Florida Weekend Recap

Historic City News provides our Sunday readers with a recap of the previous week’s doings in business and industry, economy, education, energy and environment, health and human services, law and order, politics, and news from the public sector.

The information contained in this report is taken from sources deemed reliable; the accuracy and completeness of which Historic City News does not control and cannot guarantee.

The original source of this information has furnished these contents through The Florida Current in Tallahassee, Florida, and other community publications, and should be consulted before taking any action.

BUSINESS and INDUSTRY:

Sen. Jack Latvala and Rep. Chris Sprowls took shots to legalize 64 ounce growlers in Florida. The ban on such growlers has long been a point of contention between microbreweries and large beer distributors, but trade organizations affiliated with the beer distributors have recently announced that they would back off of the fight. Florida panther attacks on farm animals and pets reached record numbers this year, so far claiming the lives of over 50 animals. Rep. Jared Moskowitz and Sen. Eleanor Sobel want the state to start collecting records of greyhound racing injuries, an issue that has dogged pari-mutuel owners for the past few years. The two legislators filed bills that would require the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering to collect and maintain records on all greyhound injuries that occur at dog tracks for seven years, and Sen. President Andy Gardiner said it will be one of the first issues the Senate tackles when session begins.

ECONOMY:

Florida’s statewide unemployment rate in November was 5.8 percent, the lowest since May 2008 and representing 38,600 jobs created. An update to UCF’s three year Florida economic forecast predicted that income, job creation, and the size of the economy will all grow at steady rates over the next three years, even though the state’s unemployment rate will stay around 5.8 percent due to a rise in the state’s labor participation rate that will roughly match the state’s rate of job creation. The prediction is good news, considering that data compiled by The Wall Street Journal showed that average wages in nearly 75 percent of Florida’s counties have declined from 2009 to 2013, a worse decline than most other states experienced. Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign promises may have just gotten a little easier to fulfill, as state economists reported that the Florida will have a nearly $1 billion surplus, a 4 percent increase from the last set of estimates, due to lower oil prices and a robust holiday shopping season. The trade deficit with China was bad news for Florida, according to a study released by the Economic Policy Institute that found the trade gap between the two nations was responsible for the loss of over 115,700 jobs.

EDUCATION:

The Florida Department of Education released A-to-F grades for public high schools. About 71 percent of Florida high schools earned top grades of A or B. About 5 percent received a D or F grade. About 82 percent received A’s and B’s and 2 percent got D’s or F’s in 2013, but department rules mandate that it raises the bar if 75 percent of schools get A’s and B’s in a given year. Droning professors: Florida State University is offering a certificate in drone operations. FSU had to get Federal Aviation Administration approval for its course, which is designed to teach students how to use drones to enhance public safety. Thirty-five students have registered to study the applications of unmanned aircraft systems in the upcoming semester. The University of Florida was named one of the best values in public colleges by Kiplinger. The school came in third nationally, behind Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia.

ENERGY and ENVIRONMENT

Florida Power and Light’s effort to charge customers for an Oklahoma fracking partnership was further energized when the Public Service Commission approved its request to invest $191 million in a joint venture with PetroQuest Energy, Inc. But the PSC put a damper on FPL’s other request to charge its customers for costs associated with efforts to fight new clean water regulations. “While it’s commendable that FPL wants to limit rate impacts from the proposed regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency rules are not final, and FPL is not incurring any required compliance costs,” PSC Chairman Art Graham said. Nearly 200 oystermen began spreading fossilized shells to replenish oyster bars in beleaguered Apalachicola Bay. The replenishment is the first phase of a $4.5 million federal project designed to last six months. The South Florida Water Management District said they will release 24,400 grass carp into canals in Fort Lauderdale and Homestead. The carp eat invasive plants like hydrilla that clog the canals.

HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES:

A coalition of business groups and hospitals are pushing an alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion, which Senate President Andy Gardiner described as “intriguing.” Senate Rules Chairman David Simmons said he’s waiting to see the legislative language the coalition will offer, but if he likes it, he’ll sponsor it. The Florida Department of Health scheduled another workshop on the state’s non-euphoric medical marijuana law Dec. 30. The previous department rule was invalidated by an administrative law judge because of the rule’s proposed lottery system for choosing what growers could produce the low-THC cannabis. Florida had a 7.5 percent smoking rate among high school students, according to a new study. That is the second lowest rate behind Utah. “What Florida has done, with media campaigns, the social media outreach, community partnerships, has really changed things there for the better,” said John Schachter, a spokesperson for Tobacco Free Kids. “We’re aspiring to have the first tobacco-free generation, and Florida’s showing how it can be done.”

LAW and ORDER:

Fewer prisons have been executed nationwide, but Florida remained in the top three states for executions according to new data from the Death Penalty Information Center. Florida came in second with eight prisoners executed this year, behind Texas and Missouri who were tied for the most executions at 10 each. A new investigative report from The Orlando Sentinel said that Florida’s jails have become the “asylums of the new millennium,” with over a 100,000 current inmates in the state’s prisons and jails suffering from some form of mental illness requiring treatment. Judge Dale Cohen finalized the divorce of Heather Brassner and Megan Lade — the first gay divorce in the state– although that ruling is likely to be appealed by Attorney General Pam Bondi on the grounds that it violates Florida’s constitutional amendment prohibiting the state from recognizing same-sex marriage. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas also agreed to hear arguments about whether to extend a stay on same-sex marriages in Florida past Jan. 5. Juvenile delinquency dropped 8 percent from 2013 to 2014, continuing a 36 percent decline in juvenile arrests over the last five years.

POLITICS:

Florida is one step closer to having a full House with former Rep. Reggie Fullwood winning a special primary election over Jacksonville City Councilman John Gaffney. Fullwood failed to qualify for the November election due to errors in paperwork, leaving the seat vacant and prompting the governor to call a special election which will take place in February 2015. Republican Miriam Steinberg withdrew from the House District 64 special election, leaving Rep. Jamie Grant to face off against write-in candidate Daniel Matthews for the seat. Steinberg failed to qualify for the race because she refused to pay the required filing fee again after having to pay to enter the original race. But the original race results were voided by the Florida House due to legal questions over Matthews’ residency. Rep. Clay Ingram was named the new president and CEO of the Greater Pensacola Chamber. Rubio vs. Bush? After announcing he was considering a presidential run, former Gov. Jeb Bush could face a challenge from Sen. Marco Rubio. However a Florida Insider Poll said that Bush’s candidacy would present a huge obstacle to Rubio’s chances. “Jeb still has the heart and soul of grassroots Republicans in Florida. There’s no room for two or three Florida candidates. Marco knows that,” one Republican said.

PUBLIC SECTOR:

Florida TaxWatch issued its recommendations for the 2015 legislative session to improve government efficiency. Proposals included changes to public employee health insurance, training procurement officers and addressing prison sentencing. The Legislature plans on taking on pension reform this session. A bipartisan proposal to bolster local pension plans has been filed by Sen. Rob Bradley and Sen. Jeremy Ring. The new pension bill is similar to one that failed last year. The U.S. Census reported that in 2013, Florida’s 977,816 state and local public employees earned an average wage of $3,435 per month, compared to the U.S. average of $3,743. Florida’s tourism officials said they support the relaxation of Visa rules between the U.S. and other countries like Brazil. The American Civil Liberties Union sought to end negotiations with the state over what jobs should be subject to random drug screenings, but Gov. Rick Scott is fighting to continue talks. EDR released the County Demographic Profiles, which give details on population, housing and employment for all 67 Florida counties. Raise your right hand: a time has been set for Scott’s swearing-in ceremony. The governor’s inauguration program will start at 11:20 a.m. Jan. 6, with Scott begin sworn in at noon. The Festivus pole is officially back — the 6-foot-tall stack of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans was installed in the Florida Capitol on Monday.