PUBLIX Florida’s favorite grocery store chain was named the best employer to work for in companies with least 100,000 employees and the 12th best company to work for overall by Fortune magazine. And a little trivia: Why are there scales inside Publix? Back in the day, household scales weren’t common so businesses would place scales outside their stores and charge people to use them, according to WLRN. When founder George Jenkins opened the first Publix in Winter Haven he moved the scales indoors and made it free. The scales remain, but only in Florida stores.
SUNSCREEN The Key West City Commission has banned the sale of sunscreens containing two ingredients that scientists have said are harmful to the coral reef ecosystem. As of January 1, 2021, sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate will no longer be sold within the city.
BACK THE BLUE Attorney General Ashley Moody presented the first “Back the Blue” award to 10-year-old Zechariah Cartledge from Winter Springs. Zechariah will run one mile for each officer lost in the line of duty in 2018 – 148 miles. You can follow him on his Facebook page @Running4Heros. He is also raising $15,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports firefighters, the military and all first responders.
LAND PURCHASE On February 26th, the state Cabinet voted to spend $2.54 million to buy 83.4-acres in Lake and Hamilton counties, including five continuous lakefront properties as part of the Wekiva-Ocala Greenway Florida Forever project. This area includes forested pinelands and floodplain that are home to the largest black bear population in the state.