March 28, 2024

Tuesday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/6/2018

Voters will decide whether to limit Florida tax hikes

Florida legislators voted Monday to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would ask voters to require a two-thirds majority of both the House and Senate before they can raise any tax or fee in the future. See the bill, HJR 7001: Supermajority Vote for State Taxes or Fees. Also read more from the Times/Herald, the Orlando Sentinel and the AP.

Florida consumers beware: Common scams that could fool you

National Consumer Protection Week

Attorney General Pam Bondi is warning Floridians about common scams in recognition of 2018 National Consumer Protection Week. Scammers often target Florida because of its large senior population, military bases and millions of tourists. Tax scams and vacation rental scams are also common during this time of the year. Learn more about common scams, here.

Company-owned Publix stores now exceed 30% of the total

Publix Super Markets now owns nearly a third of its grocery stores and plans to invest more than $1 billion this year in its property portfolio. The Lakeland-based grocer owned 31.8 percent of its stores last year, up from 29.1 percent in 2016. Find more information in the company's annual results statement and at The Real Deal.

Florida Senate passes school safety bill putting restrictions on gun sales

The Florida Senate narrowly passed a school safety bill that would place new restrictions on rifle sales, allow some teachers to carry guns in schools and create new school mental health programs. Few, if any, senators were completely happy with the legislation. The bill will next move to the House, where lawmakers hope to approve it in time for it to reach Scott's desk before the session ends on March 9. See a full summary of the "Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act." Also read more from the AP and the Tampa Bay Times.

More news from the Legislature:
» Deal or no deal? Florida house passes gambling bill

Baptist Health: World-class care, close to home

An estimated one in four Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. In Florida, new cancer cases are on the rise. For many, it may be the start of a frightening journey. Full story here. [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida Power & Light announces locations for next wave of solar power plants
Florida Power & Light Company has announced the names and locations of four new solar power plants expected to begin powering customers by mid-2019.

The newly announced solar sites are:

  • FPL Interstate Solar Energy Center, St. Lucie County
  • FPL Miami-Dade Solar Energy Center, Miami-Dade County
  • FPL Pioneer Trail Solar Energy Center, Volusia County
  • FPL Sunshine Gateway Solar Energy Center, Columbia County

› Turtle nesting season starts; care needed on Florida’s beaches
Beachgoers can help Florida’s sea turtles by leaving them alone, keeping them in the dark and making sure there are no obstacles in their way as nesting season begins statewide. Sea turtle nesting season begins as early as March 1 — depending on location — and continues through the end of October.

› Hard Rock's Orlando HQ to close by April
Hard Rock International should be done moving its headquarters out of Orlando by the end of April, company officials confirmed, a little ahead of schedule. The company has been based in Orlando since the Seminole Tribe bought it in 2007.

› CSX targets 6,200 more job cuts
After cutting 4,600 jobs last year (including consultant positions), CSX Corp. is targeting an additional 6,200 job cuts over the next three years, reducing total employment to 21,000 by the end of 2020.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

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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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