Today's news -- April 19, 2017

 

 

 

Senate panel backs wraparound services *

Struggling public schools in Florida would be encouraged to extend their days by at least one hour and offer students social services, such as health care, under a new Senate proposal. The Senate budget committee that oversees pre-kindergarten to 12th grade education advanced legislation Tuesday that would overhaul state laws governing districts’ mandatory efforts to turn around failing schools. State Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, introduced the new language as an amendment to SB 1552. The existing bill contains his plan for expanding “best and brightest,” a teacher and principal merit pay program. The amendment provides more details about what the Senate will seek in an ultimate compromise with the House on HB 5105, the so-called “schools of hope” bill. Top senators have said they would support policies promoting charter schools in impoverished areas only if they also provide additional resources for traditional public schools that are failing. They have advocated for “community schools” models where schools offer “wraparound” services. Under the legislation, a new option for districts designing state-mandated turnaround plans would be to “enter into a formal agreement with a nonprofit … to implement an integrated student support service model that provides students and families with access to wrap-around services, including, but not limited to, health services, after-school programs, drug-prevention programs, college and career readiness, and food and clothing banks.” The bill notes schools might be eligible for additional state funding for such services. Other turnaround options under the amendment would be “implement[ing] an extended school day with at least 1 hour of additional learning time” or giving principals more power, including over staffing. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed SB 1552. It heads to two other committees. However, if it doesn’t pass, senators could still include language from the bill either in the budget or later in an omnibus education compromise. The Senate already agreed to include HB 5105 in budget conference committee discussions. Read the 17-page amendment here.

http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/04/senate-committee-passes-new-legislation-encouraging-longer-school-days-wraparound-services-in-failing-schools-111331

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article145338669.html

 

Duval superintendent blasts charter giveaway plan now under Senate consideration

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/education/2017-04-18/vitti-blasts-schools-hope-plan-now-under-senate-consideration

 

Special magistrate sides with Pasco district over teacher pay, contract terms (USEP mentioned)
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/special-magistrate-sides-with-pasco-county-school-district-over-teacher/2320748

 

Detroit school board votes to offer Duval superintendent top job (Terrie Brady quoted)
http://jacksonville.com/news/education/2017-04-18/detroit-school-board-votes-offer-vitti-top-job

 

Miami lawmaker seeks new path for recess after it stalls through House inaction

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article145428829.html

 

Parents may get new way to challenge school textbooks

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-instructional-materials-objections-science-pornography-20170414-story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SentinelSchoolZone+%28Sentinel+School+Zone%29

 

Fix schools, not teachers

http://www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/fix-schools-not-teachers

 

Another day, another charter scandal

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/04/charter-schools-nashville-neoliberalism-education-reform-teachers-unions/

 

Senators want money for online university with low grad rate

http://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2017/04/18/senators-want-money-online-school-low-grad-rate/100561456/

 

Faculty urge sanctuary campuses for undocumented students (NEA mentioned)

http://neatoday.org/2017/04/17/faculty-urge-sanctuary-campuses-undocumented-students/

 

Senate president can't say if Legislature will end May 5 as scheduled

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2017/04/senate-president-cant-say-if-legislature-will-end-on-may-5-as-scheduled.html

 

Faced with cuts in tourism marketing, Scott ups ante and seeks $100 million

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/faced-with-cuts-tourism-marketing-scott-ups-ante-and-seeks-100m/qheKGZc0XRd8w2g9mpVS5I/

 

After offensive comments, Artiles fends off calls for resignation …

http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/04/miami-state-senator-fends-off-calls-for-resignation-condemnation-111347 (FEA mentioned)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/miami-state-senator-curses-at-black-lawmaker-8212-and-uses-n-word-to-refer/2320783

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2017/04/18/sen-frank-artiles-apologize-offensive-remarks/100634108/

http://www.tbo.com/news/florida/reports-florida-senator-used-racial-slurs-to-colleagues-ap_florida49f682df4a2f413a8a23c20f819182a7

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2017-04-18/jacksonville-legislator-berated-restaurant-senate-colleague?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

… Meanwhile, back in 2014
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article145385404.html

 

Artiles should resign; does the Senate have the steel to make that happen?

