Peter Schorsch
Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry, Jim Rosica and Florence Snyder, who has the lead..
LET’S HOPE SOMEONE LOVES FRANK ARTILES ENOUGH TO GET HIM SOME HELP
On a busy day of hearings in a busy week of the legislative session, a south Florida woman wanted a picture of herself and a friend and the rain pouring outside the Knott Building. She scanned the immediate vicinity for a friendly face, and held her iPhone out to Jacksonville’s Audrey Gibson.
Plainly the tourist had no idea that Gibson was a member of an elite, exclusive, and powerful club. The tourist was utterly unaware that the elegant lady she approached is one of a tiny handful of Floridians upon whom the sun rises and sets in #TheProcess. Most definitely, the tourist had no clue that hundreds of people are paid hundreds of millions of dollars to catch a moment of the time of this woman, and her 39 colleagues in the Florida Senate.
Gibson smiled, took the iPhone, and spent a stunning amount of time considering camera angles and composing multiple shots.
This is the gracious public servant that Frank Artiles refers to as a “fucking bitch.” To her face. At the members-only venue where people pay through the nose for a quiet place to eat, drink and do business, and pay extra for private lockers for their personalized cigars.
Artiles has a history of verbal violence toward women, African-Americans, and Muslims. His drunken diatribe Monday at the Governor’s Club is not the first time he has embarrassed himself in a bar. We now know that “pussy” is his go-to insult for a white male lawyer who outranks him in #TheProcess pecking order.
It has been suggested on the Sayfie Twitter Ticker, where some Floridians still get some information, that Artiles. a former Marine, may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Let’s put that one to rest. PTSD doesn’t cause bigotry, but alcohol makes bigots more likely to reveal their pre-existing prejudices.
Artiles didn’t much look like a Marine as he stood on the Senate floor to read an insincere, meaningless apology written for him by some hastily-assembled Committee to Save Artiles Career. The Senator from a Diverse Miami Neighborhood shifted on his feet, looking like a rattled schoolboy as he rattled the pages of his prepared text.
When people can’t exercise the control and judgment we expect of a third grader, there is often a medical explanation. Let’s hope someone loves Artiles enough to help him find out.
OSCAR BRAYNON TO ARTILES: APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED via Florida Politics – Senate Democratic Leader Braynon says fellow Sen. Artiles’ apology for using racial epithets and obscene insults is “not enough” and “the Senate must be compelled to act.”
“Senator Artiles appears to have an issue with people who don’t look like him, who don’t think like him, and who don’t act like him,” Braynon said. “Worse, this isn’t just one isolated incident; rather, it’s an extremely troubling pattern that continues to escalate.”
SENATE SETS TIGHT TIMELINE FOR INVESTIGATION
Senate Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto has appointed the chamber’s top lawyer to investigate a complaint by next Tuesday seeking to remove Artiles from office. Senate President Joe Negron announced the move Wednesday in a memo to senators. Benacquisto “found that the complaint states facts supporting a finding of probable cause,” meaning it’s more likely than not that Artiles violated a Senate rule governing its members’ conduct.
Negron appointed Senate General Counsel Dawn Roberts to be a special master, a quasi-judicial officer who hears cases and makes recommendations. Her “report and recommendation to the Committee on Rules (is due) by the close of business on Tuesday, April 25, 2017,” Negron said.
— “Disgraceful Artiles incident wasn’t Joe Negron’s finest hour” via Nancy Smith of Sunshine State News
ARTILES WANTS TO DEPOSE BLACK LAWMAKERS CALLING FOR HIS OUSTER via Matt Dixon and Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida – Artiles is taking a defiant stance in the face of black lawmakers calling for him to be tossed from the Senate. Not only will he not resign, Artiles said he will run for re-election in two years and that he’ll fight the Rules complaint filed against him by hiring a lawyer and deposing all the members of the black caucus to show that he didn’t call Gibson a bitch, per se, and that he’s not a racist.
“There were several comments in the black caucus that were inaccurate, incorrect and not corroborated by me,” Artiles said. “Several comments made in the black caucus put me in a bad light because that’s not what was said.” Artiles said his dispute with Gibson stemmed from her vote against his legislation concerning property tax value adjustment boards. He responded by questioning her on her legislation concerning “Baker Acting” minors. “Audrey, stop being a b— on my bills and I’ll stop being a f—— ass—- on yours,” Artiles said he told her.
