March 28, 2024

Friday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/14/2017

After nabbing Florida's film production, Georgia targets Florida's tourists

First, Georgia used tax credits to lure big budget films and television series away from Florida — even stories about the Sunshine State. Now, Georgia film and tourism officials are leveraging this thriving production industry to snare Floridians on vacation. Officials from the Georgia Film Office and the Department of Economic Development are looking for ways to bring Floridians to their state for "film-induced tourism." [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Your turn:
» Should Florida restore tax incentives to attract film production companies to the state? (quick poll)

USDA seeks input on bio-control agent aimed at citrus greening disease

Greening disease, a bacterial disease spread by a tiny psyllid, has devastated Florida’s citrus industry since it was first detected in the U.S. in Florida in 2005 — but hopes of stopping or slowing its spread have risen this week. The key to thwarting the disease’s march could lie in spinach proteins that scientists at Southern Gardens Citrus, a subsidiary of Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar, have been working with under strict research regulations for years. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

See also:
» USDA announces $21.8 million in funding to combat citrus disease

Divided Florida House votes for plan to shift students

Triggering a passionate three-hour debate over schools and poverty, Florida's Republican-controlled House on Thursday approved an ambitious $200 million plan to shift students from chronically failing schools to charter schools run by private organizations. See the original bill, HB 5105, also known as "Schools of Hope," here.  [Source: AP]

Water shortage warning issued for part of Florida

The dry conditions and lack of rain have prompted officials to issue a water shortage warning in 16 counties across the state. South Florida Water Management District issued the warning Thursday morning to the 8.1 million residents in its area. [Source: WKMG]

See also:
» Central Florida's drought intensifies to 'severe' in many areas

Live in Florida? Need a job? Amazon is hiring, and you get to work from home

The online giant recently announced it is planning to hire more than 5,000 home-based part-time workers during the next year as part of its virtual customer service program. One of the requisites: A Florida residence. [Source: Bradenton Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Texas regulators reject FPL parent's $18 billion bid to take over Oncor utility
Utility regulators in Texas unanimously rejected an $18 billion bid by NextEra Energy to buy Oncor, the state’s largest regulated utility.

› Nonprofit launches interactive report cards for Florida schools
A newly launched online toolkit for instance is making data on schools in Florida (and beyond) easy to find and interpret through the use of interactive data visualization tools. Visit the website KnowYourFloridaSchool.org

› Trump’s Doral golf resort owes Miami paint store chain over $300,000, court rules
A ruling by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal rejected Trump National Doral’s attempt to get out of paying a Miami paint store chain over $315,000.

› Florida lawmakers press feds to reverse manatee decision
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan of Sarasota is leading a push to reverse a federal decision to downgrade protections for manatees.

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Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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