What Jacksonville can learn from Nashville about fighting climate change
Nashville Mayor John Cooper took office in September 2019 and agreed with activists that Tennesseeโs largest city take should action on climate change. Two years later, the city has a new sustainability and climate action plan, including a pledge to cut citywide carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
Record rains cause flash flooding in Tennessee; 4 dead
Heavy rain across Tennessee flooded homes and roads as a line of severe storms crossed the state. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)Torrential rains across Tennessee flooded homes and at least one church and left roads impassable, prompting dozens of people to be rescued in the Nashville area. Juliet said on Facebook that knee-deep water flooded the building, busted out the glass of its front entrance and sent chairs through a hallway. AdMany rivers and creeks were at or near their highest level since 2010, according to the National Weather Service. While there was no longer any precipitation falling, flooding remained a threat, Brittney Whitehead, a weather service meteorologist in Nashville, said Sunday afternoon.
Judge rejects lawsuit over Floridaโs unemployment system
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ A Leon County circuit judge on Monday dismissed a potential class-action lawsuit against the state and Deloitte Consulting stemming from problems with Floridaโs online unemployment compensation system during the COVID-19 pandemic. After dismissing the case in September, Cooper allowed the plaintiffs to file a revised version. It sought damages and raised several arguments, including that the department and Deloitte were negligent and breached a fiduciary duty. This document is critically important for the courtโs consideration of the pending motions to dismiss.โAdBut in a pair of orders dismissing the case, Cooper flatly denied the plaintiffsโ arguments. โAfter more than nine months and multiple rounds of pleading, plaintiffs are still unable to demonstrate their entitlement to relief,โ he wrote.
Judge to weigh lawsuit on unemployment problems
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Nearly a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began tossing people out of work, a circuit judge is again poised to consider a potential class-action lawsuit stemming from major problems in Floridaโs unemployment compensation system. The case seeks damages and raises several arguments, including that the department and Deloitte were negligent and breached a fiduciary duty. Ron DeSantis even describing the system as a โjalopy.โAdThe plaintiffs filed the potential class-action lawsuit in April. Cooper in May rejected a preliminary injunction that plaintiffs sought to force the Department of Economic Opportunity to โfixโ the system. During a June hearing, Department of Economic Opportunity attorney Daniel Nordby argued, in part, that the lawsuit should be dismissed because of the constitutional separation of powers.
Ex-Florida data scientist turns herself in after arrest warrant issued
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the arrest of Rebekah Jones, 31, on Monday morning. The agency said she is charged with one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices. Court records show that Jones posted a $2,500 bond following an initial appearance hearing in Tallahassee on Monday morning. The message that led to the search warrant implored employees still at the Health Department โto speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. But the agency threatened to arrest her in Maryland if she did not turn herself in by Monday night, Dobson said.
Nashville assessing building damage from Christmas bombing
Buildings that were damaged in a Christmas Day explosion are seen, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. Officials are continuing to assess building damage caused by the Christmas Day explosion as law enforcement officials on Thursday allowed media outlets the first opportunity to survey the bomb site. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP, Pool)NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ Officials are continuing to assess building damage caused by the Christmas Day bombing as law enforcement officials on Thursday allowed media outlets the first opportunity to survey the downtown Nashville explosion site. City officials hoped to finish their assessment of the structural damage of the 41 affected buildings by Thursday. Bill Lee has asked the White House for an emergency declaration to free up money and resources to impacted business owners. Federal officials are continuing to investigate the motive of the man they identified as the bomber, 63-year-old Anthony Quinn Warner,
Downtown Nashville explosion knocks communications offline
Emergency personnel work near the scene of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. The blast sent black smoke and flames billowing from the heart of downtown Nashvilleโs tourist scene, an area packed with honky-tonks, restaurants and shops. Buildings shook and windows shattered streets away from the explosion near a building owned by AT&T that lies one block from the company's office tower, a landmark in downtown. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted flights out of Nashville International Airport because of telecommunications issues associated with the explosion. Buck McCoy, who lives near the area, posted videos on Facebook that show water pouring down the ceiling of his home.
Judge gives more time in unemployment case
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Rejecting arguments by the state and Deloitte Consulting LLP, a circuit judge has given more time to plaintiffs to file a revised class-action lawsuit stemming from problems in Floridaโs unemployment-compensation system. Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper issued an order this week that gives plaintiffs' attorneys until Monday to file an amended complaint. But Cooper gave plaintiffs' attorneys 30 days to file an amended complaint, which would refuel the legal fight. The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in April after hundreds of thousands of coronavirus-caused unemployment claims overwhelmed the stateโs online CONNECT system. The Department of Economic Opportunity runs the unemployment system, while Deloitte was a contractor that helped put CONNECT in place in 2013.
