Florida Everglades restoration is progressing, but scientists say it needs improvement
The long-running effort to restore the Florida Everglades has seen progress at a “remarkable pace” in the past two years, according to a new report. But more could be done to bolster those efforts, said the report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which reviews Everglades restoration progress every two years at the request of the federal government’s builders, the Army Corps of Engineers. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Miami-Dade County OK’s $75 million grant to get convention center hotel going
Miami-Dade has had its foot on a stubborn ground-breaking shovel for a hotel next to the Miami Beach Convention Center for almost a decade. It may just have started to dig in a little last week when commissioners agreed to toss another $75 million into the $500 million-plus project. More from Miami Today.
As season begins, Sarasota, Manatee tourism looking for quick rebound from hurricanes
Tourism drives a multibillion-dollar industry in Sarasota and Manatee counties, built on a reputation of white sand beaches near comfortable, welcoming communities featuring quality restaurants and entertainment venues. Snowbirds from across the country flock to Southwest Florida every year to escape cold weather, pull up a beach chair, and enjoy several months of Florida sunshine, spending their dollars at restaurants or buying products at other local businesses. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Disney wants reimbursement for $500K spent to prove Orange County appraiser was wrong
Adding to the potential public costs of a long-running legal battle, the Walt Disney Company wants to be reimbursed for more than $500,000 it spent to prove the Orange County Property Appraiser miscalculated the taxable value of one of its resort hotels by tens of millions of dollars. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Tampa Electric wants ‘egregious’ profit from Floridians to help ailing finances, lawyers allege
As the months have dragged on in Tampa Electric’s quest for state approval to charge customers higher rates, consumer advocates have questioned why the company has been so steadfast in its pursuit of shareholder profits that would be among the highest in the nation. On Monday, these opposing lawyers filed scathing arguments with their conclusion: Financial problems at the utility’s Canadian parent company, Emera, are driving Tampa Electric to try to squeeze “egregious” profits from Floridians, they wrote. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Outside general counsel: Deepening your legal bench
How can your organization deepen its legal bench, without adding personnel costs and H.R. headaches to the in-house legal department? For many, the answer is found with outside counsel. Outside counsel can bring experience, independent thought and objectivity that might not be found by staff counsel. [Sponsored report]
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Profile
Meet the Florida billionaire who wants to be a newspaper baron
The newspaper industry has decayed so much in recent years that even Warren Buffett — the world-famous investor whose annual meetings have included a newspaper toss — has declared the business “toast.” But another billionaire is placing a counterintuitive bet that local newspapers aren’t dead yet. David Hoffmann, a Florida investor worth $1.6 billion, who has purchased more than 5 percent of Lee Enterprises, one of America’s largest newspaper companies, wants to buy up a controlling stake.
» More from the New York Times and MSN.
Tech Trends
Starfighters Space hopes to launch small satellites from wings of F-104 supersonic jets
Forget the launch pad: A Space Coast company wants to accelerate its rare supersonic aircraft to twice the speed of sound, climb up to 45,000 feet, and fire wing-mounted rockets up into low-Earth orbit, deploying small payloads of pint-sized satellites. Straight out of science fiction? Starfighters Space, a small company that flies seven vintage Lockheed F-104 Starfighter jet interceptors at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, is testing the cost-saving concept now.
» Read more from Florida Today.