Monday's Daily Pulse
Florida election officials wary of potential tropical system in Atlantic
It’s the last month of hurricane season and there are two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic, one of which may bring troubling weather to Florida on Election Day. The system that may impact Florida is currently bubbling over the southwestern Atlantic, just north of Puerto Rico, where a flood watch is in place through Monday afternoon. The tropical disturbance has already brought over 5 inches of rain to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands since Saturday – and an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is forecast for the region Sunday. More from CNN, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Tampa Bay Times, and Bay News 9.
State faces challenges on Medicaid minimum wage
Three health-care groups this week challenged how the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration is carrying out a requirement that “direct care” workers get paid a minimum of $15 an hour. The Florida Assisted Living Association, the Florida Ambulance Association and the Home Care Association of Florida filed the challenges at the state Division of Administrative Hearings. The same groups in late September filed a lawsuit in Leon County circuit court to try to block part of this year’s state budget that could open Medicaid providers to litigation if they don’t pay the $15 minimum wage. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Column: Florida economy, environment thriving in 'goods from the woods'
An economic study by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences shows that forestry and forest products are the top agricultural commodity and leading agricultural export of Florida. Florida forests provide a $25 billion boost to the state’s economy. In fact, more than 5,000 items contain forest products. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
Russia seized their planes. Now South Florida firms sue insurers over alleged loss
The war in Ukraine is creating financial stress for two aircraft leasing companies in South Florida whose planes are being held hostage in Russia. The firms are seeking an estimated $850 million combined from more than 30 insurance carriers over their alleged refusal to pay claims resulting from the Russian government’s seizure of jetliners and engines at the start of the invasion of Ukraine, according to separate complaints filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Manatee Awareness Month: Florida’s sea cows need urgent action to ensure survival
November marks Manatee Awareness Month, a time to be extra considerate and informed about Florida’s sea cows as they face urgent threats and need help perhaps now more than ever. Manatee deaths in Florida topped 1,100 in 2021, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which has also counted more than 700 deaths since the beginning of 2022. Both years saw manatees starving with a lack of seagrass to eat. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Black-owned businesses along I-4 corridor impacted by inflation watching election closely [Bay News 9]
Experts call small businesses the backbone of our economy, but the results of a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce study found inflation and supply chain disruptions have created some real challenges for them. For one Black-owned business along the I-4 corridor, some careful planning is seeing the company through.
› Florida city council ignores its own zoning board, votes to rezone golf club to single-family houses [Golf Week]
Riviera Beach’s par 62 Lone Pine Golf Club is one step closer to ending its 40-year reign as the inexpensive alternative for duffers and beginners alike — as well as a quiet vista for nearby homeowners. Ignoring its own Planning and Zoning Board’s recommendation, Riviera Beach’s City Council voted 3-2 to amend its comprehensive plan to rezone the golf course from recreational use to single-family residence in a sometimes volatile meeting.
› Theme park lays off more than 500 who'll transition to positions with new vendor [Business Observer]
Legoland Florida Resort is eliminating 519 jobs as it transitions food and beverage services in January to Aramark Corp., which will take the affected employees on. The Polk County resort disclosed the move in a letter posted to the state’s WARN database Nov. 3. According to the letter sent to the state to meet federal Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification notice requirements, employees working at the resort will keep their current positions and pay.
› Food manufacturer considering $65 million expansion in Northwest Jacksonville [Jacksonville Daily Record]
An unidentified global food manufacturer is asking the city for $3.6 million in property tax and grant incentives for an estimated $65 million expansion of its existing Jacksonville operation. An Oct. 26 project summary from the city Office of Economic Development says code-named Project Cashew plans the expansion of a Northwest Jacksonville facility that would manufacture products for customers throughout the Southeastern U.S.
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› Florida Tech will soon announce partnership with medical school, interim president says [Florida Today]
In a long-discussed move, the Florida Institute of Technology will soon announce a partnership with a medical school, Interim President Robert King said. King made the announcement to a ballroom of business leaders during a Melbourne Regional Chamber keynote speech Thursday morning at Crowne Plaza Melbourne-Oceanfront. King did not divulge further details, and the university communications office declined to elaborate after his speech.
› New CSX Corp. CEO wants to be community leader [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Expect CEO Joe Hinrichs to increase Jacksonville-based CSX Corp.’s profile in its headquarters city. “We’ve talked about, as a leadership team, my expectation is that CSX should be very visible and should be very supportive of this community,” Hinrichs, 55, said Oct. 21, almost a month after he became CEO on Sept. 26. “It’s where we’re based, it’s where our headquarters is. And I look forward to us being able to show that to the community,” he said.
› One lucky Miami artist will earn a Paris residency thanks to this arts nonprofit [Miami Herald]
A local arts nonprofit is about to give one lucky -- and talented -- Miami artist the opportunity of a lifetime. Bakehouse Art Complex, one of the city’s oldest artist-serving organizations, announced Friday evening that it has partnered with the Cité internationale des arts in Paris, a prestigious artistic residence complex, to secure an all-expenses paid spot for one Bakehouse artist. The agreement is the first of its kind for the Miami organization.
› After alumnus leaves cryptic messages, Ringling College moves to online classes [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The Sarasota Police Department is working to locate a Ringling College of Art and Design alumnus who reportedly left cryptic messages on his Instagram page that concerned parents and students at the college, and led to classes being taught only online for the remainder of the week. Officials said that the man was experiencing personal difficulties, but no direct threats had been made.