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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida's invasions are perpetual war on ecosystems that cost hundreds of millions per year
Florida's under perpetual attack from species that don't belong here. Agricultural losses, alone, from invasive species such as citrus canker top $179 million annually. But the toll of feral pigs, free-roaming cats, Cuban tree frogs, lionfish and Florida's other 500 or so known invaders remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the Burmese python keeps slithering its way from South Florida to the Space Coast, with not much in its way. More from Florida Today.
Could Rays stadium be a casualty in battle over Pinellas beach sand?
Pinellas County and the Army Corps of Engineers remain locked in a years-long battle over the restoration of the county’s badly eroded beaches. During a County Commission work session Thursday, commissioners repeatedly alluded to one project that could be a casualty of the conflict: the effort to build a new professional baseball stadium in St. Petersburg. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Oops: Miami-Dade forgets to renew gas tax. Drivers get savings, county loses millions
Miami-Dade County administrators realized too late it needed to renew a local gas tax for another 30 years, a lapse that will cost the budget millions of dollars before the 6-cent levy kicks in again next year. An item up for a vote at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting renews the local gas tax that’s authorized under Florida law. Miami-Dade last authorized it 30 years ago when the tax was created, and state law has it expiring on Aug. 31. More from the Miami Herald.
State launches full-scale investigation into FAU’s presidential search
The state will launch a formal investigation into Florida Atlantic University’s presidential search, rejecting the university’s request to end the matter quickly and increasing speculation that the ultimate goal is to place a political ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis into the role. The inspector general for the Board of Governors, the policy-making body for the state’s public universities, will conduct a formal investigation into “anomalies” in FAU’s presidential search, System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues wrote in a letter this week to Brad Levine, who chairs the FAU search firm and Board of Trustees. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Industrial growth now focus of Northeast Florida business recruitment
Aundra Wallace, JAX Chamber’s chief economic developer, says that of the 900 people moving daily into Florida, 84 of them are settling in the area he markets – the seven counties of Northeast Florida. “So for 2022 to 2027-28, this region is going to be growing to about 158,000 additional people,” Wallace, president of JAXUSA Partnership, told a First Horizon Bank breakfast roundtable June 29 at The River Club in Downtown Jacksonville. “That’s the growth that we’re seeing right now.” More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Business Beat - Week of July 14th
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
Meet the Skyway cats and the volunteers who care for them
Today there are about 20 stray cats living at the base of the Skyway south fishing pier, according to Kim Caswell, the president of the nonprofit Skyway Cats Inc. “They’ve got a beautiful view,” Caswell, 62, said. For about 10 years, a group of volunteers from both sides of the bridge has looked after the cat colony.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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