Governor Ron DeSantis announces FDEM awarded more than $1 billion for hurricane recovery since Jan. 8

Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has crossed the billion-dollar mark in hurricane recovery funding since January 8. This milestone comes as a direct result of major policy and procedure changes at FDEM to allow funding to be distributed as fast as possible. “As of today, we’ve paid out more than one billion dollars for hurricane recovery in this administration, which is also is a testament to our unwavering commitment to every community impacted by recent hurricanes,” said Governor DeSantis. [Source: Florida Division of Emergency Management]

Advocates: DACA Cancellation Could Impact 7,200 Florida Children

Immigration advocates say 7,200 Florida children could be harmed if their parents lose Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – or DACA - benefits that allow them to stay in the country. The United States Supreme Court will consider oral arguments Nov. 12 in a case brought by the Trump Administration that would take away those benefits. The Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics recently joined nearly three dozen organizations and leaders in asking the U.S. Supreme Court, through an amicus brief, to keep the benefits in place. [Source: HealthNews Florida]

3,600 Mack Trucks employees strike in states from Pennsylvania to Florida

More than 3,600 Mack Trucks employees represented by the United Auto Workers are going on strike for "fair pay, benefits and job protections," the union said Sunday. The strike will include two locations in Pennsylvania, three in Maryland and one in Florida. "UAW members get up every day and put in long, hard hours of work from designing to building Mack trucks," Ray Curry, Secretary-Treasurer of the UAW and Director of the Heavy Truck Department, said in a statement. "UAW members carry on their shoulders the profits of Mack and they are simply asking for dignity, fair pay and job protections." [Source: Fox Business]

Anti-vaccine movement derails Florida bill

Despite rising concerns about a resurgence of childhood illnesses, legislation aimed at strengthening vaccination requirements for Florida schoolkids already appears dead on arrival. Activists opposed to vaccinations have packed hometown public hearings with Florida lawmakers this month, urging them to reject a measure that would eliminate a religious exemption used by a record-high percentage of Florida parents to get their children out of state-required school immunizations. The pushback apparently has paid off. [Source: The Ledger]

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Space Florida: Driving Florida's aerospace future

Florida is well-positioned to dominate the future of the aerospace industry and lead the world in enabling space commerce and innovation. There is a growing recognition within the global aerospace industry that Florida has the kind of business operating and living environment that next-generation aerospace companies need to thrive. [Source: Space Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Should FWC stop spraying glyphosate, herbicides to kill weeds, hyacinth on Florida lakes? [Florida Today]
There is a tsunami coming for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. What's at stake is the health of Florida's 31,978 lakes.

› Online course could help turn that restaurant gig into a career [Tampa Bay Times]
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg Hospitality Leadership Program, under the umbrella of the university’s Bishop Center for Ethical Leadership, will offer a 16-week, online professional training program beginning in January.

› Manatee planning board recommends commercial projects [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Several commercial projects, including two that are generating objections from nearby residents, received recommendations of approval Thursday from a panel that advises the Manatee County Commission on land-use matters.

› These Florida public companies had the highest employee compensation in 2018 [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Tampa Bay Business Journal compiled a ranking of the highest paying of Florida’s 50 largest public companies based on their total employee compensation in 2018.

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› Hurricane Dorian slammed Daytona, Volusia tourism in August [Daytona Beach News-Journal]
Hurricane Dorian’s Labor Day weekend brush with Volusia County contributed to significant year-over-year declines in occupancy, revenue and bed tax collections at area hotels, according to figures released Thursday by the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County.

› Sawgrass Mills Mall — South Florida’s No. 1 visitor destination — is getting a facelift [Miami Herald]
Perched on the edge of the Everglades, nearly an hour’s drive from downtown Miami, Sawgrass Mills Mall is an unlikely place to emerge as one of the Sunshine State’s top tourist attractions. The giant outlet mall has no roller coasters nor marine animal shows, no beach nor clubs open until dawn.

› Census Bureau: More women than men in Carrollwood in 2017 [Florida Business Daily]
Of the 34,747 people living in Carrollwood in 2017, 52.7 percent (18,312) were women and 47.3 percent (16,435) were men, according to U.S. Census Bureau data obtained by the Florida Business Daily.

› WeWork chases new financing as cash crunch looms [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
WeWork’s bankers are scrambling to complete a new debt financing package as soon as next week to buy time to restructure after the company’s failed initial public offering left it running short of cash at a faster rate than expected.