March 19, 2024

Monday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/20/2015

5 years after BP oil spill, recovery is slow

The one word used by everyone – from environmentalists to BP representatives, and marine scientists and researchers – about the Gulf’s recovery is “resilience”. But they disagree widely on how much damage was done. More from NPR, the Tallahassee Democrat, the Telegraph, and the Fort Myers News-Press.

See also:
» 5 years after BP's oil spill, an undaunted industry pushes drilling even deeper into the Gulf
» On BP oil spill anniversary, ex-NOAA director urges major changes in federal spill contingency plan


850,000 Floridians stuck in healthcare limbo — and no solution in sight

About 850,000 Floridians and nearly 5 million Americans caught in the gap, a no-man’s-land carved out by a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. For two years, Florida’s Legislature — meeting once again in Tallahassee this month — has refused to close the gap. [Source: Miami Herald]


Even after the gift ban and reform, freebies flow to Florida lawmakers

The 2005 ban made it illegal for a state legislator to accept gifts — such as meals, football tickets, hunting trips or booze — from a lobbyist. Yet the ban left intact the ability for lawmakers to accept gifts indirectly via reimbursements or in-kind contributions from political parties and their own committees. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]


What if enterprise incentive program goes away?

In Sarasota, and across Florida, city and county leaders say that while the state’s enterprise zone incentive system is not perfect, it has been a useful tool for helping struggling communities. State officials see the program — which has dished out hundreds of millions over the years — as one that has run its course and has limited value in stimulating economic development. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]


Obama to visit Florida on Wednesday to urge action on climate change

U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday he will dedicate his Earth Day to explaining how climate change threatens the planet -- and the economy. He’ll make that case Wednesday against the backdrop of the Florida Everglades. More at the International Business Times and the Tampa Bay Times.


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Donation to FIU will expand foreign policy programs
Florida International University on Monday announced one of the largest donations in its history: a $20 million gift to the School of International and Public Affairs.

› Private prison vendors could face new scrutiny in Florida
Looming in the background in the legislative debate over prison reform is a question that could come into new focus: How productive was the move to privatize prisons and inmate health care and how much farther should it go?

› Open English sets out to conquer U.S. Hispanic market
About 300,000 students across the Americas have taken classes from Open English, an online English-language school based in Miami. In the last eight years, the venture-backed company has conquered Latin America, and now it is officially entering a market very close to home: The U.S. Hispanic market.

› Citrix changes spark disagreement
A little over 25 years ago, Citrix was a startup launched by three people from IBM and other big tech companies. And now it is going through a painful restructuring as it moves its traditional "work from anywhere" technologies further into the mobile and cloud-based world to remain competitive.


Go to page 2 for more stories ...

Tags: Daily Pulse

In case you missed it:

Florida Trend Video Pick

Incoming income tax instructor indicated
Incoming income tax instructor indicated

Affordable housing remains an issue; Income tax guidance on its way; What's in the 2024 budget; A mysterious threat to endangered sea life; Bass Pro Shops founder's "Florida Dream"

 

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Should Congress ban the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S.?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Need more details
  • What is TikTok?
  • Other (Comment below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.