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What you need to know about Florida today
Florida will pay $1 million in legal fees over ‘docs vs. Glocks’
Gov. Rick Scott approved a deal to pay $1.1 million in legal fees to groups that “successfully challenged an NRA-backed Florida law that prevented doctors from talking to their patients about the risks of guns in the home,” The agreement stemmed from a February ruling in Wollschlaeger v. Governor of Florida, which struck down key provisions of the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act (FOPA), the so-called Florida “gag rule.” Florida was obligated to pay attorneys' fees since the law was found to violate constitutional rights. See a news release from the Brady Center, here. Also read more at Florida Politics.
In Florida, nation's only lightning center closes after DARPA cuts funding
DARPA, the research arm of the Pentagon best known for inventing the Internet and running an annual robotics competition, funded Florida's International Center for Lightning Research and Testing since 1972. The agency spent millions on lightning research as part of an initiative it called "Nimbus," financing research at eight different institutions, then suddenly stopped. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida man was truck driver in human smuggling attempt that killed nine
The driver of an 18-wheeler used in a human smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of ten people was identified as James Mathew Bradley, Jr., of Clearwater, Florida, according to the United States Attorney's Office. More at FOX 29 and the AP.
See also:
» Suspect due in court Monday after 9 die in sweltering truck
» How smugglers use trucks with sometimes deadly results
Appeals court limits Florida law against secret recordings
A man who secretly recorded a meeting with a Florida police chief is celebrating victory in a federal case with free-speech and privacy implications. An 11th Circuit of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 this week that the Florida law "does not apply to the recording of all oral communications," and is "expressly limited to communications 'uttered by a person exhibiting an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception.'" See the full ruling here. Also read more at the AP.
| Florida's Movers & Influencers See some of Florida's top executive moves, board appointments, civic accomplishments, and more at Florida Trend's Movers & Influencers. Each profile appears in three places: in a weekly eNewsletter, online at FloridaTrend.com and in a monthly print issue of Florida Trend. Read more here. |
Opinion
Here's the path to a Gov. Jack Latvala
Jack Latvala, a wily Republican state senator and long shot as gubernatorial candidate, probably will announce his candidacy for governor on Aug. 16. Latvala is old school, the kind of pragmatic, generally moderate Republican today's GOP primary electorate has shunned and pilloried in recent years. He looks more like a rumpled granddad who should lay off the ribeyes and ramp up his blood pressure meds than the sort of TV-primped candidate that usually wins statewide elections in Florida. But don't discount him. Read more in a column by Adam Smith, here.
› Cricket anyone? Developer hunts Orlando stadium site
Professional cricket, riding on growing popularity because of shortened games, could come to Orlando in the next few years as part of a developer’s plans to build stadiums in eight U.S. cities.
› Snooty, oldest Florida manatee in captivity, dies at 69
Snooty, Florida's longest living manatee in captivity, has died one day after a huge party to celebrate his 69th birthday. The South Florida Museum posted a Facebook message Sunday saying that the beloved manatee had died in a heartbreaking accident.
› The real estate pros in charge of Tampa's $3 billion makeover are younger than you think
When Vinik created the SPP firm to lead the redevelopment of downtown Tampa over the next decade, he envisioned a walkable, sustainable downtown area with shopping and dining, innovative companies' offices, apartments, condos, hotels, bike paths and rooftop bars. So he hired young people to put all these pieces together.
› Florida anglers may support a closed redfish season
About five to seven years ago the amount of redfish around Tampa and Sarasota Bay was astonishing. These days you’re lucky to find a few redfish, nevertheless a school of hundreds.
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