SHARE:
Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Trend's Golden Spoon Awards
Florida and the Golden Spoons have entered a golden age of dining -- rich and booming. Eating and drinking is a bigger business in Florida than ever. For many, it’s dining in on meals ordered online and delivered by taxi or maybe drone, but those who dine out have a wealth of choices. Read the full story here and see all the 2019 Golden Spoon Award winners.
Florida voters will decide whether or not to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour
Voters will decide in November whether to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, after the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously approved a ballot proposal. The proposed constitutional amendment, spearheaded by Orlando attorney John Morgan, had received enough petition signatures to go on the 2020 general-election ballot but still needed a sign-off from the Supreme Court. More from Creative Loafing, the Orlando Sentinel, and Spectrum News.
Boeing astronaut capsule launches to the ISS for the first time in a major milestone for NASA
In the early hours of Friday, Boeing’s astronaut capsule Starliner illuminated the Space Coast in a seminal launch for NASA’s commercial space program. For the better part of a decade, the space agency has been hoping to return American astronauts to space on U.S. rockets and now it’s at the cusp of achieving it. Boeing’s mission Friday, the first full test for Starliner, was a major milestone for NASA and the contractor. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Nearly 2 million Florida drivers have license suspended for unpaid fines
Nearly 2 million out of Florida’s 16.6 million drivers currently have their licenses suspended — not for unsafe driving, but due to unpaid fines and fees, according to a new study. Orange County had the highest rate in the state in 2017 — with nearly 15% of the county’s driving population receiving suspension notices for failure to pay — before falling to 3rd in 2018. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida Supreme Court rules 2017 stand your ground is not retroactive.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the 2017 law switching the burden of proof in stand your ground cases is not retroactive. Prior to the 2017 law, defendants who raised a stand your ground defense had the burden of proving they were entitled to immunity. The Legislature switched the burden to prosecutors, who now must prove a defendant who raises that defense is not entitled to immunity. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› New JAX Chamber exec to help open Northeast Florida talent pipeline to women
The JAX Chamber and Jacksonville Women’s Leadership Coalition plan to hire an executive to address gender gaps in Northeast Florida leadership. The impetus was a coalition-funded study that showed area women lagging behind men in assuming leadership roles in business and government.
› Florida Board of Education adopts DeSantis budget as its own
In an unusual but not uncharacteristic move, the Florida Board of Education met by phone Thursday to adopt Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education 2020-21 spending proposal as its own. The board previously had voted for a separate legislative budget request, as in the past. But members said they wanted to get on the same page as the governor and the Department of Education, and speak as one in promoting the DeSantis agenda.
› FPL to reduce power bills in 2020
Florida Power & Light Co. says residential customers will see monthly electric bills fall by an average of $3.86 starting in January. FPL, the state’s largest utility, said Thursday that the price of 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity will fall to $96.04 in 2020, down from $99.90 this year.
› Tax money for stadiums would be eliminated under South Florida lawmaker’s proposal
A South Florida lawmaker will make another attempt to eliminate an unused pool of sales-tax dollars that could help build and maintain professional sports stadiums. Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, has refiled a proposal (HB 6057) for the 2020 legislative session that would repeal a controversial 2014 program that spells out steps for state dollars to become available for stadium funding.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
