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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Senate to convene Saturday for gun and school safety legislation
The Senate gun bill is likely to pass. But that doesn't mean the Senate debate over the bill will be without drama. Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart), has already taken the unusual step of calling for a Saturday Senate session to debate and amend the legislation. See the memo from Sen. Negron calling for the Saturday session here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times.
City of Tallahassee, Leon County consider consolidation
A long, heated debate is once again surfacing in Tallahassee: merging the City of Tallahassee and Leon County governments. According to a study, Tallahassee and Leon County could potentially see economic benefits from consolidating. More from the WCTV.
Shark migration in Florida plummets in 2018
In the largest migration in United States coastal waters, blacktip sharks are headed south in the thousands for their yearly migration off Florida’s southeast coast. But that migration to South Florida has shrunken drastically in recent years, according to research by Florida Atlantic University. Full story from FAU here, and read more at Florida Today.
10-year-old from The Florida Project movie gets full scholarship to Rollins
A 10-year-old boy “discovered” playing at an aging Kissimmee motel and cast in the film “The Florida Project” has been promised a full four-year scholarship to Rollins College — the youngest recipient in college history. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Manufacturers fear higher rates from a JEA sale
The First Coast Manufacturers Association is raising concerns that selling JEA could result in job-killing increases in electric rates. In a letter sent Thursday to Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council, the manufacturing association’s president, Lake Ray, said he has “heard from many members who have expressed concerns about the potential sale of JEA.” More from the Florida Times-Union.
Legal Notes
Ethical advocacy
From the ethics reform that brought gift bans to the new state House rules that require disclosure of all lobbyist activities, at Tripp Scott’s government affairs division, TSE, the day-to-day has had to adapt, but the firm’s guiding principles have remained the same. [Sponsored report]
Natural Resouces
Florida's mighty palms
Deeply rooted in Florida’s history, ecology, tourism and landscaping industries, palms of all shapes, sizes and colors have made their way here over the years. Only 12 are native to the state.
» Read more from Florida Weekly.
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