TWEET, TWEET:
CALLING FOR ARTILES RESIGNATION:
Andrew Gillum (read here)
Chris King (read here)
Equality Florida (read here)
Tampa Bay Times (read here)
***Today’s SUNBURN is brought to you by Spectrum Reach, the marketing platform of choice, connecting you to your target audience on TV, digital and mobile. With access to our powerful data and insights, solutions for every screen, and the best programming content on the top 50+ networks, we’ll help you reach the right customers for your business. SpectrumReach.com #NeverStopReaching***
BILL SETTING STATEWIDE RULES FOR UBER, LYFT GOES TO GOVERNOR via Ana Ceballos of The Associated Press – After a four-year battle in the Florida Legislature, lawmakers passed statewide regulations for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft that would undo a patchwork of local rules across the state. Lawmakers were quick to send the measure (HB 221) to Gov. Scott, who has yet to take a definitive stand on the issue. If it is signed into law, Florida would create a single statewide set of rules on the ride-hailing industry. Uber and Lyft currently have tens of thousands of drivers in Florida, and the proposed legislation would help them expand their app-based services throughout the state. With this bill, local ordinances targeting ridesharing services would be overturned July 1. That includes local rules in the Florida Keys where Uber and Lyft can’t operate.
RICHARD CORCORAN ACTUALLY THANKS FSU FOR RETURNING CONTROVERSIAL APPROPRIATION via Florida Politics – Corcoran thanked Florida State President John Thrasher for returning money from a now controversial appropriation. The university got part of an appropriation for Florida Psychological Associates, a firm operated by friends of Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican. “I recognize that the lack of direction … placed FSU in a situation it did not seek,” Corcoran wrote in a letter dated Tuesday, saying Thrasher’s willingness to return the money was “commendable.”
HOUSE OKS LEGISLATION TARGETING SOARING WORKERS COMPENSATION PREMIUMS via Florida Politics – The Florida House approved a workers’ compensation fixTuesday intended to answer the Florida Supreme Court’s objections to the system by adding flexibility on attorney fees in benefits challenges, and by boosting benefits for injured workers. The measure, HB 7085, passed on a vote of 82-37. Danny Burgess, whose Insurance & Banking Subcommittee pulled together the various interests in hours of hearings on the bill, conceded, “This product is not perfect.” Still, it would close a “statutory gap” in disability benefits and extend them from the existing 104 to 260 weeks; require carriers to grant or deny benefits quickly; and ensure appointment of a worker representative to a state panel that sets medical reimbursement rates compensation, he said.
ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES DIGS THE BILL: “Since the Florida Supreme Court ruled Florida’s workers’ compensation system unconstitutional, AIF’s workers’ compensation task force has been saying we need solid measures that address Florida’s floundering system. Floridians deserve a stable, self-executing and affordable workers’ compensation system, not one that leaves injured employees at the mercy of unscrupulous trial lawyers. HB 7085 will help give Florida’s business community the tools needed to ensure injured workers are receiving benefits in a timely manner and at affordable prices to employers.”
CHECK OUT THIS “VIDEO OP-ED” FROM THE HOUSE ON THE WORKER COMP BILL:
HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL FLORIDA’S PIP MANDATE FOR AUTO INSURANCE via Michael Moline of Florida Politics – The House voted to replace Florida personal-injury protection insurance mandate for motorists with a requirement that they buy bodily injury protection, upending an insurance system in place since 1971. “Today, we have the ability to start thinking about personal responsibility in a different way, and shifting that paradigm in the state of Florida in how we do auto insurance,” sponsor Erin Grall said. “It’s difficult to think about doing something different after 40-plus years, but it shouldn’t keep us from doing what’s best for Floridians,” she said. HB 1063, approved on an 89-29 vote, would require motorists to carry minimum bodily injury coverage worth $25,000 for injuries to another person, and $50,000 for injuries for two or more people.
