Florida's recap – Highlights from around the state – December 13th
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida has been accepted in the multi-state database ERIC, designed to combat voter fraud becoming the 29th state. Last year, with only 19 state participating, 2.6 million voter records were corrected.
- A Grand jury report shows extensive data manipulation by Broward and Miami-Dade Counties to cheat state standards for school safety. This includes under reporting violence within schools and not reporting data accurately for charter schools in the districts. Allegations show the potential for significant non-compliance of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act in both districts.
- The Florida Municipal Power Agency announced a phase two solar energy project has been agreed to by the twelve municipal utilities it coordinates. The municipalities are Alachua, Bartow, Jacksonville Beach, Fort Pierce, Homestead, Key West, Kissimmee, Lake Worth Beach, Ocala, Orlando, Wauchula and Winter Park. The recently announced phase one project which is set to build solar farms in central Florida will power 45,000 homes with solar by mid-2020. This phase two commitment, which is scheduled to be completed by 2023, will expand the footprint to 75,000 homes.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a new ten-year management plan for Florida’s black bears. Key to the adoption of the plan, no bear hunts are being scheduled. Florida’s black bear population stands at approximately 4,000 – having doubled its population since 2002.