Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/10/2020

Florida lawmakers pursue E-Verify for employers

Florida lawmakers banned sanctuary cities for undocumented immigrants last year. Now, Governor Ron DeSantis wants all employers to use the federal E-Verify system to make sure their workers are legally eligible to work in the United States. Previous efforts requiring private employers to use E-Verify have failed in Florida, and Republican lawmakers are trying again. More from WFSU.

South Florida medical debt collectors keep getting sued for billing people they shouldn’t

In recent years, medical debt collectors have grown more aggressive, experts say. Jenifer Bosco, a national consumer law attorney, said the field is “crawling with bad actors who ignore or defy the law to chase after the sick and injured for money that they do not even owe.” The skirmishes often play out in South Florida’s federal courts. More from the Miami Herald.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Publisher's column: A fresh look for 2020

The magazine remains our backbone, but Florida Trend is about much more than print these days. In addition to the 12 monthly issues of our magazine, we publish five annual specialty publications. Nearly every month, we hold events — roundtable discussions that bring together the state’s leaders to discuss issues important to Florida. We also have an extremely strong website that delivers nearly 1 million page views per month. More from Florida Trend.

Airbnb funnels $250,000 to Florida committee

With state lawmakers preparing to wade into a debate about vacation rental properties, Airbnb Inc., last month sent $250,000 to a Florida political committee, a newly filed finance report shows. The contribution went to a political committee known as “People versus the Powerful.” The committee had received only one other contribution, a $1 million infusion in 2017 from Airbnb. More from the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Orlando may lift restrictions, allow more medical marijuana dispensaries

Orlando plans to lift several of its restrictions on medical marijuana dispensaries, opening the door to more treatment centers coming to town and allowing companies more than one location in the city limits. The move could bring new dispensaries to pockets of town such as along East Colonial Drive, in Conway and Lake Nona. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Profile
Orange County names Mark Tester new Convention Center director

The newly hired executive director of the Orange County Convention Center will make about $250,000 a year — and that may be a bargain, according to Mayor Jerry Demings. A national search took nearly two years before zeroing in on Mark Tester, the mayor’s choice to lead the gigantic convention center at a salary 21% more than his predecessor.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Energy Trends
Could a Florida utility build a new nuclear plant in the next 15 years?

You don’t hear leaders of electric utilities talk seriously about building new nuclear plants too often these days. The newest nuclear plant in Florida opened during Ronald Reagan’s first term as president. Utilities are far more likely to pay for a natural gas facility or a solar array.