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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Some irony, ethics and money battles this week in Florida
Florida lawmakers are now in the second half of their annual 60-day session and they don't have much to show for their efforts after five weeks in the Capitol. The Legislature has sent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis barely more than a dozen bills, most of which are minor pieces of legislation. [Source: AP]
Plans for massive toll road projects raise concern
The biggest expansion of the state highway network since the mid-1950s looks poised to gain approval from Florida lawmakers, pushed into action by roadbuilders and contractors eager for work. House leaders are joining Senate President Bill Galvano’s push for three major toll roads, which he says will bring jobs and fresh opportunity to overlooked regions of Florida. Environmentalists and many planners warn the move threatens waterways and will promote sprawl. More from the Lakeland Ledger and the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Record 17-foot python caught in Florida Everglades may signal new way to fight the giant snakes
A more than 17-foot female python became the largest ever caught in northern part of the Florida Everglades last week and may herald a new way of fighting the massive invasive snakes. The park explained the new process to hunt the non-native snakes involves outfitting male pythons with radio transmitters, “which allows the team to track the male to locate breeding females.” More from the Orlando Sentinel, the Tampa Bay Times, and AJC.
Algae plaguing Florida’s iconic springs triggers legal fight
Soon after taking office, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised long-awaited fixes for the ailing Everglades, the green slimes at the waterfronts of Stuart and Martin County and the red tides along Sarasota and Fort Myers. Those aquatic disasters have rallied broad alliances of environmentalists, anglers, waterfront homeowners, motel and restaurant owners, boaters, beachgoers and local politicians in the heavily populated bottom half of Florida. For environmentalists taking on the state over springs in a costly legal challenge, politics haven’t tipped in their favor. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Florida lawmakers push to exempt premium cigar industry
They say politics makes strange bedfellows. Sometimes in Florida, cigars do too. Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis are pushing to exempt premium cigars from federal rules that require a Surgeon General's warning to cover a third of a product's packaging and require the cigar makers to submit reports on manufacturing processes. [Source: AP]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Fort Myers construction firm completes second project for utility
Stevens Construction has completed its second project for Bonita Springs Utilities. With offices in Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando, Stevens Construction specializes in construction management, general contracting and consulting services for construction of health care, commercial and hospitality facilities.
› Hurricane outlook: Remain vigilant despite expected below-average activity, forecasters warn
From the Florida Panhandle to the Caribbean Sea, communities are still recovering from year after year of devastating hurricanes while researchers are already looking to what’s next. Early indicators point to a below-average Atlantic hurricane season, according to an annual report from Colorado State University.
› Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resort, U.S. Army now working together to employ veterans
Walt Disney World’s iconic Swan and Dolphin Resort has become the first Marriott-branded hotel in the U.S. to forge a deal with the U.S. Army to hire veterans. The pact means that when the resort’s 340-room third tower opens in 2021, it could do so with a healthy number of workers who have served in the military.
› Gov. DeSantis at Women’s Final Four: ‘If you like marquee sporting events, Florida’s a great place to be’
After coaches for Baylor and Notre Dame took the dais at Amalie Arena to address the media ahead of Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball national championship, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis followed to discuss the impact of such an event on the Tampa Bay community.
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