State gets $4 billion bump in estimated tax dollars

With lawmakers preparing to craft a new state budget, economists estimated Friday that Florida will collect nearly $4 billion more in general-revenue taxes than had been expected over two years. The increased estimates come after federal stimulus money has helped fuel consumer spending and as the state’s economy has bounced back during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the economists warned of a slowing that could occur because of the end of stimulus money and anticipated interest-rate hikes that will affect the housing market. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Annoyed by robocalls? A new Florida law might help

A state law passed last year makes it easier to sue telemarketers over unwanted robocalls and robotexts. Its effects are emerging. To those who pushed for the law, it’s an exciting new weapon in a battle against rogue telemarketers, whether they’re scammers or legitimate businesses that overreach. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

COVID-19 update: Florida reports 22,818 new cases, lowest daily count since Christmas

Florida reported 22,818 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, dropping the state’s 7-day average to 37,414, a 31% decline from one week ago, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Hospitalizations have held steady for nearly two weeks, another key indicator that the omicron wave is slowing. There were 11,351 patients with the virus in Florida hospitals on Friday and 1,619 adult COVID patients in intensive care, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

House advances first redistricting map, but Democrats have many questions

Democrats could gain as many as seven seats in the Florida House of Representatives and Republicans could retain a solid majority under a redistricting map approved Friday along partisan lines by a state House subcommittee. But despite their numeric gains, the proposal was criticized by Democrats who questioned several of the decisions made by staff, including why they did not maximize minority districts when it appeared shifts in population would allow for it. [Source: Miami Herald]

World’s largest surfing park in Florida a step closer to reality

Want to ride the waves without risking shark encounters or sand in your suit? Florida may get what’s being touted as the world’s largest surfing park, Wavegarden. It’s envisioned as the signature feature surrounded by a massive live-work community in the Treasure Coast that includes 600 hotel rooms, 1,000 residences, and 650,000 square feet of commercial space. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› FIU president Mark Rosenberg abruptly resigns, stunning colleagues and students [Miami Herald]
Florida International University President Mark Rosenberg stunned students, friends and staff with his resignation on Friday, abruptly ending his 12-year tenure leading South Florida’s biggest public university. The sudden resignation raised eyebrows, and Rosenberg quickly issued a statement saying his decision was prompted by his and his wife’s health issues.

› Universal won’t require COVID testing for non-vaccinated workers [Orlando Sentinel]
Universal employees will not be required to undergo weekly COVID testing if they are not vaccinated, a decision made in response to a change in federal regulations, the company said. The announcement reverses a policy Universal updated 10 days earlier.

› As Brightline sees ridership increase, here are the additions on the way [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Brightline, South Florida’s high-speed railroad, said Friday its ridership numbers during the pandemic are starting to rise, even with a fare increase. More than 95,000 people rode the Brightline in December. Although that’s still far below the 127,690 riders at the same time two years earlier, Brightline’s service was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the company to halt operations between March 2020 and early November 2021.

› With deadline nearing, Jacksonville short on results from plan to clean up St. Johns River [Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville projects to cut algae-feeding pollution reaching the St. Johns River may only produce about 60 percent of the improvements the city told a state agency it would deliver, a city administrator has reported. Cutting that pollution is required by a permit the state controls under the federal Clean Water Act.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Hilario Candela, venerable architect of iconic Miami Marine Stadium, dies at 87 [Miami Herald]
Hilario Candela, the eminent Cuban-American architect who designed the Miami Marine Stadium and Miami Dade College’s first two campuses as a young exile, before leading one of Florida’s most influential architectural firms for 30 years, has died. He was 87. Candela died on Tuesday night at Mercy Hospital. The cause was COVID-19, son Maurice Candela said.

› Tampa lead factory faces $518,000 in more fines for environmental violations [Tampa Bay Times]
A Tampa lead factory is facing $518,000 in additional fines following a two-month inspection by local environmental regulators prompted by a Tampa Bay Times investigation. If finalized, the penalty against Gopher Resource would be the largest in the history of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, said Sterlin Woodard, the lead investigator on the case.

› Ex-housekeeper sues Disney, claiming discrimination, ADA violations [Orlando Sentinel]
A former housekeeper with diabetes has sued Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, alleging the company unjustly fired him after he complained about being denied access to bathrooms and medication and enduring discrimination because he is a Black Jamaican. Stevel Smith, 52, alleges his managers at the Yacht and Beach Club resorts violated the Americans with Disabilities Act with the way he was treated, according to a lawsuit filed in Orlando federal court on Jan. 11.

› Two Delray Beach restaurants named in Yelp’s Top Restaurants of 2022 [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Two of the best restaurants in the country live in Delray Beach – and a third lives in West Palm Beach – if you believe this week’s Yelp rankings of its Top Restaurants in 2022. While we’re loathe to dignify yet another national website claiming to know our restaurants better than we do, in this case, the Yelpers are right, even if their choices are a bit head-scratching.