March 19, 2024

Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/23/2017

Florida Senate approves bill to let grocery outlets sell hard liquor in stores

Legislators passed the "whiskey to Wheaties" bill in the Florida Senate today, which will allow grocery stores like Publix or Walmart to sell hard liquor on the shelves next to beer and wine instead of in a separate liquor store with its own entrance. The measure must be approved by the House, where an identical bill is ready for a vote after narrowly passing through committee. If signed into law, it would be phased in over a five-year period. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.

See also:
» Senate Bill 106: Vendors licensed under the beverage law

Florida cities among the biggest population gainers

The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday said the Tampa Bay area had the nation's fourth-highest gain from people moving there last year. Some 58,000 new residents moved there. South Florida had the nation's seventh highest gain from migration, adding about 48,000 residents who moved there. Orlando added nearly 47,000 residents through migration, placing it at No. 8. The Villages community northwest of Orlando had the nation's highest overall growth rate last year at 4.3 percent. More from the AP.

Fast-moving 400-acre brush fire threatens Florida homes

Nassau County and Florida Forestry officials said at midday today that the weather has allowed some optimism that they'll continue making progress fighting 400-acre wildfire that destroyed two homes, damaged six others and burned more 19 barns, sheds or other structures Wednesday afternoon and evening. Officials couldn't say when roads in the Bryceville area would reopen or when 150 people evacuated would be allowed to return home. More from News4Jax.

See also:
» Adam Putnam: Florida wildfires burn two-and-a-half times more acreage than same time last year
» Smoke from fire means low visibility, no-go on Tamiami Trail across the state
» Interactive map showing current wildfires in the state

A peek at the plentiful paychecks of 25 Tampa Bay executives

Many top executives in Tampa Bay are still recieving robust pay packages. The Tampa Bay Times examined compensation for CEOs in Tampa Bay during 2016, and came up with a list of the top 25. Below are the top 5:

  1. John Ramil, former CEO TECO Energy: $23.1 million (exit/retirement package)
  2. Mark Mondello, CEO Jabil: $10.5 million
  3. Jerry Fowden, CEO Cott Corp. $9.2 million 
  4. Paul Reilly, CEO Raymond James Financial $8.2 million
  5. Bob Dutkowsky, CEO Tech Data Corp. $5.9 million

Greenberg Traurig celebrates 50th anniversary

More than 600 South Florida business, government and nonprofit leaders joined international law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. on March 14 to celebrate the firm's 50th anniversary at an event held at the Perez Art Museum Miami. "In so many ways the clients and community leaders who celebrated with us represent our legacy because it was their support that nurtured us and helped us to grow," said Matt Gorson, Senior Chairman of Greenberg Traurig. More from the Greenberg Traurig press release.

Editor's Page
Attorney Michelle Suskauer elected Florida Bar President-Elect Designate

Michelle Suskauer West Palm Beach attorney Michelle Suskauer has been chosen as president-elect designate of The Florida Bar. Suskauer will be sworn in as president-elect at the Bar's annual convention in Boca Raton on June 23, when current President-elect Michael J. Higer of Miami becomes president. Suskauer will begin her term as Bar president in June 2018.

» Full news release here.

Central Florida
Two big development projects coming to Lake Nona

florida originalsIt’s already been a big year for Lake Nona, Tavistock’s 14-square-mile community south of Orlando. On Jan. 5, the United States Tennis Academy opened a $60-million, 100-acre national training campus there. Four days later, accounting giant KPMG announced plans to build a $430-million training and professional-development facility at Lake Nona.

» Access story here.

Tags: Daily Pulse

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