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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Schools, party leaders, protesters making plans for Trump’s Tuesday visit to Tampa
Days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to land at Tampa International Airport, the prep work for a presidential visit has kicked into high gear: Local GOP leaders are picking a delegation to greet Trump on the tarmac; supporters are scooping up tickets; protesters are ordering Trump baby balloons; local authorities are working with the Secret Service to devise a plan to safely escort Trump across town.
Florida History
› Florida's first constitution has its roots in the Panhandle
in 1838, the city of St. Joseph was a bustling port town when 56 delegates gathered to create the first Florida constitution. A fire wiped out St. Joseph not long after that event. Today, the spot where delegates first met is in Port St. Joe."[Residents are] pretty proud of that. In fact, you'll notice as you enter the city of Port St. Joe, they claim to be the Constitution City," said Florida State Park Ranger Joanna Lindsey, who manages the Constitution Convention State Museum in town.
› State orders financial audit after learning Florida's domestic violence chief is paid $761,000 a year
As head of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Tiffany Carr was pulling a salary in excess of $700,000 a year. The state of Florida, which provides more than half of the coalition’s funding, apparently had no idea Carr was pulling down such a hefty salary. A written statement from Mike Carroll, the secretary of Florida’s Department of Children & Families, said the coalition’s budget on file with his agency lists her salary as $300,000, “which may be inconsistent with federal tax documents filed by FCADV.” Carroll has now ordered a “comprehensive financial audit of all DCF contracted funds allocated to FCADV executive salaries.”
› Duke Energy selects five Florida locations for its 'Site Readiness Program'
Duke Energy has selected five Florida properties for participation in this year's Site Readiness Program, which will prepare them for targeted business development and future capital investment. The locations are in Volusia, Marion, Levy, Wakulla nd Hamilton counties.
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