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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida legislators decide to leave local ‘living wage’ rules alone
Florida lawmakers backed off a bill that could have cut the paychecks of tens of thousands of Floridians. Instead, only minor league baseball players could see lower wages — eventually. The Florida House of Representatives on Tuesday approved SB 892, which would allow baseball players to be paid less than the state’s $11 hourly minimum wage. The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature. By approving SB 892, House members decided against their own version of the bill, which would have eliminated local “living wage” ordinances that help boost the wages of tens of thousands of Floridians. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.
House narrows restrictions on foreign buyers of Florida property except for Chinese
Many Chinese Americans say they feel discriminated against by a DeSantis priority bill that would prohibit people “domiciled” in China from owning property or land in the state if they’re not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. SB 264 would limit land purchases near military bases and critical infrastructure from residents of a handful of foreign adversaries, including Russia, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. Only Chinese citizens would be prohibited from owning land — or homes — anywhere in the state. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.
Florida codes keep new homes ‘high and dry.’ Do they make flooding worse for neighbors?
It’s become a common sight in development-crazed South Florida: Shiny new homes popping up in neighborhoods of low-slung older homes — almost always constructed on land raised by trucked-in gravel. The added elevation has become standard thanks to decades of stricter building codes and a growing understanding that Florida buildings need to rise to withstand storms and floods of the future. But neighbors wonder if the standards to raise new construction make flooding worse for surrounding older homes. [Source: WLRN]
Once the ‘Magic Kingdom before Disney,’ Tupperware faces dire future
The year was 1954, and Tupperware was having a party. The company’s new Osceola County headquarters was dedicated by famed Tupperware executive Brownie Wise during a five-day “jubilee,” which also featured hundreds of women digging for buried prizes. Two Cadillacs and five Fords were won by Tupperware distributors during the fun. Tupperware would become a draw for visitors to Central Florida and a vital part of the Orlando community. Now, those partying days might be over. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida endangered species list is now up to 39 species
Everglades National Park is home to a number of threatened and endangered plant and animal species. Some of the best known of these are the Florida Panther, American Crocodile, American Alligator, West Indian Manatee, Wood Stork, and Snail Kite. Florida now lists 39 species as endangered or threatened. Most of the species might be found in Everglades National Park. These species are all listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These species include 8 plants, 6 invertebrates, 3 fish, 9 reptiles, 10 birds and 3 mammals. [Source: ESPN Southwest Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Top Marvel exec visits St. Pete, reveals secrets to blockbuster film success
One of Marvel Studios' top executives recently visited St. Petersburg for a local film festival, during which he revealed how the movie studio giant has been successful over the years. Some might say the screen came to life inside Theater No. 1 at the AMC Sundial 12 on April 28, at the Sunscreen Film Festival. That's where an audience of nearly 150 writers, directors, film industry professionals and more sat listening for advice from Marvel Vice President of Physical Production Mitchell Bell.
› Seminole County to grow its sports events business this year
Seminole County's sports activity in 2023 looks like a big score for local businesses. This fiscal year, which ends in September, the county is projected to host 91 events across various venues. Those events will host more than 220,400 visitors and will generate 46,000 hotel room nights and $65.3 million in estimated economic impact, according to data from March, the most recent available.
› Florida Small Business Development Center at FAMU opens new incubator
A new Small Business Incubator Program at Florida A&M University is aimed at helping women- and minority-owned businesses. The SBDC works with established and startup businesses to help them grow and compete. The incubator program is made possible through a $100,000 grant from Wells Fargo Bank through a partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center (Florida SBDC) at FAMU.
› May the Fourth in Orlando: Ways for ‘Star Wars’ fans to celebrate
“May the Fourth be with you” has become a common way of greeting fellow Star Wars fans on the annual celebration of the galactic franchise, May 4. What started as a grassroots observance and a clever pun has now been transformed into a global holiday to highlight Jedis, the force and all that George Lucas started with the Star Wars franchise. Fans can immerse themselves in a galaxy far, far away by visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but there are plenty of other Central Florida options as well.
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