With $91.1 billion budget approved, lawmakers wrap up 2019 session

A $91.1 billion state budget which gives Gov. Ron DeSantis the big money he sought for environmental projects, boosts school spending and helps a struggling Panhandle rebuild after Hurricane Michael, was approved Saturday as the final act of the 2019 Legislature. Forced into a one-day overtime session, lawmakers met for less than an hour Saturday — signing off on a budget for the year beginning July 1. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and WFSU.

See also:
» For Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans, session was a sweet success
» How Florida Republican lawmakers got their way in 2019
» Florida House: These were the 9 most-lobbied bills of the session

Florida election fiascos going under congressional microscope

Scrutiny is coming for Florida’s problematic elections — which sometimes make people wait for hours to vote, don’t get resolved for weeks after Election Day, and make the state a national laughing stock. The Elections Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Administration is holding a field hearing on voting rights and election administration on Monday in Fort Lauderdale. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida lawmakers approve hemp industry

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill establishing a state hemp program within in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The vote comes after the 2018 federal Farm Bill removed prohibitions on industrial hemp in place since 1937 and authorized states to create hemp programs. [Source: NorthEscambia.com]

The 30 highest-paying jobs in Florida, land of 20,000 CEOs

In Florida, there are over 20,000 CEOs, but only 240 physicists. The top seven highest-paying jobs in the state in 2018 were medical professions, making it one of the most well-paying industries for Floridians. See a rundown of the 30 highest-paying jobs in the Sunshine State. [Source: Business Insider]

See also:
» By the numbers: The top 10 highest-paid CEOs in South Florida

Florida grown Vanilla might be on the way

Vanilla isn't commercially grown in Florida, but the state has flavor houses where internationally grown vanilla beans are processed for vanilla extract. The United States is the biggest importer of Vanilla beans in the world, but a lot of the vanilla flavored food products are not made with true vanilla. But Floridians may be able to purchase locally grown vanilla soon. [Source: WCJB]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Boomer boom: Volusia and Flagler are aging rapidly. What does that mean for the area? [Daytona Beach News-Journa]
America is aging. Florida is aging even faster. And Volusia and Flagler counties are aging even faster than that. In fact, Volusia County’s median age of 46.4 is increasing at double the pace of the United States in this decade, according to the Census’ 2017 American Community Survey.

› Jacksonville Auto Show report: Showgoers in buying mood [Florida Times-Union]
The recently released post-show report for the 2019 Jacksonville International Auto Show confirmed what the promoter and Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association had already assessed from the large crowd that attended February’s three-day event at the Prime Osborn Convention Center Convention — the show had plenty of serious car-shoppers.

› As Pompano thrives as booming beach destination, it braces for even more growth [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
An explosion of shops and restaurants is turning Pompano Beach into possibly the top beachside destination between Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach. Many businesses, attractions and other amenities have recently become available to the public — and much more is on the way.

› After 90 years, greyhound racing comes to an end in Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Airplanes will still rumble overhead as they take off at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Cars and trucks will still whoosh by. The buses will still groan as they stop in front of the Sarasota Kennel Club. But after this weekend, the sounds along Bradenton Road and University Parkway will never be the same. That’s because the dogs are going away.

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› Orange County hotel tax revenue comes in flat for March [Orlando Sentinel]
Tourist tax revenue was flat in March, generating nearly $31 million, the Orange County Comptroller announced Friday. In January, the tax revenue fell by 2.5 percent compared with January 2018, the first decline in more than two years. Comptroller Phil Diamond said the 0.3 percent increase in March compared with March 2018 — about $100,000 — was good news after the decline at the start of the new year.

› Study from 2015 shows a vision for Jacksonville Landing’s future [Florida Times-Union]
The Jacksonville Landing saga has had so many twists and turns that a $100,000 design study the city did in 2015 has gone from being yesteryear’s news to suddenly being back in the spotlight. After Mayor Lenny Curry’s office pointed to the 2015 study in response to calls for public workshops about the Landing’s fate, former Downtown Investment Authority board member Doris Goldstein provided the Times-Union a set of previously unreleased renderings from the study.

› We’re just weeks away from hurricane season. Here’s what FPL is doing to curb outages. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Hurricane season begins June 1, and Florida Power & Light Co. says it’s ready — with more buried power lines, stronger utility poles and new technology that helps the electrical grid’s resiliency. “I feel very comfortable and confident that we are prepared for this storm season,” said FPL CEO Eric Silagy on Thursday at the electric utility’s annual hurricane drill in Riviera Beach.

› SpaceX launches 17th mission to send supplies to the ISS after power issues caused delays [Orlando Sentinel]
After multiple delays threatened to push SpaceX’s 17th resupply mission to the International Space Station later this month, Elon Musk’s rocket company was able to pull off a launch in the wee hours of Saturday morning.