HOUSE ADVANCES BILL GIVING POWER TO STATE LEGISLATORS FOR CRAS via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics– A modified bill to put additional limits on Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA) advanced in the House Government Accountability Committee. Local governments use CRAs to promote affordable housing, economic development, health and safety in under-served neighborhoods. They hold a set percentage of property taxes paid by residents of a community, investing that money — also known as tax incremental funding (TIF) — back into the area. Sponsored by Valrico Republican Jake Raburn (HB 13), the bill originally would have eliminated all CRAs formed after July 1, prohibit CRAs from taking on any new projects or debts after Oct. 1 and end all the state’s CRAs by 2037. However, that proposal received furious pushback from local officials throughout Florida. Raburn’s new bill would allow for the creation of CRA’s to continue, but only by having a local government official get buy-in from a state legislator, who would have to pass it as a local bill. His measure also limits what a CRA can spend their funds on.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH TO GIVE HOSPITALS GREATER SAY IN EXPANSION via Michael Auslen of the Tampa Bay Times – For four decades, hospitals wanting to expand or open new facilities have had to get the state to agree there’s a need for more health care in their community. It’s a rule that Republicans in the Florida House say creates unnecessary burdens on the free market. This week, they’ll be passing a bill to repeal it. But opponents of the repeal worry that allowing hospitals to build beds wherever they want will encourage health facilities to build in wealthy areas, leaving poor communities with limited options and safety net hospitals strapped for cash. Legislation (HB 7) to repeal the regulations, called CON (certificate of need), is expected to pass the Florida House, where it is a priority of Speaker Corcoran … It also has the endorsement of Gov. Scott, who called it one of his top health care priorities this year.
CHEERS: HOUSE ‘BEER GLASS’ BILL CLEARS LAST COMMITTEE via Florida Politics – Florida bars and restaurants could be gifted with free branded beer glasses under a bill that’s now ready for the House floor. The legislation (HB 853) was OK’d with no debate by the Commerce Committee, its last panel of reference … It would allow distributors to give to bars and restaurants up to three cases per year of glasses from brewers that are imprinted with beer names and logos. Now, glasses have to be sold. The measure has stoked controversy, however. Smaller craft brewers have said they can’t afford to keep up with what will likely be a flood of free glasses from Anheuser-Busch InBev, which makes Budweiser and Bud Light.
SENATE DEALS “LOW HANGING FRUIT” IN HOUSE GAMBLING OFFER via Alexandra Glorioso of the Naples Daily News – (Sen. Bill) Galvano said he won’t offer any major changes to the Senate’s proposal, which embraces the expansion of gambling in Florida and is at complete odds with the House’s proposal that cracks down on gambling. Instead, his focus will be on clearing up definitions of certain games like slot machines and dealing with “low hanging fruit” like a recent lawsuit involving a company that has made a computer game that is very similar to a slot machine. Under current law, casino-style gambling is generally illegal in Florida, and these games are exclusively granted to the Seminole tribe outside Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
SENATE VOTES TO ALLOW BEER ADS IN THEME PARKS, ‘MERLOT TO GO’ via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – The measure (SB 388), sponsored by Republican Sen. Travis Hutson … eases the state’s “tied house evil” law by allowing ads, which could include a beer company sponsoring a concert or festival within a park. Universal Orlando has supported the bill. Some beer industry representatives had privately complained. However, they “fear being extorted by the theme parks.” The bill also repeals a state law to permit wine bottles of all sizes to be sold. That includes the “Nebuchadnezzar,” which hold 15 liters, or the volume of 20 standard wine bottles. Further, it would repeal another state law that requires diners to order and consume a full meal — “consisting of a salad or vegetable, entree, a beverage and bread” — before they can take home an opened bottle of wine.
ANOTHER SESSION WILL END WITH THE REVILED WRITE-IN LOOPHOLE INTACT via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times – Another year will pass without lawmakers closing the notorious “write-in loophole” that candidates, consultants and political parties use to manipulate election outcomes by preventing independent voters from having a voice in primary elections in all 67 counties. Rep. Danny Burgess … filed a one-sentence bill intended to close the loophole. It reads: “If a primary election would, if not for the presence of one or more write-in candidates, be open to all qualified electors pursuant to Sec. 5(b), Art. VI of the state constitution, the primary election shall be open to all qualified electors.” (Simple enough, right?) Burgess’ HB 1381 never received a hearing.
EYEBALL WARS RAGE AS DOZENS OF MEDICAL GROUPS OPPOSE OPTOMETRISTS, CLAIMING ‘SERIOUS THREAT’ TO CARE via Florida Politics – A growing number of medical professionals have joined forces in a wave of disapproval of optometrists in Florida’s “Eyeball Wars,” which is now making way through Tallahassee. HB 1037, which seeks to allow optometrists to perform surgery and prescribe opiates, among other things, now sits on the agenda of the House Health & Human Services Committee. This week, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at University of Miami School of Medicine became the latest medical group to publicly oppose the bill, adding its name to a list that now stands at two dozen. In the letter, Bascom Palmer Ophthalmology Chair Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, joined by Vice Chair Dr. Steven Geddeand medical director Dr. Stephen Schwartz, warn: “There are no shortcuts to learning to safely perform eye surgery. Ophthalmologists complete four years of undergraduate education, four years of medical education, one year of internship, and then three years of ophthalmology residency training, such as that provided at Bascom Palmer … In summary, we believe that HB 1037 and [Senate companion] SB 1168 represent a serious threat to patient safety, public welfare and quality of care … The citizens of Florida deserve far better than the superficial and inadequate ‘training’ that is provided for in these bills.”
