March 18, 2024

Wednesday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/17/2019

Florida lawmakers moving aid bills for Hurricane Michael

With disaster aid stalled in Congress, Florida lawmakers on Tuesday began moving legislation aimed at providing money and other assistance to people in the Panhandle still recovering from powerful Hurricane Michael. The roughly $90 billion budget plans approved separately by the House and Senate each envision spending hundreds of millions of dollars on Hurricane Michael recovery, bringing the total state commitment to about $1.8 billion since the storm struck. More from the AP, Fox35, and the Tallahassee Democrat.

See also:
» Top Florida business leaders tour still-devastated areas

Florida closing in on Southeast solar supremacy

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s second annual Solar in the Southeast report shows that while North Carolina is still top dog in the region, a strong 2018 pushed Florida past Georgia and poised to take the top spot. Part of the shrinking disparity in development has come from two of Florida’s utilities; Tampa Electric and Florida Power and Light (FPL). See the report and read more at PV Magazine.

Florida’s data appears bound for the cloud

Will all state data soon head to the cloud? The Senate Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday advanced an overhaul of state technology. The legislation (SB 1570) requires state agencies to manage their data storage using cloud computing with private vendors. [Source: Florida Politics]

Card games could be key in Seminole Tribe gambling deal

Sports betting, “designated player” card games and bingo are all on the table as a future Senate president tries to nail down a gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as early as Friday. The state and the tribe are back at the negotiating table in hopes of finalizing a revenue-sharing agreement, called a “compact,” in which the Seminoles would pay the state in exchange for the exclusive rights to operate certain types of gambling. [Source: Daily Business Review]

Pythons in Florida: The new plan for destroying invasive pythons

This month, a group of federal, state and non-profit officials gathered in Fort Lauderdale to launch an “Interagency Python Management Plan.” It’s hoped the blueprint for python control, which has been talked about since at least 2016, will increase agency coordination, share successes and expand mitigation to all of South Florida and it’s myriad landowners. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Transforming the patient experience

A vital focus of the University of Miami Health System during this time of unprecedented change in health care has been expanding innovative clinical services throughout our communities. We are building destination programs based on the latest medical discoveries, and providing such innovative care in clinical sites closer to patients' homes. [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Southwest Florida foreclosures rise over year
Foreclosure filings declined in Southwest Florida in first-quarter 2019 from the previous three-month period, tracking with the national trend. But unlike the U.S., local foreclosure activity accelerated when compared over the year.

› Bill to ban sanctuary cities ready for the Florida House
A bill to ban so-called sanctuary policies in Florida is going to the House floor. The House Judiciary Committee voted 12-6 Tuesday in favor of the bill that would require that local law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal authorities that enforce immigration law.

› Money ball: Here’s what the Derek Jeter group is doing to build a brighter financial future for the Marlins
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Miami Marlins find themselves at a pivotal financial juncture. After acquiring the franchise for $1.2 billion in September 2017, Miami’s new ownership group, led by Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter, is entering Year 2 — and a crucial stretch — that could determine the organization’s long-term financial sustainability.

› Tampa Bay barely cracks Florida's top 20 safest cities
Tampa Bay ranks highly in many areas — top vacation destinations, consecutive sunny days — but apparently not when it comes to safety. A recent list by security system review site SafeHome.org ranked 54 Florida cities based on their crime statistics. Tampa ranked No. 19, while Clearwater came in at No. 32 and St. Petersburg brought up the rear at No. 50.

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