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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida may pay millions over lost citrus trees
Florida may drop a long-running legal battle and instead agree to pay millions to homeowners across the state whose healthy citrus trees were torn down in a failed attempt to eradicate citrus canker. House Republicans have agreed to spend $66 million to end lawsuits filed on behalf of homeowners in Broward, Lee and Palm Beach counties. There are also lawsuits that were filed in both Orange and Miami-Dade counties that could eventually push up the cost even more. [Source: AP]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Sports venues get no help from Florida Legislature
Daytona International Speedway sought $90 million from the state for renovations, but received $0.
Four major sports teams and venues across the state sought incentive money for new buildings and renovations. Lobbyists for the teams and venues suggested to lawmakers that the projects could collapse without financial support from the state So what happened when all four got no incentives money? Access full story.
Rattlesnakes were once a thriving business in Florida
Habitat loss, road kill, persecution and commercial exploitation have taken their toll as the Diamondback population nose dives. According to some estimates, only 3 percent of the original population remains. What many people don’t realize today is that some people once made a living capturing Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes in Florida. [Source: Lakeland Ledger]
Other states have done it. So why is Florida grappling with legalizing medical marijuana?
Although the drug remains illegal under federal law, 28 states and Washington, D.C., allow the use of medical marijuana in some form. This long record of trial-and-error can guide Florida lawmakers and health officials as they work against a looming July deadline to put this state's medical marijuana program into place. [Source: Times/Herald]
Column: Florida’s businesses, economy need H-1B visa workers
Today, nearly four million Floridians were born in other countries, representing the fourth-largest immigrant population in the United States. They have helped turn Florida into a vibrant, business-friendly and high-quality-of-life place to live, work, study and raise a family. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
› Greyhound activists see a shot this year in Florida gambling fight
Florida's high-stakes fight over gambling features powerful forces clashing, including the Seminole Tribe, Disney World and 12 wealthy owners of racetracks.
› Proposed cuts to Superfund cut affect Florida sites
When the Trump administration’s preliminary budget for the Environmental Protection Agency came out last month, the news was probably not good for those living near the former United Metals site in Marianna or the Piper Aircraft site in Vero Beach or Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.
› Experts: Florida might be in for buggy summer
Get out the bug spray. A national group of bug experts says Florida might be in for more mosquitoes and termites than usual due to a mild winter and some heavy rains. From the National Pest Management Association:
Southeast: The region was atypically warm and moist in the winter months, even into the night when temperatures are supposed to drop. States hit with heavy rainfall may see mosquito populations emerge earlier in the spring than previous years. The rain will also provide ideal conditions for subterranean termites.
› Gas prices rising in Florida
Motorists are looking at a spike in gasoline prices that is expected to continue into the beginning of the summer, according to the American Automobile Association.
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