‘Farm bill’ moving through Legislature
From leaf blowers, commercial driver’s licenses, and door-to-door salesmen, this year’s Florida farm bill addresses a range of issues. The bill also includes expanding the ability of farmers to pursue legal damages over the “disparagement” of agricultural products and repeal a 2016 program designed to financially aid grocery stores in underserved or low-income communities. More from the News Service of Florida and Florida Phoenix.
Air taxi network plan is starting to take shape in the Miami area
Imagine that you could travel from Miami to Boca or Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach in under 20 minutes. Now imagine it’s rush hour and it’s still under 20 minutes. Sign us up, and wave to the gridlock from above. That dream of electic air taxi service is inching along to reality, and a lot of activity is going on behind the scenes to make it happen over the next few years. More from Refresh Miami.
St. Johns County adopts conservation fee on developers
The St. Johns County Commission on Tuesday adopted an impact fee on developers to help pay for the acquisition of sensitive conservation land. The new fee will be phased in over five years beginning next year. Developers pay impact fees to offset the effects of new housing, hotels and other growth on infrastructure like roads and schools. The county plans to levy the maximum impact fee allowed under Florida law. More from Jacksonville Today.
USPS contractor will shutter after 'steep' revenue loss, cut 84 jobs in Tampa
One of the largest contract mail haulers in the U.S. plans to shutter operations by March 2026, a move it blames on USPS network changes that will also lead to 84 people in Tampa losing their jobs. Carter Lake, Iowa-based 10 Roads Express has transported mail for the United States Postal Service for nearly 50 years, according to its website. But major USPS network changes within the past year have led to a steep loss in revenue, the company says. More from the Business Observer.
Blue Origin’s wastewater plans add to Indian River Lagoon concerns
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued a draft proposal that would allow nearly 500,000 gallons of wastewater daily at Blue Origin’s Merritt Island facilities that would affect the Indian River Lagoon. The permit would allow Jeff Bezos’ rocket company to operate an industrial wastewater treatment facility that could dispense up to 0.49 million gallons per day. Of that total, up to 15,000 gallons per day could be for nonprocessed wastewater. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Business Profile
Central Florida cybersecurity company works to train workforce, help companies of all sizes stay protected
As cybersecurity is constantly evolving to protect the vulnerable information stored on networks at home and at work, one Central Florida cybersecurity company's goal is to better protect businesses, and train the workforce to do it right. The cybersecurity company AKYLADE launched a new program on Black Friday that helps businesses of all sizes stay protected from cyberattacks and recover their information if their systems are attacked.
» More from Spectrum News.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Galen’s niche
One of the largest private nursing schools in America, Galen College of Nursing has had campuses in Miami and Tampa Bay for some time. Three years ago, it added new campuses in Gainesville and Sarasota. And now it’s just opened another one in Orlando. Why is Galen suddenly so active in Florida? It’s because of the projected nursing shortage that this state faces in the decade ahead.
» Read more from Florida Trend.