March 19, 2024

Monday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/20/2017

Will legislators lift the veil on ‘dark money’ in Florida politics?

Florida law allows groups that accept contributions from corporations to legally distribute money to other political committees, including those controlled by legislators, without reporting the source of the cash. This is often referred to as “dark money.” Now, Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) and Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne) have proposed legislation that would ban the practice of committees transferring funds to other committees, allowing the public to better see who gives and who gets millions in political contributions. Their proposals are HB 1057 and SB 1178. [Source: Times/Herald]

Your turn:
» Should Florida legislators lift the veil on "dark money," i.e. political contributions from groups made up of unknown members? (quick poll)

Florida's workplace death rate rises more than nation's

Even as workers’ chances of dying on the job have declined nationally, Florida’s workplaces collectively have become less safe in recent years, new data shows. During the most recent year-long reporting period, Florida’s rate of fatalities increased from 2.7 to 3.1 for every 1,000 workers. See Florida statistics for 2015, with industry breakouts, demographic information. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.

Welcomed at Florida colleges, AP credit re-examined in Ivy League

By law, Florida must reward students who pass an AP exam with college credit and/or advanced standing to skip through to the next level course. But there’s no guarantee that same payoff awaits at some of the nation’s most elite institutions. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

Republicans lead fight to ban fracking in Florida

Legislators are pushing the bill to safeguard Florida's clean water supply, which is the drinking water source for 90 percent of Floridians and a major player in the state's economy, from agriculture to tourism. [Source: AP]

Disney agrees to pay $3.8 million in back wages to Florida workers

The Walt Disney Co. will pay $3.8 million in back wages to Florida employees in an agreement reached with the U.S. Labor Department. The back wages will be paid to 16,339 employees of the Disney Vacation Club Management Corp. and the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc., both in Florida. Full news release from the Department of Labor, here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times and UPI.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› South Florida film industry gets boost from Nickelodeon
It’s a big boost for South Florida’s TV industry. Viacom studios in downtown Miami will be the backdrop for Nickelodeon’s upcoming series, “I Am Frankie.”

› Florida unit investigating Medicaid fraud gets high marks
Florida is among one of the nation's top states in recovering money from health care providers suspected of Medicaid fraud.

› Jacksonville leaders look for ways to bring more people to city’s waterways
Jacksonville boasts the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean, the rolling rhythms of the St. Johns River, the steady flow of the Intracoastal Waterway, the rippling creeks of the Timucuan Preserve.

› A health system bets big on Miami’s future in health-tech
Three startups and a handful of other young companies are working closely with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital as part of a comprehensive innovation strategy within Miami Children’s Health System

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

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