Latest news with #NickHowland
Fox News
26-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Florida nonprofit helps cut veteran suicide rates by 25% with community-based approach
A Florida-based nonprofit is tackling veteran suicide by connecting community members and holding fast that the crisis American vets are facing is preventable. The Fire Watch operates on three premises: that suicide is preventable, that timely connection to resources can save lives, and that communities must play an active role in prevention. "It takes the community to get involved in suicide prevention," Executive Director Nick Howland told Fox News Digital. After seeing impressive results, The Fire Watch is hoping to take its regional organization nationwide with an approach that tackles veteran suicide differently with treatment-focused efforts and local engagement. At the heart of The Fire Watch's strategy is the "Watch Stander" program, modeled after CPR training. In a concise 30-to-45-minute session, volunteers learn to recognize warning signs, ask direct questions, validate the veterans' experience, and expedite referral to services—summarized by the acronym SAVE. "Like CPR doesn't train you to be a paramedic, our training doesn't turn you into a clinician," Howland said. "It trains you to notice the change and sound the alarm for help." Each Watch Stander leaves with a wallet card, wristband, and sticker as reminders of critical red flags—expressions of self-harm, substance abuse, reckless behavior, or giving away possessions—and the simple steps to get someone to help. The nonprofit works in tandem with the state's veteran affairs offices and connects veterans with counseling services. Since its inception in Northeast Florida, The Fire Watch has tracked dramatic reductions in veteran suicides. After recording 81 veteran deaths by suicide in 2019, Howland set an audacious goal: cut that number by at least 25% for three consecutive years. As of the latest data released May 1, veteran suicides in the region fell to 61 in 2023—25% below the 2019 baseline for the fourth straight year. Statewide, veteran suicides are down 5%, and in areas where The Fire Watch has a foothold (Northeast Florida, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Escambia County), the decline has been 12%, compared to just 2% elsewhere in the Sunshine State. "Where we're building our network of community members who care, who get veterans to the help they need, veteran suicidality is decreasing," he said. "It's remarkable." For volunteers like Ryan Haczynski, the program's impact is deeply personal. After losing a Vietnam veteran friend to suicide in late 2022, Haczynski searched for a way to honor his memory and prevent further loss. "I didn't recognize the signs," he reflected, telling Fox News Digital that his friend had even asked him to be the executor of his will just weeks before his death. Following the vet's suicide, Haczynski's online search led him into Watch Stander and Ambassador trainings, where he has since certified others and even helped arrange a proper military funeral for his friend. Haczynski now uses every community interaction to check in on veterans, validate their experiences, and point them to Fire Watch's free 24/7 crisis resources. "We want to give back, we want to help, especially people who have done so much [for our country] to go and serve us," he said. Learn more about The Fire Watch at
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jacksonville leaders hold heated discussion about alleged illegal gun registry investigation
Jacksonville City Council members on Monday gathered to discuss what's being called an illegal gun registry. Action News Jax first broke the story Thursday, after Councilman Nick Howland claimed the city was documenting any visitors carrying concealed weapons into two city buildings. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The city's top lawyer, General Counsel Michael Fackler, addressed leaders at the Rules Committee meeting. He said the city has hired outside counsel to represent the city during the course of an investigation by the State Attorney's Office. Since July 1st, 2023, Florida law has prevented local governments from prohibiting legal gun owners from carrying concealed in government buildings. It's the same day that Mayor Donna Deegan officially came into office. Read: Florida woman denied Real ID over missing 50-year-old marriage record During the meeting on Monday, Fackler stated his office first learned of the alleged illegal gun registry on April 21st and hired outside legal representation that same day. The next day, Fackler said that they received subpoenas from the State Attorney's Office, but he did not review them. This was something that Councilman Ron Salem pushed back on. 'I don't see how you can hire an outside attorney before you even understood the subpoenas and what they were looking for.' Read: MOSH doors will open one last time on August 31st However, City Councilman Jimmy Peluso reminded everyone about a prior meeting they all had two years ago, when the law was going into effect with agencies handling security for city buildings. 'All of you who were sitting up here then, just like you are sitting up here now, nobody said a word about it. I remember I was sitting in this seat, during that time, so all of a sudden for people to claim that 'oh wow, there's this awful registry that came out of nowhere.' No, no, we learned about it in 2023 and none of you said anything.' Florida statute says "A state governmental agency or local not knowingly and willfully keep or cause to be kept any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or any list, record, or registry of the owners of those firearms." Action News Jax reached out to the State Attorney's Office to confirm the investigation. They said they cannot confirm anything at this time. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Councilman claims the City of Jacksonville may have created an illegal gun registry
