Florida Legislature returns for first day of 2022 session

Starting today, Florida lawmakers are returning to the Capitol for the regular 60-day session, held every year in the Capitol. Some top notes: It’s an election year, with every lawmaker on the ballot this year after the political redistricting that soon will be approved. Will redistricting consume most of the oxygen in the 60 days, blunting the appetite to pursue “culture war” initiatives (think abortion, transgender athletes, and so on)? Read more and see live updates from Yahoo News and the Tallahassee Democrat.

See also:
» Legislative preview - Rags to riches

Navigating red tide and blue-green algae, Florida considers fining farmers for water violations

The Sunshine State's hospitable climate infuses springs, lakes and rivers with nutrients that spark blooms of algae, leaving the water unsafe for children to swim and air unfit for people with allergies to breathe. Algae emit cyanotoxins, one of the most potent natural poisons. After a red tide outbreak tripped by a bloom last July, for instance, St. Petersburg scooped up more than six tons of dead fish in one week. And the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports 2021 is the deadliest year on record for the manatee. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.

Dozens of First Coast employers looking to hire through virtual job fair

More than 30 employers across a wide range of industries and retailers across the First Coast are looking to hire workers at a virtual hiring fair this week. CareerSource Northeast Florida is hosting the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Some of the companies participating include Brooks Rehabilitation, Flagler Technical College, Metric Engineering and the Florida Department of Transportation, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. More from First Coast News.

Brightline trains to begin rolling from Cocoa to West Palm Beach — without passengers

Beginning Jan. 17, Brightline's new commuter trains will begin rolling every day from West Palm Beach across Brevard County to Frontenac — but they won't be carrying passengers yet. Rather, these "qualifying trains" will familiarize Brightline train operators with the 130-mile Florida East Coast Railway corridor between Cocoa and West Palm Beach. More from Florida Today.

City of Sarasota approves plan to conserve Bobby Jones Golf Club in perpetuity

Sarasota city commissioners voted unanimously Monday to permanently conserve the 263-acre property on the city’s east side known as the Bobby Jones Golf Club. The city and the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast have negotiated a conservation easement, which is a legal document ensuring Bobby Jones will never be subdivided or developed, according to the foundation. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.