FANTASY SPORTS INTERESTS MAKING LATE LEGISLATIVE PUSH IN FLORIDA via Florida Politics – A fantasy sports advocacy group is emailing supporters, asking them to write to Florida lawmakers to “keep fantasy sports in the Sunshine State.” Fantasy Sports for All, backed by FanDuel, provides multiple pre-written calls to action their customers can send to legislators … “There are more than 3 million of us in the state that love to play fantasy sports. Please pass legislation that ensures we can continue playing the games we love” … Members of the House and Senate plan to meet in conference Thursday to begin working out differences between their gambling legislation passed this year. The Senate’s bill would “create the Fantasy Contest Amusement Act to regulate daily fantasy sports; ” a House bill, separate from its gambling package, declares fantasy sports to be non-gambling and thus legal to play.
SHOES ARE STARK REMINDERS OF SEXUAL ABUSE via Florida Politics – An emotional and eye-opening display featuring about 1,000 shoes worn, decorated and submitted by sexual assault survivors of all ages from across the state of Florida – with accompanying stories – are decorating the Capitol rotunda through Friday of this week. They commemorate National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The display, hosted by Lauren’s Kids and the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV) asks others to “Walk in My Shoes” – the shoes of someone who has been affected by sexual violence. “Our smallest shoe was submitted by the mother of an infant, and the largest shoe was sent in by a 50-year-old man,” said Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book, an abuse survivor.
***Liberty Partners of Tallahassee, LLC, is a full-service consulting firm located just steps from the Capitol. The firm specializes in the development and implementation of successful advocacy strategies highly personalized for each client. Team Liberty is comprised of professionals with a track record of successful coalition-building, grassroots efforts and team coordination. The combination of a strong commitment to clients and practical government and private sector experience is why Fortune 500 companies and not-for-profits alike choose Liberty Partners of Tallahassee.***
HAPPENING TODAY – FLORIDA SPORTS DAY AT THE CAPITOL — The Florida Sports Foundation will celebrate all thing sports during Florida Sports Day at the Capitol on Thursday. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., and is meant to showcase the sports entities that make Florida one of the top sports destinations in the state. The event will feature mascots from Florida’s professional teams, race cars, and an interactive fishing boat from the Coastal Conservation Association Florida. The organization will also recognize the amateur sports Athletes of the Year during a ceremony at 12:30 p.m.
HAPPENING TODAY – COMMMITTEE MEETINGS TO WATCH — The House Judiciary Committee will discuss a series a bills, including an estoppel bill, when it meets at 8 a.m. in 404 House Office Building. Financial literacy is on the agenda when the Education Committee meets at 9 a.m. in 102 House Office building. Over in the Health & Human Services Committee, members will be asked to take up a bill to remove requirement to pre-register cosmetic products with DBPR when they meet at 9 a.m. in 17 House Office Building. The Senate Appropriations Committee will take up several bills when it meets at 10 a.m. in 412 Knott. The committee is expected to take up a bill to implement the August 2016 solar power constitutional amendment, a bill to allow residents of a county to object to materials used in the classroom, and a bill to create pilot projects to cultivate, process and test industrial hemp.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Gov. Scott will present the Freedom Award to to Jorge Luis Garcia Perez “Antunez,” Cary Roque and Angel de Fana for their efforts to fight for freedom and democracy in Cuba during a ceremony at 9:30 a.m.at The American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, 1200 Coral Way in Miami. He’ll then head to Tampa, where he will attend a groundbreaking ceremony for NewSouth Window Solutions’ new manufacturing and distribution facility at 2 p.m.at the Crossroads Commerce Center, 4330 Williams Road.
NO BLACK BEAR HUNT FOR 2017 via The Associated Press – The state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 7-0 on Wednesday to direct their staff to revamp the bear management plan and report back in two years. That came after a motion to hold a bear hunt this year was voted down 4-3. FWC executive director Nick Wiley said before public comments that while the agency believes science and population numbers support another bear hunt, there is still more work to do to convince the public.
