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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida’s elections supervisors navigate complicated issues as they prepare for 2024
Florida’s elections supervisors are asking the Legislature to protect poll workers and elections staff from public records requests that could expose them to threats, harassment or coercion. The proposal comes as distrust surrounding elections builds. Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley says he’s received troubling public records requests for the personal information of staff and volunteers… and that he’s not the only one. He’s afraid with next year’s presidential election, it’ll get worse. [Source: WUSF]
Florida bar weighs whether lawyers using AI need client consent
Florida lawyers might soon be required to get their client's consent before using artificial intelligence on their legal matters. The Florida Bar is crafting a new advisory opinion focused on the use of AI and has asked Florida lawyers to weigh in. Florida bar leaders have tasked the Florida Board Review Committee on Professional Ethics with creating rules around the use of generative AI, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google Bard or Microsoft's Bing. [Source: Reuters]
21 species across 16 states, including Florida, now considered extinct: US wildlife officials
Nearly two dozen species from 16 states that were listed as endangered have been delisted — but not because they’ve rebounded. Instead, the change in status is due to extinction. Two years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting 23 species. After a public comment period, they opted against delisting two: a perennial herb from Hawaii after new surveys found new habitats that could be suitable for the species, and the ivory-billed woodpecker, which FWS said it will continue to review. [Source: WFLA]
Royal Caribbean sends cruise ship to rescue Americans from Israel
Royal Caribbean has partnered with the U.S. Department of State to send a cruise ship to Israel to rescue Americans who have no been able to leave the country. In a letter to employees, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty announced that Rhapsody of the Seas would be used to safely evacuate American citizens. The ship had its sailings in the region canceled after the Hamas attack from Gaza Strip on Israel last week and the Israeli response that has left thousands of Israelis and Palestinians dead. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Hurricane center forecasts tropical depression to form this week
A Caribbean-bound system has lost some organization but is still forecast to become the season’s next tropical depression or storm later this week, according to the National Hurricane Center. The broad area of low pressure located in the central tropical Atlantic has a wide swath of shower activity. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Amateur sports are a growing economic driver for Southwest Florida
Jeff Mielke, executive director of Lee County Sports Development, recently talked to local business community leaders about the impact of sports tourism on the local economy. He started with a comparison of this year’s statistics to 2022, which he said was heading towards a record year.
› Orlando Science Center rolling out Halloween events
Orlando Science Center is planning a string of Halloween-oriented events for three distinctive audiences. On Oct. 21, it’s Science Night Dead, the Halloween version of the adults-only Science Night Live. Then on Oct. 28, it’s Kids Night at the Museum, also with spooky programming. In between, on Oct. 25, is OSC After Dark, a midweek Halloween party for young professionals that supports the Science for All Fund.
› Amazon tops list of the Top 25 employers in Northeast Florida
Amazon.com is the region’s largest nongovernmental employer. JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development division of JAX Chamber, reports the area’s at least dozen Amazon facilities employ about 16,000 people. In just six years, online retailing, warehousing and delivery took over as the area’s No. 1 job provider, reflecting how consumers shop and how that practice was reinforced during the pandemic.
› Tervis names new CEO, former top exec moves into new role
National drinkware leader Tervis, one of the largest and most established manufacturers in Sarasota County, has named its former top financial executive, Hosana Fieber, its new CEO. Rogan Donelly, who has been president since 2016, CEO since 2021 and is the son of longtime Tervis leader Norbert Donelly, is moving into an executive chairman of the board position. The CEO change comes as officials with the 200-employee company, based in Venice, say the business is debt-free and about to embark on a new growth strategy.
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