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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Gov. Rick Scott hasn’t vetoed a single bill so far this year. But will he?
With a final stack of 39 bills on his desk from the Florida Legislature, Gov. Scott is quickly running out of veto threats in his final year in office. The least productive lawmaking session in years has resulted in 156 bills signed so far, including the new $88.7 billion budget. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.
Diabetes rates double among Florida adults
According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the presence of diagnosed diabetes among Florida adults have more that doubled over the past 20 years. It is estimated over 2.4 million people have diabetes and over 5.8 million have prediabetes in the Sunshine State. [Source: WTXL]
Column: Florida's small business community impacted by opioid crisis
Florida's business owners, their employees and families and the very economic structure of our state has been infiltrated by the opioid crisis. For example, work related injuries sometimes provide pain medications that lead to addiction. This is a direct problem that impacts the finances of business owners and consumers [Source: Pensacola News-Journal]
Industrial hemp on the radar for Florida farmers and researchers
The University of Florida Board of Trustees has given the OK for UF/IFAS researchers to develop hemp management and cropping systems. The move is an important step to test the viability of what could become a valuable alternative crop for the state’s agriculture producers. Full story from Growing Produce, here.
Florida prisons see visitation upheaval as corrections officials cite contraband crisis
Since July, Florida corrections officials have implemented a contraband crackdown that has weighed heavily on inmates’ girlfriends, wives and mothers during visitation. Beginning next month, the department will cut those days in half, citing staff shortages and drug smuggling. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Citizens Insurance plans to reduce coverage for repairs it cannot control
Turning up the heat on the fight against claims abuses and excessive lawsuits, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has tweaked its plan to control home repairs by further reducing coverage for customers who resist.
› Rift over security costs divide Sarasota sheriff, superintendent
As the Sarasota County School District decides how to improve school security following the Parkland massacre, tensions have surfaced involving two key figures, schools Superintendent Todd Bowden and Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight.
› One of last wooden cigar factories reopening soon as Ybor City apartments
Interior walls are still being painted, scaffolding surrounds the exterior, and some amenities await installation, but restoration of Tampa’s oldest wooden cigar factory and its conversion into an apartment building is nearly complete.
› Where Orlando ranks when it comes to popularity among millennial homebuyers
Millennial homebuyers are not actively seeking to buy a house in Orlando, according to a new study by LendingTree. In fact, out of the 100 cities ranked, Orlando came in at No. 80. See the data here.
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