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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Bold ideas to reduce recidivism among Florida's prisoners
Florida’s prison population is among the largest in the United States and is expected to continue growing. In addition, 25% of Florida inmates reoffend within three years of being released. What can be done to help former prisoners stay out of jail -- and stem crippling corrections costs? Florida TaxWatch offers analysis and answers in a new report: Locked Up, Then Locked Out. “Employment keeps people out of our prisons. Unfortunately, we release offenders without preparing them to assimilate back into society and many businesses steer away from hiring them,” said Florida TaxWatch Center for Smart Justice Co-Chairman and former Supreme Court Justice, Kenneth Bell. Read the overview, or link directly to the report (PDF).
Earlier, from Florida Trend
» Commentary: Corrections course for Florida's lock ‘em up prison system
» Prison reform: A course correction
Florida's 2018 governor's race in full bloom at RNC
At the Republican National Convention this morning, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam served delegates a breakfast of chicken and waffles, cheesy grits and -- of course -- Florida orange juice. The meal came with big-name GOP guests -- and the unwritten acknowledgment that Putnam intends to be on the next midterm-election ballot. More at the Tampa Bay Times.
'Earthquake' reported off Florida waters was really a Navy test
Remember all that social media buzz over the weekend about an earthquake off Florida's Atlantic coast over the weekend? Never mind. The “earthquake” that was picked up by seismographs as far away as Venezuela and across the United States and Caribbean was actually a manmade explosion designed to test the seaworthiness of a new U.S. Navy vessel. More at the Daytona Beach News-Journal..
SpaceX seeks approval for two additional landing pads on Space Coast
SpaceX is seeking federal permission for two new areas for landing spent rockets. “SpaceX expects to fly Falcon Heavy for the first time later this year,” the company said in a statement responding to questions. “We are also seeking regulatory approval to build two additional landing pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. We hope to recover all three Falcon Heavy rockets, though initially we may attempt drone ship landings” at sea. More at the Orlando Sentinel.
Trial attorney Fred Levin among medical marijuana investors
A prominent trial attorney in Pensacola, Fred Levin, is among those named by the Florida Department of Health as investors in companies trying to bring the strain of medical marijuana known as Charlotte's Web to Florida. Levin is an investor in Ray of Hope 4 Florida, the company managed by Gulf Breeze father Peyton Moseley that owns the rights to the trademarked strain in the state. More at the Pensacola News-Journal.
Central Florida
Welcome to Central Florida, The Super Region
With more than nine million people living within a 100-mile radius, Central Florida (a.k.a. "Florida's Super Region") encompasses 15 counties and is emerging as a driving force for national and international business. If Central Florida were its own country, it would be the 40th largest economy in the world, surpassing Singapore, Chile and Israel. [Sponsored Report]
» Full story here.
Transportation
SunRail stimulus
The site of an almost 80-year-old lumber yard north of Orlando will be home to a SunRail station and a $50-million, 293-unit apartment community called Maitland Station. Stops along the commuter rail line have become economic catalysts from Longwood to Kissimmee.
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