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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Court won’t block 17 Florida felons from voting
Siding with plaintiffs, a federal appeals court has refused to put on hold a decision that bans the state from denying the right to vote to felons who are unable to pay court-ordered fees and fines. Monday’s ruling by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allows the 17 plaintiffs in the case, felons who claim they are unable to pay “legal financial obligations” required by a state law, to cast ballots in the March 17 presidential primary election.
› Publix Keeps Setting Sales, Profit Records
Publix doesn't need a sales boost from fears over a pandemic to post record-breaking increases in revenue and profits. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocery chain said its fiscal 2019 sales were a record $38.1 billion, a 5.6% increase from $36.1 billion in 2018. Same-store sales for the fiscal year increased 3.6%. Net earnings for the fiscal year were a record $3 billion, compared to $2.4 billion in 2018, an increase of 26.2%.
› Florida organizations awarded $349,979 for water quality projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized two organizations in Florida as recipients of South Florida Geographic Initiative (SFGI) Program grants. The grants are for projects that support protection and restoration of water quality, corals and seagrass in South Florida.
› Councilman says JEA should hold off on ratifying controversial contracts
City Council member Rory Diamond asked JEA on Monday to wait for a special council committee to finish its investigation before JEA ratifies contracts that were approved outside the utility’s procurement rules. Diamond said in a letter sent Monday to the JEA board that the investigative committee’s review on the attempted sale of JEA includes examining whether outside firms are “owed anything further from JEA.”
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