Florida Trend Exclusive
Restoring the Florida Everglades: Where things stand

It’s been 20 years since Congress approved the plan to “restore” the Everglades. The plan — behind schedule and over budget — is gathering momentum just as new factors threaten to overwhelm it. What sort of engineered ecosystem will we end up with? Environmental organizations, researchers and government agencies remain broadly supportive of the program, though individuals and groups dicker over particular components. Generally, environmental groups want more — more money, more water storage, more water treatment — faster. [Source: Florida Trend]

Staffing, pay issues plague Florida departments amid pandemic

Fewer officers patrol Interstate 95, not enough guards monitor state prisons and there weren’t enough people to take calls for unemployment claims. Lack of staffing and high turnover across several agencies in Florida, which consistently ranks among the lowest states in government employees per capita, has led to large gaps in key services as the state attempts to endure and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Low pay compared to similar employers has long plagued agencies like the Department of Corrections, the Florida Highway Patrol and other agencies before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has exacerbated the problems. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Daily Florida resident coronavirus deaths dip below 100 for 1st time in a month, but weekly reported deaths pass 1,200 again

The Florida Department of Health reported 97 more resident deaths on Sunday along with 6,624 new positive cases. To date, 1,777,983 people have been infected statewide and 27,696 Florida residents have died. With 465 non-resident fatalities, including 6 new deaths posted Sunday, the state’s combined total is 28,161. The 97 deaths is the first time since Jan. 5 the state has reported less than 100 in its daily report. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Leroy Collins Institute updates its suggestions for more efficient and effective state government

Even though state government doesn't have to turn a profit like businesses do, operating efficiently is still a good goal. One organization that is suggesting some ways for Florida's state government to function more efficiently AND effectively, is the LeRoy Collins Institute at Florida State University. [Source: WFSU]

Commissioner Fried calls to reject Florida oil drilling permit request

Florida AG Commissioner Nikki Fried is calling to reject a Texas-based company’s request for oil drilling permits at Big Cypress Natural Preserve. Big Cypress, which borders the Florida Everglades, is home to endangered species and is federally-protected. The company applied for permits to begin oil drilling preparation inside of Big Cypress several days after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ceded authority for wetlands permitting to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. [Source: WCTV]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› JAX Chamber Small Business Leader of the Year found her passion [Jacksonville Daily Record]
As the daughter of two chiropractors, Dr. Bridget Edkin initially wasn’t sold on following in her parents’ footsteps, or those of six other chiropractors in the family. “Everyone was a chiropractor and I just like to be different,” Edkin said. “So I ran from it.” The Sláinte Chiropractic owner had plans to become a music teacher, but when she could no longer pay for school, she took time off and became a manager of Cold Stone Creamery, running nine stores in the Northeast. It became clear her passion was not running ice cream stores.

› Comcast is boosting internet speeds for most Florida customers [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Comcast is boosting Internet download speeds for customers who subscribe to four of its service tiers. Customers with the Xfinity Extreme service will see speeds increase immediately from 300 Mbps to 400 Mbps. Customers who subscribe to Extreme Pro will get a boost from 600 Mbps to 800 Mbps sometime before March 31.

› Miami International Airport sets new cargo record in 2020 [Miami Herald]
Miami International Airport set a new cargo record in 2020, thanks largely to e-commerce and pharma shipments. According to its most recent report, the airport handled 2.32 million tons — about 57,382 tons more than the 2019 total. As the busiest airport in the United States for international cargo and perishable goods, MIA continued to be a global hub for essential supplies and e-commerce during the pandemic, airport director Lester Sola said in a release.

› SeaWorld begins concerts again, helping the park move a step closer to economic recovery, CEO says [Orlando Sentinel]
It might feel like a strange new world. The hot ticket to see a theme park concert, nearly one year into the pandemic? It’s not Disney or Universal. It’s SeaWorld. The smaller SeaWorld Orlando is the first theme park to begin a concert series following last year’s theme park closures and reopenings, starting Saturday to coincide with the Seven Seas Food Festival. It’s a move the company’s interim leader Marc Swanson touted as part of the park’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Appeals court refers ‘Grim Reaper’ beach case to Florida Bar [WJXT]
An appeals court wants The Florida Bar to consider taking action against a Panhandle attorney who pursued a high-profile case seeking to force Gov. Ron DeSantis to close beaches because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal, in an order issued Friday, stopped short of imposing financial sanctions against Santa Rosa Beach attorney Daniel Uhlfelder and lawyers who represented him in an appeal of a circuit judge’s ruling in the case.

› Elon Musk thinks he can build a Miami tunnel for just $30 million [Tampa Bay Times]
Tech titan Elon Musk estimates a tunnel for electric vehicles only that would connect Brickell Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard under the Brickell Avenue Bridge could be built for as little as $30 million. In an interview with the Miami Herald following his call with Musk Friday afternoon, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said such a tunnel would help realize a longtime goal of alleviating traffic at a key downtown traffic artery. Musk said it could be built in as little as six months. How the project would be funded was not discussed, Suarez said.

› Prominent wine-based charity event raises more than $7 million [Business Observer]
The Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the most prominent wine-based fundraisers nationwide, recently announced the results of its first-ever virtual festival. The event raised close to $7.2 million, according to a statement, funds for underprivileged and at-risk children of Collier County.

› DIA to select Jacksonville Landing park design competitors by March 18 [Jacksonville Daily Record]
First-phase bids in the city’s public park design competition for the former Jacksonville Landing site will be due March 3. City Procurement Division officials and Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer told interested firms in two meetings Feb. 3 and 4 that respondents’ qualifications will be scored and the top three selected by March 18.