1. FLAMINGO AS THE STATE BIRD? Florida House says yes to replacing mockingbird
The Florida House voted late Feb. 11 to establish the American flamingo as the new state bird, a step toward knocking the mockingbird off its perch after nearly a century.
The bill now heads to the Senate; it wasn’t immediately clear whether that chamber will agree.
The House voted 112-1 to approve the bill (HB 11). The Legislature has considered changing the state bird for many years. Some lawmakers wore pink clothing during the vote, including Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, who called it a “very Florida bill.”
Lawmakers couldn’t help themselves from slinging puns, asking about the bill’s pecking order and noting that supporters had been “wading” for the vote.
A new study from the University of Central Florida used genetics to show flamingoes are native to the Sunshine State. Read more at marconews.com. – Marta Zherukha / Fresh Take Florida
2. COLLIER COUNTY: Board cuts hotel’s $150K code liens for workforce housing
After debate, Collier County commissioners slashed the amount of two code enforcement liens involving a hotel conversion into workforce housing.
The developers faced liens of $150,750 for multiple violations, some of which took more than a year to resolve.On Feb. 10, commissioners voted to reduce the amount of the liens — which were based on months of accrued fines — by more than 80% to $25,000.
The liens have held up the conversion of the former Super 8 hotel, east of Collier Boulevard near Interstate 75, into affordable apartments.
The conversion could create up to 110 fully furnished, contemporary apartments, primarily for employees of Moorings Park, a continuing care retirement community in Naples, with three campuses.
The code violations involved installing exterior LED lights around the entire building and a wired video security system and starting work on the soffit and fascia near the roofline without permits and/or other county approvals. Read more at marconews.com. – Laura Layden/USA TODAY Network-Florida
3. READ MORE: Online now at marconews.com
If you missed Friday’s Marco Eagle, you can read those stories online now at marconews.com or click on the eNewspaper and read it and other past issues online, just as they appear in print.Friday’s articles include:
Also, when you click on 3 To Know or 3 To Do, we have helpful links that expand on the topics discussed. The SWFLA To Do List has events listed far in advance of those in print, so that you can plan ahead. There are also stories of interest from around the region and around the state. And no subscription is required.
Read more at marconews.com.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: 3 To Know: Flamingo as the state bird? Board cuts hotel’s code liens
Reporting by Marco Eagle / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
