Politics

Dana Trabulsy proposes expanding scope of practice for certain health care workers

Published

21 hours ago

February 14, 2025

Trabulsy’s measure would expand the roles and responsibilities of physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses.

A new initiative aims to streamline health care services by broadening the roles of certain health care professionals.

Fort Pierce Republican Dana Trabulsy filed a bill (HB 647) that aims to enhance health care access and efficiency in Florida by expanding the scope of practice for physician assistants (PAs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).

The proposed legislation would expand the roles and responsibilities of PAs and APRNs, enabling them to sign death certificates, oversee hospice care and authorize do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. This expansion could enhance access to care, particularly in underserved areas with limited physician availability.

Under the proposed measure, a funeral director who initially takes custody of a deceased body or fetus is responsible for filing a death certificate electronically. In the absence of a funeral director, the bill would permit a PA or APRN to file the death certificate, as long as they adhere to the written protocol of a licensed physician or the district medical examiner of the county where the death occurred.

To improve the quality and continuity of hospice care, the bill proposes to expand the roles of PAs and APRNs within hospice care teams. This expansion would allow them to oversee various aspects of hospice care, such as managing admissions, transfers and discharges.

PAs and APRNs would be able to make decisions in an emergency situation in regard to withholding or withdrawing emergency treatments based on a patient’s DNR order, including withholding CPR. Furthermore, the expansion of roles for PAs and APRNs to carry out tasks usually performed by physicians could lead to more streamlined health care services.

The Department of Health would be responsible for overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the provisions outlined in the bill. This would include creating detailed guidelines and protocols, training and education, monitoring and compliance, raising public awareness, and receiving feedback.

If passed, the bill would take effect July 1.

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Politics

A crash course in this year’s Daytona 500

Published

24 minutes ago

February 15, 2025

May Greene

Maybe you’re new to the sport, have a casual interest or are just coming around to the edge-of-your-seat wrecks, the thrilling finishes and the stars that make up the Daytona 500 field.

Daytona Beach became the unofficial “birthplace of speed” in 1903 when two men argued over who had the fastest horseless carriage and decided to settle things in a race on the white, hardpacked sand along the Atlantic Ocean.

Since then, the region has become a motorsports mecca, and the first Daytona 500 was held Feb. 22, 1959, in front of a crowd of more than 41,000. They watched 59 cars race for a purse of less than $70,000, and the finish was so close it took three days to determine Lee Petty had edged Johnny Beauchamp.

So much has changed since then, in technology and terminology, and there’s plenty to catch up on ahead of Sunday’s edition — the 67th running of “The Great American Race.”

NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan is here (he bought a race team in 2020) and so is four-time Indianapolis 500 champion and “Dancing With The Stars” winner Helio Castroneves.

So let’s wave the green flag (we’ll get to that below) and take a crash course on some of the basic names and terms to know for the Daytona 500.

Former Daytona 500 winners
The field is littered with past winners, starting with 2024 champion William Byron. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2023), Austin Cindric (2022), Michael McDowell (2021), Austin Dillon (2018) and Joey Logano (2015) are all in the field.

Jimmie Johnson is a two-time winner (2006, 2013). Denny Hamlin could become the third driver ever with at least four Daytona 500 victories. He won in 2016 and then went back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.

How fast are the cars going?
They are traveling about 190 mph but could be going in excess of 200 mph. NASCAR, however, mandates cars use tapered spacers to reduce the amount of air flowing into engines — thus limiting horsepower and speed. The power-sapping safety measure was first installed after Bobby Allison’s car, traveling at 210 mph, went airborne and tore through the catchfence at Talladega Superspeedway in 1987. The car came dangerously close to landing in the grandstands.

Some Daytona 500 history
NASCAR’s most prestigious race started as a much shorter version on a nearby beach. Drivers raced partially on sand and partially on an adjacent highway. The first 500-mile event in Daytona happened in 1959. Two year later, the Daytona 500 moniker was adopted and is now considered one of racing’s most well-known events.

