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Monday's Daily Pulse

Will legislators lift the veil on ‘dark money’ in Florida politics?

Florida law allows groups that accept contributions from corporations to legally distribute money to other political committees, including those controlled by legislators, without reporting the source of the cash. This is often referred to as “dark money.” Now, Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) and Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne) have proposed legislation that would ban the practice of committees transferring funds to other committees, allowing the public to better see who gives and who gets millions in political contributions. Their proposals are HB 1057 and SB 1178. [Source: Times/Herald]

Your turn:
» Should Florida legislators lift the veil on "dark money," i.e. political contributions from groups made up of unknown members? (quick poll)

Florida's workplace death rate rises more than nation's

Even as workers’ chances of dying on the job have declined nationally, Florida’s workplaces collectively have become less safe in recent years, new data shows. During the most recent year-long reporting period, Florida’s rate of fatalities increased from 2.7 to 3.1 for every 1,000 workers. See Florida statistics for 2015, with industry breakouts, demographic information. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.

Welcomed at Florida colleges, AP credit re-examined in Ivy League

By law, Florida must reward students who pass an AP exam with college credit and/or advanced standing to skip through to the next level course. But there’s no guarantee that same payoff awaits at some of the nation’s most elite institutions. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

Republicans lead fight to ban fracking in Florida

Legislators are pushing the bill to safeguard Florida's clean water supply, which is the drinking water source for 90 percent of Floridians and a major player in the state's economy, from agriculture to tourism. [Source: AP]

Disney agrees to pay $3.8 million in back wages to Florida workers

The Walt Disney Co. will pay $3.8 million in back wages to Florida employees in an agreement reached with the U.S. Labor Department. The back wages will be paid to 16,339 employees of the Disney Vacation Club Management Corp. and the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc., both in Florida. Full news release from the Department of Labor, here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times and UPI.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› South Florida film industry gets boost from Nickelodeon
It’s a big boost for South Florida’s TV industry. Viacom studios in downtown Miami will be the backdrop for Nickelodeon’s upcoming series, “I Am Frankie.”

› Florida unit investigating Medicaid fraud gets high marks
Florida is among one of the nation's top states in recovering money from health care providers suspected of Medicaid fraud.

› Jacksonville leaders look for ways to bring more people to city’s waterways
Jacksonville boasts the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean, the rolling rhythms of the St. Johns River, the steady flow of the Intracoastal Waterway, the rippling creeks of the Timucuan Preserve.

› A health system bets big on Miami’s future in health-tech
Three startups and a handful of other young companies are working closely with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital as part of a comprehensive innovation strategy within Miami Children’s Health System

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Officials: Florida has won the battle against screwworms
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says it will wind down its response against flesh-eating maggots that threaten small, endangered deer in a national wildlife refuge in the Florida Keys.

› Weston startup completes more than $1 million financing round
Weston-based startup Candidate.Guru has completed a $1.1 million financing round, topped off by $300,000 from The Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research, which operates out of Gainesville and Boca Raton.

› BayCare and Publix Pharmacy to partner for health services
In as soon as four months, BayCare telehealth services will be installed in Publix locations in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, while Publix pharmacies will open in five BayCare hospitals.

› Miami official says Airbnb and homestead exemption incompatible
Miami-Dade homeowners frequently renting stays to Airbnb customers risk losing their homestead exemptions, according to a new advisory from the elected property appraiser — the latest example of the popular “home sharing” service dividing the county’s political establishment.