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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida has handled nearly 300,000 Puerto Rican refugees since Hurricane Maria; Gov. Scott says state will welcome more
If there was any doubt about the dramatic impact the aftermath of Hurricane Maria has had on Puerto Rico, Florida Gov. Rick Scott emphasized the state has now taken in between one-fifth to one-tenth of the entire population of the U.S. territorial island since the storm. More from the Florida Times-Union and WLRN.
See also:
» Students displaced by Hurricane Maria able to earn Puerto Rican diploma, officials say
» FEMA extends housing program for Puerto Ricans displaced by Maria
Storm resembling ‘winter hurricane’ to dump snow from Florida to Carolinas, ravage Northeast
Brutal winter weather that’s brought subzero temperatures to parts of the U.S. is threatening to dump snow and ice across parts of the South that rarely see flurries, much less accumulation. The National Weather Service said a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain — termed by some as resembling a "winter hurricane" — was expected Wednesday mainly along the Atlantic seaboard. [Source: AP]
See also:
» Gov. Scott: North Florida families need to prepare for severe cold weather
A half-dozen Florida laws being rung in with the new year
Six bills from the 2017 legislative session became effective with the arrival of the New Year. The changes range from eliminating a public-transit commission to streamlining how unmarried and divorced parents agree to time-sharing arrangements for children. Below are links to the text of the new laws. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- HB 647: Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission
- CS/CS/SB 590: Child Support and Parenting Time Plans
- CS/CS/HB 435: International Financial Institutions
- CS/CS/HB 437: Pub. Rec./International Financial Institutions
- CS/CS/SB 800: Medication Synchronization
- CS/CS/HB 911: Insurance Adjusters
Children become collateral damage in Florida opioid crisis
The statistics are staggering across the state. More than 4,000 babies were born addicted to opioids in Florida in 2016, an increase of over 1,000 percent from a decade ago. Substance abuse played a role in two-thirds of the cases where children were removed from their homes within 30 days of birth last year. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida lawmakers reigniting debate over regulating vacation rental homes
The rental issue has roiled many beach communities, where permanent residents complain about large numbers of homes being converted into nightly and weekly rentals that generate trash and noise. Critics of vacation rental regulations argue they hurt Florida’s tourism industry and infringe on property rights. This year, for the second time, state Sen. Greg Steube (R, Sarasota) has filed legislation that would give state officials sole authority over vacation rentals and expand on the state licensing system for rentals. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Derek Jeter business plan projects big profits and spike in Marlins attendance
Marlins CEO Derek Jeter, who has slashed about $36 million in player payroll in recent weeks, in August circulated a document to potential investors that projects the Marlins will make an enormous profit in 2018 and sizable profits the following three years.
› Royal Caribbean, Celebrity cruise lines raising daily gratuity costs
If you plan to sail on Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises in 2018, expect to pay a bit more for the gratuities those lines charge. Beginning Tuesday, passengers on both of these Miami-based lines will be billed $1 more per person per day for the prepaid tips automatically added to the cost of their trip.
› Espero BioPharma, a company founded in Jacksonville, looks to clinical trials to help introduce two new medications
In 2014 Quang Pham founded Espero Pharmaceuticals, which the Jacksonville Business Journal called “the fastest growing company in Jacksonville” last year. Now the company, renamed Espero BioPharma after a merger, is preparing to launch new clinical trials .
› Real snowbirds, white pelicans, are back in Florida
Migrating American white pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, have returned to Florida for the winter. With a nine-foot wingspan, they are some of the largest birds in North America.
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