State reaches opioid settlements topping $870 million

With jury selection scheduled to begin next week in the state’s lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers, Attorney General Ashley Moody reached settlements totaling more than $870 million with nearly all of the defendants in the case. The state had already reached agreements totaling more than $1.6 billion with a variety of other companies as part of a nationwide settlement announced last year. More from the News Service of Florida, WPLG and CBS Miami.

After two years, CDC removes coronavirus travel warning for cruises

The CVS drug store company and pharmaceutical companies will pay Florida a combined $860 million as part of the settlement of an opioid epidemic case, state officials said Wednesday. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said CVS Health Corp. and CVS Pharmacy Inc. will pay the state $484 million. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. agreed to pay $195 million and Allergan PLC more than $134 million. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida expert explains how space tourism can grow economy

A ticket to space easily costs $100,000-plus, but space tourism’s appeal to a high net worth crowd may be priceless. That’s according to site selection expert John Boyd, principal of Boca Raton-based The Boyd Co. Inc. The presence of celebrities and globally known billionaires in the emerging aerospace sector creates unusual public interest in space tourism, Boyd says.  That’s important because space tourism and private space travel are poised to play a growing role in Central Florida’s economy. [Source: Orlando Business Journal]

Florida digital driver's licenses still under development

Since Arizona became the first state to accept digital driver's licenses, Florida's version still isn't quite ready for primetime. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles confirmed the state continues to test its Florida Smart ID with various partners, including the general public, retailers, law enforcement and others. It was just last fall that its app was announced as part of a pilot program. [Source:  WTSP]

Gas prices rise again across Florida

Gas prices are climbing again in Florida, but GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan says while a number have states have suspended gas taxes, the move may not provide relief at the pump. De Haan says removing the tax could drive up demand and keep prices up. Florida included a gas tax holiday in the upcoming fiscal year budget, but it doesn't happen until October. More from WFLA and KPVI.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Will the Legislature kill Disney’s self-governing ability over ‘parental rights’ law opposition? [Florida Politics]
Florida lawmakers have held multiple meetings discussing changes to a self-governing arrangement Disney has enjoyed with the state for decades. The potential aggressive move against one of Florida’s most prominent employers comes as Republicans and Disney leadership publicly spar over a controversial statute critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

› Brevard County Commissioner argues Florida should kill manatees to save them [Florida Today]
As threatened manatees die in unprecedented numbers throughout Florida, mostly from starvation due to a dearth of seagrass, its staple food, a Brevard County Commissioner is proposing "culling" sea cows like states do with their excess bear, wolf and deer populations.

› Interest rates are up and rising. Here’s what Tampa Bay banks see coming. [Tampa Bay Times]
News that the Federal Reserve was raising interest rates by a quarter of a point didn’t come as a big surprise to Tampa Bay bankers — the move was widely expected as a measure to cool down persistent inflation. The Fed isn’t done, either, indicating that rates are likely to rise a few more times before year’s end, pushing the prime rate over 5 percent or even 6 percent. The question now is: How much higher will interest rates get before local customers scale back their borrowing?

› Miami hotels scramble to find staff [Miami Today]
Staffing issues in the hospitality industry remain the top concern for the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, said Matthias Kammerer, its new board chairman, as tourism recovery trends show optimism for later this year. A Florida visitor estimates and travel industry trends report from Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, released Feb. 15, indicated that during the last quarter of last year, 30.9 million visitors came to Florida, a 61.9% increase since 2020 and a 0.2% increase since 2019.

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› With Florida BOG approval, Rhea Law becomes first USF alum to serve as president [WTVT]
The University of South Florida officially has a new president. The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the public universities, voted Wednesday to approve Rhea Law as the eighth president in the school's history. The vote was unanimous and comes after the Board of Trustees also unanimously selected her last week.

› Cost analysis a setback for Miami Marine Stadium return [Miami Today]
It appears the restoration of historic Miami Marine Stadium could be destined for further delays as City of Miami staff work to prepare a cost analysis report for the city commission. That news came at the latest meeting of the Virginia Key Advisory Board last week. Loraine Rosado-Pietrie, with the city Office of Capital Improvements, offered an update on the status of the stadium project and said the staff may ask for further deferrals.

› Bahia Mar land value doubles to $256 million. Fort Lauderdale in hot seat to get better deal on lease to developer. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Bahia Mar, the taxpayer-owned home of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, is one pricey peninsula. And now we know just how pricey. The 39-acre property, leased to the private sector since 1962, is worth a whopping $256.4 million in today’s sizzling-hot market, according to a recent appraisal. That’s nearly double the $129 million based on an appraisal done 10 years ago.

› Sarasota technology company board member to retire after 21 years [Business Observer]
As the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. After 21 years, Helios Technologies Inc. board member Marc Bertoneche is planning to retire. Bertoneche’s retirement will be made official at the Sarasota-based engineered motion control and electronic controls technology company’s annual meeting in June. In a press release, board Chair Philippe Lemaitre expressed the board’s regards in a nod to Bertoneche’s years of service.