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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Miami-Dade spending in covid war nears $900 million
Miami-Dade County spent more than $868 million through July 1, 2022, for emergency purchases in battling Covid-19, according to legislation coming before a county committee. The Health, Emergency Management and Governmental Affairs Committee is being asked this week to ratify $67 million of those purchases.
› Florida lawmaker proposes banning release of balloons outdoors without court approval
A Florida lawmaker proposed new legislation to ban the release of balloons outside if they are not used on behalf of a government agency, government contract, or for scientific or weather purposes. To let them fly, balloon fans would need court approval. The legislation, House Bill 91, removes a current stipulation that 10 or more balloons not be released by people, companies, or firms, within a 24-hour period if they’re inflated with gas that is lighter than air.
› Hedge fund: No newsroom layoffs at Tegna stations for two years
A hedge fund planning to buy Tegna Inc. pledged to regulators it will not lay off any newsroom staff at the company’s 64 television stations, including two in Jacksonville, for at least two years. Standard General L.P. also tried to alleviate concerns about its relationship with the owner of Cox Media Group, operator of two other Jacksonville stations, in a Dec. 23 letter to the Federal Communications Commission.
› Spirit Airlines pilots back contract with 34% average pay hike, union says
Spirit Airlines pilots have ratified a two-year contract with management that will produce $463 million in economic gains including an average 34% pay hike, the Air Line Pilots Association said Tuesday. The agreement affects 2,326 pilots, according to the union, which said that 69% of the Spirit members voted in favor of the pact that is retroactive to Jan. 1. The two sides said they reached a tentative contract last month.
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