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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida high court: Limits on lawyers’ fees unconstitutional
The Florida Supreme Court is declaring limits on lawyers’ fees paid in so-called claims bills are unconstitutional. The ruling issued Tuesday involves the case of Aaron Edwards who was injured at birth due to negligence at Lee County’s public hospital more than 19 years ago. In 2012, the Legislature agreed to pay $15 million to Edwards, but lawyers representing Edwards were only paid $100,000 due to a law setting legal fee limits. [Source: AP]
» See the full opinion from the Florida Supreme Court, here.
» Your turn: Do you agree with the high court on this ruling?
Florida consumer confidence at 15-year high amid growing pessimism about the future
Consumer confidence among Floridians has reached the highest point in nearly 15 years, though there is growing gloominess about what the future holds, according to a University of Florida report released Tuesday morning. Read the report from UF News, here. Also see more at the Tampa Bay Times.
Mexico-trade summit planned by Florida ports won't take place as scheduled
The Florida Ports Council on Monday postponed a summit scheduled for Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 in Orlando, as the future of trade between the U.S. and Mexico is in flux. The port summit had been billed as bringing together seaport directors with business leaders and officials from Mexico. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the Miami Herald.
The impact of Airbnb on the Sunshine State's economy
With record tourism comes big business but you won’t find a front desk at one of the largest lodging groups in the state - Airbnb. The home sharing network has almost 33,000 hosts in Florida, generating millions of dollars for it and the hosts. [Source: WLRN]
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Governor's budget warns ports against doing business with Cuba
Buried on page 222 of Gov. Scott's 363 page state budget is a line prohibiting money from a pot of $176 million for various port improvements from going to any facilities the does business with the communist nation. [Source: Times/Herald]
› Companies team up as marijuana market grows in Florida
Modern Health Concepts — one of seven licensed marijuana operations in Florida — has joined forces with an out-of-state investor to help the South Florida organization expand in the wake of a voter-approved constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana for a broad swath of patients.
› Public expresses mostly opposition to Mosaic mine expansion in Manatee County
As a public hearing about Mosaic Fertilizer's plan to expand its phosphate mining operations in the Duette-Myakka area continued this week, dozens of residents and environmentalists urged the Manatee County Commission to deny the project.
› Florida lawmaker proposes tax cuts for hiring veterans
From Governor Rick Scott on down, Florida’s leaders are intent on attracting veterans to the state. Jacksonville Democratic Representative Kimberly Daniels is pushing a measure that could contribute to that effort.
› After Trump, Russians are back in the game for Miami real estate
Russians topped the list of foreign nationals searching for homes on the website of the Miami Association of Realtors in November. That’s the first time Russia has finished number one since the association began tracking search data in 2013.
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