Amid election cyber-threats, Florida's counties plead with state for more money

Faced with cyber-security threats to their voting systems, Florida election supervisors say they want access to some of the federal election security money Congress approved for all 50 states nearly two months ago. But the state, which is supposed to receive $19 million, doesn’t yet have the money, and election officials say they’re growing impatient. More from the Times/Herald and WLRN.

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» Congress delays $19M promised to Florida for election security

Florida congressional delegation gives thumbs-down to offshore drilling

Florida's congressional delegation, citing the state's vibrant tourism industry, delivered a unanimous, bipartisan and stern message of opposition to offshore energy exploration during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Congressional Republicans and Democrats took turns blasting the idea of putting fossil-fuel development near the state's 825 miles of pristine beaches. [Source: McClatchy]

Unseasonable Florida rains affecting harvests

Up and down the state of Florida there are high probabilities of rain for the next 10 days, with daily totals of 0.25 inches to an inch. This type of daily rain usually doesn’t arrive until sometime in June. Look for harvests to be affected and a potential spike in pricing across many commodities. [Source: The Produce News]

Florida Bar issues new recommendations for gun control laws

A bold proposal written by a committee formed by the Florida Bar is pitching new laws for the state that would broaden the number of individuals who could be banned from not only purchasing, but possessing firearms. The group says that the proposal is in line with the Florida legislature’s response to the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. See the Bar's report here. Also read more at WLRN.

Florida Supreme Court rejects challenge of FPL rate hike

The Florida Supreme Court is ruling in favor of the state commission that regulates utilities over an environmental group that challenged a rate hike by the Florida's largest electricity provider. The court ruled Thursday that the Public Service Commission properly approved Florida Power & Light's $881 billion rate hike in 2016. See the opinion from Florida's Supreme Court, here. Also read more at the AP.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami Beach wants higher roads and pumps to fight sea rise. Some residents say no way. [Miami Herald]
Miami Beach won't be elevating new roads anytime soon, after fierce opposition from residents who alternatively insisted their neighborhood didn't flood and therefore didn't need higher streets, or who worried higher streets would send floodwater into their homes.

› Greyhound owners sue Florida over anti-dog racing measure [AP]
A group representing greyhound owners and breeders in Florida has filed a lawsuit in hopes of blocking a measure on the November ballot that could spell the end of the sport in the state. The Florida Greyhound Association filed the lawsuit in Leon County court on Thursday, saying the title and summary of the proposed Amendment 13 fails to meet the state's legal standard.

› Medical marijuana company hopes to help patients across Florida [WTVT]
In an unassuming yet heavily secured building in Apollo Beach, a new frontier is growing. Inside a 150,000-square-foot state of the art cultivation facility and lab, there are cannabis plants as far as the eye can see. It's one of many rooms like this in development.

› New Jersey again loses logo suit with Florida pizza shop [AP]
New Jersey once again has been told to hit the road in its legal battle with a Florida-based pizza franchise over its logo. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel found there are similarities between the Garden State Parkway’s logo and the one used by Jersey Boardwalk Pizza.

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› Tamarac Village to rise after more than a decade of delays [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A vacant strip of land meant to become Tamarac's downtown is on the verge of construction. Tamarac spokeswoman Elise Boston said groundbreaking is expected in the next few months. The entire project won’t be finished until late 2019.

› Boating accidents in Florida rose nearly 14 percent in 2017 [AP]
Officials say the number of boating accidents in Florida is rising. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday released its annual boating accident report that showed that there was a nearly 14 percent rise in accidents in 2017.

› Florida company recalls 1,200 units of dry potatoes [CBS12]
A Florida based food company recalled a potato product because it could trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Mas Food Services Co. from Oakland issued the recall after learning the 15 ounce packages of its Peruchef Brand Dry Potatoes may have undeclared sulfites.

› Mosaic has sealed sinkhole nearly 2 years after it drained polluted pond [Tampa Bay Times]
Nearly two years after a massive sinkhole opened at Mosaic’s Mulberry phosphate processing plant, a company spokeswoman says it has been sealed at last and will be completely filled by the end of May.