Federal judge says parts of 2021 Florida voting law are unconstitutional

A federal judge ruled that multiple parts of a voting law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year are unconstitutional, striking down various provisions and prohibiting the Legislature from passing future forms of voter laws without first getting approval from a court. In a sweeping 288-page order declaring the right to vote “under siege” based on the Legislature’s record on voting laws, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Thursday forbade lawmakers from passing future laws involving drop boxes, third-party voter registration or efforts to limit “line warming” activities at polling sites without the court’s approval for the next 10 years. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Business Beat - Week of April 1st

Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by Executive Ediitor Mark Howard.

‘A lot of interest’: How South Florida keeps luring out-of-state companies to win new jobs

South Florida has long courted out-of-state businesses, but economic development agencies really ramped up their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quarterly report card gauging the progress of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance’s efforts to attract companies to Broward County shows the agency exceeded its objectives in drawing out-of-town businesses. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida tourism partnership costs to tick up

Visit Florida is increasing rates for its tourism-marketing partners for the first time in 15 years, with the changes expected to remain in place for at least a few years, officials said this week. Visit Florida, the state’s public-private tourism marketing agency, will move forward with the changes over the next several months, with initial notifications going out by April 11. The changes drew no objections Tuesday from Visit Florida’s executive committee. Visit Florida Chairman Danny Gaekwad supported the “proportional” implementation of the changes. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Who should get a second COVID booster: What Floridians will want to know

More than 8.8 million people in Florida are eligible for a second booster shot after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized another dose for people 50 and older on Tuesday. “Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster four months after their prior dose to increase their protection further,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. The authorization comes as many in Florida are still contemplating their first booster. Only about a quarter of Florida’s total population has had one. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Winter Park couple finally makes it to space on Blue Origin flight [Orlando Sentinel]
The spacebound dreams of Central Florida power couple Marc and Sharon Hagle were finally realized this morning. The two joined four others for the fourth passenger flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard space tourism rocket from the company’s West Texas facility. The group got up in the early morning hours, got the go-for-launch and proceeded to the rocket tower, lifting off just before 10 a.m. EDT.

› St. Pete Pier to host ‘Jubilation’ tea dance [Tampa Bay Times]
A new event is coming to Spa Beach at the St. Pete Pier. Called Jubilation, it’s a ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s tea dance with a DJ, live performances and lights and lasers lighting up the scene. The St. Pete Pier event is a fundraiser for Metro Inclusive Health, for LGBTQ health care providers, and the Tunnels To Towers Org that supports first responders and catastrophically injured veterans.

› If city approves Inter Miami soccer complex, which neighborhood might get a new park? [Miami Herald]
If a proposed Inter Miami soccer stadium and commercial complex is approved to replace Melreese golf course, new parks will have to be built somewhere else in the city. Miami requires that lost park space be replaced with other parks within city limits. An important vote on the proposed redevelopment of Melreese, which is zoned as a city park, is scheduled for April 28.  

› Moody's upgrades JEA credit rating citing leadership changes, 'sound financial performance' [Florida Times-Union]
JEA gained a credit upgrade this week from Moody's for its financial performance and its leadership changes, a boost in the utility's standing three years after former JEA board members had warned the utility faced an oncoming "death spiral" and "financial cliff." Moody's upgraded ratings on about $1.6 billion of JEA debt securities, moving them to A1 from A2 on most of the debt and from to A2 from A3 on the remainder.

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› Packing District food hall will focus on immigrant cuisine when it opens next year [Orlando Sentinel]
The food hall opening next year in Orlando’s Packing District development will focus on immigrant cuisine. New York-based chef Akhtar Nawab and his Hospitality HQ group will operate the 11-vendor, 17,300-square-foot hall, project developer Dr. Phillips Charities revealed Wednesday. Hospitality HQ’s projects include Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall in Chicago and Marble City Market in Knoxville, Tennesssee, among others.

› Black Hammock Island site preserved by state land deal; more eyed for National Park Service [Florida Times-Union]
A stretch of Black Hammock Island that conservationists once went to court to protect from development will be bought by the state for conservation. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet approved a $5.8 million deal Tuesday to acquire 241 acres along both sides of Sawpit Road from the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, which also lined up about $268,000 from a city environmental fund in January.

› Seminole elections chief reveals plan to combat election fraud, hacking [Orlando Sentinel]
Faced with contentious elections, along with growing threats of cyber attacks and false assertions of widespread fraud, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson announced Wednesday that his office will team with a variety of government agencies in the coming months to combat these challenges.

› Work to install Jacksonville Fire Museum to continue through August [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Work to finish installing the Jacksonville Fire Museum on the foundation at its new home at 620 E. Bay St., the future Shipyards West Park, will take until late August, according to the city. The city Public Affairs Office said in a March 30 email there is no official date to reopen the museum, but it will be at least several months before work and repairs to the facility are complete.