A roundup of news items related to climate change and other environmental issues in Florida:
Two supermarkets in Florida have ditched plastic bags. What does it mean for customers? | Miami Herald
Two popular specialty grocers — the discount chain Aldi and the produce-driven Sprouts Farmers Market — vowed to eliminate single-use plastic bags in their stores by the end of 2024.
Two weeks into the new year, both grocery chains, with a growing presence in South Florida, say the removal of single-use plastic at checkout counters is now policy.
But are plastic bags really single use?
Nearly 1,000 manatees have record-breaking gathering at Florida state park amid ongoing mortality event | CBS News
Florida manatees have spent the last few years struggling to survive, but just days ago, one state park saw a more uplifting update from the species. Blue Spring State Park, just a few dozen miles north of Orlando, saw its largest-ever manatee count.
“Record-breaking morning at Blue Spring State Park,” the park wrote on Facebook on Jan. 21, revealing that park officials counted 932 manatees in the area, nearly 200 more than their previous record of 736 that was counted on New Year’s Day this year.
Park officials posted a photo of one area in the park, where dozens of manatees can be seen huddled together in the water.
Bill easing replacement of old coastal buildings advances with sponsor’s promise to soften impacts | Florida Politics
A bill abandoned in the final days of session last year amid opposition from historic preservationists is again advancing in the Legislature.
Opposition to the bill (SB 1526), dubbed the “Resiliency and Safe Structures Act,” appeared not to have waned since last year, based on a one-hour debate over it at the Senate Community Affairs Committee.
Members of the panel voted 5-2 for the measure after its sponsor, Miami Springs Republican Sen. Bryan Ávila, confirmed that he plans to adopt the less controversial language in its House analogue (HB 1647).
If you have any news items of note that you think we should include in our next roundup, please email The Invading Sea Editor Nathan Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here.
