Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched the state’s online Hemp Cultivation Licensing Portal on Monday, allowing interested growers to apply for licenses.
“As we continue building our state hemp program into a national leader, our new online application portal will help growers quickly and easily apply for hemp cultivation licenses, as well as manage, renew, and view any current hemp applications,” Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said.
“We’re working to ensure that applying for a license is streamlined and simple, so Floridians interested in growing hemp can quickly get started.”
The portal guides farmers through a process and includes a checklist for all the steps needed to get the license. There’s only one step that cannot be completed remotely — the application requires a background check, including fingerprint submission.
Still, growers don’t have to drop by an FDACS office. The portal accepts fingerprint submissions offered by any Livescan service provider. A list of providers is available through FDLE.
The portal’s launch comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Department of Agriculture formally approved the state’s hemp program.
“Today has been long anticipated. The Department of Agriculture has been working around the clock for months on the rollout,” said Capitol Alliance Group lobbyist Taylor Biehl, who represents hemp industry clients.
“Given the economic woes and uncertainties plaguing the agriculture community in lieu of COVID-19, the timing is near perfect. The Florida Hemp Association has been providing members with necessary resources and application guidance in order to be successful in this newly regulated industry,
“We anticipate a well-regulated and safe environment for Florida’s farmers — paramount to their (and the program’s) success.”
Coronavirus Numbers
Positive cases:
— 31,290 FL residents (+610 since Sunday)
— 848 Non-FL residents (+0 since Sunday)
Origin:
— 1,700 Travel related
— 10,179 Contact with a confirmed case
— 1,511 Both
— 17,900 Under investigation
Hospitalizations:
— 5,010 in FL
Deaths:
— 1,088 in FL
Unemployment numbers
As of Sunday:
Total claims: 1,880,343
— Confirmed unique claims: 824,279
— Claims verified: 171,983
— Claims processed: 652,296
— Claims paid: 386,926 (+177,213 since Saturday)
Total paid out: $497.8 million (+$296.9 million since Saturday)
Evening Reads
“The pandemic and the waning of American prestige” via Ishaan Tharoor of The Washington Post
“White House is reviewing expanded guidance on reopening society” via and of The Washington Post
“Social distancing could last months, White House coronavirus coordinator says” via Felicia Sonmez, Paige Winfield Cunningham and Meryl Kornfield of The Washington Post
“Women bear the brunt of the social and economic crisis caused by COVID-19, experts say” via Sarah Moreno of the Miami Herald
“Gov. Ron DeSantis now says ‘media downplayed’ COVID-19 threat” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Florida Gov. DeSantis calls state ‘God’s waiting room’ and disses Brooklyn for coronavirus toll” via Dave Goldiner of the New York Daily News
“Gov. DeSantis eyes investigation of failed unemployment website” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“More than 166,000 Floridians deemed ineligible for unemployment this weekend, many of them jobless due to coronavirus” via Chabeli Carrazana of the Orlando Sentinel
“Nightmare of jobless benefits application emerges from Stephanie Murphy’s survey” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Publix buys 430,000 pounds of produce from farmers to donate to the hungry, but one grower says it’s not enough to save his crop” via Austin Fuller of the Orlando Sentinel
“Florida releases data on number of COVID-19 cases in each nursing home, assisted living facility” via Allison Ross, Zachary T. Sampson and Josh Solomon of the Tampa Bay Times
“Should you let workers into your home to fix the toilet, Wi-Fi or A/C during quarantine?” via Carli Teproff and Michelle Marchante of the Miami Herald
“Florida’s Amendment 4 trial begins with social distancing and glitches” via Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times
“Medicaid expansion backers battle Senate on new law” via Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida —
“Ballard Partners expands global footprint with opening of office in Israel” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“It’s not fair to the taxpayers of Florida. We sit here, we live within our means, and then New York, Illinois, California and other states don’t. And we’re supposed to go bail them out? That’s not right. … I get it. We should help the states with the coronavirus. If you go back to how FEMA works — the federal government doesn’t pay for everything. And states have an obligation, cities have an obligation to balance their budgets and watch how they spend money, too.” — U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, on federal aid to states.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
One comment
Charles Lammers
April 27, 2020 at 7:02 pm
OK Rick, why should Florida take assistance from NY, CA, and other states when we get hit by a hurricane? Quit pandering to your bases prejudices. The act will not work on a national stage. Besides, this is one nation. Not us versus them. As Americans we are all in this together.
Comments are closed.