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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida hurricane fund may pay out as much as $5.1 billion
Hurricane Irma’s damaging rampage through Florida may require the state fund that provides backing to private insurers to pay up to $5.1 billion in claims. Anne Bert, chief operating officer for the fund, said the fund will be able to pay claims with cash. That means the fund will not have to borrow any money. [Source: AP]
Self-made media entrepreneur tells Florida women they don't have to do it alone
A New York Times bestselling author and the first woman president of Telemundo, Nely Galán outlined the keys to achieving a self-made lifestyle during the first day of the Women's Conference of Florida in Tampa. "You have to grow all the time," Galán said. "You can't be stuck thinking you know everything. Or what was successful ten years ago is going to be successful going forward." [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Corcoran to push new transparency measures for tourism groups
House Speaker Richard Corcoran on Thursday unveiled legislation to impose new transparency and accountability requirements on Visit Orlando and other local tourism development councils around the state. See Corcoran's bill, HB3 - "Economic Development and Tourism Promotion Accountability," here. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.
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Housing scarce for Puerto Ricans coming to Central Florida
The CEO of United Way says there is nowhere to house people leaving Puerto Rico for Central Florida after Hurricane Maria. "We are sitting on a precipice of a human disaster,” said Jeff Hayward, CEO, Heart of Florida United Way. [Source: WFTV]
FPL to seek $1.3 billion in Hurricane Irma costs
Florida Power & Light will seek to recoup an estimated $1.3 billion from customers to cover the costs of restoring electricity after Hurricane Irma barreled through the state last month, the utility said Thursday. The costs would start showing up in customers' bills in March --- just as they get done paying off costs from Hurricane Matthew in 2016. More from Florida Today and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
› Frustrations mount over Florida medical marijuana delays
Thousands of ailing patients aren’t getting the help they need because of delays within Florida’s medical marijuana office. The state says it takes 30 days to process an application, but some patients tell us they have been waiting far longer.
› Florida rejects one-way traffic during evacuations
Opening road shoulders to traffic when hurricanes or other disasters threaten Florida will continue to be the primary way to speed evacuations rather than converting all traffic lanes to the same direction.
› New Port Canaveral: Changes won't include new property taxes or cargo rail route
Port Canaveral commissioners are seeking to reassure residents that the port's proposed master plan would not lead to some of the residents' worst fears: new property taxes or a cargo rail route over the Banana River.
› Hardware chain plots Florida expansion
Sunshine Ace Hardware, a Naples based family owned and operated chain of hardware stores, is expanding to Pinellas County.
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