Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
FEDS OFFER FLORIDA PLAN AIMED AT SOLVING STATE BUDGET MESS
The Obama administration has made an offer that it hopes will resolve Florida’s $1 billion state budget stalemate over health care funds for poor people. The Obama administration agreed to extend Florida’s hospital funds for another two years, but only at about half the amount the state received last year. That means Florida lawmakers may have to dip into the state budget to fill the gap or state hospitals will get less money in the coming year. In a letter Thursday to Gov. Rick Scott, federal officials stressed that they would not use low-income pool hospital funds to cover anyone who could be covered by Medicaid expansion, but they also acknowledged the loss of those funds may be a difficult for the state.
GUNS, BOOZE AND BODY CAMERAS AMONG 44 BILLS SCOTT SIGNS
It is now legal for unpermitted gun owners to take their weapons with them while fleeing hurricanes. That was among 44 bills Gov. Rick Scott signed Thursday. Others include a measure that will keep the public from obtain police body camera videos taken in people’s homes, hotel rooms and other places where there’s an expectation of privacy. Another measure will let craft distilleries sell more of their product.
SUPREME COURT: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CAPS AREN’T RETROACTIVE
A 2003 law capping medical malpractice lawsuit awards at $500,000 can’t be applied retroactively. That’s what the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a Miami-Dade County case in which a woman suffered permanent damage to her leg from unnecessary surgery. A jury awarded Kimberly Ann Miles $1.5 million, but Dr. Daniel Weingrad appealed the case saying the award should be limited to the $500,000 cap then-Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law. An appeals court agreed with Weingrad, who operated on Miles more than seven months before the law took effect.
COAST GUARD SAYS HOAX DISTRESS CALLS A PROBLEM
With a long holiday weekend approaching, U.S. Coast Guard officials in Jacksonville are warning people that making hoax distress calls is a felony. The Coast Guard said Thursday that they began receiving suspected hoax calls in October 2014. Each year, the Coast Guard says it receives 18 intentional false distress calls and another 121 suspected hoaxes nationally. Because the Coast Guard takes all distress calls seriously, the fake calls result in thousands of wasted dollars. Those caught making hoax calls could receive prison time, a $5,000 civil fine and $250,000 in restitution and criminal fines for costs incurred in the response.
DR. OZ HELPS COLLAPSED WOMAN DURING MALL PROMOTIONAL EVENT
Celebrity doctor and television host Dr. Mehmet Oz reportedly rushed into a crowd to help a woman at a promotional event in Jacksonville. Local media outlets report that Oz was at the Avenues Mall as part of his “The Good Life” tour Thursday morning when a woman collapsed on the second level and people around her began yelling for help. Officials say Oz jumped a railing and attended to the woman until paramedics arrived.
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