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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Legislature sends COVID-19 vaccine bills to Gov. DeSantis . Now what?
On the last day of Florida’s special legislative session, the message from Republicans: Our party will fight federal mandates. The Democratic party line: this week’s lawmaking was a gigantic waste of time. But the fate of the three-day session is still to be decided. Details in the most important bill are up to the state’s Department of Health to interpret. And federal courts will determine how the bills passed by Florida lawmakers Wednesday will be felt in the workplace. [Source: Tamap Bay Times]
Florida strawberry season impacted by our changing climate
In order for Florida's strawberries to be as delicious as possible, paying attention to the weather is critical and that starts with when to plant. With the summer heat now extending from September into October, that time has been pushed later in the season. Our warmer, changing climate is forcing farmers to make changes themselves. [Source: WTSP]
Hiring bonuses up to $5K, other incentives announced for Florida corrections officers
New incentives and hiring bonuses were announced Wednesday for Florida correctional officers, according to a release from the governor’s office. Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office said hiring bonuses of up to $5,000 will be offered by the state and the Florida Department of Corrections. A $3,000 new hire bonus would be offered for all new correctional officers and a $1,000 bonus would be offered for correctional officers to join “high vacancy institutions” or for certified correctional officer applicants. [Source: Click Orlando]
Florida restaurants prepare for Michelin inspections that could transform them
Michelin Guide announced it’s coming to Florida to rate restaurants in Orlando, Miami, and Tampa, after forming a partnership with VISIT FLORIDA and the respective tourism bureaus in the three cities. The Florida expansion will represent just the fifth region Michelin Guide serves across the United States, after New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and California. [Source: WFTS]
Florida Trend Exclusive
S2A Modular plans to build its first Florida “mega-factory” in Macclenny
S2A Modular, which makes homes and commercial units that generate and store their own electricity, plans to build its first Florida “mega-factory” in Macclenny. The factory, to be built on 51 acres in the Enterprise East Industrial Park, will include 13 buildings, totaling more than 240,000 square feet, and will produce 2,000 modules a year. Modules equate to rooms required to build a home, hotel or commercial building. About 250 employees will work there, with 80% to 90% being general laborers who will be trained on-site. [Source: Florida Trend]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Universal drops face mask requirement for vaccinated employees
Universal Orlando is no longer requiring fully vaccinated employees to wear face coverings at its parks, the company revealed Wednesday. Previously, Universal required all employees to wear masks indoors in public areas regardless of their vaccination status. A post on Universal Orlando’s employee website said the change was due to the lower community positivity rate of COVID-19. Employees can still choose to wear face coverings if they want.
› Why Southlight Gallery's business model helped in downtown Jacksonville
Throughout the country, many downtowns have struggled in recent decades as people and businesses left for the suburbs. The struggle continues as many companies embrace a work-from-home model. Jacksonville is no exception.
› Latin rapper Bad Bunny accuses South Florida brewery of illegally using his images and trademark
Rapper Bad Bunny is accusing a South Florida craft brewer of bad behavior. The popular Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and producer says Hialeah-based Unbranded Brewing Company is illegally using his name, image and likeness to market one of its brews. In a lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Miami, Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, said the company named one of its beer products San Benito — the trademark that Ocasio uses to provide producer services.
› Hillsborough limits summer fertilizer use
Hillsborough County wants to reduce fish-killing pollution in Tampa Bay. Wednesday, commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance limiting fertilizer use during Florida’s rainy season. It prohibits application of landscape fertilizers, containing nitrogen or phosphorus, from June 1 to Sept. 30 each year.
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