Lawsuit to reinstate federal unemployment payments in Florida denied

A Leon County court ruled against a lawsuit that would have compelled the state of Florida to restore federal unemployment benefits. Leon County Circuit Judge Layne Smith denied a temporary injunction Monday against Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state. The lawsuit would have restored $300 in weekly federal unemployment compensation after DeSantis stopped participating in the program in May. DeSantis argued the benefit is incentivizing people to not work. [Source: Click Orlando]

Ida's effects on Gulf Coast could lead to higher gas prices in Florida, AAA says

With certain damage from Hurricane Ida to southern U.S. oil fields, the AAA says gas prices in Florida will likely go back up. Ida’s path through the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 4 storm took it over oil rigs in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. That's where roughly 17% of the country’s entire crude oil production takes place, according to the AAA-Auto Club South in its weekly gasoline prices briefing. [Source: Tall;ahassee Democrat]

Mexican farm imports costing Florida billions, Fried says

The Florida Department of Agriculture has released a report charging rising imports of Mexican fruits and vegetables are costing the state thousands of jobs and nearly $4 billion in lost revenue. At a news conference in Tallahassee, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried blamed the imbalance on unfair foreign trade practices. Noting that agriculture is an $137 billion industry in Florida, “Our Florida farmers are used to weathering challenges – from hurricanes to invasive species – and they are used to competition,” Fried said. [Source: WWSB]

Tropical Storm Kate forms; forecasters monitoring 2 other systems besides Ida

Tropical Storm Kate formed Monday in the central Atlantic Ocean from Tropical Depression Ten, though it’s expected to stay east of the U.S. mainland. Kate, the 11th named storm of the 2021 season, was moving north at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of 11 a.m., according to the National Hurricane Center. Kate formed on the heels of what turned out to be a short-lived Tropical Storm Julian. Julian formed Sunday morning over the central Atlantic Ocean, but it was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone about 24 hours later. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida Supreme Court shields top corporate executives from depositions

Prompted by a case involving the retired chairman of Suzuki Motor Corp., the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday shielded high-ranking business executives from having to give depositions in lawsuits. Justices, in a 6-1 decision, extended to corporate executives a protection that has long allowed top government officials to avoid being required to testify about government actions. The decision said broadening what is known as the “apex doctrine” will help prevent harassment of corporate leaders. [Source: News Service of Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Owner of Orlando area’s only Black-owned dog groomer starts assistance fund for low-income pet owners [Click Orlando]
Lashonda Geffrard says she runs the Orlando area’s first Black-owned pet grooming salon. Geffrard said she’s always had a big heart for animals. Not being allowed to have pets of her own as a kid, she said she began taking care of friends’ animals — grooming them on the patio of her Pine Hills home. Geffrard said her passion for pets is what inspired her to not only open her salon but sparked the idea to create a nonprofit pet assistance program.

› Surfside’s Champlain Towers South site on the market. Live bidding planned. [Miami Herald]
The Champlain Towers South property officially hit the market on Monday, after a private bidder offered $120 million for the site earlier this month. Judge Michael Hanzman and the court-appointed received Michael Goldberg approved the marketing of the 8777 Collins Ave. property where the 12-story oceanfront condo building collapsed on June 24th. Avison Young will oversee the marketing and sale effort of the 1.88-acre site pro bono, according to a press release by the commercial real estate firm.

› Prosecutor Jay Pruner, who put away Tampa’s most notorious, is retiring [Tampa Bay Times]
Unassuming in the courtroom, Pruner served 35 years with the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office and leaves a legacy of effectiveness, honesty and hard work. Pruner retires this week. Although he is just one of more than 130 lawyers at the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office, those who know him say his departure will leave a void — and a legacy.

› Graham Capital principal: ‘We have always been big fans of Jacksonville’ [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Graham Capital intends to continue investing in the Northeast Florida industrial market after spending $24.85 million Aug. 18 for warehouse properties in West Jacksonville. “We would love to own more,” said Matthew Graham, a principal of the Birmingham, Alabama-based organization.

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› Aspiring microbrewery to locate in Port Charlotte, with an eye on North Port for expansion [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Nicolas York and Timothy Price still have their eyes set on opening the first microbrewery in North Port but will first open one in Port Charlotte. If all goes, well, Charlie Foxtrot Brewing could be up and running before Thanksgiving. “We are hoping, best case scenario, to be open in November, but the timeframe could be anywhere from November to February, pending on permits,” York said.

› Disney World sells annual passes again Sept. 8; park reservations stay [Orlando Sentinel ]
Walt Disney World will resume selling annual passes for its theme parks Sept. 8. Expect new names for the passes — which have increased in price — as well as strengthened ties to park reservations, which are staying around, the company announced Monday. The number of reservations that a passholder can have at a time will vary with the level of the annual pass. Three of the four annual passes have block-out dates.

› The ultimate beginner’s guide to Miami: How to become a local and survive the 305 [Miami Herald ]
Miami is a little different than anywhere else you’ve ever lived — even if you’ve lived in other parts of Florida. Maybe especially if you have lived in other parts of Florida. Getting used to the way things work here takes patience and determination. Also the ability to withstand wilting heat and frequent hurricane scares. But we’re here to help.

› Several Pasco County teachers face state fraud investigation [Tampa Bay Times]
An undisclosed number of Pasco County teachers have been placed on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates them for what is being called a fraud case. “We are investigating several teachers,” FDLE spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said. “At this point, only Hudson High School is involved.”