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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Legal Elite Hall of Fame
For 20 years, Florida Trend has shined the spotlight on the best of the best within the state’s legal profession. During that time, being selected as a Legal Elite was an honor. Further, to be chosen for the Hall of Fame, well, that title just about says it all for an industry that is historically powerful — and only growing stronger. This year, we salute the Hall of Fame through the years including the new 2023 inductees. [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called ‘don’t say gay’ law
A state representative wants to expand last year’s controversial Parental Rights in Education law to the eighth grade, setting up another culture war clash over what critics labeled “don’t say gay.” Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor, filed a bill Tuesday that also would forbid public schools from using pronouns that align with a transgender student’s gender identity. The measure would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for grades kindergarten through eighth, instead of third grade as the original law mandates. The proposal (HB 1223) also adds pre-kindergarten, including private programs, and charter schools to the law. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Why is diversity the hot issue in Florida higher education?
Less than three years ago, Florida’s higher education leaders went all in to address racial and ethnic inequalities. With protesters still marching over the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Board of Governors formed a committee to ramp up diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the state’s 12 public universities. In recent weeks, Florida has witnessed a striking reversal as Gov. Ron DeSantis has targeted university diversity programs. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Proposal floats idea of full-time lawmakers
State analysts would be asked to study whether the role of state lawmakers should become more of a full-time occupation with higher pay, under a proposal filed Monday. Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, wants the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, known as OPPAGA, to study and recommend if the Legislature should be full-time, part-time, or a hybrid and if salary increases are needed. The proposal (HB 1183) also would ask OPPAGA to consider if Cabinet members --- the attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner --- should draw pay that is comparable to other large states. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Win $1 million a year for life with new Florida Lottery game
You read that correctly — You could be the lucky recipient of $1 million for life with the Florida Lottery’s new “$1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR” scratch-off game. The $50 game offers more than $1.6 billion in cash prizes with a top prize of $1 million a year-for-life. The overall odds of the game are 1-in-4.5. Advertisement The new scratch-off game is only one of four announced Monday by the Florida Lottery. [Source: WESH]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› SeaWorld’s revenue keeps flowing, but visitor, staffing worries remain
Orlando-based SeaWorld Entertainment kept its now seven-quarter streak of record-setting numbers going Tuesday as higher prices helped boost guest spending at its theme parks, but concerns about lagging visitor numbers and staffing persist. CEO Marc Swanson said the company’s fourth-quarter revenue of $390.5 million and its adjusted earnings of $153.7 million hit new highs, and SeaWorld also set revenue, net income and adjusted earnings records in its 2022 fiscal year.
› Tampa has a business improvement district. Is downtown St. Petersburg next?
Jason Mathis has floated the idea for the past few years, but now, he’s starting the soft sell. Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, is pitching the idea of creating a special improvement district to residents, property and business owners. It would act almost like a glorified homeowners association. The city of Tampa already has a similar district. “It’s worthy of asking the question,” he said Tuesday.
› Can critics stop Fort Lauderdale’s pickleball deal?
It’s a done deal. That’s what some are saying about the plan to build a privately-run pickleball complex and restaurant on 8 acres of public land in Fort Lauderdale’s Snyder Park. But critics of the controversial project are not giving up their fight to block the $10 million project. “The neighborhood is against it,” said Kevin Cochrane, a community activist leading the charge against the project. “It’s one of those things that can’t be undone [if it gets built]. Ten years from now when you go to Snyder Park, this open space is going to be gone.”
› Sarasota manufacturer opens automated warehouse in Italy
Helios Technologies Inc. recently opened a new automated warehouse that can service up to 190 pallets an hour. The newly constructed warehouse is located in Italy at Faster S.r.l., an Italian hydraulic components producer that became part of Helios in 2018. The Sarasota-based publicly traded company, with $861.9 million in revenue in 2021, is an engineered motion control and electronic controls technology company.
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