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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Gov. DeSantis signs bill letting businesses to sue local governments
Businesses at odds with local governments over the regulation of everything from noise and plastic straws to the size of cruise ships calling on small seaports will soon have a lot more firepower at their fingertips. One critic called the measure ‘a trial lawyer’s dream’ for the number of lawsuits statewide it could attract. More from Florida Politics and the News Service of Florida.
Who earns the most in Jacksonville city government
CEOs of three of Jacksonville’s independent authorities are the highest-paid city employees. As of June 15, JEA Managing Director and CEO Jay Stowe tops the list with a $650,000 annual base pay, according to city salary data analyzed and compiled by the Jacksonville Daily Record. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Orlando wins AARP grant to promote garage apartments, other housing options
Orlando hopes to spur “gentle density” in neighborhoods across the city by promoting garage apartments, mother-in-law suites and other so-called Accessory Dwelling Units. The city is the winner of a $10,000 grant from AARP, which will fund an information campaign likely to include printed materials and public meetings in each commission district. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Space industry prompts state to pause Port Canaveral, Beachline projects
Port Canaveral officials raised an alarm after finding out the Florida Department of Transportation at the behest of the space industry had put on hold plans to replace a critical bridge at the port, which has also delayed the widening of the Beachline Expressway. Port CEO Capt. John Murray laid out concerns about FDOT’s decision during the port authority commission meeting Wednesday. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Hillsborough could get too hot to grow its famed strawberries
Hillsborough County is famous for being the nation’s winter strawberry capital, where every year it hosts one of the largest festivals to honor the harvest of its iconic crop. But the region’s dominance as the primary producer of strawberries in Florida could be at risk because of climate change. By 2050, Hillsborough will be too hot to grow strawberries, according to a report from the Environmental Defense Fund published in May. The report says ideal conditions for farming the fruit could shift north into Marion County, home of Ocala. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Business Beat - Week of June 30th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Out of the Box
New gallery at Tampa’s Florida Aquarium focuses on weird ways animals adapt
A new gallery opening Saturday, July 1, at the Florida Aquarium is full of fish and animals that have developed strange adaptations or camouflage. That includes an electric catfish, a walking shark, four-eyed fish, bird poop frogs and an archer fish that literally spits a line of water like an arrow to knock food out of a tree branch above.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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