SHARE:
Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Can cannabis save Florida’s waterways?
Approved by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Industrial Hemp Pilot Project aims to discover just how much of the two main nutrients that fuel toxic algae – nitrogen and phosphorus – can be drained from polluted water by cannabis. And if, at the end of the 190-day trial, the anticipated levels are achieved, it could be “a real game-changer,” according to SFSC project manager Kendall Carson. More from the Florida Times-Union.
How Central Florida’s legal system is adjusting to shutdown
While many places have shut down to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new virus, courthouse operations in the Ninth Judicial Circuit can’t completely close because essential proceedings such as first appearances, bail hearings and domestic violence injunctions need to continue, Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Donald A. Myers Jr. said. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida's air quality shows mixed rankings for ozone, particle pollution, finds 2020 ‘State of the Air' report
The American Lung Association’s 2020 “State of the Air” report found several Florida cities earned mixed rankings for the nation’s most widespread air pollutants—ozone and particle pollution—both of which can be deadly. Gainesville, Lake City, Palm Bay, Melbourne, and Titusville were named on the cleanest cities list for short-term and year-round particle pollution after experiencing zero unhealthy air days. More from Florida Trend.
Hurricane window manufacturer PGT is closing its 320,000 square-foot Orlando factory in June
PGT Innovations Inc., one of the nation’s largest hurricane-grade window manufacturers, is closing down its 320,000 square-foot Orlando manufacturing facility in June and consolidating work to its other Florida plants. The company said in a press release Monday that the decision was to “optimize operations and reduce fixed costs.” More from the Orlando Sentinel.
DeSantis puts Florida’s reopening task force on tight deadline. Report due Friday.
The first meeting of the Re-Open Florida Task Force did not include discussion about the health risks of returning people to work and the extensive testing requirements needed before returning people to normal life. The task force members, who were not announced until the end of Monday’s teleconferenced meeting, include the state’s top elected Republicans and representatives from some of the state’s largest corporations and trade groups. More from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Zoom gloom? Wild Florida’s animals available for video conferencing
Your next Zoom meeting could have more animal magnetism thanks to a new offering from Wild Florida, a wildlife attraction in Osceola County. Wild Florida will arrange for one of its animals to log into a Zoom meeting, either for business or pleasure. Your group would share a video-conferencing screen with either an alligator, a camel, a giraffe or an antelope for 20 minutes.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Profile
Bob Reich
Robert “Bob” Reich has joined Catalina, a St. Petersburg-based marketing firm that specializes in shopper intelligence and in-store digital media, as chief financial officer. According to a press release, Reich’s appointment is effectively immediately; he will report directly to Catalina CEO Wayne Powers. For the past five years, Reich served as executive vice president and CFO of Tampa-based Syniverse Holdings Inc., a leading global software and services provider.
» Read more from the Business Observer.
In case you missed it:
