BP settlement money flows to Panhandle

The Triumph Gulf Coast board of directors, set up by the Legislature to oversee settlement money from the Deepwater Horizon disaster, agreed to dish out more than $18 million for the first four regional-economic development projects in Northwest Florida. The first grant approved by the Triumph board will provide $10 million to the Port of Panama City for a major expansion of port capacity. Triumph is also providing $1.5 million toward improving water and sewer infrastructure for an Okaloosa County industrial site. See where more of the money is going in the news release. Also read more at the Gainesville Sun and Florida Politics.

Russian trolls' post-election task: Disrupt Florida and other U.S. energy pipelines

Russian trolls posted, tweeted or retweeted at least 9,097 times about U.S. energy projects or environmental issues between 2015 and 2017, including the $3 billion Sabal Trail Pipeline designed to carry natural gas to Florida from Alabama. The social media propaganda was part of a broad Kremlin campaign to disrupt the booming American energy industry, which seemingly overnight has emerged as a threat to Russia’s global dominance. [Source: McClatchy]

Court rejects Keys residents’ challenge to Citizens rates

An appellate court has rejected a community group’s challenge to premium levels for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. customers in Monroe County. State law provides no avenue for the formal administrative challenge sought by Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe Inc., a unanimous three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee concluded on Monday. See the ruling here. Also read more at Florida Politics.

Sen. Rubio: Corporations aren't investing tax cuts in jobs

Sen. Marco Rubio says big businesses aren't investing much of their windfall from President Donald Trump's tax cuts into their workers. The Florida Republican told The Economist that "there's no evidence whatsoever that the money's been massively poured back into the American worker." [Source: AP]

Florida regulators to review utilities' hurricane plans

With another hurricane season a month away, utilities in the state are finally getting graded on their performance in September’s Hurricane Irma and 2016’s Hurricane Matthew. The Florida Public Service Commission has scheduled a hurricane workshop tomorrow and Thursday to review the utilities’ performance and learn about preparations for the upcoming hurricane season. Find out more about the PSC's workshop, and how to watch it, in their news release. Also read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and WJXT.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Hamilton County: A fertile address for agribusiness and more [Hamilton County Development Authority]
Hamilton County is “Florida’s Front Porch” for start-ups, retailers, manufacturers, industry and increasingly agribusiness. Ample open acreage and shovel-ready land, logistical services, key infrastructure, a skilled workforce and Southern hospitality, all make Hamilton County the perfect patch to plant your roots and grow your business. [Sponsored report]

› New development increasing in Tallahassee [WCTV]
According to the permitting department, permits are increasing across the board for commercial, single family and multi-family developments. This year alone, Tallahassee has already permitted 2.5 million square feet of non-residential development; that's more than all of last year.

› Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin updates progress on Cape rocket facilities [Orlando Sentinel]
Tucked away in Blue Origin’s coverage of its launch in Texas on Sunday were some details on progress being made at its new facilities in Cape Canaveral. The company is currently hiring locally and gearing up its rocket factory near Kennedy Space Center and at its operations at Launch Complex 36.

› Lockheed Martin opens new facility in Florida [News Release]
Lockheed Martin has formally opened a new manufacturing facility in Pinellas Park, FL that will create more than 80 new jobs by mid-2019. These new jobs are in addition to the 30 Lockheed Martin jobs added late last year to support the increasing F-35 production rate. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-May.

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› Broward County sues governor over state prohibition on local gun control laws [Miami Herald]
The county where Parkland high school students started the #NeverAgain movement for stronger gun control filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Rick Scott and others Monday over a state law preempting the county government from passing tighter restrictions on firearms.

› Stranded in Houston, Tampa relief shipment to Puerto Rico gets some help [Tampa Bay Times]
The 142-foot relief ship Glory put to sea three weeks ago from Port Tampa Bay with four shipping containers packed with supplies donated to the nonprofit Good Samaritan Shipping Ministries of Port St. Lucie.

› Florida considers new shark-fishing rules [Lakeland Ledger]
Shore-based shark fishing, which attracts sharks already near land to feed in areas that often have low visibility, is increasing in conflict with where people swim and surf. And now, amid calls to restrict or ban shark fishing from beaches, piers and bridges, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directed staff members to craft new rules. See the statement from the FWC Commission on shore-based shark fishing, here.

› FirstBank Florida celebrates 70 Years in business at annual Gathering of Friends [Miami's Community Newspapers]
FirstBank Florida, a full-service commercial bank based in Miami, hosted its annual Gathering of Friends on at the The Wharf Miami in honor of its 70th anniversary. More than 400 of South Florida’s top businesses and community representatives were in attendance at Miami’s hottest new venue to celebrate this enormous milestone.