Peter SchorschGov. Rick Scott in Philadelphia looking for work Monday announced that Wawa Inc.; would speed up its expansion in Florida. The chain of convenience stores has opened 61 stores in the Sunshine State and plans to open 25 more stores this year.
“Because we are focused on eliminating redundant regulations, we’ve made Florida more competitive for attracting jobs like those at Wawa,” said Scott. “I look forward to continuing to meet with more companies in Pennsylvania to highlight all of the great things we are doing in Florida.”
Wawa was named after an eastern Pennsylvania town where a George Wood opened a diary in 1902. Sixty some years later his grandson got out of the milk delivery business and opened a store that grew into a chain of gas stations that also offer specialty coffees and sandwiches.
“We are committed to continuing to invest and innovate for our Florida friends and neighbors, as part of our core purpose to fulfill customers’ lives, ever day,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s CEO. “It’s hard to believe just two years ago we were the new kids on the block in Orlando, and now Florida is not only a place that feels like a home, but such a critical piece to our company’s overall success.”
Wawa will open its first store in southwest Florida in April with three planned for Fort Myers. The expansion plan also includes more stores in the Orlando, Tampa and Daytona markets and entry into Broward and Palm Beach counties.
An appeals Court Monday tossed a challenge to a 2013 law that allows public officials to shield put their assets in a blind trust and ordered a Leon County Circuit Judge to dismiss the lawsuit.
The ruling came in a case brought by Jim Apthorp, a former aide to Gov. Reuben Askew who argued that a portion of a 2013 law allowing public officials to create a blind trust instead of revealing assets on a financial disclosure form violated the state’s Sunshine Amendment.
In July, Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper ruled the blind trust provision did not violate the constitution’s open-government requirements. However, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal said Cooper should not have issued a ruling since Apthorp’s case “failed to allege a bona fide.” That is, whether there is a need for a declaration since Apthorp did not allege any public official had used a blind trust.
Also Monday, Republican in the statehouse plan to make another attempt at overhauling the Florida Retirement System.
“I think it’s a conversation we need to once again have,” Speaker Steve Crisafulli told the Tallahassee Democrat.
The Speaker added he believes FRS changes currently lack support in the Senate.
There are three Floridians on Newsmax ranking of the top 100 most influential African-American Republicans. Ben Carson, who retired to south Florida and is considering a presidential run, tops the list.
Ranked 12th is former Congressman Allen West, now CEO of the National Center for Policy Analysis. And coming in at number 79 is Rep. Mike Hill the vice chairman of the House Civil Justice subcommittee.
The Bailey controversy continues to simmer in Tallahassee. Monday news outlets that filed a Sunshine violation in seeking information about the ouster of the former FDLE chief sought an order to compel Gov. Scott and all three cabinet members to preserve any material that may be relevant to the case.
And speaking to a Tiger Bay Luncheon, Sen. David Simmons said he expects lawmakers will take up a funding package this spring. But Simmons warned that only three of the four proposals might get money. The Orlando City Lions is seeking a soccer stadium in competition with facilities in Miami, Jacksonville and Daytona.