The City of Jacksonville may have created an illegal gun registry. That's the claim of a prominent Republican city council member. Only Action News Jax spoke with Councilman Nick Howland (R-Group 3 At-Large), who broke down what he's learned about the alleged list of gun owners who have entered at least two city buildings. Since July 1st, 2023, state law has prevented local governments from prohibiting legal gun owners from carrying concealed in government buildings. It's the same day Mayor Donna Deegan officially came into office. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< But Howland told Action News Jax he's learned that same month, private security guards working the entrance of two city buildings allegedly began keeping a list of people who entered with firearms. He claimed those alleged lists were kept at both City Hall and the Yates Building, which houses the Tax Collector and Property Appraiser's Offices. 'They were asked to document their first name, last name, contact information and the type of firearm they were carrying,' said Howland. Florida law prohibits the creation of lists of gun owners. Violations by local governments come with a civil penalty of up to $5 million and individuals who violate the law could be charged with a 3rd degree felony. 'In those notebooks for two years, that info has been gathered. Florida is a no-registry state. So, that is a clear violation of state law,' said Howland. Howland claimed the State Attorney's Office is investigating, but the State Attorney's Office told us it cannot confirm whether an investigation has been opened. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Action News Jax reached out to the Mayor's Office requesting a copy of the alleged lists. The Mayor's Office didn't directly deny their existence, but told us, 'A document responsive to this request is not in the City of Jacksonville's possession.' We followed up asking if the mayor's office could confirm whether a document responsive to our request had been given to the State Attorney's Office. 'The City of Jacksonville has received and complied with a subpoena from the State Attorney's Office,' a spokesperson for the Mayor's Office replied. 'Out of respect and in full cooperation with their review, we won't be commenting further at this time.' Read: Coyote that has been attacking people in Atlantic Beach is dead Howland argued that, given the potential consequences if an illegal gun registry was created, it's imperative the individual who gave the original order be identified. 'It is interesting that this registry starts being kept the same month that this administration has started office, but it's not up to me to determine who has given the directive. It's up to the State Attorney,' said Howland. Read: Virginia nonprofit builds playsets in Neptune Beach for kids fighting cancer According to Howland, the city has retained the Bedell Firm to represent it in handling this matter. Action News Jax reached out to the Bedell firm to confirm that claim but hasn't heard back. We've also submitted a public records request to the State Attorney's Office seeking copies of the alleged lists. That request is pending. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida city criminalizes illegal immigration in historic move to enforce Trump, DeSantis mission
The city of Jacksonville, Florida, ignited an immigration firestorm, criminalizing illegal entry as a city council member touted the "public safety" benefits. Fox News Digital spoke with at-large Jacksonville City Council member Nick Howland on the city's ordinance #2025-0147, known as the Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, which was passed by the city council 12-5 last week and signed into law on Tuesday. "We are the first city in the country to enact this kind of bill," Howland said. "We're standing with our president, with our governor, with our state legislature to secure our borders, to reverse the Biden wave of illegal immigration and to keep our streets and our neighborhoods safe." The bill not only criminalizes illegal immigration but also allocates resources to help the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identify individuals without legal status. Trump Admin Unveils Plan Costing Migrants Massive Fine For Every Day They Don't Self-deport One of the main resources listed in the bill was a request for 25 mobile fingerprint scanners for law enforcement. Read On The Fox News App The legislation will also make it a local crime for undocumented immigrants to enter or reside in the city of Jacksonville. First-time offenders face a mandatory 30-day jail sentence, while repeat offenders could receive up to 60 days in jail. "There are two main parts to the bill. The first is what we've already discussed; it criminalizes entering or residing in Duval County if you are an illegal immigrant. The second part focuses on determining whether someone is in the country illegally," he said. Howland said, like most sheriff's offices and police departments, Jacksonville uses fingerprint readers. "This bill helps [Jacksonville] Sheriff T.K. Waters determine how many additional fingerprint readers are needed to equip every patrol unit operating 24/7 throughout the city and county," he said. 