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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida forecasters, state aware of ‘skittishness’ following three years of big storms
After going more than a decade without a direct hit, Florida has taken severe blows during the past three years, with Hurricane Matthew skirting the East Coast and Hurricane Hermine knocking out power in the Tallahassee area in 2016, Irma barreling through much of the state in 2017 and Michael devastating Bay County and eastern parts of the Panhandle last year. More from the Panama City News Herald and the Gainesville Sun.
See also:
» Hurricane speak: Leaders seek to save lives by shifting tropical storm language
Nearly $40 million was spent to lobby Florida lawmakers in the first three months
Lobbying the Legislature is big business. During the first three months of the year, companies, local governments and other clients paid an estimated $37.4 million to lobbying firms for legislative work, according to state numbers. Lobbying firms are required to file quarterly reports that offer a picture of how much they get paid. The numbers aren’t exact because firms largely report their income in ranges, though specific information is available about payments of $50,000 or more. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida's Cannabis Director says hemp permits could be issued before the year is out
Florida’s Director of Cannabis has only been on the newly-created job a few months, but is already helping architect the foundation for a state hemp program. The state hemp program, given the green light by Florida legislators this session, is still waiting on a signature from Governor Ron DeSantis. But plans are already in motion to have grower permits issued, potentially before the year is out. [Source: WFSU]
Hit-or-miss hauls end another unpredictable Florida stone crab season
It was a strange boom-or-bust season for stone crabbers on Florida’s west coast, and to an extent, for the consumers who yearn for that sweet, flaky and oh-so-pricey claw meat. The effects of a long-lasting red tide that persisted since the previous season left crab traps woefully uncrowded from Marco Island north to Tampa Bay, said Ryan Gandy, research scientist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida farmers struggle to compete with Mexican imports
Florida farmers are struggling to compete with cheaper, foreign imports from countries such as Mexico. Farmers worry unfair trade practices endanger the state's agriculture industry. Subsidies, along with lax labor standards and farming regulations, mean it’s incredibly cheap to grow produce in Mexico. [Source: WJCT]
Natural gas is driving Florida forward
Nearly 30% of total U.S. energy consumption is in the transportation sector — mainly fuels used for automobiles, rail, aircraft, ships and barges.
Most of these fleets can use natural gas to reduce costs, lower emissions and strengthen resiliency. And in Florida, many do. Read the full sponsored report here.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Federal judge orders top Carnival executives — including chairman Arison — to court
A federal judge ordered top Carnival Corporation executives, including chairman Micky Arison and president Arnold Donald, to appear in court on June 3. The Miami-based cruise company, the largest in the world, is charged with violating its probation.
› Florida gas prices reach lowest since March
Gas prices continued their unseasonable downward tear last week, making for the lowest Memorial Day weekend gas prices in two years and the lowest state prices since March. According to AAA, the Auto Club Group, Florida gas prices were $2.60 on average Monday, down 3 cents over the week.
› Scooters have arrived on Tampa sidewalks, and there are ‘growing pains’
Electric scooters descended on the city Saturday, with people taking several thousand trips during Memorial Day weekend. But problems have already arisen. The latest transportation fad is solidly in place in several cities, but Tampa has taken its time launching the one-year pilot program, which allows up to 2,400 scooters to operate around town.
› SeaWorld will buy back $150 million in shares
SeaWorld Entertainment, an Orlando-based company that runs 12 theme parks across the country, will buy back about 5.6 million shares worth about $150 million from an affiliate of Pacific Alliance Group, the company said in a new SEC filing Tuesday.
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