Florida farmers take to growing hemp

Hemp is a hot new crop in Florida’s agriculture inventory in the seven months since it was first allowed to be legally grown in the Sunshine State, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told business leaders. Fried said 22,078 acres are currently licensed for hemp, nearly equal to the acreage in Florida of tomatoes, watermelon and snap peas, and double the strawberry production. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services first issued hemp cultivation permits on April 27. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Space Florida makes the case for putting U.S. Space Command at Patrick AFB

Space Florida leaders on Tuesday praised the aerospace facilities and commercial operations in the state, as site selectors inspected Patrick Air Force Base as a finalist to be the permanent command headquarters of Space Force. Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello told the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors that Florida has made a “very strong case” for the Brevard County military base south of Cape Canaveral, which is one of six finalists for U.S. Space Command headquarters. [Source: News Service of Florida]

See also:
» Trump seeks to rename 2 Space Coast Air Force bases for Space Force

New study shows Floridian renters at #2 highest risk for eviction in the U.S.

According to a new report out this week, Florida is leading in eviction statistics nationwide — in all the wrong ways. AdvsisorSmith released “States Where Renters Are at Highest Risk of Eviction,” a study that analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey for all 50 states (conducted between Oct. 28 and Nov. 9). [Source: Orlando Weekly]

Florida lawmakers to again ponder pulling the plug on red light cameras

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 63 Florida cities were operating 638 red light cameras in 2018. On Nov. 24, the Florida Supreme Court refused to take up a case challenging the South Florida city of Aventura’s red-light camera program, ruling in essence that the cameras do not violate state traffic laws and are constitutional. With legal attempts to prohibit cities and other agencies from installing red light cameras failed, Florida lawmakers will again see bills to do away with them legislatively. [Source: The Center Square]

Florida officials defend raid on COVID-19 whistleblower as questions emerge about case

Florida’s law enforcement chief and state officials with the Department of Health said their internal emergency communication system was “hacked” on Nov. 10, conjuring images of a nefarious digital break-in. But court records show officials suspect Rebekah Jones, a former DOH employee, simply used old login credentials to gain “unauthorized access” to an employee messaging platform and send a group text. The message encouraged DOH employees to “speak up” about COVID-19 deaths — and criticized how Gov. Ron DeSantis has handled the pandemic. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› SCORE Jacksonville shepherds 3,000 small businesses during pandemic [Jacksonville Daily Record]
When the pandemic struck in March, SCORE Jacksonville adapted its business: quickly switching to remote operations, assessing finances and trying to plan for the future. It did so while its staff and 68 volunteer mentors were helping thousands of Northeast Florida businesses do the same. Since the onset of the pandemic through August, SCORE has held 56 workshops with more than 1,400 attendees and hosted mentor sessions for 475 new businesses.

› DeSantis said no more virtual meetings. Some South Florida cities are doing it anyway [Miami Herald]
More than a half-dozen cities in South Florida have continued to hold government meetings entirely online as COVID-19 cases surge, even after Gov. Ron DeSantis let his executive order allowing virtual meetings expire Nov. 1 and suggested they were no longer permitted. A handful of municipalities in Northeast Miami-Dade, including Aventura, Bal Harbour Village, Golden Beach, Indian Creek Village and Surfside, have issued emergency orders authorizing the continuation of virtual meetings.

› Guatemalan chicken chain Pollo Campero plans up to 20 restaurants in Orlando area [Orlando Sentinel]
About five years after fast-casual chicken chain Pollo Campero closed its only Orlando store at Downtown Disney, the South American brand is gearing up for a big comeback in the market, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The menu focuses on traditional Guatemalan fried chicken and citrus grilled chicken, with an array of regional sides, including empanadas, yucca fries and pinto beans.

› MacDill AirFest, Blue Angels return to Tampa Bay in 2022 [Tampa Bay Times]
MacDill Air Force Base’s 2022 AirFest is scheduled for March 26 and 27 with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels as headliners. Held every two years, the Tampa Bay event was canceled this year due to concerns over the coronavirus.

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› Lake County farm opens strawberry picking season for first time [WKMG]
It’s strawberry season and a farm in Central Florida has opened up to “u-pick” customers. Southern Hills Farms in Clermont might be known for blueberry picking, but this season they are giving strawberries a try. According to the farm’s Facebook page, its first strawberry u-pick season starts this week.

› Miami-Dade Launching ‘We Can, We Will' Campaign to Prevent Holiday Covid Spread [NBC Miami]
Miami-Dade is launching a new campaign to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the county over the upcoming holidays. The “We Can, We Will” campaign is an effort by Miami-Dade County, city mayors, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, businesses and business groups, health leaders, and community leaders.

› 2021 Florida Renaissance Festival canceled amid fears of COVID surge [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The 2021 Florida Renaissance Festival has been canceled, with organizers uneasy about the trajectory of coronavirus case numbers in the state. The festival, a jolly return to 16th century England, has been a nearly 30-year ritual for South Florida families, typically stretching over seven weeks in February and March in Deerfield Beach’s Quiet Waters Park.

› Orlando OKs plan to send counselors instead of cops to some calls [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando city commissioners on Monday signed off on a one-year plan to send mental health counselors to certain nonviolent police calls and extended its test of sidewalk scooters through July. Under the plan, two teams of Aspire Health Partners’ mental health clinicians and case managers would respond to 911 calls about nonviolent suicidal people or people experiencing mental illness who need assistance.