Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/29/2018

Florida's wildfire season is here: What you need to know

It is currently Florida's wildfire season, and it is expected to be bad this year, partly because of all the debris left behind by Hurricane Irma. Brush fires have already scorched thousands of acres in Collier and Lee counties this month. Forestry officials want everyone to take this seriously so they can better prepare their homes in the event of a wildfire. More from WTSP, the Weather Channel, and Accuweather.

Florida Credit Union assets reach $1 billion

Founded in 1954 as the Alachua County Teachers’ Credit Union, Florida Credit Union has since grown to 11 branches and serves 30 counties across North and Central Florida. Its $1 billion in assets was achieved ahead of previous expectations. The announcement from Florida Credit Union is here; also read more at the Gainesville Sun.

Florida attorney general wants in-person meeting with Facebook

One of Attorney General Pam Bondi's top deputies is demanding an in-person meeting with executives at Facebook to talk about the release of more than 50 million users' personal information. Bondi's Privacy Bureau chief, Patrice Malloy, wrote that she expects a meeting set up by the end of the week. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida Hospital doctors recognized by lawmakers for aid work in Puerto Rico

A group of doctors from Florida Hospital received a proclamation from the government of Puerto Rico for their services after hurricane Maria devastated the island. After the hurricane, the hospital has hired as many as 45 health-care professionals from Puerto Rico. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Boca-based 3-D image business Decora acquired for $100 million

Decora, the Boca Raton provider of 3-D images for online retailers, has been acquired by New York-based CreativeDrive in a deal worth more than $100 million, according to the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Out of the Box
Car vending machine

It’s the biggest, most expensive vending machine around. By a lot. Online used car dealership Carvana today unveils its eight-story, coin-operated machine that dispenses shiny vehicles to ground-level glass bays for buyers to pick them up.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

History
Centuries-old shipwreck washes ashore near St. Augustine

In what could be a race against time, researchers are scrambling to gather all the data they can about a section of an old sailing ship that washed ashore on a Florida beach near St. Augustine before the sea reclaims its prize.