‘Philosophical differences’ lead to legislative OT
State lawmakers often assert that their single required task to complete before the end of the annual 60-day legislative session is to approve a budget for the next fiscal year. But this year’s mission, slated to come to a close this Friday, will go into overtime, House and Senate conceded last week. Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, outlined Thursday that ongoing budget talks have stalled over “philosophical differences” primarily regarding the chambers’ disparate tax-relief plans. [Source: News Service of Florida]
FBI: Florida residents scammed out of more than $1 billion last year
Be careful what you click on. There are more cases than ever reported of people actively trying to steal money online, according to a new FBI report, and Florida is a tasty target. Floridians were scammed out of more than $1 billion in 2024, according to the latest annual Internet Crime Report the FBI released on April 25, up from $874.74 million the year before. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Gov. DeSantis announces record-breaking length for Gulf red snapper fishing season
Gov. Ron DeSantis says the red snapper recreational fishing season on Florida’s Gulf Coast will kick off Memorial Day weekend for the Summer and last a record-breaking 126 days throughout the rest of the year. This year’s season will top the previous record of 103 days in 2024, DeSantis said at a press conference in Destin. “This is a real, real big deal,” DeSantis said. “It’s good for the economy. It’s good for recreation. It’s good for culture. It’s good for all these things.” [Source: Florida Politics]
When roads run short: the challenges of living in a car-centric Central Florida
The cost of commuting by car isn’t just about dollars and cents. There’s also the cost of time: like time spent waiting in traffic, or trying to find ways to avoid it. For some 200 people protesting in the Serenoa Lakes neighborhood of Four Corners one Saturday in late March, time was top of mind. Their complaint? The absence of a promised roadway connection to Orange County, right next door. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
A proposal to include an exemption to Florida's minimum wage law is likely dead
A proposal to carve an exemption in the state’s voter-approved minimum wage isn’t expected to pass during this year’s legislative session, Senate President Ben Albritton said. “I don’t love it, to tell you the truth,” Albritton, R-Wauchula, told reporters this past week. “I think if somebody works, whether they’re being an apprentice or whatever, the minimum wage is in the (state) constitution for a reason.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
Meeting the demand for allied healthcare professionals
Floridians have witnessed explosive growth in our communities over the last decade. To meet the needs of so many new residents, including a large proportion of older people migrating here, Florida now has the third largest concentration of healthcare providers in the nation. But like the rest of the country, we still face significant staff shortages in our hospitals, outpatient centers, rehabilitation facilities and home health services. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› ULA, SpaceX launch back-to-back broadband missions for Amazon, Starlink internet constellations
Foreshadowing the future, two rockets lifted a combined 50 broadband satellites for two rival space-based internet companies into low-Earth orbit Monday, April 28, from Florida's Space Coast — and both rockets launched within a 3½-hour span. The landmark evening saw a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket deploy Amazon's first production batch of 27 Project Kuiper broadband satellites. The mission was the first of dozens in the coming years to create a 3,232-satellite constellation to provide high-speed internet around the world.
› Miami Beach retail hub to allow restaurant pop-ups
The Lincoln Road Business Improvement District announced April 24 that it’s the first area in Miami Beach where food and beverage businesses can operate pop-ups under a newly expanded city policy. The Miami Beach City Commission recently approved changes to the city's pop-up permit rules, allowing temporary businesses—including restaurants and bars—to occupy vacant storefronts along Lincoln Road.
› SeaWorld’s parent company trying to fill 5,000 jobs in U.S.
United Parks & Resorts, parent company of SeaWorld Orlando theme park, is looking to fill more than 5,000 jobs across the country. It is planning a “summer hiring event” for May 5-9, the company announced Monday. “The summer season is right around the corner, and we have a great line-up of new rides and attractions, presentations and shows, exclusive experiences offers and craveable food and beverage options for our guests to enjoy,” Marc Swanson, CEO of Orlando-based United Parks, said in a news release.
› Asian grocer H Mart plans first Tampa location, only second one in Florida
The company has 97 stores across the nation, but Tampa will be only its second foray into Florida, following a soon-to-open Orlando store. There were 400 people lined up for the H Mart opening in Las Vegas last week, a sure sign of its cult following. It began to take on household name status after its appearance in the memoir of musician Michelle Zauner (of Japanese Breakfast) in the New York Times bestseller “Crying in H Mart.”
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› Mayo Clinic in Florida seeks permit for almost $19 million project
As Mayo Clinic in Florida continues expanding its 39-year-old Jacksonville campus, the health care system seeks a permit to build-out two floors between the patient tower high-rise and the Mayo building and hospital at an estimated project cost of $18.97 million. The city is reviewing a permit application for the project comprising the build-out of radiology, pharmacy and health care support spaces comprising 40,064 square feet among the second and third levels.
› Officials urge Central Floridians to conserve water as dry conditions persist
As the region’s dry season continues, officials are urging Central Floridians to try and reduce their water usage. April marks the third month in a row of below-average rainfall, according to the St. Johns River Water Management District, which oversees water resources in 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. Seven of those counties are currently under a burn ban, according to the District: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Seminole and Volusia.
› Fort Lauderdale senior living home tied to infamous New York landlords
A Fort Lauderdale senior living home that skirted state and local regulations by removing all of its residents to convert to luxury apartments last month is connected to a family of notorious New York landlords. Starting last year, elderly residents were forced to move multiple times without notice under the guise of “renovations” while their quality of life deteriorated to the point that many decided to leave of their own volition.
› Summer arts: When snowbirds leave, Sarasota heats up with new shows
The Sarasota area has long had one of the busiest arts scenes in Florida during snowbird season from October through April, but it traditionally faded away once the weather turned hotter. Not anymore. This summer, there will be dozens of new plays and musicals, dance programs, the annual Sarasota Music Festival and Summer Circus Spectacular, as well as a host of visual art exhibits at area galleries and museums.