Hurdles for constitutional amendments in Florida may get higher

New proposals have emerged in the Florida House and Senate that would make it harder to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. The House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee this week are slated to take up newly filed measures that would increase petition-signature requirements for political committees backing ballot initiatives. More from WGCU and the Daytona Beach News Journal.

Florida Senate committee refuses to confirm DeSantis appointee, citing ‘concern’

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial nominee to lead an obscure but powerful group of state judges won’t be confirmed by the Senate this session, a key Republican senator said Monday. Citing unspecified concerns, Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, said his committee won’t take up the confirmation of John MacIver, a 7-year attorney with virtually no experience in the courtroom. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Opinion: Growing our own entrepreneurs can benefit students and economy

As economic developers seeking to diversify our local economy, we know that growing our own talent is a reliable way of generating both workers and new businesses. That’s why part of our multiyear strategy at the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. (EDC) includes a focus on fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

In a milestone-packed launch, SpaceX marks 80th successful liftoff but is unable to land booster for 50th time

SpaceX was shooting for an ambitious, milestone-packed launch Monday morning that would have further flexed its reusability muscle as the company works to make rocket launches as routine as air travel. And it did succeed on some fronts: The launch was the company’s 80th successful takeoff, using a rocket booster that flew only 63 days ago. That’s the quickest turnaround time yet for a reused booster. More from the Orlando Sentinel and Space.com.

Florida gas prices decline to lowest level of the year

Florida gas prices are continuing to slide downward, falling nine cents in the past 11 days to the lowest level this year. Sunday’s state average of $2.33 per gallon is 6 cents less than a week ago, and 23 cents less than last month. [Source: NorthEscambia.com]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Bigger ships are coming to Port Everglades. Here’s what it means to you. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Bananas. Tiles. Shoes. They come by the shipload now to Port Everglades to stock shelves mostly across the state and some even beyond. Each ship could carry more than 10,000 to 12,000 cargo containers — up from 6,000 to 8,000 — under a recently approved expansion project. “Ships are getting bigger,” said Ellen Kennedy, port spokeswoman. “Why would you have two ships when you can do the job with one?”

› Florida House issues subpoenas to 13 in nonprofit salary scandal, including former CEO [Times/Herald]
The Florida House late Monday issued subpoenas to 13 current and former associates of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the state-funded organization under fire for paying its former CEO more than $7.5 million over three years. House Speaker José Oliva ordered the employees and board directors to appear before the House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee on Monday, Feb. 24, for a day of questioning under oath.

› Miami company acquires Baymeadows Business Center in Jacksonville [Florida Times-Union]
A Miami real estate company has purchased the Baymeadows Business Center on Philips Highway. Adler Real Estate Partners paid about $12.5 million for the two buildings with a total of 132,102 square feet on about 11 acres, according to NAI Hallmark, which handled the sale for Woodside Capital Partners. The property is about 87 percent occupied by a tenant mix that includes UPS, ADP and Breakthru Beverage Group.

› 108 more delivery layoffs around Tampa Bay as Amazon contract ends [Tampa Bay Times]
Another delivery service plans to lay off drivers in the Tampa Bay area because its contract with Amazon is winding down. Express Parcel Service, based in Abilene, Texas, notified Tallahassee officials late last week that it’s cutting 108 jobs — 100 of them for couriers — in St. Petersburg and Tampa as of April 12.

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› Fort Lauderdale’s busted pipes spilled 211.6 million gallons of sewage on waterways and roads [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A gut-wrenching amount of toxic sewage spilled into Fort Lauderdale waterways in the past few months alone: 211.6 million gallons. That’s enough to fill 320 Olympic-sized pools and scare even the most die-hard kayakers from getting into the water for awhile.

› Airbnb delivers $1.8 million in resort taxes to Sarasota County [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Sarasota County received $1.8 million in bed tax revenue last year from vacation rental platform Airbnb. In a report Monday, Airbnb said that was part of nearly $40 million in resort taxes it collected for local governments in 2019. The company said it collected and delivered $136.7 million in total tax revenue to local and state governments in Florida last year. That was up from $89.5 million in 2018.

› Florida’s pre-k program yields 63 percent ready for kindergarten [Tampa Bay Times]
Even as Florida lawmakers work to improve a prekindergarten program that gets mediocre reviews, the Department of Education is telling school districts that “VPK Works!” as it releases 2018-19 student readiness results.

› The Tallahassee Museum aims to nearly double its size. Take a look at the expansion plans. [Tallahassee Democrat]
After 60 years, the Tallahassee Museum has grand plans to nearly double its size. After securing approval for a $223,000 grant from the County Commission, it is on its way to buying the adjoining 69-acre property. The museum has committed to a 25% cash match for the grant through the Council on Culture and Arts.