Federal agency questions state hike in KidCare fee
By Times Staff Writer
Published October 25, 2003
TALLAHASSEE - A federal agency is questioning a $5 increase in the monthly premium for children who get subsidized health care from a government program, Florida officials said Friday.
State lawmakers approved requiring families enrolled in Florida KidCare to pay $20 a month, up from $15. That saved the state $10-million.
But the increase needs federal approval, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has not yet given it, according to a report given Friday to directors of the Florida Healthy Kids Corp.
Made up of four programs, Florida KidCare provides health care for children in poor and working families. The federal government picks up most of the cost.
The federal agency outlined its concerns over the premium increase in a letter to the state Agency for Health Care Administration.
Steve Grigas, an ACHA official on the Healthy Kids board, told other members Friday that state and federal officials were working on the issue, and "we should have a response from them fairly soon."
Man kills woman, himself as college students watch
DAYTONA BEACH - A man fatally shot a woman at Daytona Beach Community College in front of her fellow students, then killed himself Wednesday, police said.
Students saw the man grab Miriam Nina Fernandez by the hair, drag her across a grassy strip and shoot her in the head, according to statements given to police.
Marcos Torres, 37, then shot himself in the head in his truck as students crowded around the vehicle, police said.
Fernandez, 29, died later at Halifax Medical Center.
According to police reports and friends, Torres, of Daytona Beach, is married to a woman who lives in Tampa. Fernandez, of South Daytona, a native of Uruguay, also was married. Investigators would not describe the relationship between them or give their spouses' names.
Only dwarf sperm whale in captivity in world dies
SARASOTA - The only dwarf sperm whale in captivity in the world died Wednesday at Mote Marine Laboratory's Dolphin and Whale Hospital.
The whale, named Simone, died of an intestinal blockage common to the species and often seen in necropsies of whales beached or washed ashore.
Simone was less than a month old when she was orphaned after beaching with her mother near Cape Canaveral in July 2002. Her mother had to be euthanized, and Simone was brought to Mote.
Court upholds law making firing state workers easier
TALLAHASSEE - A court has upheld most of a new law backed by Gov. Jeb Bush that makes it easier to fire state workers.
The law, called "Service First," gives managers greater authority to reward, promote and fire about 16,000 state workers. The new system also did away with "bumping," which gave senior employees preference during layoffs.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees sued Bush in August 2001, claiming the law trampled on workers' right to bargain on disciplinary matters, layoff, pay and benefits.
The 1st District Court of Appeal on Wednesday upheld most of the decisions of a trial judge.
The court, however, reversed a provision that allowed the governor to impose contract language through appropriations bills.
Man charged in death of 82-year-old wife
SARASOTA - Neighbors of a man charged with killing his 82-year-old wife said they think he may have wanted to put an end to her suffering.
Paul Louis Armbruster, 88, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Virginia Armbruster and jailed late Thursday.
Investigators would not say whether Mrs. Armbruster was ill, but Irma Thompson, a next-door neighbor, said medical help had been called for her "four or five times in the past month." She suffered broken bones in a fall in March, Thompson said.
Deputies called to the home Thursday found the woman's body in the garage. Deputies did not release a cause of death, but said they concluded after interviewing Paul Armbruster that he "had taken steps to effect her death."
