Solar overtook coal in energy production in Florida in 2023

While energy production in Florida is dominated by natural gas, solar-powered energy moved past coal in 2023 and into the third-highest source of power in the Sunshine State. Nuclear power was the second-highest, accounting for 11% of energy production. Solar energy production in Florida has nearly quadrupled over the last five years. Nearly three-fourths of all solar power generated in Florida in 2023 was from electric utility companies. More from the Orlando Business Journal and Florida Daily.

Business Beat - Week of March 22nd

Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

Florida Supreme Court keeps Seminole Gaming Compact intact

The Florida Supreme Court has rejected a bid by a pair of pari-mutuels to strike down the Seminole Gaming Compact, which allows the Seminole Tribe to conduct sports betting. West Flagler Associates, which owns Magic City Casino in Miami and Bonita Springs Poker Room in Southwest Florida, has so far failed in its lawsuit in federal court to halt the compact, sealed in 2021 between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. More from the Tampa Bay Times and Florida Politics.

Sustainability group recaps wins and losses of 2024 legislative session

The Florida Legislative Session ended March 8th. Sustainability advocacy group 1000 Friends of Florida recapped what they feel are the wins and losses of the session during a presentation on Wednesday. The group 1000 Friends of Florida advocates for protections of land and water, transportation, affordable housing, and local government. The group tracked various bills during the state legislative session. Paul Owens is the president of the nonprofit. [Source: WMNF]

Despite momentum, ‘free kill’ malpractice repeal fails in Florida this year

Efforts to repeal the “free kill” provision of Florida’s Wrongful Death Act saw progress during this year’s legislative session but ultimately failed, leaving advocates disappointed that millions of Floridians still have no pathway to sue if their loved ones are killed by medical malpractice. The 1990 statute states that if a doctor’s mistake kills someone who’s over 25, unmarried, and without children under 25, no one can sue for noneconomic damages, also known as pain and suffering. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› USF announces plan to create Florida’s first AI, cybersecurity college [Tampa Bay Times]
The University of South Florida announced plans Thursday to launch the first college of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in the state. The college, which is still subject to approval by the USF board of trustees, would offer undergraduate and graduate programs in addition to certifications and continuing education options. It would also bring together existing faculty at the university who research AI, cybersecurity and computing.

› Census: Tallahassee population dropped in 2023; chamber, business leaders say it's a blip [Tallahassee Democrat]
Leon County's population dropped last year while surrounding counties saw an uptick, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2023 estimates. In 2020, there were 293,955 residents in Leon County and nearly 3,000 more residents were reported in the capital county by 2023. However, Leon County's population dipped from 297,282 in July 2022 to 296,913 in July 2023, representing a loss of 369 residents.

› Up to $30 million in revenue at risk at Miami's Jackson Health due to cyberattack [WLRN]
The name Change Healthcare does not appear on anyone’s health insurance, explanation of benefits or doctors’ bills. Yet the company is vital to the business of health care — and a cyberattack against the company a month ago has sent the industry in search of cash. Health care providers across the country, including the largest hospitals in Florida, have been impacted by what appears to be a massive cybersecurity break-in at one of the industry's biggest and least publicly known companies.

› Bitcoin, stock split boost Tampa company's shares [Business Observer]
LM Funding appears to have had a successful reverse-split of its stock. On Wednesday, the company was back in Nasdaq compliance and trading at $2.93 at close. On Thursday morning, the stock almost hit $3 in intraday trading. One big question LM Funding America had when it offered a 1-for-6 reverse stock split of outstanding common stock was, would it work?

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› Looking for zoos, safaris or botanical gardens? Florida has one of each ranked in 10 best list [Palm Beach Post]
If you're looking for the best zoos and botanical gardens in the country, you don't have to go far. Florida has you covered. Every year, USA TODAY's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards pick the top... well, many, many things, in the nation. Expert panels select the best in the U.S. and then readers across the nation cast their votes. And several Florida destinations made the grade in the top 10 lists for best zoos, best botanical gardens and best safari parks. Here's

› New protections for Big Cypress? Miccosukee, hunters worry about being locked out [Miami Herald]
The Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park are both part of the Everglades and both are crucial to restoring the historic flow of water through the River of Grass. Yet for decades the federal government has managed these vast swaths of nature very differently — the Big Cypress allows hunting, air-boating and other human impacts that are strictly off-limits in the neighboring national park.

› Jacksonville-based Redwire Corp. growing revenue [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Redwire Corp. has not come close to the forecasts it offered before it went public in 2021, but it continues to grow revenue as it deploys new technology for space travel. “We are not a maybe someday space company,” CEO Peter Cannito said in Jacksonville-based Redwire’s year-end conference call with analysts March 15.

› State says Broward schools must pay millions to charter schools by December [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Broward School District has “knowingly and willfully” refused to comply with Florida law related to sharing 2018 referendum dollars with charter schools and must pay millions by Dec. 31 or face sanctions, according to a memo issued Tuesday by Education Commissioner Manny Diaz. Diaz wrote the district should document how it plans to comply prior to an April 17 meeting of the state Board of Education. He plans to make the formal recommendation to the state board on March 27.