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Monday's Daily Pulse

Florida braces for long government shutdown

Everglades

As a dysfunctional Washington stumbled past the midnight deadline and into a shutdown of the federal government, state officials scrambled to prepare for its impacts across Florida. Gov. Scott's office declined to say what kind of contingency plans it has ready to implement in a shutdown. The last federal government shutdown, in early October 2013, had serious effects on routine government services. While monthly Social Security checks won't be interrupted, a trip to the Everglades should probably be postponed. [Source: Times/Herald]

See also:
» Here's the impact the government shutdown is having in Florida's national parks
» How does the government shutdown affect South Florida?
» Government shutdown partially shuts down some Florida parks
»
Quick poll: How long do you think the federal government shutdown will last?

Lawmakers to grapple with state budget and other issues

Florida legislators are heading into the third week of their 60-day session where they are ready to start grappling with a state budget that will exceed $80 billion. While passing the budget is the only obligation the Florida Legislature has each year, there are dozens of other bills being considered. [Source: AP]

Official: Plan to exclude Florida from drilling isn’t final

The Trump administration’s promise to exempt Florida from an offshore drilling plan is not a formal action, an Interior Department official said Friday in a statement that Democrats said contradicted a high-profile announcement by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. [Source: AP]

See also:
» Sen. Bill Nelson: Key administration official admits Florida is not “off the table” for drilling

Record number of inmates died in Florida prisons last year. And they died younger than past years.

More inmates died in Florida prisons last year than in any other year on record, leaving the state scrambling to identify causes and find solutions. The tally, 428 inmate deaths in 2017, was released late Friday by the Florida Department of Corrections and showed a 20 percent increase over previous years. [Source: Miami Herald]

Orlando pursues Apple expansion, on heels of Amazon snub

The Orlando Economic Partnership will pursue Apple regarding the consumer tech icon’s plans to expand in the U.S. and add a new corporate campus, officials confirmed Friday. Interest in Apple follows rejection of Orlando’s proposal for Amazon’s second headquarters. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida voters: Dump the Electoral College, let popular vote decide presidency
Two-thirds of Florida voters believe the Electoral College should be scrapped and that presidents should be chosen based on the popular vote, a new poll suggests. Also read more at the Fort Myers News-Press.

› Florida considers ending fee to freeze credit as Equifax leads gripes
Florida officials including two Cabinet officers want to whack a $10 fee to freeze your credit report after hacked credit reporting agency Equifax emerged as the state’s most complained-about company in 2017 in beefs to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Florida Trend Exclusive
› Sixt success: Fort Lauderdale lands Sixt headquarters

Sixt

Hertz drew a lot of attention in 2013 with its announcement that it would bring its global headquarters to Estero along with 700 jobs. Fort Lauderdale hopes for an even bigger, long-term splash with the opening of the 300-employee U. S. headquarters of German rental car giant Sixt.

› Orange County Convention Center looks ahead for busy 2018
Odds are in your favor you might get lucky and get seated next to a business traveler instead of a crying baby if you have an upcoming airline flight. That’s because in early 2018, a large number of conventiongoers will travel to and from Orlando during what’s expected to be a busy season.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Florida freeze threatens orange juice
As bitterly cold temperatures descended across the U.S. last week, even the Sunshine State felt the chill. Temperatures dropped below freezing across much of Central Florida on Wednesday and Thursday night, threatening the state’s crops.

› Scripps Florida making headway with new companies and potential drugs
Scripps Florida, the research institute that began operating in Jupiter about a decade ago, is finally making headway in spinning off or internally growing companies that are developing new drugs.

Special Report from Florida Trend:
Orthopedics:
A Trend Toward Less Surgery
Orthopedics in Florida

Florida orthopedists say that in recent years they’ve been operating less often on conditions such as rotator-cuff injuries and meniscus tears for some age groups and patients. Full report here.

› Tampa Bay jobs chief Ed Peachey making top dollar
For years, Edward Peachey has bragged about the number of jobless people he has helped find work. As president and CEO of CareerSource Pinellas and CareerSource Tampa Bay, he’s in charge of the two main government agencies that provide training to the unemployed and help them land jobs.

› Central Florida's economy poised for more expansion in 2018
Business owners and economists agree, almost universally, that it will be a good year. In fact, it could be so good that challenges almost forgotten during the last 10 years will force the business community to cope with new challenges.