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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Health care in Florida plagued by worker shortage, high costs and burnout
Florida residents say health care in the state is failing and give the industry a “D” or “F” grade. A Harris Poll survey done nationwide about how Americans perceive the health care system found Florida residents are disappointed and workforce shortage and affordability are key issues. The survey involved 2,519 people nationwide and included 510 Floridians. [Source: Naples Dialy News]
Florida’s immigration crackdown is 3 months old. How’s that going?
Touted as the most effective and ambitious immigration measure in the nation by supporters, SB 1718 also came with its share of criticism when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law earlier this year. Much of the backlash was aimed at a part of the law that imposed felony charges for transporting immigrants without legal status into Florida. Three months after the law went into effect, how many people have been charged with the new crime? The total — so far — is three. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Petitions in peril? Groups worry Florida high court shift may unravel amendment process
The state Constitution offers residents a powerful tool rooted in the First Amendment to pass policies that their elected officials won’t stomach. Citizen initiatives. They allow Floridians to get amendments on the ballot that change the state Constitution. And it's been wildly successful. Voters have raised the minimum wage, legalized medical marijuana, approved voting rights to former felony offenders, and, back in 2002, even banned confinement of pregnant pigs. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Famous authors, new office, millions of bucks back anti-book banning campaign in Florida
Famous authors and millions of bucks are backing a campaign to combat book banning in Florida. PEN America, a free speech organization, announced the news Wednesday morning, saying that it plans to open up a Florida center before the year's end to "host public events, wage campaigns and empower Florida citizens to defend their basic freedoms." More from USA Today ] and the AP.
Feds focus on Florida in crackdown on fentanyl chemicals shipped by Chinese firms to U.S. and Mexico
Justice Department officials Tuesday announced a crackdown on China-based companies and employees in eight Florida indictments, accusing them of shipping chemical ingredients to Mexico and the United States where they are used to produce fentanyl — a synthetic opioid that is the leading cause of drug deaths in America with more than 100,000 over a one-year period. [Source: Miami Herald]
A career worth talking about
As an actress, you may not know Mauriett Chayeb’s face. But you - or your kids, actually - might know her voice. Mauriett has brought to life characters in such U.S. and international animated TV shows and movies as Anpanman, Topo Gigio, Space Dogs 3: Tropical Adventure, Treasure Trekkers, and Japanese anime series, Detective Conan Case Closed. Her latest - Goodbye Monster - was released in September. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Goliath grouper permit lottery is open for next year's season
The second annual Goliath grouper season doesn’t open until next spring — March 1 to May 31 — but if you want a license to harvest one of these big boys, you need to apply in the next two weeks. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be accepting applications through Oct. 15. The cost is $10, plus fees. You can also find more information at the Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit webpage.
› Orlando named “Best Foodie City in America” in recent report — do locals agree?
After weighing data that included 28 metrics from Michelin stars to cost of groceries, WalletHub has determined that of 182 cities, including the 150 most populated in the nation, Orlando deserves the No.1 slot on its 2023 list of Best Foodie Cities in America. The City Beautiful edged out Portland, Oregon, which took the No. 2 spot. More surprisingly, in particular to locals out in force on social media, was Orlando’s supremacy over other legendary food cities.
› A Hialeah politician wants public records on 911 calls. The city wants $6,700 for that
Hialeah wants to charge Councilman Bryan Calvo $6,769 for public records involving 911 operations. The request comes after el Nuevo Herald revealed deficiencies in the city’s emergency service. According to a letter sent on Sept. 12 to Calvo by Hialeah City Clerk Marbelys Fatjo, processing one of his requests would take 170 additional hours of work.
› Fourth-generation Bealls leader embraces change in business, industry
In a little less than four years as CEO of Bealls, Matt Beall has been part of some significant changes at the $1.87 billion Bradenton-based retrailer. For starters, there were the myriad disruptions caused by the pandemic. Other changes run from internal to external.
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