Lawsuits could spark ‘existential crisis’ in Florida cities trying to survive climate change

As local governments try to navigate the new world of sea level rise swamping their roads, one thing is clear. Whether they raise them or abandon them, someone is probably going to sue. In Miami Beach, often called a laboratory for new policies to fight climate change, upset residents have threatened lawsuits over the city’s $500 million plan to raise roads and install pumps to keep neighborhoods dry. [Source: Miami Herald]

Orange County leaders approve $125 million road deal with Universal Orlando

In a late-night decision following hours of testimony, Orange County commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a controversial plan to give $125 million to Universal Orlando to build a new road. The razor-thin approval means Universal will get as much as $125 million from Orange County plus another $16 million from the state to help fund the extension of Kirkman Road through the 750-acre property upon which it plans to build Epic Universe. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida House defends marijuana law in high-stakes case

In a Florida Supreme Court case with major ramifications for the medical marijuana industry, the Florida House contends a disputed 2017 law helps prevent “diversion” of pot to the illegal recreational market, minors, and other states. House attorneys late Monday filed a proposed friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn a July ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal that said a key part of the law conflicted with a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana. [Source: CBS Miami]

Florida lawmakers to ponder cuts, exemptions to Business Rental Tax in 2020

Florida lawmakers have slashed the state’s Business Rental Tax (BRT) three consecutive years and, apparently, will seek to do so again in 2020. While no bills proposing to trim the BRT had been formally filed and numbered as of Tuesday, the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research (OEDR) factored in an anticipated half-percent cut Monday in its final revenue estimating conference before the 2020 session begins Jan. 14. [Source: The Center Square]

Explained: What is the water crisis Southwest Florida is battling?

Water is Florida’s most precious resource. It not only surrounds our state, but it also connects communities within Florida. Florida’s unique landscape is made up of wetlands, beaches, swamps, and forests; all of which play a crucial role in the well-being and character of our state. We depend on water for the health of our ecosystems, tourism, economy, and consumption. [Source: WINK News]

Amaya's story: Why she trusted Nemours Children's for personalized care

When 13-year old Amaya was first diagnosed with scoliosis during a routine sports physical at school, it was no surprise to her mother, Kenyatta, who also has scoliosis. However, unlike her mother, who has a mild form of scoliosis, Amaya developed painful complications during a rapid growth period. When the c-shaped curve in her spine became significantly worse it began to impact Amaya’s entire life. [Sponsored]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Aaron Zahn out as JEA CEO; Melissa Dykes takes over as interim CEO [Florida Times-Union]
Aaron Zahn’s tumultuous tenure as CEO of JEA ended as suddenly as it began when the JEA board voted Tuesday to part ways after fallout from a controversial employee incentive plan engulfed the agency in charges that executives were trying to enrich themselves if JEA were sold.

› Visit Florida should stay alive, Senate President Galvano says [Orlando Sentinel]
Senate President Bill Galvano defended the need for Florida to market its tourism industry against images of hurricanes and polluted waters, as a battle is again shaping up with House leaders over the future of Visit Florida.

› Florida’s Xendoo Raises $3.5 Million Seed To Help Small Businesses With Accounting [Crunchbase]
South Florida-based Xendoo has raised $3.5 million in seed funding to help small businesses manage their finances. The seed round was led by Malachi, with investments from Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, DeepWork Capital, Jason Calacanis’ LAUNCH Syndicate, and other follow on investments.

› Publix shopping list: Eggs, milk, auto registration [Tampa Bay Times]
Attention Publix shoppers: Hillsborough County motorists can now renew their car registrations in less time than it takes to order a Publix sub at one of the first three area supermarkets to install the tax collector’s self-service kiosks.

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› Miami-Dade approves new $267 million courthouse downtown to replace 1928 building [Miami Herald]
After five years of stalled plans and proposals, Miami-Dade commissioners on Tuesday approved a $852 million plan for a new civil courthouse downtown, ratifying a novel agreement that will let a developer build and operate the facility on Flagler Street for 30 years.

› Tech Data buys Bangalore company to expand Asia-Pacific presence [Tampa Bay Times]
So just because Tech Data is getting ready to sell the entire company for $6 billion doesn’t mean it can’t buy other companies along the way. Two weeks ago, Tech Data announced it had closed on its $205 million purchase of DLT Solutions, a government contracting services company in suburban Washington D.C. This week, it said it’s buying Inflow Technologies, based in Bangalore, India.

› Compared to other Florida counties, Palm Beach County posts tepid economic growth [Palm Beach Post]
Palm Beach County is home to the nation’s most valuable utility, the winter White House, a who’s who of billionaires and two prestigious biotech labs. Despite those advantages, Palm Beach County’s economy is struggling to keep pace with other large counties in Florida, according to local economic data released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

› Flood prevention costs for condos and businesses could soar in Fort Lauderdale [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Fort Lauderdale residents and businesses will have to pay more to protect against flooding, but how those extra costs are split could pit condo owners and businesses against homeowners. City commissioners may choose a new formula for raising the money needed to improve street drainage during heavy storms and tidal flooding, one that favors single-family homeowners over other property owners.