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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
U.S. appeals court rules Florida cannot bar felons from voting over unpaid fees
Florida cannot bar felons from voting over unpaid fines and fees related to their convictions, a federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday, opening the door to a potential surge in the number of eligible voters in the battleground state ahead of November 2020's presidential election. The preliminary injunction prevents the law from taking effect while it is litigated in court. A full trial on the case is scheduled to begin in April. More from Reuters, the Tampa Bay Times, and NBC Miami.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Florida photographer Herb Snitzer talks about shooting iconic figures from the past
Snitzer tells us:
My family wanted me to be a businessman, and I wanted to play the drums — neither of which happened.
If a photograph moves me, it’s good enough.
I’ve always seen jazz as a metaphor for freedom. Nina Simone, John Coltrane, that was the message they were sending out. It was a message of freedom, and they used music as the conveyor of their anger. Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln did a thing on freedom. It was in the air. Boy, you couldn’t escape it — and you didn’t want to escape it.
» See the full Icon profile here.
The Sunshine State ranked 3rd best for black entrepreneurs
Whether it’s a software startup, an accounting firm, or a coffee shop, location is the ultimate factor for success for any business owner. According to this inaugural study from FitSmallBusiness.com, the digital business publication, half of the best states for African American entrepreneurs are concentrated in the south, with Georgia topping the charts. [Source: Florida Trend]
Flu hitting hard in Florida and is more to worry about than coronavirus, health officials say
The flu remains a far deadlier illness to worry about in Florida than the coronavirus, state lawmakers were told this week. While the coronavirus that started in China has spawned massive media attention — and reams of misinformation — Tampa General Hospital physician and University of South Florida faculty member John Sinnott said the state has more pressing health risks right now. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Floridians may be getting the least amount of sleep in the nation
Florida is home to beautiful sandy beaches, sunshine, and surprisingly, poor sleep. Research has shown Florida to be one of the worst states in the U.S. for getting a good night’s rest. In one study, Florida ranked 30 among all states when it comes to getting at least seven hours of sleep per night on average. Hawaii ranked the worst, another sunny tourist destination state, and South Dakota taking the top spot for getting great sleep. [Source: Space Coast Daily]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› House tax proposal diverts tourist dollars to cleaner water, renews sales-tax holidays
A wide-ranging tax package moved forward Wednesday in the House, despite concerns small airports could be hurt, local tourist dollars would be diluted and corporations would be the biggest beneficiaries. The Ways & Means Committee approved the package (PCB WMC 20-01), which features sales-tax breaks before hurricane season and the new school year, while trimming taxes on commercial leases and cell phones and other communications services.
› MOSH expansion plan gets $2.5 million donation from VyStar
Jacksonville’s Museum of Science & History collected the first big corporate donation toward its MOSH 2.0 expansion project on Wednesday. VyStar Credit Union committed $2.5 million to the project. The money is earmarked for a new Cultural Ecosystem exhibit that is planned as part of the museum’s expansion. The exhibit will celebrate the diversity of Jacksonville and tell the city’s story.
› Wawa teams up with Tampa’s Coppertail to create specialty beer
Revered local brewery Coppertail has teamed up with Wawa to create a craft beer special for Florida. Wawa partnered with Pennsylvania’s 2SP Brewing Company to debut craft beers in Pennsylvania and Virginia in December. But on Thursday, it will debut the the Snow Bird Reserve Vanilla Porter in Florida.
› Indoor salmon farming pioneer seeks grant to add jobs
Still on schedule to finish by July the first of three stages for building its sprawling Redland facility, indoor fish farming company Atlantic Sapphire wants $5 million in public funds to start the next phase. If approved, the county would disburse the money over 10 years through its Targeted Jobs Incentive Fund Program.
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