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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida elections officials ask lawmakers not to make voting changes before 2024
Florida’s elections supervisors are asking state lawmakers not to implement changes to vote-by-mail ballots before the 2024 presidential election, warning that it will confuse voters and slow down vote counting. The state’s 67 county election supervisors are unanimous in their opposition to implementing the legislation before 2024, their report to lawmakers stated. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Trail of settlement payments paints picture of turbulent years at Manatee County
Manatee County has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in agreements with former staff members terminated over the past two years. Ranging from prominent roles such as county administrator, HR director and public safety director down to the volunteer level, there are at least 13 former employees who unceremoniously parted ways from Manatee County. Those employees earned a big settlement packages in mediation agreements or severance packages worth a total of $946,795, plus significant additional benefits. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Orlando energy summit seeks reduced utility costs for low-income homes
Sierra Club members and other energy environmentalists will hold a daylong summit in Orlando on Thursday to build support for reducing utility bill burdens for low-income households. The Sierra Club will be joined in the summit at the University of Central Florida’s downtown Orlando campus by groups such as the Cleo Institute, Catalyst Miami and Florida Clinicians for Climate Action. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Miami’s hidden high ground: What sea rise risk means for some prime real estate
The highest points in Miami-Dade County are unmarked and largely unnoticed. But high ground has played an outsized role in the history of South Florida’s development — and, more importantly, offers clues about how climate change could shape the region’s future. Starting with its real estate market. More from the Miami Herald.
Port Tampa Bay approves deal for $50 million logistics, distribution center
A Maryland shipping logistics company is coming to Tampa in a deal that Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson called “potentially one of the biggest modern opportunities in the modern history of our port.” Tradepoint Tampa, an offshoot of Port of Baltimore logistics and industrial center Tradepoint Atlantic, will lease 35 acres to build a $50 million, 500,000-square-foot distribution facility designed to move cargo between ships, trucks and rail cars. The 40-year lease, approved Tuesday by port commissioners, could draw companies looking to push additional cargo through Tampa. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Value-based care is key to increasing health care quality in Florida
As part of its efforts to continually improve residents’ health and access to care, the state of Florida proudly stands as an early adopter of a nationwide shift toward value-based care, which incentivizes providers to value quality of care over number of patients treated. This health care delivery model reimburses providers (physicians, hospitals, labs, nurses and others) based on the health outcomes of their patients and the quality of service rendered. [Sponsored report]
Business Profile
A mobile plant shop? Parrish woman branched out with new business during pandemic
Parrish resident Taylor Robison takes her converted horse trailer, nicknamed “Polly,” to pop ups around Bradenton and Sarasota, selling low-maintenance house plants. Her business, Pilea Plants and Things, is really an expression of her love of plants, and an outgrowth of the pandemic when she she had to quit her job to take care of her young child.
» More from the Bradenton Herald.
Entertainment
Blending golf and tech
Save your polite golf clap for outdoors. Golf will be getting the flashy, high-tech treatment in a new indoor venue to be built on Palm Beach State College property that will become the home of TGL, a virtual course that will host PGA Tour superstars in prime-time televised team play beginning in January 2024.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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