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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
What is Florida's future as climate change threats add up?
Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Historic rainfall.Climate change. If you think Florida has seen it all. Think again, and a recent study on climate risks in the United States confirms some of our worst fears. It probably comes as no surprise that when you combine the threat of climate change with a state surrounded on three sides by water, Florida doesn't fare well when it comes to a changing climate. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Vickie Smith
The Weeki Wachee Springs State Park mermaid (from 1957-61) tells us: "I didn’t realize the notoriety that would come from being a mermaid. People would stop us and ask us for our autograph. I got fan letters. That was a total thrill. My picture was on 26 different postcards. I have a stack of books in the house, and I’m in every one of them." [Source: Florida Trend]
DeSantis signs bills limiting Chinese land ownership, TikTok at schools
Saying that China posed a threat to Floridians, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed three bills targeting Chinese influence in Florida’s schools, universities and agriculture. During a news conference in Hernando County, DeSantis signed legislation that would ban the use of TikTok and other Chinese apps on school and government servers, limit land purchases by Chinese citizens and prohibit universities from accepting funding from China. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Submerged island off Florida reveals secret: Civil war-era cemetery
Joshua Marano was flying over the Gulf of Mexico in the summer of 2016 when he noticed a strange pattern in the water. Mr. Marano, a maritime archaeologist with the National Park Service, consulted some old nautical charts, expecting he might find the ruins of a lighthouse or beacon. Instead, he found a whole island. [Source: New York Times]
Florida speeds up work on 20 highway projects, per DeSantis' request
As Florida lawmakers put the finishing touches on this year’s legislative session, they approved a request from Gov. Ron DeSantis to help speed 20 highway projects across the state under the banner of “Moving Florida Forward.” “I requested $4 billion for Moving Florida Forward so we can get ahead of some of these traffic problems,” DeSantis said during a news conference after lawmakers ended the 60-day session. “Some of these items may take 20 years. I want to accelerate that to get it done much sooner. And the Legislature responded.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Bartow-based Peace River Center to host events for Mental Health Awareness Month
Peace River Center is hosting three events in May to help educate the community and increase awareness of resources during Mental Health Awareness Month. Based in Bartow, Peace River Center is a licensed and nationally accredited, nonprofit regional provider of behavioral health care and victim services.
› NextEra Energy Partners to sell natural gas pipelines as part of clean energy transition
NextEra Energy Partners aims to reach zero carbon emissions by 2025. To meet that goal, the Juno Beach-based firm plans to sell its natural gas pipeline assets and focus on growing its renewable energy portfolio, the company announced Monday. The move enables NextEra Energy Partners to capitalize on the low-cost of renewables and help decarbonize the country's economy, said CEO John Ketchum.
› See how much real estate prices changed in Broward County last week
The median price per square foot for a home in Broward County in the past week was $280. In the past week, a 605-square-foot home on Cypress Lake Boulevard in Deerfield Beach sold for $170,000. The figures in this text are based on sales registered during the week of May. 1.
› Here’s where your Tampa Bay drinking water comes from
If you’ve ever wondered why your tap water tastes different than your friend’s across the bay, we have the answer. The water comes from the same sources, but the cities and counties around Tampa Bay have different treatment processes and combinations of source water.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
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