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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Is Florida’s place as a top-tier battleground state at risk?
Florida has famously sat at the center of the country’s politics since 2000, when a contentious weeks-long recount between Al Gore and George W. Bush ended with the Texas governor’s victory by just 537 votes. Ever since, it’s been the home of some of the nation’s most competitive federal and state races, with the winning candidate often winning by only a sliver of the overall vote. But a string of recent stunning Democratic defeats have changed the perception of the state. [Source: Miami Herald]
Black farmers line up for medical marijuana license, but wait continues
Regulators of Florida’s medical marijuana industry are currently perusing applications from Black farmers for the highly sought license to grow marijuana. The application window for new licenses, which were newly made available because of the growing number of medical marijuana patients, lasted from March 21-25. But after a five-year wait, it’s still unclear when a decision will be made on which applicant will get a license. [Source: Florida Politics]
Two counties in Florida lead the way nationally in population growth
More than 1,800 counties nationwide posted population increases in 2021. Of those, two counties on the west coast of Florida — Polk and Lee — ranked among the top 10 nationally in welcoming new residents. Polk and Lee ranked No. 7 and No. 9 nationwide, respectively, in the number of residents gained in 2021, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Those counties gained a combined 47,584 new residents. Multiple Florida metro areas also reported considerable population growth by percentage, relative to the rest of the country. [Source: Business Observer]
Florida lost 70,000 people to Covid. It’s still not prepared for the next wave.
As Covid infections begin creeping up again across the country, current and former health officials in Florida are warning that the state remains woefully underprepared to handle the next wave of the pandemic. Florida’s 250-plus hospitals are still facing staffing shortages that continue to worsen as the Covid-19 pandemic drags on. [Source: Politico]
SpaceX makes record 6th launch in a month
It’s been a busy month for SpaceX topped with a record 6th Falcon 9 launch in a month, this time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday. The company sent up another 53 of its Starlink internet satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:27 p.m. amid a gorgeous, mostly blue Florida evening sky. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Show us the money: Broward leaders visit Dubai seeking Mideast investors
There are strong similarities between Fort Lauderdale and Dubai, the city on the Persian Gulf coast that is most populous in the United Arab Emirates. Both boast manmade islands, beaches, international airports and seaports. Their local economies rely heavily on tourism, aviation, real estate and trade. But Dubai, which is 7,825 miles away, has a lot more of what Fort Lauderdale and other Broward County cities need: money.
› Renderings show future of West Jacksonville fairgrounds
The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair released conceptual renderings for a future fairgrounds in West Jacksonville adjacent to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center on Normandy Boulevard. Fair President and CEO Bill Olson said in an email April 29 the organization will close on the sale of the Downtown fairgrounds property with Jacksonville Jaguars affiliate Iguana Investments Florida LLC when the new facility is complete.
› Tampa tech firm nets $75M in private equity capital
Coherent, a global Software-as-a-Service provider headquartered in Tampa, has raised $75 million in its Series B funding round, bringing its total venture capital investment, to date, to $89 million. According to a news release, the firm’s latest funding round was led by Maverick Capital. Other investors included Owl Rock, GreatPoint Ventures, Cathay Innovation and Franklin Templeton.
› Disney PR chief out after 3 months amid DeSantis-Reedy Creek controversy
Amid an extraordinary period of controversy that has engulfed Walt Disney Co., the person responsible for protecting the entertainment giant’s public image is out after just three months in the job. Disney Chief Executive Bob Chapek hired Geoff Morrell, a former BP executive, as the top person in charge of the Burbank firm’s public relations and government affairs.
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