Florida House and Senate nail down a spending plan

After what they called the “smoothest” budget negotiations in years, House and Senate leaders on Monday finished working out details of a spending plan that is expected to top $116 billion. The plan for the fiscal year that will start July 1 would be more than $6 billion larger than the budget for the current year. The budget, which will be published Tuesday, includes such things as Gov. Ron DeSantis starting to get $4 billion he wants for a series of highway projects. [Source: WUSF]

Bright lights, dark sand threaten Florida's sea turtles, especially in a warming world

Lights on our beach and darkness in our sands is driving the destiny of Florida's threatened and endangered sea turtles more than we know. Female sea turtles need dark places to dig their nests, otherwise they'll jettison their eggs at sea. Lights from along the dune can lure hatchlings toward beach roads instead of the ocean, only to be squashed or sunbaked to death. [Source: Florida Today]

Florida board to countersue Disney

Days after Disney sued Florida’s governor in federal court for what it described as retaliation for opposing the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, members of Disney World’s governing board — made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees — authorized a lawsuit Monday against the entertainment giant. Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to sue Disney in state court in the Orlando area, as well as defend itself in federal court in Tallahassee where the entertainment company filed its lawsuit last Wednesday. More from the AP and the Orlando Sentinel]

Legislators want to end local fertilizer bans. Critics say it’s gift to phosphate industry

Florida legislators are poised to block one of the most effective tools local governments say they have to protect water quality in their communities in the face of red tide and blue-green algae outbreaks by banning rainy season restrictions on fertilizer use. A measure quietly tucked into a budget proposal over the weekend, would prohibit at least 117 local governments from “adopting or amending a fertilizer management ordinance” during the 2023-24 budget year, requiring them to rely on less restrictive regulations developed by the University of Florida, which are supported by the state’s phosphate industry, the producers of fertilizer. [Source: Miami Herald]

Shipwreck found off Florida beach is much larger than originally suspected, team says

A mysterious shipwreck that emerged off Daytona Beach, Florida, is three times larger than initially described, according to marine archaeologists. The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum came to that conclusion after sending a team to examine the wreck, which appeared around April 20 in the 3200 block of Daytona Beach Shores. Volusia County officials estimated it may be a 25- to 30-foot ship, but archaeologists say a lot more is hidden below the sand. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Industrial landlords more willing to negotiate lease terms, report says [South Florida Business Journal]
Although rents continue to rise in South Florida, landlords are more willing to negotiate with tenants on lease terms, a recent brokerage report states. According to Lee & Associates' industrial market overview report, the average asking rent for an industrial space was $15.40 per square in the first quarter of 2023, a 28.23% increase from the prior year.

› ‘Problematic at best’: Gainesville mayor cites financial harm to city with GRU bill [Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward sent out a letter this week detailing what he considers numerous flaws with an unprecedented bill that aims to give control of a municipal utility to board members appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The letter was sent Wednesday to state Rep. Chuck Clemons, who sponsored the legislation, a day prior to approval by the Florida House of Representatives. It states that the implementation of House Bill 1645 is "problematic at best" and would have significant and negative effects on city government and taxpayers, despite a questionable economic impact report stating otherwise.

› Quiznos, taco chain plan statewide convenience store expansion [Business Observer]
The Denver-based parent company of fast-casual brands Quiznos and Taco Del Mar plans to open more than a dozen new dual-restaurant locations in Florida convenience stores, starting with Lee and Sarasota counties. REGO Restaurant Group, which also operates Dairy Queen, in addition to Quiznos and Taco Del Mar, entered into a deal with Doral-based Sunshine Gasoline Distributors Inc. for the expansion.

› FEMA recovery teams on ground in Fort Lauderdale; here’s how to apply for help [WPLG]
Recovery teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were on the ground in Fort Lauderdale Monday morning, after President Joe Biden approved a federal disaster declaration for Broward County. “Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” a White House news release following the declaration stated.

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› Southeastern Grocers Urges Customers to Take Action During National Hurricane Preparedness Week [Florida Trend]
Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is encouraging customers to begin preparing for natural disasters this week during National Hurricane Preparedness Week. The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1, and customers should begin to stock up now on vital items including a supply of water, non-perishable food, extra batteries, first-aid kits and more.

› Sued by Dolphins, embattled ‘fan cruise’ promoter seeks a second chance [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A vacation promoter being sued by the Miami Dolphins over a complaint-ridden “fan cruise” says he wants an opportunity to organize a second cruise and “make everything right.” “This should have been a long-term partnership,” said Jeffrey Nahom, president of Boca Raton-based First Class Cruises, the Dolphins’ partner in what was to be a three-year contract to run fan cruises in 2023, 2024 and 2025. “I still think we can somehow salvage this because a lawsuit doesn’t do anyone any good.”

› Guaranteed income program gives $874K to formerly incarcerated Alachua County residents [Gainesville Sun]
A Gainesville guaranteed income pilot program gave $874,000 to formerly incarcerated Alachua County residents during its first year. The program, Just Income, was put on by Community Spring, a Gainesville-based organization set out to combat poverty and economic injustices. As part of Just Income, 115 formerly incarcerated residents received $7,600 over the course of a year to use however they pleased.

› Mote Marine manatee Hugh died this weekend at the age of 38 in Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
One of Mote Marine's most beloved residents, Hugh, a 38-year-old Manatee, died unexpectedly on Saturday. Hugh was born at the Miami Seaquarium and was moved to Mote Marine in 1996 along with Buffett. Together, they would eat 72 to 84 heads of lettuce every day and served as animal ambassadors to help raise awareness about the need to protect endangered manatees in the wild.