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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
A slowing economy could change Florida's governing strategy
During the fiercely fought governor’s race, Republican Ron DeSantis’s economic plans centered mostly on continuing what outgoing Gov. Rick Scott had done — pursue jobs, cut regulations and give companies tax breaks. But as he readies to take office Jan. 8, DeSantis is facing early headwinds that could make that strategy outdated, more suited to the campaign trail than the realities of running the $89 billion enterprise of state government. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Gainesville Sun.
SpaceX launches its first national security mission from Florida
More than 500 years ago, Italian navigator and explorer Amerigo Vespucci figured out a precise calculation of longitude that enabled him to measure Earth’s circumference to within 48 miles. On Sunday, a satellite named in Vespucci’s honor began a mission to modernize the Air Force’s Global Positioning System, the constellation so vital to the military, explorers and anyone looking up directions on a smart phone. [Source: Florida Today]
Nikki Fried says Florida jobs, revenue will benefit from Farm Bill’s hemp provision
President Donald Trump signed into law Thursday an $867 billion farm bill which, among other things, classifies hemp as an agricultural commodity and takes it off the federal controlled substances list. Nicole "Nikki" Fried, agriculture commissioner-elect, said she was "elated" when she heard the bill passed. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
France and Florida sign agreement to preserve ancient shipwreck
France and Florida have signed a "declaration of intent" to preserve, protect and research a 16th century shipwreck off the state's coast. Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and Consul General of France in Miami Clement Leclerc announced the agreement Friday to protect what remains of La Trinite, which sank off the coast of Cape Canaveral during a 1565 hurricane. [Source: AP]
Florida confirms state’s first case of AFM, a rare, polio-like illness
State and federal health officials confirmed Florida’s first case of Acute Flaccid Myelitis in 2018 on Saturday, adding to what has become a record year of cases for the rare but serious polio-like illness that affects the nervous system, causing sudden onset of arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Ready, set, shop! Volusia holiday buying season ends strong
Retail observers expect this weekend’s last-minute spending by Collier and other procrastinators to offer a potentially record-setting finale to a robust holiday shopping season.
› Water quality, management are top environmental issues for Southwest Florida in 2019
This past year has been challenging on the environmental front, with toxic algae blooms suffocating the Caloosahatchee River and coastal Gulf of Mexico. The ailing waters made national news and impacted the local tourism and fishing industries.
› Higher prices cushioned citrus growers from smaller harvest
Higher prices offset production declines during Florida’s 2016-17 citrus growing season and so the industry’s overall economic contributions changed little from 2015-16, according to a new report from economists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Economic Impact Analysis Program, or EIAP.
› As feds target ‘blood gold’ and dirty money, this Miami refinery has bigger problems
Republic Metals, the South Florida-based gold refiner that is one of the nation’s largest, has filed for bankruptcy, a further sign of trouble for the U.S. precious metals industry, which has been targeted by federal prosecutors investigating “blood gold” for more than two years.
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