March 19, 2024

Tuesday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/24/2015

Florida environment to get billions, but how to spend it?

After years of deep cuts to environmental programs, Florida voters last November overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, which changed the state constitution to earmark billions for conservation. But the measure left it up to the Legislature and governor to determine the details of how the money will be spent. Some Florida conservationists became upset after seeing Scott's budget that apportions some of those monies to other agencies and old infrastructure improvements. There is a heated debate on this topic. [Source: AP]

» How do you weigh in on this debate? Answer a quick poll question here (comments welcome).


U.S. travel agents can now book Cuba cruises

On Monday, Cuba Cruise announced that Americans can now legally book its Cuba around-the-island cruises that depart Havana or Montego Bay, Jamaica, through a U.S. travel agent in addition to directly through the company or an approved U.S. tour operator partner. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Are tech startups the key to improving public safety?

It's natural to think public safety issues are problems for police officers and communities to solve, perhaps in conjunction with city hall. But often, that's not enough. What if it's entrepreneurs who have the answers? [Source: The Week]


Without incentives, Florida solar energy won’t grow

Solar power is booming in America, but a lack of solar-incentives may hold Florida back. Since 2008, wind and solar capacity — a term that describes a system’s highest possible electric output — tripled, according to a Bloomberg report this month. [Source: The Alligator]


The big business of food tourism and why it matters

Over the last decade, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) have leveraged the rise of mainstream interest in food to open new consumer markets and drive business to a wider range of regional travel suppliers working in the food and beverage sector. [Source: Skift]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› New law would require financial-literacy class in high school
Science, math and English are important, but students in Florida also need to learn how to manage money before they graduate from high school. So say advocates of a bill before the Legislature that would mandate a stand-alone, financial-literacy course for public-school students.

› Investigate Florida's tax fraud hot spots by ZIP Code
Hover over a ZIP Code to see how many electronic filing identification numbers were issued by the IRS, and whether your neighborhood may fall into a hot spot for tax fraud.

Jacksonville
Florida Trend will shine the spotlight on Jacksonville in a special report covering business development and the economy plus the best in lifestyle, arts and culture. Email Jaime McKnight to learn how your company's advertising message can be included in this section, or call her at 727-892-2645.

› Florida news outlets suing Gov. Rick Scott want emergency order protecting public records
Florida news outlets and First Amendment advocates want a judge to order Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members to safeguard all relevant materials in an open meetings lawsuit, even their aides' cellphone text messages.

› Home sales booming in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay's housing market started the new year with a bang as year-over-year sales of single-family homes rose in January. If Realtors have any regrets, it's the that demand is much higher than the supply of realistically priced homes in move-in condition.
» See also: January home sales report sends mixed signals


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