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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida cannabis had a big year. What’s coming in 2020?
The New Year brings a whole new list of things to watch in the cannabis space, like a push to let 2020 voters decide to allow recreational marijuana in the state, a list of bills that could reform the Florida marijuana industry and a state Supreme Court decision that could be pivotal in shaping the marijuana licensing system for years to come. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
No texting and driving, minimum wage change and new smoking age. Here are 2020’s new laws
2020 is expected to bring new resolutions, “2020 vision” memes and jokes about hosting Great Gatsby-esque parties. It’s also bringing a batch of new laws. While most of Florida’s new laws went into effect over the summer or upon Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing them into law, there are a few that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. More from the Miami Herald, WCTV, and Florida Today.
Is vanilla the next exotic crop for Florida?
The vanilla bean is an exotic thing — the only edible fruit of the orchid family — and an essential ingredient in a host of everyday favorites as well as holiday treats. Most natural vanilla comes from Madagascar, or a few other foreign locations, and demand far outstrips supply. But University of Florida scientists believe South Florida has promise as a place to grow the plants that produce one of the world’s most popular flavors. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
New infrastructure pops up across Florida as hundreds move to the state every day
Condos, houses, hotels and businesses are popping up all across Florida. According to the United States Census Bureau, about 640 people are relocating to Florida per day, less than the nearly one thousand people per day the state projected. According to the census, Florida has the third-highest population in the country. [Source: WBBH]
Hurricanes of last decade stormed into the history books
Ten years of hurricanes went by like a breeze, with dozens of names that came and went without much care, but then there were names that won’t be forgotten. It was a decade full of historical storms and milestones including two of the costliest hurricanes (2017′s Harvey and Maria), several of the most deadly (2012′s Sandy and 2017′s Harvey) and the most powerful hurricane to strike land recorded in modern history (2019′s Dorian). [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Culligan to buy AquaVenture Holdings of Tampa for $1.1 billion
Culligan, a household name in water treatment, is buying Tampa-grown AquaVenture Holdings for $1.1 billion, including debt. AquaVenture, currently a publicly traded company, has 665 employees, about a sixth of them at its principal offices north of Race Track Road near the Hillsborough-Pinellas county line.
› Will Florida be next state to loosen fireworks laws?
Current Florida law prohibits the purchase of some larger fireworks unless they’re being used for agricultural purposes. States across the country have slowly loosened laws on the use of larger fireworks over the last 20 years. Between 2017 and 2018, fireworks-related injuries across the country dropped from 12,900 to 9,100.
› Jacksonville-based Boys & Girls Clubs program builds youth entrepreneurs
For a third-grade school project, Jordan Johnson was asked, “If you could own a business, what would it be?” His concept was a clothing line with a science-fiction and neurology theme, which were among his favorite topics. Now 16, Jordan has transformed his third-grade idea into a fledgling nonprofit business through a pilot Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship project at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.
› Race to complete St. Pete Pier by spring heading into final lap
Some time this spring, the city’s new $92-million Pier will begin to welcome visitors. But city officials have yet to pinpoint an exact date for its debut. Forecasts over the years have veered from the wildly optimistic 2015 to the fall of 2019, and most recently to “substantial completion” by December.
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