Florida Legislature trying to wrap up work in final week

There is much to do and less time to do it in. Florida legislators are nearing the finish line of their 60-day annual session, but they have a long line of unfinished business to take care of in the final week. More from CBS Miami and the AP.

See also:
» What’s still undecided in the budget
» Tension reigns in the strangest session in years
» Quick poll: During this last week of the Florida Legislature, which of these problems are the most important for lawmakers to focus on?

SpaceX ready to try again with Spanish satellite launch

SpaceX will try once again to launch a Spanish satellite into space from Florida early Tuesday morning. The launch, which will come from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, will mark SpaceX’s first mission since its historic Falcon Heavy rocket launch Feb. 6. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Opinion: Stop businesses from turning a blind eye to human trafficking

The stories of human trafficking are so heinous that most people refuse to accept it’s a reality in our country, let alone our Sunshine State. And yet, Florida is the third largest hub for human trafficking in the U.S. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

New Canada-Florida chamber planned amid talk of tariffs

Amid growing protectionist moves by President Donald Trump's administration, Canadians in Florida are expanding a chamber of commerce between the nation and the state, and highlighting the huge volume of Canadian visitors, trade and second-home buyers in the Sunshine State. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida Senate moves forward with plan to arm teachers, narrowly rejects assault weapons ban

The emotional fault lines that have divided the state since the school shooting in Parkland were on display in the Florida Senate on Saturday as lawmakers passionately rejected an assault weapons ban and moved forward with a voluntary plan to arm teachers in schools. Senate Bill 7026 would inject millions of dollars into school safety and mental health programs. It would also impose new limits on gun access. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.

See also:
» See text of Senate Bill 7026 "Public Safety" - aka the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act”

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› The state of media in Miami is strong. It just doesn’t look like it used to. [Miami Herald]
The fastest-growing TV network in America. The largest public radio newsroom in Florida. One of the biggest publishers on the East Coast. If these don’t sound like descriptions of Miami media companies in 2018, you haven’t been watching your Twitter feed.

› Florida sawmill company to build $110 million plant in Alabama [AP]
A $110 million lumber manufacturing facility will be built in southern Alabama. The Florida-based Rex Lumber Co. will build the state-of-the-art facility and create more than 110 jobs, Al.com reported.

› Magic Leap claims global security head tried to 'extort millions of dollars' [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Magic Leap is suing its global security head, asserting he tried to ‘extort millions of dollars’ by threatening to make legal claims against the Plantation company.

› Tampa Bay leaders would love to land Apple’s next campus, but Apple isn’t making it easy [Tampa Bay Times]
For the Tampa Bay area’s economic development team, going after Amazon’s second headquarters was like running a hard race uphill against fast competition. In contrast, going after Apple would be less like a race and more like, what, a puzzle? A treasure hunt? Whatever it is, it involves a blindfold.

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› Pilot program at Naval Hospital Jacksonville allows virtual visits for patients [Florida Times-Union]
Some patients at Naval Hospital Jacksonville are getting the medical attention they need without stepping foot in a doctor’s office. Instead of missing work and fighting traffic to see a physician, they can now have face-to-face meetings with doctors through their phones, tablets and computers.

› Heritage Insurance seeking hefty rate hikes, blames claims fraud [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Heritage Property & Casualty, one of the state’s largest homeowner insurance companies, is seeking double-digit rate increases for new and renewing customers this year.

› Voxx International promotes Orlando-based executive [Orlando Sentinel]
Ed Mas, who has worked in the automotive industry for more than 20 years, was named president of Voxx Automotive, a division that develops technologies for large auto manufacturers.

› Numbers suggest uptick in seasonal tourism in Sarasota County [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Tourist arrivals in Sarasota County increased 1.5 percent to 80,100 guests in January compared with the same month last year, according to data from Visit Sarasota County. Numbers for the season as a whole, beginning in October, are even stronger so far.