March 29, 2024

Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 12/18/2019

State workers may not see health insurance changes

Senate President Bill Galvano said Tuesday he is reluctant to move ahead with changes to the state-employee health insurance program during the upcoming 2020 legislative session. “I don’t foresee major modifications going into this session,’ Galvano, R-Bradenton said Tuesday. Florida was supposed to have started a major remodel of the program under a 2017 law. More from WUSF.

Terminated JEA CEO Aaron Zahn could walk away with $842,000 severance

JEA’s terminated CEO Aaron Zahn stands to walk away from the utility with a severance worth $842,000 and could earn an additional $520,000 if JEA is privatized. The board of directors’ decision to terminate Zahn without cause entitles him to a lump sum severance payment of $200,000 and a consulting job that will pay him $634,000 over the next year. His health benefits are worth an additional $8,000. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Miami’s scooter pilot program walks a tightrope

The City of Miami’s scooter pilot program has once again been extended, this time to mid-February, with its long-term future still up in the air. Chairman Ken Russell, the district commissioner for the scooter pilot, again asked his fellow commissioners to extend the pilot while the administration hashes out a solicitation for proposals. More from Miami Today.

Star fruit could be the new 'star' of Florida agriculture

It's not just oranges that grow in Florida. Carambola, or star fruit as most in the United States call it, is gaining popularity. One researcher from Florida International University is researching how cover crops can help the sustainability of star fruit farms. Establishing crops like star fruit will help diversify the biological system of a farm. It also diversifies the income stream for growers. More from Florida Trend.

Palm Beach mulls ‘historic’ list to discourage tear-downs

The town may have found a way to curb what officials says is a trend toward demolition of older houses that aren’t under landmark protection. The Town Council is leaning toward creating a new category for homes that are at least 50 years old but not landmarked, labeling them “historic buildings.” More from the Palm Beach Daily News.

Sports Business
Without a new sponsor for the Miami Heat arena, county owes $2 million to team

 With talks still underway to find a new title sponsor at the Miami Heat’s county-owned arena, Miami-Dade will need to use county dollars to pay the team up to $2 million in 2020 to cover the missing naming-rights revenue when the existing deal with American Airlines expires Jan. 1.

» More from the Miami Herald.

 

Business Profile
Creative Architectural Resin Products

floridaThe cliche it’s always an honor just to be nominated for an award holds true for most people. But when Fort Myers–based Creative Architectural Resin Products recently won Startup of the Year at the 2019 Industry Appreciation Awards in Fort Myers, it was a sign the company had made it though some heartache and headache filled growing pains.

» Read more from the Business Observer.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Florida Trend Video Pick

Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns
Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns

New security cameras in downtown Lakeland are raising concerns about privacy. The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority has begun installing 13 new security cameras on streets, sidewalks, and alleyways, and there are mixed feelings about them.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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