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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Hackers demand up to $40 million in ransom from Broward schools
Computer hackers attacked Broward County schools, demanding as much as $40 million in ransom to prevent personal information about students and teachers from being published, according to a transcript the hackers released online. Hackers with the international malware group Conti posted a transcript March 26 of what they say is a two-week negotiation with a representative from Broward schools. The hackers started with an offer of $40 million and later reduced the demand to $15 million and then $10 million.
› Dozier restitution bill continues to stall in the Florida legislature
Florida legislation looking to put a means of restitution in place for those who suffered horrific abuse at the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna continues to stall out. Both SB 288 and its companion bill in the Florida House have not progressed through the legislature in nearly a month. The Senate bill is sponsored by Sen. Darryl Rouson (D- St. Petersburg) and wants to find a way to help correct "a unique and shameful chapter in the history of the state."
› Dunedin approves developer to build $20 million City Hall
When officials began imagining a new city hall in 2000, early priorities were to provide a range of government services in a consolidated space with high customer service. That is still the goal. But 21 years, countless concepts and one global health crisis later, Dunedin is preparing to break ground on a 38,463-square foot government center that combines community fellowship with the new normal expected to follow the coronavirus pandemic.
› Fort Myers urban transformation project seeks $30 million federal grant
A $362 million initiative to revitalize and transform a portion of the Dunbar community, east of downtown Fort Myers, is a finalist for a $30 million federal grant. The proposed project, from the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, is one of five finalists for a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Land Development’s Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant program, according to a statement.
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