To ease South Florida flood risk, Lake Okeechobee draining to resume

South Florida flooding threats are triggering the pumping of polluted farm water into Lake Okeechobee, just as more lake water is set to be drained out to sea.  Andy Reid reports for the Sun-Sentinel.

• State pumps polluted farm water into Lake Okeechobee

 

Florida Tornado Tosses Vehicle Driving on Turnpike

A tornado picked up a southbound vehicle on Florida’s Turnpike near Fort Lauderdale Wednesday morning and dropped it in the northbound lane as a line of severe storms hit the area, the Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Vehicle rescue bill headed to Scott

Florida senators Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would provide legal protections to good Samaritans who break into locked cars to rescue vulnerable animals and people.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Palm Beach Post.

  

On all-payer claims database, Senate budget contradicts transparency bill

The House and Senate transparency bills would both bar the state from implementing an all-payer claims database — but despite the prohibition, the Senate spending plan Senator Rene Garcia unveiled Thursday includes $4.5 million to fund one.

 

Feds, Florida battle over “health insurance marketplace” slogan

Health Choices, has always accused the federal Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchange of stealing its thunder. The two exchanges operate in similar fashion but have different origins and offer very different services.  The Florida Times Union’s Tia Mitchell reports via the “Politijax” blog.

 

 Rick Scott’s Tax Cuts “DOA” as Legislators Choose Options

The centerpiece of Gov. Rick Scott’s tax cut plan may have already been dealt a fatal blow as state legislators instead are considering a wider range of sales tax reductions on everything from guns to smart phones in an election year.  Jeremy Wallace reports for the Bradenton Herald.

• Nearly $800M separates House, Senate economic development budgets
• Florida House omits centerpiece of Governor Rick Scott’s $1 billion tax cut plan

  

Medical marijuana makes it to 2016 Florida ballot

The decision to allow use of medical marijuana will be in voters’ hands after advocates garnered enough support Tuesday, according to election authorities.   WINK News reports.

  

Open-carry, stand-your-ground measures headed to House floor

Three gun-related measures — including an open-carry proposal and another that would change the burden of proof in the state’s “stand your ground” law — are headed to the House floor for a full vote.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SayfieReview.com.

 

 Bush endorsed by Florida’s largest newspaper

GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Thursday picked up the endorsement of the Tampa Bay Times, the largest newspaper in Florida.  Jesse Byrnes reports for TheHill.com.

  

John Steverson Wins Full Senate Approval as Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary

John Steverson has raised hackles for suggesting that the state allow timber harvesting and cattle grazing to help state parks boost their income.  Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

  

Florida Not Among States to Close Campaign Finance Loopholes

Loopholes pump limit-skirting, hard-to-track money into state races, TCPalm.com’s Lucas Daprile explains.

 

Virtual Insurance Agent Insurify with License Plate Quote Feature Raises $2 Million

Consumers will soon be able to simplify the buying of auto insurance by snapping a photo of their license plate and texting it to a phone number provided by the new site, Insurify.com, which will then generate price quotes.  Insurance Journal reports.

 

 

 

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