Court grapples with Florida's 'legislative privilege' case
In a dispute rooted in a lawsuit about a congressional redistricting plan, an appeals court Tuesday grappled with an attempt by the Florida House and Senate to shield lawmakers from testifying in lawsuits. Attorneys for current and former House and Senate members ultimately want the issue to get to the Florida Supreme Court and to undo a 2013 Supreme Court decision that allowed legislative testimony in certain circumstances. The dispute started when current and former lawmakers and staff members faced the possibility of testifying in a lawsuit challenging the 2022 redistricting plan. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Crop innovations: Magic beans
Patient farmers and researchers in Florida, ever in search of a new cash crop, look to vanilla, a flavor well known to consumers and potentially lucrative to growers. “I think it’s got a lot of potential,” says Xingbo Wu, a University of Florida scientist working on vanilla. “The economics are very important here. Agriculture in Florida is facing many challenges.” [Source: Florida Trend]
Forecasters watching 2 areas with potential for tropical development
Forecasters on Tuesday were monitoring two areas with potential to develop into the next tropical depression or storm. In an 8 p.m. tropical weather outlook, the National Hurricane Center said an area of low pressure could form this weekend over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. “Thereafter, some slow development of this system is possible through early next week while the system moves slowly to the north or northwest over the northwestern Caribbean Sea,” forecasters wrote. More from the Tampa Bay Times and WESH.
Divers catch record 31,773 venomous fish in tournament off Florida coast
Hundreds of tournament divers raced until the last minute to bring in a record-breaking haul of more than 31,000 venomous lionfish, Florida officials said. The state’s annual competition to remove the invasive species wrapped up Sept. 2, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Sept. 13 in a news release. [Source: MiamiHerald]
FAA wants to fine SpaceX more than $600k for Space Coast launch site violations
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday it is seeking more than $600,000 in fines against SpaceX for violating licenses from both of its Space Coast launch sites. In a press release, the FAA detailed its proposed civil penalties for a June 18, 2023 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 and a July 28, 2023 launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Red Lobster's revival: Bankruptcy exit paves way for restaurant chain's future
The deal is done. After 1,173 Chapter 11 bankruptcy pleadings and orders filed by the involved parties — a substantial docket compared to most other business bankruptcy cases — RL Investor Holdings LLC has completed its acquisition of Orlando-based Red Lobster.
› Vote delayed on potential subsidy boost for stalled American Dream Miami mega-mall
As the developers behind the American Dream Miami mega-mall try to revive the stalled $4 billion project, Miami-Dade County might use property taxes to cover some costs. Legislation that was set for a final vote Tuesday by the County Commission would water down a subsidy ban imposed on the retail theme park six years ago.
› Billion-dollar Tampa RV company announces new CEO
The CEO of LazyDays RV, a Tampa-based RV dealership with nationwide presence and more than $1 billion in annual revenue, has left the company. John North, who led the company for about two years, resigned Friday, the company says in a Monday morning statement. North's departure comes after a big run-up, then big decline in revenue punctuated by heavy quarterly losses.
› Back to the table? Stuart may reopen talks, or start new negotiations, for Brightline station
Just one week after the City Commission rescinded two Brightline-related agreements that put a new train station on life support, commissioners Monday said they'll consider renegotiating the deal or starting new negotiations with the railroad.
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› As public camping ban looms, Miami-Dade considers ‘tiny homes’ for the homeless
As the state’s Oct. 1 ban on sleeping in public approaches, Miami-Dade County is moving to figure out emergency accommodations for its population of about 1,000 unsheltered homeless people, who could otherwise face jail time. A memo circulated in September by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office highlights the possible use of “tiny homes” as short-term crisis housing that could lessen pressure on the county’s jails.
› Pensacola taps former NAS Capt. Tim Kinsella as next city administrator
The city of Pensacola has selected former Naval Air Station Pensacola commanding officer Capt. Tim Kinsella to serve as the new city administrator. Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves confirmed the hire, which comes comes roughly four months after previous city administrator Kerrith Fiddler announced his resignation, in June city family reasons.
› Clearwater private air service firm nearly doubles revenue, to $40M
Clearwater-based luxury private-flight company FlyUSA is growing in multiple ways, including in revenue, employees and in expanding to Sarasota. Co-founder and CEO Barry Shevlin projects the company will hit $60 million in revenue in 2025, which would be up nearly threefold since 2023.
› North Port commissioners give preliminary approval to 2024-25 budget; eye salary increase
North Port city commissioners are moving toward final approval of the city’s proposed $284.9 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The proposed budget maintains a property tax rate of 3.7667 mills, or about $3.77 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. The city has maintained that rate since 2020, with the help of dramatically rising property values generating more revenue.