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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Judge pushes for payout compromise in Florida condo collapse
A judge on Wednesday pushed for compromise on potential payouts to people who lost loved ones and those whose units were destroyed in the deadly collapse of a Florida beachfront condominium. An initial attempt to mediate a solution over the past two weeks encountered hardened positions between the two sides in the aftermath of the June 24 collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida, that killed 98 people.
› Recently launched bank plans Central Florida expansion
Climate First Bank, a values-based community bank based in St. Petersburg, plans to open a branch in Winter Park in January. Located at 1150 S. Orlando Ave., the office will be LEED Gold certified and operate in accordance with “net zero” energy consumption guidelines, according to a news release. The bank’s founder and CEO, Ken LaRoe, hails from central Florida; prior to launching Climate First Bank in June, he founded First Green Bank, which also focused on lending and financing for renewable energy projects.
› Clearwater Beach Marina to get ‘state of the art’ makeover
If a tourist or local wants to catch a fishing charter, dinner cruise or other waterborne excursion on Clearwater Beach, they ultimately will find themselves strolling the slips at the city’s beach marina. The marina has helped make Clearwater Beach one of the largest tourism engines in Tampa Bay. But the 1950s-era docks, central to the beach economy, have not had a major upgrade in decades.
› PortMiami dredging study by Army Corps to take a fourth year
PortMiami is still awaiting results of a $3 million study begun by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 2018 to evaluate widening and deepening the harbor. Results are now expected in September 2022, one year after the final completion date previously set for September this year. The Army Corps team doing the study requested an extension of time and funds from headquarters since they are still in conversations to address the environmental concerns over any possible work in the harbor.
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