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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown of Florida indicted on 24 federal counts
Corrine Brown
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff, Elias “Ronnie” Simmons, were indicted Friday for their roles in a conspiracy and fraud scheme involving a fraudulent education charity. Both Brown and Simmons were charged in a 24-count indictment with participating in a conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, multiple counts of mail and wire fraud, concealing material facts on required financial disclosure forms, theft of government property, obstruction of the due administration of the internal revenue laws, and filing false tax returns. [Source: News4jax.com]
Florida releases school grades for 2015-2016 school year
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) released the 2015-2016 district and school grades, and the number of schools earning an “F” dropped in half from 204 in 2014-2015 to 103 in 2015-2016. Overall, a total of 1,137 schools maintained an “A” grade or increased their grade in 2015-2016. grade or improved their grade. See the full statement from FDOE here, with links to district information.
Central Florida reacts to Dallas shooting
Nearly a month after the June 12 mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, five police officers were killed and seven others were injured in Dallas. Gov. Rick Scott, Orlando Police Chief John Mina and other officials in Central Florida sent their condolences via social media after the Dallas shooting. From Gov. Scott said:
“This morning, Ann and I are heartbroken to hear of the horrendous tragedy that took place in Texas last night. The violence displayed against Dallas law enforcement was a senseless and cowardly act that has no place in our country. Law enforcement officers across the nation bravely put their lives on the line every day in order to protect our homes, our communities, and our families. We join of all of America in mourning these fallen heroes and praying for the recovery of those injured. Just as Texas stood with Florida following the Orlando terror attack last month, Florida will stand with Texas during this unfathomably difficult time.”
See more reaction at ClickOrlando.com
FPL strengthening Volusia-Flagler transmission lines
Florida Power & Light in the past year has invested more than $22 million to strengthen its transmission lines in Volusia and Flagler counties. The objective of the "hardening" project, which is expected to require several million dollars more in infrastructure improvements locally between now and the end of 2018, is to make those power lines less prone to outages caused by heavy storms. [Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal]
Philanthropy
Dwyane Wade left financial imprint far from basketball arena
Former Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade generated a lot of money in South Florida – and not just putting ticket-buying fans in seats. Now the Heat has to figure out how to fill the void left by Wade's move to Chicago. Local charities and businesses that have depended for years on the superstar's financial support are left to wonder what a Wade-less future holds. Read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Agriculture
Quiet harvest: Florida's first medical marijuana crop cut up and stored
Florida’s first legal harvest of marijuana is stored in multiple vacuum-packed bags in a freezer on the outskirts of Tallahassee. Surterra Therapeutics, the first of six companies to win state approval to grow and harvest medical marijuana for the seriously ill and dying, harvested the crop after months of careful growing, monitoring and coaxing. Read more at the News-Press.com.
Florida Originals
Medium rare
Cassadaga’s mediums take what they do seriously, struggling against perceptions of the community as an oddball tourist attraction. The article begins: "During a séance in 1875, a 27-year-old New York man named George Colby said a friendly spirit told him to go to Florida and establish a spiritualist camp..." Access the article here.
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