March 29, 2024

Monday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 8/26/2019

Florida importers brace for new tariffs as Chinese trade war escalates

Florida’s companies imported $10.7 billion in goods from China in 2018, an increase of 12.5 percent from the year before, according to Enterprise Florida. The state exported $1.5 billion in goods to China in 2018. The state’s top imports include electrical equipment, data-processing machines and furniture, according to Enterprise Florida. Its top exports are gold, copper scrap and aircraft parts. [Source: Miami Herald]

10 months after Hurricane Michael, Florida still doesn’t know why so many insurance claims are open

Under Florida law, residential property insurers are supposed to pay their claims within 90 days. Yet 10 months after Hurricane Michael wiped out a swath of the Panhandle, the state’s insurance regulators can’t say how many of the more than 20,000 open claims are in violation of the law. State officials now downplay the usefulness of knowing how many claims are older than three months, noting that the law is not exactly what it seems. But attorneys representing storm victims say it’s important for understanding how quickly insurance companies are getting money into the hands of their customers. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Battle lines form over biggest Florida highway expansion in decades

Battle lines are forming again over plans for Florida’s biggest highway expansion since the 1950s, which is slated for its first, in-depth review Tuesday at the Tampa Convention Center. Environmental groups and planning organizations which oppose the idea of building three major toll roads through rural stretches of Florida plan on reviving attacks they leveled unsuccessfully in spring as the plan powered through the Legislature with the backing of Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

New technology being introduced to crack down on robocalls in Florida

Unwanted robocalls may soon meet their match. Pushed by more than a dozen state attorneys general, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, landline and cellphone providers are about to employ a new technology designed to thwart the calls. Robocalls are annoying. But the people behind the calls may soon face difficulties getting through to your phone. In an agreement with attorneys general from around the country, providers have decided to crack down on robocallers. More from WFLA and WJHG.

Federal government eyeing Central Florida to house hundreds of undocumented immigrant children

The federal government plans to set up a permanent shelter for up to 500 undocumented migrant children in Central Florida. WESH 2 News looked into what the shelter would look like, and where the government wants to build it. The General Services Administration is looking for space in Central Florida to lease a new, permanent shelter for undocumented migrant children. According to an online listing, the facility would be 100,000 square feet and would be staffed by 500 employees; 500 children would stay at the shelter. More from WESH and WTVT.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Water district asked to drop plan to cut tax rate and use money to fight sea-level rise
Two South Florida county mayors have made an unusual request to the agency responsible for keeping communities from flooding: Please don’t cut the property tax rate. Why would they ask another government agency to reach into their residents’ pockets? Sea level rise.

› Manatee doesn’t attract industrial growth. Officials say it’s time to change that
When it comes to attracting industrial business, Manatee County is being steadily outpaced by some neighboring counties. Catching up with the competition will require a new mindset and lots of cash. Last August, the Board of County Commissioners authorized staff to hire a consulting firm to analyze how officials could use about 6,700 acres spanning from Interstate 75 to Port Manatee to entice industry leaders.

› City Council on sidelines of JEA sale process
As JEA board members see it, their requirement that any sale of JEA must result in $400 million in one-time customer rebates would be a way to reward long-time ratepayers. To Jacksonville City Council member Garrett Dennis, that promise of rebates would just be a campaign tool to swing votes at the ballot box for selling JEA if a deal ends up going to a countywide referendum. “To take $400 million to buy votes, that’s just wrong,” Dennis said. “That’s unethical. That’s corrupt. This isn’t Chicago.”

› Tech company Pipedrive opens second U.S. office in St. Petersburg
Customer relationship management tech company Pipedrive said Friday it has opened its second office in the United States in downtown St. Petersburg. Pipedrive’s platform is a sales management tool designed to help small sales teams manage lengthy or complex sales processes. Founded in 2010, Pipedrive has raised $90 million in funding and has 500-plus employees worldwide working with more than 90,000 companies.

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