'Defund The Police' Movement Turned On Head As Florida Sheriff Touts Achievements In State's 'Murder Capital' Jacksonville covers over 800 square miles, and the bill allocates $76,000 for 25 more fingerprint readers. "That will bring the department's total to just over 150, roughly one for every patrol," he said. "This is critical because it gives the sheriff another tool in the toolbox." READ THE ORDINANCE HERE – APP USERS Click Here In 2024, 602 undocumented immigrants were detained in Duval County. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took custody of 334 for deportation, according to the legislation, written by City Council member Kevin Carrico. The rest either served their time or were released on bail. Among those 334 deportation cases, there were 94 charges for battery, 140 for DUI, as well as cases involving murder and sexual assault. "This is, at the end of the day, a public safety bill," Howland said. "This is keeping people off the streets that would otherwise endanger our community. And we need to know when someone is legal or illegal and the fingerprint readers help." While proponents of the law, like Howland, have boasted about its potential impact on public safety, others have criticized it for its redundancy and the implementation of "stop and frisk" policies. "It has always been my position that we will provide the equipment and resources they need. So they will receive the funding for the 25 fingerprint scanners that have been requested. I wish that alone had been all 2025-147 was," Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said in a news conference. Blue State Sheriffs Combine Forces To Fight Back Against Sanctuary Laws "But it's not. Instead, it includes language that is hurtful and performative but not substantive," she said. "There is nothing in this bill that isn't already required by federal or state law. And in fact, the state law already carries a harsher penalty. So why would JSO need to arrest someone under a new local ordinance when they already have a stronger state law?" Deegan noted that the city has had an agreement with ICE since 2008 and that sanctuary cities have been banned in the Sunshine State since 2019. "Any suggestion to the contrary is intentionally misleading," she said. "On top of it being redundant, this bill puts our local government in a lane where it doesn't belong. Courts have repeatedly ruled that immigration enforcement is a function of the federal government." Howland said that even if there are already laws on the books, this adds additional support and flexibility for local police, which makes it worthwhile. "There's nothing redundant about giving police another tool in their toolbox to ensure we have safe streets and neighborhoods," he said. He said the new city ordinance goes a step further than state and federal laws, making it a local offense to enter or reside within Jacksonville as an illegal migrant. It gives Jacksonville authorities more power to enforce immigration violations locally, he said. "This allows the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to use the new law to detain individuals a bit longer, long enough to potentially turn them over to ICE," he said. "Why is that important? As I mentioned, over 600 people were detained last year, but only 334 were referred to ICE for deportation. With this law, the sheriff's office can hold individuals longer if they've broken the law by entering the country illegally. That means we can increase the number of cases referred to ICE for potential deportation, if necessary." Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the department has seen firsthand the consequences of "failed border policies on public safety." "The Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act provides our agency with additional tools and resources to help address those threats and ensure that offenders are held accountable," he told Fox News Digital. "Furthermore, it sends a clear message that Jacksonville will not be a sanctuary for criminals who enter our country illegally." Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor's office for article source: Florida city criminalizes illegal immigration in historic move to enforce Trump, DeSantis mission
Fox News
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Florida city criminalizes illegal immigration in historic move to enforce Trump, DeSantis mission
