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Friday's Daily Pulse

Florida politicos: Who is attending Trump's inauguration (and who isn't)

Many Florida political leaders are in Washington, D.C. today to witness a historic transfer of power, as Republican Donald Trump officially begins his term as the 45th president on Friday. Gov. Rick Scott is there and will be attending the National Governors Association Breakfast, the inauguration and the inaguration ball in the evening. But Florida also has its share of no-shows in D.C. today, including former Gov. Jeb Bush, who dropped out of the presidential race in February weeks before Trump won the state's GOP primary. [Source: Naples Daily News]

Related:
» Full schedule of events for today's noon inauguration
» Florida women plan to protest in Northeast Florida and Jacksonville, Central Florida, Tampa Bay and Washingon D.C.

New deal? Florida appeals Seminole Tribe blackjack ruling

Florida is pushing ahead in its legal tussle with the Seminole Tribe of Florida over the tribe's estimated $2 billion a year gambling operation. The administration of Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday appealed a decision by a federal judge who ruled the tribe can keep blackjack tables at most of its well-known casinos. [Source: AP]

Florida Blue enrollment, billing glitches continuing

Complaints to Florida Blue about billing and activation problems are continuing more than a week after the insurer said it had solved a computer glitch that caused thousands of health insurance policies to show up as "cancelled." [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Venezuela leads South Florida in foreign residential investment

Foreign investors spent $6.2 billion on residential properties in South Florida last year with Venezuela leading the pack. Buyers from Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, and Canada spent the most on homes in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Marin counties. Full report from the MIAMI Association of REALTORS®, here.

One prison is by far the deadliest in Florida

Three years after Dade Correctional Institution was thrust into the national spotlight for the death of an inmate locked in a boiling shower in its mental health unit, deaths at the prison have soared to unprecedented heights. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Everglades restoration: Is it for the birds?
Environmentalists face a difficult choice in the Everglades. Proposed restoration efforts — which would increase flow to the Everglades — could threaten more than one endangered species. Preserving the habitat for the endangered birds could slow or restrict some restoration efforts.

› Sanford Burnham faculty decides to leave institute
The Sanford Burnham faculty in Lake Nona likely will start leaving the beleaguered institute in the coming months as their leaders explore options to save the research center.

› Haas Center director bullish on Northwest Florida economy
Northwest Florida's economic guru gave local builders and Realtors a reason Wednesday to be optimistic in 2017. "Overall, I see good things for Okaloosa and Walton counties in the coming year," said Zach Jenkins, the director of the University of West Florida's Haas Center.

› Inauguration Day adorned with Florida tassel ties
Inauguration Day for President-Elect Donald Trump will have ties to South Florida made of golden and looped thread. A South Florida business made the tassels that will adorn all 110,000 programs for guests at the event.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Tourism is a numbers game that Charlotte County is winning
In 2015, the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, which includes Englewood Beach, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, welcomed an estimated 351,600 visitors — resulting in approximately $345 million in direct expenditures within Charlotte County.

› Threads continue to gather for Port St. Joe Port Authority
The Gulf County Economic Development Coalition will hold a meeting this week to discuss and address challenges in providing the workforce that will be needed when an operational port, with, hopefully, Eastern Shipbuilding as a tenant, arrives.

› Opinion: Bilingual teachers, Florida needs you
¿Hablas español? Parlez-vous français? Ou pale ayisyen kreyòl? Ni huì shuo zhongguó. In today's globally interconnected world, if you don't understand at least one of these phrases, you're at a distinct disadvantage.

› Florida Firm Develops Proprietary Process for Printing F357 Aluminium Alloy
Florida metal additive manufacturing firm Sintavia, LLC announced the development of a method for producing additively-manufactured parts using aluminium/silicon alloys, including F357 aluminium alloy.