***Smart employers know an inclusive workforce makes good business sense and helps secure Florida’s future. Only 30% of Floridians with disabilities are working. Explore the talent in the untapped 70%. Find out how at AbleTrust.org.***
DID ‘PUTNAM FOR GOVERNOR’ TWITTER FLUB BREAK ELECTION LAW via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida – Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam appeared to skirt state election law Wednesday when his Twitter account mistakenly posted a message that bore an “Adam Putnam for Governor” logo — even though he’s not an official candidate yet. But Putnam’s top consultant said the Twitter message wasn’t the fault of the Republican or his political committee, Florida Grown. So he says no law was broken.“The image was inadvertently posted by our digital partner. We immediately asked for it to be removed,” consultant Justin Hollis told POLITICO Florida. He declined to name the vendor. Under state election law, people can’t make a campaign expenditure until they become a candidate.
DANIEL SOHN ANNOUNCED AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER BID via Florida Politics — Daniel Sohn announced Wednesday he was throwing his hat in the race to replaced Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in two years. In a 2 minute and 30 second video announcing his intentions, Sohn he plans to meet with Floridians, business and environmental groups about how to improve the state. “Now there is no harm in recognizing that the success of Florida’s economy lies within the agricultural industry, for after all it is Florida’s economic engine,” he said in the video. “But Florida deserves a leader that can continue focusing on the needs of our industries, while beginning to do what Florida should have already been doing best — taking care of our people.” According to the campaign’s Facebook page, Sohn current serves as the district aide to Palm Beach County Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Pat Edmonson. Edmonson, according to a news release Wednesday, is coordinating his campaign. According to the campaign’s Facebook page, Sohn current serves as the district aide to Palm Beach County Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Pat Edmonson. Edmonson, according to a news release Wednesday, is coordinating his campaign.
STEVE HOUGH: FLORIDA’S CHANCE TO FIX ITS ‘RIGGED’ ELECTION SYSTEM via Florida Politics – Florida has a once in a generation opportunity to fix our “rigged” political system via the Constitution Revision Commission. If you’re like me, you don’t need some expert to tell you about the adverse effects of gerrymandering. Acrimonious partisan rhetoric, high-dollar campaign financing, and a terrible closed primary system locking out 3.1 million independent voters in our state, has allowed power to shift from citizens to politicians and party leaders. Despite very little notice of the commission hearings, Floridians are packing rooms to speak their minds. One of the key topics cited by dozens of speakers: getting rid of the horrible closed primary system that locks out over a quarter of our registered voters and forces politicians to cater to a small fraction of the electorate during the primary, where the majority of races are actually decided. These primary voters are often the most ideologically extreme in both major parties. The commission will continue these public hearings for some time. It’s critical we keep up this drumbeat at every meeting, and increase the volume. The time is now. The concern is real. We demand change. We want open primaries. Commissioners, are you listening?
FLORIDA PROSECUTORS’ GROUP TO WEIGH IN ON RICK SCOTT’S SIDE IN ARAMIS AYALA DISPUTE via Scott Powers of Florida Politics – The Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association – which represents the state’s 20 state attorneys including Ayala – will be filing an amicus brief against her and supporting Gov. Scott‘s power to reassign state attorneys’ cases. The association filed a motion requesting the chance to weigh in as a friend of the court on Scott’s side, and the Florida Supreme Court quickly approved it … Ayala challenged the governor’s authority to do so last week in a write of quo warrento to the Supreme Court, and in a separate lawsuit in U.S. District Court. Her colleagues, apparently, agree that Scott has the power to intercede and reassign state attorneys’ cases.
PERSONNEL NOTE: ALEX BURGOS DEPARTING MARCO RUBIO’S OFFICE, JOINING TECHNET AS VP via Florida Politics — TechNet, a network of technology CEOs and executives, announced Wednesday that Burgos would serve as its vice president of federal policy, government relations and communications. “As a seasoned veteran of Capitol Hill and federal campaigns at all levels, Alex brings a wealth of policy experience, deep relationships, and strategic vision to TechNet,” said Linda Moore, the president and CEO of TechNet in a statement. “We are excited to welcome Alex to the TechNet team and believe his wide range of skills, experience, and insights will take our federal advocacy programs to new levels of success.” Burgos joined Rubio’s team when the Miami Republican was first running for office, serving as his campaign’s communications director. He would go on to serve in the same role in Rubio’s U.S. Senate office. “Serving Senator Rubio and my home state of Florida has been the honor of a lifetime, and now I’m thrilled to partner with TechNet’s members to advance the policies that will spur the next chapter of America’s incredible innovation story,” said Burgos in a statement.