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/236363-course-frank-artiles-resign-senate-steel-make-happen

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2017/04/what-happens-next-for-frank-artiles-mea-culpa-and-bills.html

 

Tampa airport expansion trapped in Tallahassee crossfire

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/house-speaker-richard-corcoran-demands-state-audit-of-tia/2320686

 

Bill calls for more audits of state pension system

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2017/04/18/bill-calls-more-audits-state-pension-system/100605866/

 

No home for good ideas in contradictory state capital

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/fl-column-randy-schultz-big-government-20170418-story.html

 

Skilled workers wanted, but costly in South Florida

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-skills-gap-broward-20170414-story.html

 

Low wages, high rent. Orlando has a problem.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-orlando-affordable-housing-scott-maxwell-20170418-story,amp.html

 

House rejects Democrats' amendments, tees up work comp bill for passage

http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/04/house-rejects-democrats-amendments-and-tees-up-work-comp-bill-for-passage-111327

http://www.sayfiereview.com/page/house-tees-up-no-fault-insurance-repeal

 

Failure of the private state prisons

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article145387214.html

 

Remember when Trump promised to save Social Security?

https://www.thenation.com/article/remember-when-donald-trump-promised-to-save-social-security/

 

Europe could have the secret to saving America’s unions

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/4/17/15290674/union-labor-movement-europe-bargaining-fight-15-ghent

 

Tax reform is simple: Tax the rich

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/04/tax-reform-is-simple-tax-the-rich.html

 

Warren on Trump's taxes: “People are going to keep demanding it”

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/elizabeth-warren-trump-taxes-not-over?utm_content=bufferdac62&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

Why Trump’s tax returns will keep causing Republicans headaches

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/04/18/why-trumps-tax-returns-will-keep-causing-republicans-headaches/?utm_term=.87951757cdf0&wpisrc=nl_opinions&wpmm=1

 

Health insurers make case for subsidies, get little assurance from administration

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/health/health-insurers-make-case-for-subsidies-but-get-little-assurance-from-administration.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_cn_20170419&nl=first-draft&nl_art=12&nlid=3179832&ref=headline&te=1

 

What happens if places have no Obamacare insurers?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/upshot/bare-market-what-happens-if-places-have-no-obamacare-insurers.html?emc=edit_cn_20170419&nl=first-draft&nlid=3179832&te=1&_r=0

 

GOP rehashes its Obamacare repeal fail: the good, the bad, the ugly

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obamacare-repeal-fail-recess-republicans

 

Deportation of “dreamer” to Mexico appears to be first under Trump

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/18/trump-first-deportation-dreamer-daca-mexico?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=222343&subid=7590566&CMP=GT_US_collection

 

Sanctuary cities debate has jurisdictions weighing whether to defend the policy

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/sanctuary-cities-debate-has-jurisdictions-weighing-whether-to-defend-the-policy/2017/04/18/5db7ae84-1bb3-11e7-855e-4824bbb5d748_story.html?utm_term=.736c8fd3b8e6&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

 

Border wall could cost three times estimates, Senate Democrats’ report says

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/us/politics/senate-democrats-border-wall-cost-trump.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170418&nlid=3179832&tntemail0=y

 

How Trump’s “hire American” order may affect tech worker visas

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/technology/h1b-visa-facts-tech-worker.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_cn_20170419&nl=first-draft&nl_art=1&nlid=3179832&ref=headline&te=1

 

The many ways in which Trump’s “buy American” mantra is hypocritical

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/04/18/the-many-ways-in-which-trumps-buy-american-mantra-is-hypocritical/?utm_term=.300819026bbb&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1

 

Iranian-American groups seeking new ban on Trump travel order

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/iranian-american-groups-testify-in-washington-seeking-new-ban-on-trump-travel-order/2017/04/18/65d31b20-23ca-11e7-bb9d-8cd6118e1409_story.html?utm_term=.f23030ec4afc&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1

 

Little tickets become big deal for some in Florida

http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/cerabino-little-tickets-become-big-deal-for-some-florida/ScQislfBPYTl8dte2WTXNK/

 

Why slashing the NIH budget is indefensible

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-slashing-the-nih-budget-is-indefensible/2017/04/18/727f16cc-2383-11e7-b503-9d616bd5a305_story.html?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.4d0947b57f96

 

Trump wants to cut off poor people’s legal lifeline

https://thinkprogress.org/trump-budget-legal-services-corporation-199d8c116ffd

 

A month after firing prosecutors, Justice does not have any U.S. attorneys in place

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/a-month-after-dismissing-federal-prosecutors-justice-department-does-not-have-any-us-attorneys-in-place/2017/04/18/d94c4bd0-2442-11e7-b503-9d616bd5a305_story.html?utm_term=.355a3da41720&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

 

Congress is quietly trying to pass a “GI bill 3.0” by Memorial Day

http://taskandpurpose.com/exclusive-gi-bill-reform-memorial-day/

 

Census watchers warn of a crisis if funding for 2020 count is not increased

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/census-watchers-warn-of-crisis-if-funding-for-2020-count-is-not-increased/2017/04/17/e6cc170a-20d6-11e7-a0a7-8b2a45e3dc84_story.html?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.45b7ed103d5d