Team Worldwide
Pitbull, yes, the rapper, had an ownership stake in Trackhouse Racing but it is coming to an end right as this year the team is fielding cars for four drivers from four countries.

Mr. Worldwide truly lives up to his name.

Ross Chastain, a watermelon farmer out of Florida, is an American. Shane van Gisbergen is a native of New Zealand. Daniel Suarez is Mexican but became an American citizen last year. Castroneves, a four-time Indianapolis 500 champion, is Brazilian and rounds out the team headed into his NASCAR debut.

Which manufacturers race in NASCAR?
NASCAR currently has three manufacturers: Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. Dodge spent decades in the sport before pulling out at the end of the 2012 season because of economic challenges. Dodge also was out between 1977 and 2001. Chevy and Ford have been in NASCAR since its inception, with Toyota joining in 2007.

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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.

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Politics

FDEM’s ‘Hurricane Awareness Machine’ gears up for Daytona race

Published

1 hour ago

February 15, 2025

May Greene

The car will remind Floridians to get ready for storm season.

Storm preparation is getting showcased again during Florida’s biggest auto racing weekend.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management will roll out its Hurricane Awareness Machine car at Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 300.

The race, featuring 38 cars, is a prelude to Sunday’s Daytona 500.

The Hurricane Awareness Machine is in its third year in the field, showcasing an ongoing partnership with FDEM’s partnership with Mike Boylan from Mike’s Weather Page and FIRMAN Power Equipment.

“Just as racecar drivers need to make split-second decisions to stay ahead, Floridians must act quickly to prepare before a storm hits,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “Hurricane preparedness is a year-round process, and thanks to Mike and FIRMAN Power Equipment, we have the unique opportunity to drive that message home and remind residents to have their essentials ready, their plans updated and complete any necessary home projects.”

Boylan likewise is “excited to have the Hurricane car back at Daytona with Firman and FDEM.”

“Bringing awareness to Hurricane Season means so much to me as this event allows us to talk about weather with thousands, prepare for the year ahead, and reflect on the incredibly busy 2024 we just had,” he added.

Meanwhile, FIRMAN Power Equipment Director of Brand Development Jason Sutton is excited about “working with NASCAR driver Patrick Emerling as he takes the wheel of the #7 Hurricane Awareness Machine, bringing his skill and determination to the track.”

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Politics

Dianne Hart advocates for children’s rights when they face prosecution as adults

Published

2 hours ago

February 15, 2025

May Greene

Hart wants a new measure adopted that would protect the rights of children who are facing prosecution as an adult.

A new measure would protect children who have been accused of committing criminal offenses from being prosecuted as adults.

Tampa Democrat Rep. Dianne Hart filed the bill (HB 613) which aims to safeguard children’s rights and ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process before they are prosecuted as adults.

The bill would require a court to advise a child and their parent or legal guardian of the child’s right to a due process evidentiary hearing before transferring the child to adult court. It also would eliminate the discretion of state attorneys to transfer and certify children for prosecution as adults without first conducting a due process court hearing.

The hearing would be required to be held within 30 days after a request. A child’s attorney would be able to request a delay for good cause, while courts would be required to take into consideration a child’s maturity and history, including prior contacts with law enforcement, and the nature of the offense during the due process hearing.

A good cause for delay would include medical emergencies or serious illness of the party requesting the delay or a close family member; unforeseen circumstances such as a natural disaster; or the need for additional time to gather evidence, prepare a case or consult with an attorney.

If the bill passes, children facing a potential prosecution would be prohibited from being held in an adult jail, or any other facility intended for the use of adults, before a hearing to determine whether the child would be prosecuted as an adult has been conducted. However, the child would be able to waive their rights to having a hearing.

Children would be housed separately from adult inmates to prohibit the child from having regular contact with other inmates. This is defined as sight and sound contact. The receiving jail would be required to provide adequate staff to supervise and monitor to child’s activities at all times. Physical checks would be required at least every 10 minutes.

Adult court would retain jurisdiction over the child unless certain findings are made — determinants would include whether the alleged offence was committed in an aggressive or premeditated manner, and if there could be a risk to public safety.

If passed, the bill would take effect July 1.

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