Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/14/2016

Lower pay for poor is widening U.S. income gap

The income gap afflicting major U.S. cities goes beyond the problem of rising paychecks for those at the top: Pay has plummeted for those at the bottom. Many of the poorest households still earn just a fraction of what they made before the Great Recession began in late 2007. More at the AP.

New Jersey, Florida foreclosure hotbeds of 2015

New Jersey and Florida were poster children for U.S. home foreclosures last year, with both states and several of their metropolitan areas topping the list in 2015. More at Reuters.

Dania Jai Alai casino reopens after $60 million makeover

It may still look like a construction site from the outside, but the Dania Jai Alai casino is back in business with a flashy new look and a new name. The Casino at Dania Beach unveiled its $60 million makeover this week. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

2016 expected to be record year for Southwest Florida tourism

Two-thousand fifteen was another year for Southwest Florida's tourism record books. Even with some of the financial turmoil internationally, the region's tourism promoters expect that trend to continue during 2016. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Florida-Cuba science projects move forward

American tourists aren't the only folks lining up to visit Cuba. Biologists want to go there, too, to document and study the island-nation's unique ecosystem. More at the Fort Myers News-Press.

Law
Momentum Swings to Miami as Venue for Mega-Trial of ‘El Chapo’

U.S. and Mexican officials are engaged in high-level talks to determine whether Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman will be tried in Miami or New York on drug-trafficking charges following his anticipated extradition to the United States from Mexico.

» More from McClatchy

Recreation Trends
The Big Thing is Going Small

The up-and-comers of the RV business look a little more modest than in the past. Instead of a big, traditional motor home, buyers are increasingly looking for smaller — and more affordable — offerings such as a compact RV or a camper they can tow with the car they already have.