Florida cleans up in energy efficient jobs
Florida, partially due to its large and diverse population, managed to score a top five ranking in a new report on energy jobs from E2, Environmental Entrepreneurs. Florida is No. 3 in the report, with 158,652 total clean energy jobs. The bulk of Florida’s clean energy jobs are in energy efficiency, where it has 118,412. See the report here and read more from the Business Observer and the Orlando Business Journal.
CEOs split on encouraging marijuana sales in Florida
Florida CEOs were asked: Gov. DeSantis has proposed liberalizing marijuana laws in the state. Should Florida be encouraging marijuana sales? Why or why not? Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO of Girl Scouts Tropical Florida, said, "It’s less a question of encouraging marijuana sales and more about recognizing the need for marijuana law reform, both at the state and federal levels." [Source: Miami Herald]
Opinion: Fight for policyholders' rights is being waged in Tallahassee
Slow-paying, wrongfully denying and underpaying insurance companies need to be held accountable when they break the law. Insurance is one product all Floridians purchase, which results in so much anger when it comes time for the insurance company to fulfill its end of the bargain — full and timely payment with no hassle. [Source: TCPalm]
The fight for daylight: Why Florida lawmakers are leading the charge to change federal law
Changing our clocks forward in March, then backward again in November is something all Americans begrudgingly do twice a year. This summer that all could change. Florida lawmakers are working to lock the clock, citing many reasons that the 101-year-old practice is out of date, out of touch and needs to stop. [Source: WFTS]
Low pay spurs exodus among Miami prosecutors, public defenders
Young lawyers are part of a staggering exodus over the past year among the ranks of prosecutors and state-funded defense lawyers in Miami-Dade County. With the economy humming, private law firms have expanded hiring attorneys prized for the invaluable trial experience gained in the grind that is Miami-Dade’s criminal courthouse. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Collier County to crack down on vacation rentals
Collier County will crack down on vacation home rentals. On Tuesday, county commissioners voted 4-1 to direct county staff to enforce existing rules that ban owners from renting their homes for less than six months in most residential areas outside city limits.
› City Council votes to raze Jacksonville Landing, pay off Sleimans
The Jacksonville Landing is heading into the history books. The City Council voted Tuesday for a settlement agreement that ends a tense legal battle between the city and Sleiman Enterprises, the Jacksonville company that bought the riverfront mall in 2003.
› Orange County supervisor of elections gets $1.7 million to upgrade voting machines by 2020
Preparing for the 2020 elections, when Florida is sure to be a pivotal state again in the race for president, Orange County commissioners unanimously granted Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles’ appeal for $1.7 million to upgrade voting equipment now.
› Super Bowl financing bid leaves downtown Miami cold
Representatives of Super Bowl 54 approached Miami’s Downtown Development Authority last week to ask for $300,000 in funding. The answer: maybe. The NFL has awarded the City of Miami a $200,000 legacy grant that the city must match, but the $300,000 that’s being requested from the downtown agency is separate from that.
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› Lawmakers look to improve Florida's 911 system
A new bill would require every dispatch in the state to have the ability to transfer you to any other jurisdiction at a moment's notice. The proposed legislation, which cleared a House committee Tuesday, would require all dispatch centers in Florida to be able to transfer calls to any other dispatch center in the state.
› Florida may allow legal papers to be notarized online
The Florida legislature is considering making it possible for people to have legal documents notarized online. The bill, HB 409, would make signing official documents, such as a will or power of attorney, quicker and more convenient in the state.
› Miami seeks proposals for major bayfront development
Maurice A. Ferré, a long-time City of Miami mayor, is not happy that the city that just renamed a waterfront park in his honor plans major redevelopment of adjacent city-owned property, including what’s known as the FEC Slip downtown. In a March 25 letter to the mayor and city commission, Mr. Ferré voices objections to a plan to put a Ferris wheel at Bayside Marketplace, and to an active request for proposals for a marina and commercial development of the FEC Slip.
› USDA Designates 11 Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 11 Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington counties who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Michael that occurred on Oct. 10, 2018, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.