SHARE:
Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
‘It’s time’: Lawmakers look at abolishing property taxes in Florida
A controversial idea is again gaining ground in the Legislature: eliminating property taxes and replacing them with a new “consumption tax” tacked onto the sales of goods and services across the state. If passed, the bill would direct the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to examine the likely impact. A report would be due Feb. 1, 2025. [Source: Florida Politics]
Federal judge dismisses Disney lawsuit against DeSantis
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed Disney’s free speech lawsuit accusing Gov. Ron DeSantis and state officials of political retaliation in response to the entertainment giant’s criticism of a law limiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor ruled that Disney did not have legal standing to sue DeSantis and Florida’s commerce secretary. He also wrote that Disney’s claims against members of the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board “failed on the merits.” More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Orlando Sentinel.
Will Florida cicadas emerge en masse in 2024?
Florida doesn't have to worry about the massive numbers of cicadas that will emerge this year across several states in the South and Midwest. Florida has its own problems with insects, all 1,366 types of them. Yes, it looks like Insect Identification counted them and no, that's not the total number of insects in the state. But yes, there are cicadas in Florida. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
Duke says Florida customers will see lower electric rates next year
Duke Energy Florida will seek state approval of a three-year plan that would increase customers’ base electric rates and expand solar-power generation. Duke on Wednesday notified the Florida Public Service Commission that it will seek to increase base rates by $596 million in 2025. The plan would increase the rates by an additional $95 million in 2026 and $127 million in 2027. More from the News Service of Florida and the Orlando Sentinel.
Food fight: Cellular agriculture fears Florida’s proposed ban on cultivated meat
If Florida bans cultivated meat, it will be the first in the nation to do so. With food scarcity challenging modern agriculture, those behind the development of alternative protein sources fear this will set a dangerous precedent. That hasn’t stopped legislation from plowing forward in the House and Senate. Language completely banning the manufacturing, sale or distribution of cultivated meat now appears in larger agriculture bills in the House (HB 1071) and Senate (SB 1084). [Source: Florida Politics]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› NFL’s Pro Bowl Games provide showcase as Camping World Stadium seeks to draw more big events
The NFL Pro Bowl Games this week are expected to serve as a showcase once again for how Camping World Stadium can host big events. The National Football League's event will include a Skills Showdown on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. at Nicholson Fieldhouse at the University of Central Florida, followed by the Pro Bowl Games Championship on Feb. 4 at the stadium near downtown Orlando at 3 p.m. Both will be broadcast on TV, with the championship event at Camping World selling tickets now.
› PGA Tour, Strategic Sports Group, reach $3 billion deal which makes players equity holders
The PGA Tour, with the help of a heavy-hitting group of professional team sports owners, has raised the Saudi Public Investment Fund ante into professional golf by $1 billion. The Tour announced on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with Strategic Sports Group to invest $3 billion in the formation of PGA Tour Enterprises.
› Sarasota venues combatting fraudulent ticket sales to protect patrons
Van Wezel and Asolo Repertory Theatre are two Sarasota theaters that are trying to fight back against an increasing number of third-party ticket sellers – websites offering tickets at far higher prices than what is available from the theaters’ own sites. The Sarasota Opera has had problems in past seasons, but not lately, said General Director Richard Russell.
› Tampa's Overseas Shipholding Group receives take-private offer from Seattle company
Overseas Shipholding Group’s largest shareholder has revived discussions around a possible buyout deal that would value the Tampa oil shipping company at roughly $452 million. Seattle-based Saltchuk Resources Inc., the largest privately held company in Washington state, made the unsolicited, non-binding indication of interest to purchase OSG.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
