Shadowy Energy Policy Institute (EPI) at center of Friday ethics hearing for Alissa Jean Schafer

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Shadowy Energy Policy Institute (EPI) at center of Friday ethics hearing for Alissa Jean Schafer

by Brian Burgess | Mar 5, 2021

The Florida Commission on Ethics will hold an initial hearing Friday on an ethics complaint filed against Alissa Jean Schafer. The Broward County Soil and Water Conservation District Board member is accused of hiding the real source of her income by claiming to be a...

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Florida hospitals lost billions due to COVID

by Karen Murphy | Mar 4, 2021

Even with federal relief funding of $4 billion, Florida hospitals have lost billions over the last year due to the onslaught of the COVID pandemic, according to the President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association Mary Mayhew. Despite these losses, Justin Senior,...

Poll: Floridians support e-fairness legislation

by Jordan Kirkland | Mar 4, 2021

63 percent of Floridians support e-fairness legislation, according to a new poll released on Thursday. Florida TaxWatch and Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy released the results of a February 2021 poll today, showing that an overwhelming majority of Floridians that...

Nikki Fried accuses DeSantis of “public corruption,” calls for investigation into vaccine rollout

by Jordan Kirkland | Mar 4, 2021

With Governor Ron DeSantis facing scrutiny for Florida's COVID-19 distribution, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a press conference on Thursday, continuing to lambast the Governor for "showing favoritism" with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The lone statewide...

House, Senate show differences on COVID-19 liability bills

by News Service of Florida | Mar 4, 2021

TALLAHASSEE --- The push to fast-track legislation to protect Florida businesses from COVID-19 litigation continues to be bumpy. While Tuesday was just the first day of the 2021 legislative session, Republicans in the House and Senate showed signs they continue to go...

Herrle: COVID Liability Protection is the Vaccine Small Business Owners Need

by Bill Herrle | Mar 4, 2021

When pharmaceutical companies started development COVID vaccines at the very outset of this pandemic, few people questioned the wisdom of the effort. Nobody second guessed the prudence in being prepared for what could come. The work on the vaccinations we appreciate...

Citizens’ Rate Hike Could Stabilize Florida Insurance Market

by Steve Pociask | Mar 4, 2021

Florida’s insurance market is in dire need of reform. In a recent state legislative committee meeting, Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier describes Florida’s insurance market as being unstable and unsustainable. Here’s why: While Citizens Property Insurance...

Coalition calls on legislature to protect maritime commerce

by Jordan Kirkland | Mar 3, 2021

A newly formed coalition made up of businesses and trade associations are pledging their support for two bills that would "responsibly regulate" commerce and seaports. The Keep Florida's Economy Sailing coalition launched on Wednesday, throwing its weight behind two...

Council formed to connect digital health entrepreneurs with healthcare systems

by Karen Murphy | Mar 3, 2021

In an effort to connect early-stage digital health entrepreneurial companies with the needs of industry leaders in healthcare, Caduceus Capital Partners, LLC, a venture capital and private equity company, launched the Health System Innovation Council (HSIC). Caduceus...

Lawmakers take on Big Tech amid legal questions

by News Service of Florida | Mar 2, 2021

TALLAHASSEE --- After Twitter permanently removed former President Donald Trump from its site and social-media platforms began slapping warnings on posts by other politicians, Republican state leaders are punching back. But a proposed crackdown on big tech is drawing...

Spicy quotes from start of 2021 Legislative Session

by Jordan Kirkland | Mar 2, 2021

The first day of the 2021 Legislative Session is finally here, and with it came several tantalizing quotes that would satisfy even the most politically savvy insiders. Much of the attention fell on Governor Ron DeSantis's State of the State address, in which he laid...

Opening Day of Legislative Session from leaderships’ point of view

by Karen Murphy | Mar 2, 2021

Following a year of such great turmoil, loss and uncertainty, the tone of today’s opening of the 2021 Legislative Session was much more kumbayah than fire and brimstone. The new House Speaker Chris Sprowls downplayed the stereotype of Session as being a boxing match...

Speaker warns Representatives of media defining session

by Karen Murphy | Mar 2, 2021

In his address to the House Chamber during the Opening Day of the 90th term of the Florida Legislature Florida House Speaker, Representative Chris Sprowls instead of giving a litany of legislative issues, he cautioned Representatives against letting the media or...

Pandemic may pave the way for gaming expansion

by Jordan Kirkland | Mar 1, 2021

With Florida staring down a budget impacted by the pandemic, could the expansion of gambling in the state be a silver lining? Like many states across the country, Florida's economy bore the brunt of COVID-19. Lockdowns put many workers out of business, particularly...

Duke Energy solar plan challenged at Supreme Court

by News Service of Florida | Mar 1, 2021

TALLAHASSEE --- A Duke Energy Florida plan that would add 10 solar-power plants faces a challenge at the state Supreme Court. Attorneys for the League of United Latin American Citizens of Florida filed a notice this week that they are challenging a Jan. 5 decision by...

With Patronis audit deadline nearing, Florida Clerks say Penn Credit issue resolved

by Brian Burgess | Feb 26, 2021

On February 1st, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis sent letters to all 67 County Clerk offices in the state demanding to know which counties had existing contracts with an out of state vendor at the center of a 2019 federal indictment. In the letter,...

Naples hospital system increasing pay, benefits for frontline healthcare workers

by Jordan Kirkland | Feb 26, 2021

NCH Healthcare, a two-hospital system with close to 5,000 employees, said it is increasing staff pay and benefits in recognition of their hard work and dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Naples hospital system made the announcement on Thursday, signaling a...

Sprowls unveils legislation to combat flooding, sea level rise in Florida

by Jordan Kirkland | Feb 26, 2021

Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls introduced new legislation to mitigate effects of flooding and sea level rise in the state. Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the water’s edge on the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, Sprowls rolled out...

FSU to resume in-person instruction; UF and FSU will hold in-person graduation ceremonies

by News Service of Florida | Feb 26, 2021

TALLAHASSEE --- In a sign that Florida's higher-education institutions are preparing for a return to normalcy, two of the state's largest universities are announcing changes that bring people back to campus. Florida State University is gearing up to bring students...

COVID-19 lawsuit protections weighed for long-term care facilities

by News Service of Florida | Feb 26, 2021

TALLAHASSEE --- The Republican-led Legislature has promised to fast-track legislation to protect Florida businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits, but shielding the state’s long-term care industry at the same time is proving thorny. The breadth of the liability protections...

Nestle Waters prevails in challenge to Ginnie Springs water bottling permit

by Brian Burgess | Feb 25, 2021

Nestle Waters North America, in partnership with Seven Springs Water Company, won approval from the Suwannee River Water Management District this week to draw more than 984,000 gallons of water per day from Ginnie Springs in Gilchrist County. The permit was approved...

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