Proposals filed for new federal database verification in Florida

Florida businesses would have to use a federal database to verify the immigration status of new employees, under proposals filed in the House and Senate for the 2019 legislative session. The legislation would require private and public employers and state contractors to enroll in E-Verify, an electronic federal database within the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. [Source: WTXL]

Gov. DeSantis wages fight against Airbnb over West Bank policy he calls discriminatory

Airbnb is far from lacking customers in tourism-friendly Florida — but the company soon could be in the Sunshine State’s crosshairs. Florida’s newly inaugurated Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that the popular short-term lodging service may be essentially blacklisted from the state. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Herald.

See also:
» More than 4.5 million visitors used Airbnb to stay in Florida last year, app says

Hurricane Michael insured losses top $5 billion

A little more than three months after Hurricane Michael smashed through parts of Northwest Florida, estimated insured losses have topped $5 billion, according to numbers posted Monday on the state Division of Elections website. [Source: MyPanhandle.com]

See also:
» Fender bender: Tallahassee body shops still feeling brunt of Hurricane Michael
» Crews still coming in to help with hurricane Michael clean up

Wawa to hire 1,000 new workers in Florida

Wawa said it plans to hire 1,000 workers over the next three months for its stores across Florida, including about 200 workers in South Florida. The company is looking to fill customer service positions for Wawa’s growth in the state, as well as increased business during the tourist season. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Shutdown leaves Florida SNAP recipients, food banks in need

Despite the federal government shutdown, the 2.9 million Floridians who receive federal food assistance will get through February with an early allotment to stock up on groceries, but the shutdown has created a whole new group of people who aren’t used to needing help getting food on the table: federal workers. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Checks go out to 84,000 households for trees destroyed in state's failed citrus canker war [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
This week, 84,000 homeowners in Broward and Palm Beach counties will receive checks ranging from less than $100 to several thousand dollars, as compensation for orange, lime, grapefruit and tangerine trees lost in the campaign to prevent the disease from reaching Florida’s commercial citrus groves.

› Petition to revamp Florida's electric utility industry tops 60,000 signatures [Pensacola News Journal]
A political committee has submitted more than 60,000 valid petition signatures to the state Division of Elections as it tries to get a measure on the 2020 ballot that could revamp Florida’s electric utility industry. The committee Citizens for Energy Choices had submitted 60,880 signatures as of mid-day Tuesday, drawing closer to a 76,632-signature threshold that would trigger a review of the proposed ballot language.

› Chico's FAS plans to close 250 stores, further review operations [Naples Daily News]
Fort Myers-based women's retailer Chico's FAS Inc. plans to close at least 250 stores and expand a review of its operations. In a news release Friday, the company said the strategic initiatives are designed to "build on the company's omnichannel platform" and to ensure it has "the agility, customer service and speed needed for long-term success in a competitive retail environment."

› Orlando homes sales nose-dive in December, finish down for year [Orlando Sentinel]
Home sales plunged in the Orlando area in December as 2018 finished with fewer sales than the year before, and real estate agents warned that 2019 could be slower as well. Year-end totals for 2018 show the total number of homes sold dropped 3.2 percent from 2017, while home prices finished 2018 up 5.7 percent compared with 2017.

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› Nonprofit creates two new artificial reefs off Ponte Vedra [Florida Times-Union]
A local nonprofit recently created two artificial reefs about 12 miles offshore of Ponte Vedra Beach, which will provide habitat for an array of marine life and create more opportunities for local anglers and divers.

› Gainesville adds more funding for local theater, dance and music [Gainesville Sun]
The Gainesville City Commission has doubled down on its commitment to supporting local arts organizations. At last week’s general policy committee meeting, commissioners allocated an addition $85,521 to be split between the Hippodrome State Theatre, Dance Alive National Ballet and the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra and Gainesville Symphony Orchestra.

› FIU research to help farmers respond to changing climate [Miami's Community Newspapers]
FIU is working to help build stronger agricultural systems in the face of climate change. Florida is the nation’s largest producer of tomatoes, tropical fruits and winter vegetables, and climate change is expected to increase the occurrence and strength of droughts, floods, pest infestations and disease infestations.

› Clients of Tampa firm that lost all their money in 'catastrophic' trades seek $9.5 million [Tampa Bay Times]
The first of what could be many lawsuits has been filed in connection with an options trading fiasco in which a Tampa company lost at least $150 million of its clients' money.