The city of Jacksonville, Florida, ignited an immigration firestorm, criminalizing illegal entry as a city council member touted the "public safety" benefits. Fox News Digital spoke with at-large Jacksonville City Council member Nick Howland on the city's ordinance #2025-0147, known as the Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, which was passed by the city council 12-5 last week and signed into law on Tuesday. "We are the first city in the country to enact this kind of bill," Howland said. "We're standing with our president, with our governor, with our state legislature to secure our borders, to reverse the Biden wave of illegal immigration and to keep our streets and our neighborhoods safe." The bill not only criminalizes illegal immigration but also allocates resources to help the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identify individuals without legal status. One of the main resources listed in the bill was a request for 25 mobile fingerprint scanners for law enforcement. The legislation will also make it a local crime for undocumented immigrants to enter or reside in the city of Jacksonville. First-time offenders face a mandatory 30-day jail sentence, while repeat offenders could receive up to 60 days in jail. "There are two main parts to the bill. The first is what we've already discussed; it criminalizes entering or residing in Duval County if you are an illegal immigrant. The second part focuses on determining whether someone is in the country illegally," he said. Howland said, like most sheriff's offices and police departments, Jacksonville uses fingerprint readers. "This bill helps [Jacksonville] Sheriff T.K. Waters determine how many additional fingerprint readers are needed to equip every patrol unit operating 24/7 throughout the city and county," he said. Jacksonville covers over 800 square miles, and the bill allocates $76,000 for 25 more fingerprint readers. "That will bring the department's total to just over 150, roughly one for every patrol," he said. "This is critical because it gives the sheriff another tool in the toolbox." READ THE ORDINANCE HERE – APP USERS CLICK HERE In 2024, 602 undocumented immigrants were detained in Duval County. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took custody of 334 for deportation, according to the legislation, written by City Council member Kevin Carrico. The rest either served their time or were released on bail. Among those 334 deportation cases, there were 94 charges for battery, 140 for DUI, as well as cases involving murder and sexual assault. "This is, at the end of the day, a public safety bill," Howland said. "This is keeping people off the streets that would otherwise endanger our community. And we need to know when someone is legal or illegal and the fingerprint readers help." While proponents of the law, like Howland, have boasted about its potential impact on public safety, others have criticized it for its redundancy and the implementation of "stop and frisk" policies. "It has always been my position that we will provide the equipment and resources they need. So they will receive the funding for the 25 fingerprint scanners that have been requested. I wish that alone had been all 2025-147 was," Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said in a news conference. "But it's not. Instead, it includes language that is hurtful and performative but not substantive," she said. "There is nothing in this bill that isn't already required by federal or state law. And in fact, the state law already carries a harsher penalty. So why would JSO need to arrest someone under a new local ordinance when they already have a stronger state law?" Deegan noted that the city has had an agreement with ICE since 2008 and that sanctuary cities have been banned in the Sunshine State since 2019. "Any suggestion to the contrary is intentionally misleading," she said. "On top of it being redundant, this bill puts our local government in a lane where it doesn't belong. Courts have repeatedly ruled that immigration enforcement is a function of the federal government." Howland said that even if there are already laws on the books, this adds additional support and flexibility for local police, which makes it worthwhile. "There's nothing redundant about giving police another tool in their toolbox to ensure we have safe streets and neighborhoods," he said. He said the new city ordinance goes a step further than state and federal laws, making it a local offense to enter or reside within Jacksonville as an illegal migrant. It gives Jacksonville authorities more power to enforce immigration violations locally, he said. "This allows the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to use the new law to detain individuals a bit longer, long enough to potentially turn them over to ICE," he said. "Why is that important? As I mentioned, over 600 people were detained last year, but only 334 were referred to ICE for deportation. With this law, the sheriff's office can hold individuals longer if they've broken the law by entering the country illegally. That means we can increase the number of cases referred to ICE for potential deportation, if necessary." Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the department has seen firsthand the consequences of "failed border policies on public safety." "The Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act provides our agency with additional tools and resources to help address those threats and ensure that offenders are held accountable," he told Fox News Digital. "Furthermore, it sends a clear message that Jacksonville will not be a sanctuary for criminals who enter our country illegally." Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor's office for comment.
