Hemp regulation bill snuffed out in Legislature
The Legislature will not pass a regulatory framework for hemp this Legislative Session. That’s according to Rep. Michelle Salzman, who headed up a legislative work group on the issue. She said the House and Senate cannot bring separately crafted bills together before a Friday deadline to pass policy bills. Last year, the Legislature did pass regulations on hemp, but Gov. Ron DeSantis ultimately vetoed the legislation amid concerns about how it would impact retailers and small businesses in the hemp industry. More from Florida Politics.
‘A Land Remembered’ TV series in development with Tampa producer
A television series based on the beloved Florida novel “A Land Remembered” is in the works with a Tampa-based producer who says he’s determined to film it in the Sunshine State. Late author Patrick D. Smith‘s work of historical fiction follows three generations of the MacIvey family, dirt-poor Georgians who head south to homestead in the untouched Florida wilderness. They must survive bears, hurricanes, marauding Confederate deserters and constant other adversities. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
FEMA removes Fort Myers Beach from flood insurance probation
The move will lift the $50 surcharge applied to all NFIP flood insurance policies within the town, a fee imposed when Fort Myers Beach was placed on probation in November for violations tied to post-Hurricane Ian rebuilding. FEMA determined the town has met the five corrective actions required to exit probation, which included reassessing floodplain development, improving code enforcement and addressing noncompliant structures. More from the Fort Myers News-Press and Gulfshore Business.
From rising food costs to tariff concerns: Brevard restaurants and diners feel the impact
In a world where the price of a gourmet burger has soared to $20 and even a simple Happy Meal for kids costs more than $5, going out to eat can feel like more of a luxury at times. Diners aren't the only ones feeling the pinch in their wallets. Local and national restaurants also say they are operating on thin margins. Add to that: uncertainty around wholesale prices, the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. More from the Florida Today.
Legoland Florida set for international Lego Festival event
Legoland Florida and its visitors are participating in a global event with an emphasis on creative play and Fortnite videogame-inspired experiences. The Winter Haven theme park and six sister attractions in California, New York, England, Germany, Denmark and South Korea are playing host to the Lego Festival, which begins Saturday. “It is our first global event,” said Shay Davis, entertainment specialist at Legoland Florida. “So it is the first event that all Legoland parks are launching at the exact same time.” More from the Orlando Sentinel.
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He’s almost 90, but he wants to teach North Miami seniors how to use tech
Bertie McCulloch, 89, understands why seniors are reluctant to embrace technology -- they are worried about scammers and identity theft. He’ll be teaching other seniors in North Miami about how they can get comfortable using technology. McCulloch said technology has its uses for seniors, such as building community outside of their homes, especially those who live alone. Having a community online can be helpful to avoid loneliness and also to be aware of what’s going on in the neighborhood.
» More from the Miami Herald.
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Serving those who serve
Autumn Beck Blackledge was inspired to pursue a career in law, she says, by the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. After earning a law degree from Florida State University, she worked in insurance defense, personal injury, employment law, and as a lobbyist in Tallahassee. It wasn’t until she started her own family and moved back to practice in her hometown of Pensacola, that family law beckoned.
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