SHARE:
Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Fee sharing, telehealth raise medical marijuana questions
As the number of patients approved to use medical marijuana in Florida continues to climb, some providers are growing increasingly frustrated by what they allege are bad actors in the state’s highly competitive cannabis industry. One of the issues involves online companies seeking to make it easier for people to qualify for medical marijuana by connecting patients and doctors. The businesses share a portion of fees with physicians, who sometimes conduct patient evaluations through telehealth. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Fee sharing, telehealth raise medical marijuana questions
It's not just Florida's theme parks like Epcot and SeaWorld bringing tourism dollars here. The Sunshine State gets more cash, jobs and visitors from national parks than most other states. Florida's 11 national parks generated roughly $1.3 billion in economic contributions last year, according to a new report from the National Parks Service. [Source: Axios]
Florida added 44% more residential solar panel systems in 2021
As the United States spent part of 2021 focused on building more renewable energy options to combat climate change and high utility costs, Florida’s Public Service Commission reported a 44% increase in the number of customer-owned power generators in the state. In 2020, there were 90,552 systems, called Renewable Generation Interconnections, in the state. In 2021, that number grew to 130,947. [Source: WFLA]
Half a million more vaccinated for COVID-19 in Florida in 2 weeks
COVID-19 vaccinations in the state jumped by more than 500,000 in the last two weeks, but that now includes children younger than 5, while deaths are up and cases remain steady. There were 148,314 new coronavirus cases recorded over the last two weeks among Florida residents, bringing the cumulative total to 6,493,977. With 795 more fatalities on record, 75,891 Florida residents have died. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida gasoline prices dip
The average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline in Florida was $4.54 on Tuesday, down a dime from a week earlier and down 22 cents from a month earlier, according to the AAA auto club. Prices went down nationally because fewer people fueled up during the past two weeks. But AAA said prices could increase again. “Domestic gasoline demand dipped recently, which took some of the pressure off of pump prices,” AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said in a prepared statement. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Side hustle success needs careful attention
During and in the aftermath of the pandemic, one business category grew at a record pace: the microenterprise. The 4.3 million new businesses started in the U.S. in 2020 was up 24.6% over the year before — higher than any year since 2005, noted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Many of these were “side hustles,” or businesses launched by the unemployed or operated in addition to a worker’s day job. For many, these “side hustles” brought career independence and financial security. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Days of our fries: Tampa fast-food chain chews on calendar confusion
Checkers & Rally’s has a bone to pick with whoever’s in charge of the calendar of national days. The Tampa-based fast-food chain, in a news release, wants National French Fry Day, which presently falls on July 13, a Wednesday, to be moved to Friday, July 15. Fry Day, the release states, should always be on a Friday, and so the restaurant company has created a “Fry Day to Friday” petition at FryDaytoFriday.com.
› Florida fishermen, conservationists clash over shark fishing tournament
A shark fishing tournament in Palm Beach County has drawn national controversy, with more than 100,000 people signing a petition calling for it to be cancelled. Organizers of the tournament, set to take place on July 9, said they put the event together to draw attention to the surging bull shark population. Local fishermen claim the shark population needs to be managed, as the animals are stealing their catches and affecting their livelihoods.
› Former JEA execs begin aggressive defense against criminal charges
Attorneys representing JEA's former CEO and CFO told U.S. District Judge Brian Davis last week they are preparing extraordinary requests for him to consider over the summer, including throwing out the grand jury indictment against the two men or disqualifying the lead federal prosecutor on the case.
› United Way of West Florida announced $480,000 in grants to 25 agencies
United Way of West Florida recently awarded $480,000 in grants to 25 local nonprofit agencies in support of 29 programs through the organization’s Community Investment Process. Programs operated by these agencies provide critical services to individuals and families across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in the areas of education, financial stability, and health.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
