Business priorities struggled with this year's Florida Legislature

After 10 years of mostly playing offense in the Legislature, there has been a pendulum swing where business groups are getting a little more push back the other way. Workers compensation issues will rank as one of the biggest disappointments for the business community. [Source: Times/Herald]

See also:
» Business groups want workers' comp fix, now
» Florida Legislature 2017: What passed and what failed

Florida citrus industry gets $84 million

Florida’s legislature has approved a 2017 budget that includes $23 million for the state’s citrus industry. Combined with the $61 million 2016-17 federal budget agreement reached in Congress this month, the state’s citrus industry receives funding needed to continue several vital programs. [Source: The Packer]

See also:
» Nelson, Rubio join forces to prod Senate leaders for help with citrus greening in Florida
» Late Season Rally in Forecast for Florida Orange Crop

Florida state budget cuts arts and culture funding

Arts and cultural organizations take another big hit in the new state budget approved by the Florida Legislature and awaiting a signature or veto from Gov. Rick Scott. The state budget provides $29.8 million in four arts and cultural-related categories, down from $33 million last year and the $43.3 million allocated in 2014. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Experts see climate change peril for South Florida's black and Hispanic communities

African-American, Caribbean-American and Hispanic communities are typically located miles from South Florida beaches where climate change is most visible — but people who live in those areas are profoundly vulnerable to the effects, political leaders and climate science experts say. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown guilty of taking money from charity

Former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown was found guilty on Thursday of taking money from a charity that was purported to be giving scholarships to poor students. Brown, a Democrat who represented the Florida district that included Jacksonville since 1993, had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. Full story from Reuters, here. Also read more at the AP and the Florida Times-Union.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

›St. Augustine Distillery claims current laws discriminate against distilleries [Ponte Vedra Recorder]
The CEO of the St. Augustine Distillery says a bill recently passed by the Florida legislature allowing craft distilleries to sell more bottles directly to consumers still requires them to abide by regulations more stringent and antiquated than those mandated for breweries and wineries.

› Federal judge dismisses counties' challenge to All Aboard Florida [TCPalm]
In a major hit to the Treasure Coast’s battle against All Aboard Florida, a federal judge this week threw out Martin and Indian River counties' lawsuits against the passenger railroad.

› Default rates stagnate for Florida small business loans [Tampa Bay Times]
Default rates on Florida small business loans have flattened out at a higher-than-normal level. According PayNet data released Thursday, the default rate for March was 2.54 percent, virtually unchanged from February.

› Coral Gables approves Florida’s first plastic bag ban [Miami Herald]
The Coral Gables ban on plastic bags is now official. Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance this week, making the Gables the first city in Florida to ban the use of single-use, carryout plastic bags.

Your turn:
» Do you favor a statewide ban on plastic bags? (quick poll)

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› Passengers on the rise at Pensacola International Airport [Pensacola News-Journal]
As the summer tourism season inches closer, a key test for the region’s busiest hospitality months will center on Pensacola International Airport's ability to carry a strong spring performance into the summer.

› Lee numbers confirm lackluster tourism high season [Fort Myers News-Press]
Data shared Thursday with the Lee County Tourist Development Council confirmed that, compared with first quarter 2016, Q-1 of 2017 was "meh."

› Spirit Airlines, Pilots Agree to Keep Talking Over Contract [AP]
Spirit Airlines says union pilots have agreed to extend indefinitely an injunction barring them from conducting a work slowdown while the two sides negotiate over a new contract.

› 20% of Miami-Dade Transit’s bus drivers absent every day [Miami Today]
Twenty percent of Miami-Dade Transit’s bus drivers are absent every day, all the time, which costs the county money, according to Mayor Carlos Giménez.