. Metro, Los Angeles: Thursday, April 27, 1 p.m.: Press conference immediately following board meeting at Union Station. Additional events: May 1, 7 a.m., Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, Martin Luther King Station; May 4, 10 a.m., Purple Line Extension, LaBrea Construction Staging Yard. L.A. Metro serves as transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder and operator for one of the country’s largest, most populous counties.

At these events, guest speakers and executives will speak about the status of their projects and the unifying nature of safety. Additionally, Safety Week activations will be held at many other job sites across the country.

SOURCE | Construction Safety Week

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Florida

Joe Strada Loans Campaign $5 Million, Launches $1 Million Ad Buy in Congressional District 11

Published

15 hours ago

June 16, 2026

FNN NEWS

The ad was produced by political strategist Brad Herold of Something Else Strategies and marks the first major media investment of the campaign.

$5 MILLION PERSONAL LOAN TO CAMPAIGN

Strada, founder of Strada Services, announced last week that he had loaned his congressional campaign $5 million, providing the campaign with substantial financial resources early in the election cycle.

Strada Services is one of the nation’s largest privately held, family-owned companies specializing in air conditioning, electrical, security, and plumbing services.

The campaign said the loan and advertising investment demonstrate Strada’s commitment to communicating directly with voters throughout Central Florida.

FIRST MAJOR MEDIA PUSH

The $1 million advertising effort is expected to reach voters across Florida’s 11th Congressional District through a combination of television, radio, and digital media platforms.

The campaign has positioned Strada as a conservative outsider and successful entrepreneur focused on bringing private-sector experience to Washington.

Additional details regarding future advertising and campaign events are expected in the coming weeks.

ABOUT FLORIDA’S 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Florida’s 11th Congressional District includes portions of Central Florida and is expected to be one of the state’s closely watched congressional races during the 2026 election cycle.

Crimes and Courts

Attorney General Uthmeier Announces Charges Against Six in South Florida Drug Trafficking Enterprise

Published

4 days ago

June 13, 2026

FNN NEWS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced charges against six individuals accused of participating in a multi-county drug trafficking enterprise operating in Broward County and surrounding areas of South Florida.

The defendants — Isaac Lakeith Bruton, Wayne Morgan Brutton Jr., Wayne Morgan Brutton Sr., Omar Dwayne Cooper, Rene Danger Jr., and Cleon Fabian Reid — are accused of participating in an organized criminal enterprise that allegedly distributed large quantities of illegal narcotics and laundered proceeds from drug sales.

Investigation Spanned Multiple Agencies

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the charges stem from a joint investigation led by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Organized Crime Unit and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

“This joint investigation dismantled a criminal enterprise that pumped dangerous drugs into Florida communities,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “Through the tireless work of the Office of Statewide Prosecution and our great law enforcement partners, we are taking on more criminal prosecutions than ever before.”

Alleged Drug Trafficking Operation

Investigators allege the organization obtained and distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine, multiple pounds of marijuana, prescription pills and other controlled substances throughout South Florida.

According to authorities, members of the enterprise converted powdered cocaine into crack cocaine near distribution locations and utilized vehicles equipped with hidden compartments to transport narcotics.

The investigation further alleges that Bruton and Cooper laundered proceeds from drug sales through the purchase of vehicles, real estate, business investments, classic car restorations and jewelry.

Charges Filed

Bruton and Cooper are each charged with:

Racketeering (First-Degree Felony)
Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (First-Degree Felony)
Money Laundering (Third-Degree Felony)

Brutton Jr., Brutton Sr., Danger Jr., and Reid are each charged with:

Racketeering (First-Degree Felony)
Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (First-Degree Felony)

Potential Penalties

If convicted, Bruton and Cooper face up to 75 years in prison. Brutton Jr., Brutton Sr., Danger Jr., and Reid each face up to 60 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Jillian Tate and Nicholas Kaleel.

Presumption of Innocence

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Florida

Republican Rep. Paula Stark Disqualified From Ballot, Giving Democrats Opportunity to Flip House District 47

Published

4 days ago

June 13, 2026

FNN NEWS

Republican Rep. Paula Stark Disqualified From Ballot, Giving Democrats Opportunity to Flip House District 47

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Florida State Rep. Paula Stark has been disqualified from seeking reelection in Florida House District 47 after failing to satisfy candidate qualifying requirements before the noon Friday filing deadline.

According to state election records, Stark’s candidacy was disqualified due to a deficiency involving required financial disclosure filings, commonly referred to as Form 6. Florida law requires candidates for legislative office to timely submit all qualifying documents, including financial disclosure forms, to appear on the ballot.

Form 6 Financial Disclosure Requirement

Form 6 is a public financial disclosure document required for state elected officials and candidates. The form requires candidates to disclose assets, liabilities, sources of income, and other financial interests.

The disclosure includes a sworn certification stating: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing Form 6 and that the facts stated in it are true.”

Candidates are required to complete, sign and timely file the disclosure as part of Florida’s qualifying process. Failure to properly file required qualifying documents, including Form 6, by the statutory deadline can result in disqualification from the ballot.

Democrats Advance to Primary Election

With Stark removed from contention, Democrats now have an opportunity to capture the Republican-held seat in House District 47.

The only candidates remaining in the race are:

Jorge Figueroa, President of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
Anthony Nieves, a state investigator

The two Democrats will compete in the Aug. 18 Democratic Primary, with the winner becoming Representative-Elect.

House District 47 covers portions of Osceola County and has been represented by Stark since her election to the Florida House.

The disqualification was among the most notable developments of Florida’s 2026 candidate qualifying period and significantly alters the political landscape in a district Republicans had hoped to retain.