Health care in Florida plagued by worker shortage, high costs and burnout

Florida residents say health care in the state is failing and give the industry a “D” or “F” grade. A Harris Poll survey done nationwide about how Americans perceive the health care system found Florida residents are disappointed and workforce shortage and affordability are key issues. The survey involved 2,519 people nationwide and included 510 Floridians. [Source: Naples Dialy News]

Florida’s immigration crackdown is 3 months old. How’s that going?

Touted as the most effective and ambitious immigration measure in the nation by supporters, SB 1718 also came with its share of criticism when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law earlier this year. Much of the backlash was aimed at a part of the law that imposed felony charges for transporting immigrants without legal status into Florida. Three months after the law went into effect, how many people have been charged with the new crime? The total — so far — is three. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Petitions in peril? Groups worry Florida high court shift may unravel amendment process

The state Constitution offers residents a powerful tool rooted in the First Amendment to pass policies that their elected officials won’t stomach. Citizen initiatives. They allow Floridians to get amendments on the ballot that change the state Constitution. And it's been wildly successful. Voters have raised the minimum wage, legalized medical marijuana, approved voting rights to former felony offenders, and, back in 2002, even banned confinement of pregnant pigs. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

Famous authors, new office, millions of bucks back anti-book banning campaign in Florida

Famous authors and millions of bucks are backing a campaign to combat book banning in Florida. PEN America, a free speech organization, announced the news Wednesday morning, saying that it plans to open up a Florida center before the year's end to "host public events, wage campaigns and empower Florida citizens to defend their basic freedoms." More from  USA Today ] and the AP.

Feds focus on Florida in crackdown on fentanyl chemicals shipped by Chinese firms to U.S. and Mexico

Justice Department officials Tuesday announced a crackdown on China-based companies and employees in eight Florida indictments, accusing them of shipping chemical ingredients to Mexico and the United States where they are used to produce fentanyl — a synthetic opioid that is the leading cause of drug deaths in America with more than 100,000 over a one-year period. [Source: Miami Herald]

A career worth talking about

As an actress, you may not know Mauriett Chayeb’s face. But you - or your kids, actually - might know her voice. Mauriett has brought to life characters in such U.S. and international animated TV shows and movies as Anpanman, Topo Gigio, Space Dogs 3: Tropical Adventure, Treasure Trekkers, and Japanese anime series, Detective Conan Case Closed. Her latest - Goodbye Monster - was released in September. [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Goliath grouper permit lottery is open for next year's season [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The second annual Goliath grouper season doesn’t open until next spring — March 1 to May 31 — but if you want a license to harvest one of these big boys, you need to apply in the next two weeks. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be accepting applications through Oct. 15. The cost is $10, plus fees. You can also find more information at the Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit webpage.

› Orlando named “Best Foodie City in America” in recent report — do locals agree? [Orlando Sentinel]
After weighing data that included 28 metrics from Michelin stars to cost of groceries, WalletHub has determined that of 182 cities, including the 150 most populated in the nation, Orlando deserves the No.1 slot on its 2023 list of Best Foodie Cities in America. The City Beautiful edged out Portland, Oregon, which took the No. 2 spot. More surprisingly, in particular to locals out in force on social media, was Orlando’s supremacy over other legendary food cities.

› A Hialeah politician wants public records on 911 calls. The city wants $6,700 for that [Miami Herald]
Hialeah wants to charge Councilman Bryan Calvo $6,769 for public records involving 911 operations. The request comes after el Nuevo Herald revealed deficiencies in the city’s emergency service. According to a letter sent on Sept. 12 to Calvo by Hialeah City Clerk Marbelys Fatjo, processing one of his requests would take 170 additional hours of work.

› Fourth-generation Bealls leader embraces change in business, industry [Business Observer]
In a little less than four years as CEO of Bealls, Matt Beall has been part of some significant changes at the $1.87 billion Bradenton-based retrailer. For starters, there were the myriad disruptions caused by the pandemic. Other changes run from internal to external.

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› Pensacola still working to collect more than 21,000 recycling cans [Pensacola News Journal]
Pensacola residents who still have a Pensacola recycling can are being urged to leave their cans at the curb so the city can collect them. The city is working to collect more than 21,000 recycling cans now that the city's curbside recycling program is over. The city officially ended its curbside recycling program as of Oct. 1, and the city's plan was to pick up all recycling cans during the last recycling pick-up in September.

› A woman's story reflects the rise of homelessness in Central Florida [WMFE]
After 10 years of being homeless, Angelique Miller is grateful for her small apartment. Her new home is in west Orlando, about five minutes east of Pine Hills — every corner is clean and tidy. Were it not an air mattress in her bedroom, a rug in the living room, a chest in the kitchen, and a few boxes, the 513-square-foot unit is mostly empty. The 55-year-old military widow said her life didn’t always look like this.

› Miami-Dade schools struggling with teacher vacancies [Miami Today]
The Miami-Dade County Public Schools system is currently facing about 208 teacher vacancies. The most needed areas are Exceptional Student Education and the higher high school math and science classes such as algebra 2, calculus, physics and chemistry, said Elmo Lugo, public schools’ media relations director. Recruitment efforts are always ongoing through the public schools’ website, as well as partnerships with Miami Dade College and Florida International University, he said.

› Tampa Bay Water pushes conservation amid limited rainfall [Tampa Bay Times]
Dry weather has triggered a warning from the region’s supplier of drinking water. “Conserve water, know your watering days and don’t be wasteful,” said Chuck Carden, general manager of Tampa Bay Water. Carden delivered that message to the Hillsborough County Commission Wednesday, a day after the utility similarly urged the public to step up conservation efforts.