March 28, 2024

Friday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/9/2018

Florida’s pot industry on track to hit $1 billion -- but when?

Since Florida voters overwhelmingly legalized medical marijuana in 2016, the state has experienced a green rush but projections for the size of Florida's medical marijuana market vary. Challenges remain for the industry's expansion, for example many municipalities and landlords have given cannabis dispensaries the cold shoulder. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

Florida legislators pass rival $87 billion budgets

With less than a month to work out substantial differences, the Republican-controlled Florida House and Senate on Thursday passed dueling $87 billion budgets for the coming year. While the two chambers propose spending roughly the same, they are not spending the same in key areas, including on environmental programs, public schools and on state universities. [Source: AP]

Opinion: Affordable housing good for Florida business, economy

Fully funding our affordable housing programs is good for all Florida businesses and our economy. Affordable housing generates jobs in home construction, which is a major economic driver in the state. This industry also fosters growth in local businesses when they draw upon and use local resources. [Source: Florida Politics]

Visit Florida predicts hotel boom statewide

According to Visit Florida, the hotel industry is expected to grow by roughly three percent over the next year. The tourism organization says there are 109 hotels under construction across the state. Another 307 are expected to break ground over the next two years. [Source: WCTV]

See also:
» Gov. Scott keeps up pressure on tourism funding

Russian hackers breached U.S. voter registration rolls, but not in Florida (really?)

Florida, home of the butterfly ballot and long voting lines, can finally claim it's not the nation's worst when it comes to the latest example of Election Day chaos: Russian hackers. Individual supervisors of elections throughout Florida confirmed they weren't hacked. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Ybor Rays? Team may be ready to announce Tampa ballpark site
After years of speculation and courtship, the Tampa Bay Rays are finally expected to announce Friday that they want to relocate the team to Tampa, according to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan.

› Florida could provide option for traffic ticket discounts
Florida drivers could soon get an 18 percent discount on their traffic tickets if they take a driver improvement course. A Senate committee approved the bill Thursday. It would apply to non-criminal traffic infractions.

› Alico's first-quarter results show effects of Hurricane Irma, new federal tax law
Fort Myers-based grower and land manager Alico Inc. reported a swing to a quarterly profit, but it was mostly due to a change in its federal corporate tax rate.

› It’ll take $40 million to rebuild a hospital battered by Hurricane Irma
Following extensive roof damage and flooding during Hurricane Irma, Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon will undergo a $40 million rebuild next year.

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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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