NEW AND RENEWED LOBBY REGISTRATIONS
Lisa Aaron, Lisa Aaron Consulting: McAfee, Inc
Randy Enwright, Clay Barker, James Rimes, Enwright Consulting Group: Marsy’s Law for All
Gregory Black, James Daughton, Aimee Diaz Lyon, Andy Palmer, Metz Husband & Daughton: Donate Life Florida
Ron Book, Kelly Mallette, Ronald L. Book PA: Association for Clear and Compassionate Governance of Substance Abuse Treatment
Candice Ericks, Ericks Advocacy Group: True Frame
Kenneth Granger, Dean Izzo, Capital City Consulting: Philips North America; Tellus
James Harris, James E. Harris Jr.: Hartman & Tyner, Inc
Rob Johnson, The Mayernick Group: Lutheran Services Florida
Ashley Kalifeh, Capital City Consulting: Philips North America
Steven Marin, Marin and Sons: Florida Power & Light Company
Jerry Paul, Capitol Energy Florida: Marsy’s Law for All
Joseph Salzverg, GrayRobinson: City of Orlando
David Singerson, Capital Hills Consultants: Hartman & Tyner, Inc
Samuel Verghese, One Eighty Consulting: Tech Ambience
Stephen Winn, Stephen R. Winn and Associates: Association for Clear and Compassionate Governance of Substance Abuse Treatment
***How does drug pricing work? Find out at DrugBenefitSolutions.com and get the facts on how PBMs reduce prescription drug costs for Florida consumers, employers, unions, and government programs.***
LOUD SEX SOUNDS INTERRUPT PRO TENNIS MATCH IN FLORIDA via The Associated Press – Frances Tiafoewas about to serve Mitchell Krueger during their match in the Sarasota Open when he paused and flashed a smile of disbelief over the sound of a woman moaning in pleasure. Broadcaster Mike Cation initially described the sounds as coming from someone playing a pornographic video in the stands, but later said they were coming from an apartment nearby. Both players had fun with the situation while the crowd laughed. Kreuger hit a ball sharply in the direction of the sounds, and Tiafoe screamed, “It can’t be that good!” Cation later saluted the responsible couple on Twitter, writing “Sounds like you guys had a good time!” Click on the image to below to watch video from the match.
GONDOLAS WILL RISE AGAIN AT WALT DISNEY WORLD via Terry Roen of Orlando Rising – Walt Disney World Resort will erect a gondola ride between two of its parks and three hotels, but it’s nothing like the Skyway attraction that once linked Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. The 10-passenger gondolas will have six stations and with three lines linking Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, the Caribbean Beach Resort and the lakeside area that straddles Pop Century and the Art of Animation resorts … ski-style gondolas may help alleviate the wait for some guests. The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group, an Austrian/Swiss manufacturer of trams, cable cars, chairlifts and urban people movers will develop the system. The company built the Hogwarts Express elevated train between the two Harry Potter lands at Universal Orlando Resort.
LAST KILLER WHALE IS BORN AT A SEAWARD PARK via Jennifer Kay of the Associated Press – The Orlando-based company said the orca – the last in a generation of whales bred in confinement – was born Wednesday afternoon. SeaWorld did not immediately name the calf because the park’s veterinarians had not yet determined whether it was male or female. The mother, 25-year-old Takara, was already pregnant when SeaWorld announced in March 2016 that it had stopped breeding its orcas. The gestation period for orcas is about 18 months. The calf will be visible to visitors either in the orca stadium pool at the San Antonio park or in two adjacent pools. Observations about the calf and Takara by SeaWorld trainers will be provided from the moment of birth to researchers trying to fill gaps in their data about wild killer whales.
GOVERNORS CLUB THURSDAY LUNCH BUFFET MENU – If it’s Thursday, it must be Italian Day at the Governors Club with minestrone soup; Italian meat & cheese salad; Mediterranean green salad – iceberg, romaine, red onion, Kalamata olives, crouton, grape tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, pepperoncini – seasonal greens; three dressing sections; rosemary rose pork loin; chicken cacciatore; gnocchi with olive oil & Parmesan cheese; grilled vegetables and Italian style zucchini.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to state Rep. Randy Fine, our friend Bill Rufty, and the handsome Justin Thames.
