March 29, 2024

Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 11/9/2012

Florida elections chief: 'We could have done better'

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, facing a tough grilling from CNN's Ashley Banfield, concedes that "we could have done better" in handling the election as a growing chorus of voices is openly ridiculing the state for its latest electoral embarrassment. Full story at the Tampa Bay Times.

Related:
» Rick Scott on decision not to extend early voting: 'The right thing happened'
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) is standing by his decision not to extend early voting hours, despite the fact that some voters said they waited as long as nine hours to cast a ballot. "Well I'm very comfortable that the right thing happened," he told WXMG Orlando. Video at Huffington Post.
» Florida's results could come Saturday: Absentee and provisional ballots are slowing Florida's counting.


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Medicaid Fraud Fighters

pills

In August 2011, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a three-paragraph statement announcing a $26.6-million settlement with Par Pharmaceutical Cos. At the bottom of that statement was a reference to a small Florida pharmacy called Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys.

The company filed the initial whistleblower’s lawsuit that accused Par Pharmaceuticals of inflating prices of its drugs and overcharging Medicaid. As its reward, Ven-A-Care will receive at least $23 million from the $156 million multi-state settlement.

» Medicaid Fraud Fighters

Legoland Florida opens Star Wars Miniland

Legoland Florida officially opened its Star Wars Miniland this morning, introducing guests to built-from-Lego-brick scenes from the six "Star Wars" films. General manager Adrian Jones ceremoniously cut the ribbon with a lightsaber, assisted by dozens of children in Darth Vader costumes. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]


Northeast Florida to make its case as a freight gateway

Northeast Florida must be at the front of the pack when the federal government develops a national plan for moving freight around the country, according to a draft report unveiled Thursday of the region’s freight-moving capabilities. “We have to find a way to position ourselves,” said Rob Palmer of RS&H at a meeting of the North Florida Logistics Advisory Group. [Source: Florida Times-Union]


» FRIDAY PREVIEW: Coming next week to FloridaTrend.com:

  • Call of Duty: Students at Stetson University's new law institute battle on behalf of veterans and active-duty personnel.
  • Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...: Developer Syd Kitson wanted to create the greenest city on earth on a southwest Florida cattle ranch.
  • Business Profile: The Wawa convenience store/gas station/cafe/mini-supermarket chain created a buzz when it opened its first Florida store in Orlando in July.
  • Proof of Residency: Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins vowed to establish an innovative pediatric residency program at St. Petersburg's All Children's Hospital.

» You'll find all these stories first on the Daily and Afternoon Pulse e-mails.


Out of the Box
Some still long for circus life

circus clownsThey call it the city that travels by night. Traveling entertainment is as old as civilization. But in America, the circus is an emblem of the rugged individual, frozen in our imaginations somewhere between cowboys and railway hobos. The modern circus is still a ticket to freedom and adventure. But it's also a lot of work. PETA hates you. And permitting the tents is a full-time job.

» Read full story and see a video at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Tags: Daily Pulse

In case you missed it:

Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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