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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida's state revenue forecast sees uptick
Florida legislators are getting a little more money than previously thought as they piece together a budget for next fiscal year. But with an expected slowdown still on the horizon, as housing and construction numbers are expected to further weaken, a revenue projection that state economists updated Wednesday remained below some earlier forecasts. More from the Tampa Bay Business Journal and the News Service of Florida.
Republican leaders oppose Gov. DeSantis plan to have businesses use E-Verify
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push for a politically charged immigration proposal has begun to expose a clash between Republicans as this year’s legislative session starts. The divide between the governor and Republican legislative leaders is likely to heat up debate about the issue, which DeSantis made a pillar of his 2018 gubernatorial campaign. [Source: WWSB]
Southwest Florida ranks second for metro areas in self-employment, according to new report
You might not think of Southwest Florida as a booming place for startups and small businesses. But the combined North Port, Sarasota, Bradenton area ranked as the second most entrepreneurial metro area for its size in the United States, according to a new report by CloudKitchens. The ranking, based on the percentage of self-employment in the area, found that 15.7% of the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area workers are self-employed or business owners. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Impeachment trial managers include representative from Florida
As the House prepares to vote to send articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced managers for the Senate trial. Of the seven managers representing Democrats in the trial, one is from Florida. The other managers are from California, New York, Colorado and Texas. [Source: WTSP]
Court wades into marijuana licensing dispute in Florida
A Tampa-based orchid grower seeking to enter Florida’s highly restricted medical-marijuana market tried to convince a state appeals court Tuesday that health officials erred in granting a handful of medical-marijuana licenses to competing firms last year. Louis Del Favero Orchids, Inc. is challenging a settlement agreement between the Florida Department of Health and what are known within the industry as “one-pointers.” [Source: CBS Miami]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Bradenton’s First Watch hires first ever chief transformation officer
Bradenton-based breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant chain First Watch has added the role of chief transformation officer to its corporate team and hired a former PepsiCo executive to fill the position. Greg Barber, a nine-year veteran of PepsiCo who has also worked for Bain & Company and as president of TCBY for Famous Brands International, is the company’s first chief transformation officer, reporting directly to president and CEO Chris Tomasso.
› Miami Beach is dumping $16 million in fresh sand to push back against erosion
Miami Beach leaders can’t agree on what to do about climate change. But one way to keep the condos dry, at least for now, is to build a buffer between the condos and the rising seas. That means dumping fresh sand on the beach — $16 million worth.
› Orlando airport leaders to consider deferring $15 an hour living wage
Orlando airport leaders are poised to delay a decision Wednesday on whether to enact a requirement that service workers get paid at least $15 an hour. Airport director Phil Brown cited “competing impacts on businesses and the fragmented implementation” that would arise from imposing a $15 per hour living wage as key reasons for holding off on a board vote.
› One of the world’s biggest yachts is docked in St. Petersburg
A luxury yacht so extravagant words can barely do its Goliath size justice has docked at Port St. Pete. The Bella Vita is nearly 250 feet long and costs about $650,000 to charter for a week in the winter, according to broker Moran Yacht and Ship
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