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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida election roundup: Charlie Crist wins, takes aim at DeSantis
In the biggest race of the night, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist defeated Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried to take the Democratic primary in the Florida governor’s race. He’ll face Gov. Ron DeSantis this fall. U.S. Rep. Val Demings won the Democratic primary in the race to take on Sen. Marco Rubio this fall. In other statewide races, Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson will take on Democrat Naomi Blemur in the race for agriculture commissioner, while Democrat Aramis Ayala will face off against Attorney General Ashley Moody. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the Miami Herald, and NBC News.
State moves to block ‘ideological' investing
Florida leaders moved forward Tuesday with preventing state pension-fund investment decisions that promote “social, political or ideological interests.” Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis took aim at investment practices that involve what are known as “environmental, social and governance ratings,” which can include such things as taking into account climate change. [Source: News Service of Florida]
The quest to protect the Florida wildlife corridor gains ground
In June 2021, the Florida State Senate and House unanimously passed the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act. Since then, the state has acquired land or purchased conservation easements—which permanently prevent a property from being developed—on more than 56,000 acres (80 square miles) of land, an area larger than the District of Columbia. The funding, about $140 million, was provided by state, local, and federal agencies. On August 23, state officials agreed to protect seven more properties, totaling nearly 20,000 acres. [Source: National Geographic]
See also:
» Conservation deals get state approval
Florida panthers carry Texas puma genes for better and maybe worse, UCF profs learn
A desperate rescue decades ago of Florida panthers may have included a deal with a DNA devil, which may or may not bring a bad outcome but should be watched closely, as scientists from the University of Central Florida have begun to learn. By the 1990s, the state’s panthers numbered in the dozens and suffered from physical maladies of inbreeding. Wildlife authorities brought in eight Texas pumas, setting them free in Southwest Florida, hoping they would deepen the wild cats’ gene pool. By many accounts, it worked well. However, as scientists are cautioning now, the genetic infusion from Texas has left the Florida animals with harmful mutations. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Here's what $1 billion in research spending does for UF and for Florida
The University of Florida has achieved $1 billion in research spending, an historic milestone that puts UF in a select group of about 15 public universities with expenditures of this magnitude. In this episode of From Florida, Vice President for Research David Norton explains what that means for UF, Gainesville and for the state. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emma Richards and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts. [Source: UF News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› New Year’s Eve party First Night St. Petersburg canceled this year
After 29 years, the family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration First Night St. Petersburg will not be taking place this year. Organizers hope that with some sponsor support and an end to uncertainty cause by the pandemic, they can bring it back next year. “COVID slowed us down and picking up momentum again with presenting sponsors has proven difficult,” board chairman Hal Freedman said in an announcement Tuesday.
› 'Invest early': Childcare, labor challenges draw talk at Tallahassee Chamber Conference
Flashes of men, women and families, all representing different backgrounds and experiences, appeared in a high-production video that helped set the tone for the day at the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's annual conference. On Saturday, the three-minute video showcased the arc of struggle, frustration and tenacity that residents and businesses have experienced while pushing through the last two years of cascading chaos from the COVID-19 pandemic.
› Ryder Trauma Center celebrates 30 years of saving lives in South Florida
Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center celebrated 30 years of being a hub for saving lives in South Florida. The facility in downtown Miami is known worldwide as the U.S. Army's only training center and the designated hospital to treat the President of the United States. "For the past three decades, Ryder Trauma has been one of Jackson's cornerstone's and coveted as one of the world's leading trauma centers," said Jackson Health Systems CEO Carlos Migoya.
› Sarasota architecture firm increases retention, grows into top workplace
The technical aspects of architecture, from designing and planning everything from an arch to a ziggurat, comes mostly naturally to Stu Henderson. The not-so-natural part? Building a sustainable business where there’s a consistently engaging work culture, a place where the firm’s employees feel part of a winning team — not just cogs in a project-in, project-out machine. “Making this fun is a lot of hard work,” says Henderson, a partner at Lakewood Ranch-based Fawley Bryant Architecture.
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