Florida's new election law hit with third legal challenge
Alleging discrimination against Black and Latino voters, a coalition of groups has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Florida elections law that includes additional restrictions on voting by mail. The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. district court in Tallahassee is at least the third challenge to the law, which was passed last month by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis during an appearance on Fox News. The law (SB 90) was one of the most controversial issues of the 2021 legislative session and came after a relatively smooth 2020 election in Florida. More from the News Service of Florida.
Judge refers Florida’s cruise line suit against CDC to mediator
Cruise lines, their customers, the state of Florida and the U.S. government will have to wait a little longer to learn whether a federal order keeping ships idled can stand. A Tampa federal judge overseeing the state’s civil case against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention referred the matter to a mediator Tuesday with instructions to hear the positions of both sides before June 1. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Florida Office of Financial Regulation head to try legislation again
None of the policies that the state’s top financial regulator pitched to lawmakers made it through Florida’s regular legislative session that concluded last month. But Russell Weigel, who heads the Office of Financial Regulation, said a handful of them will probably be back next year. For policies to not make it all the way through both houses the first time they come up, he said, is not uncommon, and the Office of Financial Regulation plans to keep working on these policies and others that may be picked up in the next legislature. More from Miami Today.
National Hurricane Center eyes an Atlantic disturbance
Meteorologists are eyeing a system Wednesday with potential to become the first tropical storm of the year by the end of this week. A non-tropical low pressure system is forecast to develop late Thursday or Friday morning northeast of Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. forecast. The system has a 30% chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm in the next five days. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Renovation of historic Union Terminal Warehouse could get $8 million from Jacksonville
The historic Union Terminal Warehouse building, which stands on a high-visibility site next to the elevated road connecting downtown Jacksonville and the Mathews Bridge, could get about $8 million in city assistance for turning it into the home address for 220 apartments plus artist studios. The Downtown Investment Authority board signaled its support for the redevelopment agreement by voting 5-0 Monday for the deal in the board's Strategic Investment Committee. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Out of the Box
Electric fire truck from Austria may serve Miami-Dade for $1.3 million
Miami-Dade may soon buy its first electric fire truck. A resolution by Jose “Pepe” Diaz now moving through the Miami-Dade Commission would, if approved, direct Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s administration to pay up to $1.3 million for an electrically powered fire truck by manufacture Rosenbauer America, which describes itself as “the largest fire truck apparatus and emergency response vehicle manufacturer in the world.” Mr. Diaz’s item cleared the county’s Community Safety and Security Committee this month. It requires one more vote to pass.
» More from Miami Today.
Sports Business
St. Johns approves PGA Tour incentives deal
The St. Johns Board of County Commissioners approved an economic development incentive agreement 4-1 with the PGA Tour on May 18 with an estimated value of $16,778,760. The agreement, previously code-named Project Breeze, would create a 150,000-square-foot broadcast media building for the PGA Tour.
» Read more from the Jacksonville Daily Record.