Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 9/7/2016

Despite recovery Florida won't have much extra money in 2017

Florida will have very little extra money to spend in the coming year, meaning that top legislators and Gov. Rick Scott may have slash the state budget to meet some of their promises. More from the AP.

Flights take off from Miami to Cuba and bridge a 55-year gap

With a chocolate cigar and dominoes in hand, passengers boarded the inaugural flights to Cuba Wednesday as American Airlines bridged a 55-year gap in scheduled airline service between Miami and Cuba as it took off for Cienfuegos and Holguín. More from the Miami Herald.

Rick Scott makes emergency loans available to small businesses impacted by Hermine

The loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will “provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm and recovery efforts,” Gov. Scott’s office said. Full statement from the governor, here.

3 lessons for your biz from the SpaceX explosion

As SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket burst in flames Sept. 1 at Cape Canaveral, it not only served as a reminder that the space industry is risky business, but also may teach any type of business a thing or two about risk management and taking chances. More from the Orlando Business Journal.

Miccosukees lose $1 billion bet with IRS

More than 50 years after U.S. recognition as a tribe, and more than 25 years after collecting its first dollar via gambling, the steadfastly independent Miccosukee Tribe of Florida is finally approaching a day of reckoning: paying up on $1 billion in taxes that tribal members have dodged for decades. More from the Miami Herald.

Event
Future of Medicine Summit

Strategies for healthy aging will be explored by South Florida scientists and researchers at "The Quest for Healthy Aging — Mind, Body and Spirit," the 10th annual Future of Medicine Summit on Sept. 15-16.

» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida Icon
Dan ‘Tater' Porter

Tater Porter is a rodeo champion and an Osceola County sheriff’s deputy. Porter lives in Kenansville and is age 45. One quote from the Icon interview: “Mom was always nervous about me riding bulls, like any mom would be. Dad told me to go ahead if I wanted, but he always told me: ‘Them bulls will hurt you, boy. They’re made for eating, not for riding.’ ”