SHARE:
Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
New laws take effect today in Florida
New laws will take effect in Florida today that will add benefits for first responders who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and impose harsher penalties on people who abuse animals, along with 19 other measures signed by Gov. Rick Scott after the 2018 legislative session. See the new laws here. Also read more at NorthEscambia.com, WTSP, WWSB, and NBC Miami.
Breathing problems and eye irritation shut down South Florida beaches. Is it red tide?
A stretch of South Florida beaches has been shut down until at least Monday after cities along the coast indicated a “possible red tide.” The problems began Saturday when swimmers in the Jupiter area complained of breathing problems and eye irritation. The health concern expanded into Martin County. The town of Palm Beach closed its beaches, and on Sunday, so did Lantana to the south. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida facing its own ‘Supreme’ drama — in triplicate
While the nation was fixated on the drama surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Floridians were reminded last week that they have their own Supreme Court controversy in triplicate. Gov. Rick Scott has asserted in court that he has the power, before he leaves office in January, to appoint replacements for three Florida Supreme Court justices who have reached a mandatory retirement age. Opponents contend the next governor, who takes office on Jan. 8, has that right. At stake in the new year is the potential to swing the court’s political leanings. The three justices with expiring terms are Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and Barbara Pariente — considered the liberal wing of the high court. More from Florida Politics and NorthEscambia.com.
Related, Florida Trend Profile
» Justice Barbara Pariente: 'The Questioner'
State bridge inspections guide local maintenance
To ensure that bridges are maintained — or, when necessary, replaced —Florida counties rely on a state-administered federal program that keeps a regular watch on the structures and reports any issues to local officials. The state, which is responsible for maintaining the bridges on state roads and interstate highways, also relies on the program. [Source: Northwest Florida Daily News]
Florida Trend Regional Report
Rewarding customers
After emerging from bankruptcy in May, Winn-Dixie’s parent, Jacksonville- based Southeastern Grocers, rolled out a new rewards program for its customers. The program, SE Grocers Rewards, replaces Plenti, the now-defunct American Express-operated loyalty program that enabled customers to collect points and redeem rewards at Macy’s, Chili’s, ExxonMobil and other participating companies. Full story here. (Story also includes business briefs and "players" for Northwest Florida.)
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Gillum and DeSantis give voters a choice to turn left, or right
Republicans are blasting Democrat Andrew Gillum as a lefty who is “too extreme” for Florida because of his calls for a major tax increase, health care expansion and softer immigration laws. But Gillum’s gubernatorial opponent, Republican Ron DeSantis, also is poised to be a disrupter — only he’s coming from the right.
› New headquarters, new jobs on the way for Coral Springs company
Aldora Aluminum & Glass Products is consolidating southeast Florida operations into a new regional headquarters in Coral Springs. Its current headquarters is also in Coral Springs, and it has a manufacturing plant in Miramar.
› JEA and others with ties to controversial nuclear project get credit downgrades
A Wall Street ratings agency Friday downgraded the credit of several electric utilities in Florida, Georgia and Alabama with financial ties to the controversial Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion project, an indication of the high stakes and risk each faces in continuing to finance a $27 billion construction effort that has blown deadlines and budgets for years.
› Unclaimed property fund exceeds $825 million in South Florida
The state of Florida is sitting on a pile of cash and goods from Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties worth more than $825 million, and about one in five residents can claim a piece of it, according to a news release Friday from the Division of Unclaimed Property.
Related:
» Consumer Alert: $655 Million of Unclaimed Property in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
