Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio file bill to extend Canadian snowbirds' stay

Members of the Florida delegation on Capitol Hill are championing proposals to allow some Canadian citizens more time to vacation in the United States. An estimated 3.2 million Canadians visited Florida in 2016, according to VISIT Florida. And, the Canadian embassy says those coming to the state contribute more than $4 billion to Florida's tourism-based economy each year. See the story from WGCU and have a look at the "Canadian Snowbirds Act" introduced in Congress, here. Also read more at Florida Politics and Sunshine State News.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida law firm leaders are dealing with change

Technological advances have permitted much more efficiency in parts of the practice of law, freeing up some lawyer time to learn more about a client’s business. Florida law firm leaders discuss that topic as well as challenges in the legal profession. Full story here.

Quiet hurricane season could result in payback this winter

A global weather pattern shaping up to quell hurricanes this summer could spell stronger storms this winter across Florida. You may of heard about the news of warmer sea temperatures in the Pacific equatorial area. This feature called El Niño can have both good and bad impacts on our weather around north Florida. [Source: WJXT]

Florida, 4 other Southeastern states launch traffic crackdown

Florida joins four other states in a week-long speed enforcement operation. "Operation Southern Shield" will run through Sunday, July 22. The operation running in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina will have law enforcement pull over drivers who are above legal speed limits on interstates, major highways and local roads. See the news release from the Florida Highway Patrol, here. Also read more at WTSP and the AP.

Florida to restrict shore-based shark fishing at many public beaches

The controversial fishing practice of catching large sharks from shore could be banned from many of Florida’s public beaches, restricted to nighttime hours or subjected to other limits, under options being considered to protect both swimmers and the sharks. More from the Panama City News Herald and TCPalm.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Boca Raton-based JARC receives grant funds from State of Florida [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
JARC FL (formerly Jewish Association for Residential Care), a Boca Raton -based non-profit, non-sectarian organization that provides programs and services to educate and empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, recently received $300,000 in grant funds from the State of Florida.

› A Miami Democrat heads to Cuba on the congressional campaign trail [Miami Herald]
Amid polarizing sentiments in Miami over changing diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, a congressional candidate and state lawmaker elected to represent Little Havana is visiting, well, Havana.

› Any Tampa Bay transit project will bring development opportunities, expert says [Tampa Bay Times]
Big transit projects are often about much more than moving people from one place to another. That’s where real estate adviser Marilee Utter comes in. Her specialty is helping communities get the most out of development opportunities that arise from building a light rail or bus rapid transit system, like the one proposed for the Tampa Bay area.

› Sarasota and Charlotte counties teaming up to combat beach erosion [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The Sarasota County Commission has agreed to become a co-applicant with Charlotte County on Charlotte applications seeking state money to rebuild disappearing portions of critically eroded shoreline south of Sarasota County along Manasota Key.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Brightline will add more daily trips to its schedule in August [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
More Brightline higher-speed passenger trains will be zipping between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach next month. Beginning Aug. 6, there will be 16 daily round trips — up from 11 daily trains, Mondays through Fridays.

› Gas prices jump 12 cents/gallon in a week in Tampa Bay [Tampa Bay Times]
Bay area gas prices increased about twelve cents a gallon over the past week to an average of $2.76 for unleaded on Monday, still lower than the national average of $2.87 a gallon, according to gas price tracker GasBuddy.

See also:
» Current gas prices in Florida (check prices in your neighborhood at this interactive map)

› Native American farmer suing state over marijuana licenses [Florida Politics]
A Destin lawyer has sued the Department of Health, saying a medical marijuana license preference for black farmers should include “Native American farmers and ranchers.” Donivon Craig Tingle filed suit in Okaloosa County Circuit Civil court last month.

› Biologists and volunteers work to increase scallop population [WJHG]
ten year restoration program that aims to protect scallops and increase their population has kicked off in Panama City. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Research Institute gathered Sunday to start building cages for the project, that will soon be filled with scallops.