Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspectors made a list and checked it twice to find out which retailers are naughty and nice.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Tuesday that FDACS’ Division of Consumer Services personnel have completed their sweep of stores and service stations across the state to ensure that the prices they advertise are the prices they charge.
That means checking circulars, online ads, and the inner workings of gas pumps for signs of funny business. Inspectors randomly selected 9,400 items from the massive heap of ads before fanning out to verify their accuracy.
“As Florida’s consumer protection agency, protecting Floridians at the cash register and the gas pump is one of my department’s top priorities,” Fried said. “I’m proud of my team for completing this price verification sweep so that consumers know they are getting the deals they’ve been promised as they go about their holiday shopping and aren’t being overcharged when filling up their tanks ahead of any holiday travel.”
It turns out Florida retailers’ are mostly honest — fewer than two dozen stores failed to meet the standards, which require at least 98% of items selected to reflect advertised prices when they’re scanned at the register. Gas pumps were similarly above board, with just 18 pumps from the random pool exhibiting pricing errors.
FDACS said the offending merchandise was pulled from the shelves until the stores fixed the errors. Likewise, the gas pumps were shut off until they were correctly calibrated.
Evening Reads
“When the myth of voter fraud comes for you” via Vann R. Newkirk II of The Atlantic
“Data indicate omicron is milder, better at evading vaccines” via Andrew Meldrum of The Associated Press
“Pfizer’s anti-COVID-19 pill prevents severe illness and should work against omicron variant, company says” via Carolyn Y. Johnson of The Washington Post
“Omicron is a dress rehearsal for the next pandemic” via Emily Anthes of The New York Times
“The coffee shop at this non-profit Florida hospital pours cash into political coffers” via Kirby Wilson of the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times
“The history of the metal box that’s wrecking the supply chain” via Rebecca Heilweil of Vox
“Florida offers support to states impacted by tornado cluster” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics
“Need Obamacare coverage for Jan. 1? Wednesday is the deadline” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics
“Nikki Fried warns, again, Ron DeSantis could be President” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Annette Taddeo, Anna Eskamani file bills to bring voter registration to high schools” via Daniel Figueroa IV of Florida Politics
“Manatee County candidate shares text exchange from consultant who jilted him” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“‘Lord of the Rings’ at 20: Why Peter Jackson’s trilogy was one of Hollywood’s riskiest projects ever” via Tim Gray of Variety
Quote of the Day
“It was designed to help get more people vaccinated. That’s what it should be for, and hopefully, the Governor, the Attorney General and Department of Health will change their minds so we can give employees those funds.” — Gainesville Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos, on the ‘vaccine passport’ ban negating incentive pay for employees who get the jab.
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