State, Deloitte fight extension in unemployment case
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Deloitte Consulting LLP are fighting a request by plaintiffs' attorneys for an extension of time to file a revised class-action lawsuit related to problems in the state unemployment-compensation system. But Cooper gave plaintiffs' attorneys 30 days to file an amended complaint, which would refuel the legal fight. The state cited a June 22 hearing that went into detail about issues in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in April after hundreds of thousands of coronavirus-caused unemployment claims overwhelmed the stateโs online CONNECT system. The Department of Economic Opportunity runs the unemployment system, while Deloitte was a contractor that helped put CONNECT in place in 2013.
State, Deloitte get win in pandemic unemployment lawsuit
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ In at least an initial win for the state and Deloitte Consulting, a Leon County circuit judge has dismissed a potential class-action lawsuit stemming from major problems with Floridaโs unemployment-compensation system amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Economic Opportunity runs the unemployment system, while Deloitte was a contractor that helped put CONNECT in place in 2013. During the June hearing, Cooper indicated he expected the dispute to eventually be appealed to the 1st District Court of Appeal. Cooper wrote in this weekโs order that the plaintiffs' attorneys had requested an opportunity to file an amended complaint if he dismissed the lawsuit. โBut this lawsuit is not the right place to address those concerns.โBut when Cooper asked whether the state or Deloitte was at fault for the problems, Mattox quickly responded, โItโs both.โ
Jaguarsโ 1st road game in 2020 will be played in front of no fans
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The Jaguarsโ first road trip to the season, a visit to AFC South rival Tennessee, will be played with no fans in the stands. "Across the United States, there's a wide range of approaches to in-person attendance for professional sports based on a wide range of public health policies and the prevalence of the coronavirus in those locations," Cooper said. The Jaguars have already announced plans to reduce stadium capacity to 25% at home games in 2020 due to the coronavirus. The Jaguars split with the Titans last season, winning 20-7 at home on Thursday night football and getting routed 42-20 at Tennessee. Jacksonville is 9-16 all-time on the road against the Titans, with a 2-0 mark against the former Houston Oilers factored in.
Fight over face mask mandate goes to appeals court
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ A battle about the constitutionality of a Leon County ordinance that requires people to wear face masks to try to curb the spread of COVID-19 is headed to a state appeals court. The Leon County case is one of several playing out across the state after local governments passed face-mask requirements to try to address the pandemic. The notice of appeal, as is common, does not detail the arguments that Power and his attorney, Sabatini, will make at the Tallahassee-based appeals court. E.g., motorcycle helmet laws, seatbelt laws and prohibitions against smoking in public buildings,โ Cooper wrote. Leon County and other local governments have passed such ordinances as Gov.
Challenge to mask requirement in Florida county rejected
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A circuit judge Friday rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of a Leon County ordinance that requires people to wear face masks in businesses to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The ruling came as many local governments across Florida have passed mask mandates --- and as controversy has swirled around Gov. The Leon County Commission passed the ordinance June 23 amid a surge of coronavirus cases in the state. As of Friday morning, Florida reported 244,151 cases since the pandemic began, with 2,161 cases in Leon County. Leon County is home to Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College.
Judge weighs battle over Florida unemployment system
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. After four hours of arguments Monday, a Leon County circuit judge will decide whether to move forward with a potential class-action lawsuit stemming from massive problems in Floridas unemployment-compensation system. Attorneys for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Deloitte Consulting, a contractor that helped put the online system in place in 2013, argued that Judge John Cooper should dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed after a crush of coronavirus-caused unemployment claims overwhelmed the system this spring. Cooper last month rejected a preliminary injunction that plaintiffs sought to force the Department of Economic Opportunity to fix the system. Department of Economic Opportunity attorney Daniel Nordby argued Monday, in part, that the lawsuit should be dismissed because of the constitutional separation of powers between judges and the executive branch. The plaintiffs attorneys filed the lawsuit in April after major problems with Floridas CONNECT online unemployment system, which even Gov.
Judge rejects ordering fixes to Florida unemployment system
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Pointing to the constitutional separation of powers, a Leon County circuit judge Thursday refused to order the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to take steps to fix the states much-maligned unemployment compensation system to process and pay claims. The judge acknowledged that the decision is going to make a lot of people unhappy with me but said he also hadnt seen evidence about how the unemployment system could be fixed. Daniel Nordby, an attorney for the Department of Economic Opportunity, said the agency has sympathy for people who are out of work and have faced challenges in getting unemployment benefits. Cooper pointed to a crush of unemployment claims that the system was not previously designed to handle. The Department of Economic Opportunity received more than 2.21 million unemployment claims from March 15 to Wednesday, according to numbers it posted online.
School boards try to speed up education law fight
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ School boards and the state are sparring about whether a challenge to a controversial 2017 education law should move quickly to the Florida Supreme Court. Cooperโs ruling led 11 school boards to appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeal. It also set the stage for adding new charter schools -- dubbed โschools of hopeโ -- that will serve students whose traditional public schools have been considered low-performing. The school boards contend in the legal challenge that the law usurps their constitutional authority to operate public schools. In the filing last week seeking to move quickly to the Supreme Court, the school boards said they need to make decisions about issues such as their budgets.