From the ACCESS Florida webpage:

The ACCESS Florida Applications will not be available on Thursday, August 28th from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight EST because we will be performing maintenance.

If you are working on an ACCESS application at 8:00 p.m., you will be able to log back into the application after the maintenance is complete - you must have the ACCESS Online Number and password created at the beginning of the process to finish your application.

If you are pre-screening to see if you might be eligible for benefits at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are reporting a change at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are using the Automated Response System to get information regarding the status of a recently completed application at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

If you are using the Platinum Community Partner link to get information regarding the status of a recently completed application at 8:00 p.m., you may need to start over after the maintenance is complete.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced yesterday that the Price Gouging Hotline has been activated. Florida residents who suspect price gouging in the face of approaching Tropical Storm Fay should call the hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). For more information, please refer to the Attorney General's website.

Here in Florida we have a wide variety of specialty license plates to choose from. Perhaps you would like to show your support of your favorite Florida sports team or support Florida's natural resources. Maybe you have very strong feelings about a particular social issue. Chances are, Florida has a license plate that reflects your interest. Check out the list on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle's website.

In case you are curious, for the 2007 Fiscal Year, the University of Florida license plate earned the most specialty plate revenue ($2,459,850.00). The Orlando Predators earned the least revenue ($50.00).

The State of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection is making it easier to report suspected environmental crime. Simply dial #DEP from your mobile phone to report an environmental crime.

From the State DEP's website:

What is an Environmental Crime?

Environmental crimes can cause harm to Florida’s environment and put people at risk. These crimes can be defined as the willful or negligent violation of any law or rule enacted to protect the environment or regulate the generation and disposal of waste. Some examples include the illegal disposal of hazardous waste, burning or burying prohibited materials, and unauthorized dredge and fill activity in wetlands.

Members of the Environmental Response Team are specially trained agents.

Violations of environmental laws may not always be obvious. Signs of violations may include:

• Containers or drums that appear to be abandoned (for example, you find them in a forest, along a roadside or otherwise in a place where it appears they do not belong), especially if they are corroded or leaking.
• Discolored and/or stressed, dying plant life.
• Visible sheens on the ground or in the water.
• Foul smelling or strange looking emissions into the air.

Citizens should also be aware of odd activities, such as:

• A truck dumping materials into a manhole or sewer drain.
• A truck unloading drums at odd hours or in odd places.
• A person burying drums on business or residential property.

Early voting in Florida started today! If you live in Pasco County, you can check out a sample ballot and keep track of how many people have voted at the Supervisor of Elections website. If you don't live in Pasco County, check here to find your local Supervisor of Elections office.

If you are a potential victim of the foreclosure crisis, check out the Hope for Homeowners program, recently signed into law. Keep in mind, however, that this program does not begin until October 1, 2008, so try to keep your head above water until then!

If, on the other hand, you are concerned about the recent bank failures, ease your mind by checking the Failed Bank List here. If you have an account in a failed bank, you can check to see whether your account is fully insured by the FDIC here.

It's hard to believe it's already Back-to-School time! The federal government has some excellent resources for parents to help prepare their children for scholastic success. Check it out!

Helping Your Child Succeed in School -- Helping Your Child Series

Consumer Focus: Back to School

First Day of Preschool/Kindergarten