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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
TaxWatch urges Florida legislature to rein in project spending
Governor Rick Scott’s $89 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year has received its yearly report card from the nonprofit research institute TaxWatch. And, the group has recommendations. According to the TaxWatch report, the budget contains 517 member projects, which are worth more than $560 million. More from WFSU, Florida Politics, and WTXL.
» See the full report from Florida TaxWatch.
More foster parents needed as opioid epidemic surges in Florida
The number of kids entering Florida's foster care system has grown nearly 14 percent in the past two and a half years. Child welfare experts say the spike is likely due to the state's opioid epidemic, which is affecting many parents. More from First Coast News and WTXL.
Florida senators urge USDA to speed up relief to Florida farmers hurt by Hurricane Irma
Florida’s two U.S. senators are pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide relief for farmers impacted by Hurricane Irma last year. Irma caused around $2.5 billion in damages to Florida farmers and the federal government is expected to provide around $2.36 billion to them in relief. [Source: Space Coast Daily]
See also:
» Rubio blames ‘bureaucracy’ for the wait on federal Irma funding
» Florida Keys Residents Still Struggling To Rebuild After Hurricane Irma
Florida's known for palm trees — how about solar trees?
Brevard County’s solar tree “forest” is a bit larger now. Officials from Port Canaveral and representatives of Florida Power & Light dedicated five new solar trees Wednesday. Juno Beach-headquartered Florida Power & Light is progressing with one of the largest solar expansions ever in the eastern United States. [Source: Florida Today]
Seminole Tribe says it will keep paying state
Despite a legal right to cut off the money, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has decided to continue paying the state its share of Indian casino gambling revenue each month. The Tribe “confirmed” its decision Tuesday night, according to its outside counsel, Barry Richard of the Greenberg Traurig firm, who participated in a conference call. [Source: Florida Politics]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› First Brightline train arrives at Miami station during final stage of construction
A Brightline train pulled into the MiamiCentral station for the first time last week, as construction on the building enters its final stage, the company announced Wednesday.
› Tampa Downtown Partnership names Lynda Remund acting president and CEO
The nonprofit Tampa Downtown Partnership on Wednesday named Lynda Remund to a one-year term as acting president and CEO. Remund joined the partnership in 2000 as director of district operations. She succeeds Christine Burdick, who last fall announced plans to retire.
› Millennial homebuyers spurning Sarasota-Manatee
Millennials rank as the key target in the economic development world setting sights on future prosperity. A new study casts a pall over efforts to build the Sarasota and Manatee population of this prized demographic.
› Central Florida faces psychiatrist shortage
Central Florida will only have about 50 percent of the psychiatrists needed to treat patients in the next seven years. It's not because of a lack of interest by budding medical students at UCF. Plenty want to be a psychiatrist, but federal funding cuts mean there's a cap on the number of residency spots.
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