 

Policy advisers urge Trump to keep U.S. in Paris accord

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/us/politics/trump-advisers-paris-climate-accord.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_cn_20170419&nl=first-draft&nl_art=10&nlid=3179832&ref=headline&te=1

 

It’s not just Trump: With Brexit and France votes, Russia cultivates global right

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2017/04/18/its-not-just-trump-with-brexit-and-france-votes-russia-is-cultivating-the-global-right/?utm_term=.d6a8fbcc7dc9&wpisrc=nl_opinions&wpmm=1

 

On Russia, Trump and his top national security aides seem to be at odds

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/on-russia-trump-and-his-top-national-security-aides-seem-to-be-at-odds/2017/04/18/13fdc832-23bf-11e7-bb9d-8cd6118e1409_story.html?utm_term=.aaddb55706a6&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

 

Two Russian bombers fly near Alaska, and U.S. scrambles jets

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/us/russian-bombers-alaska.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_cn_20170419&nl=first-draft&nl_art=5&nlid=3179832&ref=headline&te=1

 

Aircraft carrier wasn’t sailing to deter North Korea, as U.S. suggested

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/asia/aircraft-carrier-north-korea-carl-vinson.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170418&nlid=3179832&tntemail0=y&_r=0

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/18/north-korea-us-aircraft-carrier-location-navy-donald-trump?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=222343&subid=7590566&CMP=GT_US_collection

 

Hand of U.S. leaves North Korea’s missile program shaken

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/asia/north-korea-missile-program-sabotage.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_cn_20170419&nl=first-draft&nl_art=11&nlid=3179832&ref=headline&te=1

 

Trump mulls U.S. military options for North Korea, all grim

https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-19/trump-mulls-military-options-for-north-korea-they-re-all-grim

 

Frankel’s advice to Trump on North Korea: Don’t be a “cowboy”

http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/national-govt--politics/rep-frankel-advice-trump-north-korea-don-cowboy/05O7Dgc5S1befqCq9z0M1J/

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-lois-frankel-south-korea-20170418-story.html

 

White House defends Trump’s congratulatory call to Turkey’s Erdogan

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/04/18/white-house-defends-trumps-congratulatory-call-to-turkeys-erdogan/?utm_term=.25e6d5afc2b4&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1

https://www.thenation.com/article/trump-to-erdogan-congrats-on-your-dictatorship/

 

Trump administration grudgingly confirms Iran’s compliance with nuclear deal

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/world/middleeast/trump-administration-grudgingly-confirms-irans-compliance-with-nuclear-deal.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170419&nlid=3179832&tntemail0=y

 

Trump plays by his own rules (or no rules)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/opinion/mr-trump-plays-by-his-own-rules-or-no-rules.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_ty_20170419&nl=opinion-today&nl_art=0&nlid=3179832&ref=headline&te=1

 

Bannon isn’t through with Trump yet

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/04/steve-bannon-isnt-through-with-trump-yet

 

Trump's Mar-a-Lago visits generate buzz, cost millions

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/18/president-trumps-mar--lago-visits-generate-buzz-cost-millions/100615240/

 

GOP senator: Trump should spend less time at Mar-a-Lago

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/329335-gop-sen-trump-should-spend-less-time-at-mar-a-lago

 

Trump raised $107 million for inauguration, doubling record

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/us/politics/trump-inauguration-fundraising.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_cn_20170419&nl=first-draft&nl_art=2&nlid=3179832&ref=headline&te=1

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/04/18/trumps-inaugural-committee-reports-record-shattering-fundraising-of-107-million/?utm_term=.428c1b85b413&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

 

Adelson gave $5 million for Trump’s inauguration

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/us/politics/trump-inauguration-sheldon-adelson-fundraising.html?emc=edit_na_20170419&nl=breaking-news&nlid=3179832&ref=headline

 

Ivanka Trump reportedly won China trademarks the day she dined with Xi Jinping

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/ct-ivanka-trump-trademark-china-20170418-story.html  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/19/ivanka-trump-brand-china-trademarks-day-us-president-met-xi-jinping?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=222343&subid=7590566&CMP=GT_US_collection

 

Ivanka Trump’s global reach, undeterred by a White House job

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/business/ivanka-trump-trademark-brand.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170418&nlid=3179832&tntemail0=y

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/04/18/dont-lose-sight-of-what-really-matters-about-ivanka-trump/?utm_term=.09fd97fd6052&wpisrc=nl_opinions&wpmm=1

 

Trump’s billionaire adviser stands to gain from policies he helped shape

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/trump-schwarzman-blackstone-influence-237341