Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/6/2018

Florida’s suddenly competitive 2018 Senate race will have national marquee status

Republican Rick Scott’s expected announcement Monday of his candidacy for U.S. Senate figures to make the Florida race the marquee contest of 2018, as the two-term governor carries a unique set of advantages that could neutralize strong headwinds facing his party in November. More from RealClearPolitics and Vox.

Report: Nielsen laying off 396 workers in Venice

Facing a changing media landscape, Nielsen Media Research Inc. is cutting 724 jobs statewide, including 396 workers in North Venice in coming months, according to a layoff notice filed with the state and media reports. Nielsen plans to lay off 328 workers in Oldsmar and 396 workers in North Venice in May and June. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Agencies battle over taxpayer-funded economic development project

A blistering public fight over how one government department used money for economic development has ensued between two high-ranking Collier County officials: Clerk of the Circuit Court Dwight Brock and County Manager Leo Ochs. More from the Business Observer.

Brightline doing test runs to downtown Miami

Brightline is dipping its toes into downtown Miami as it prepares to extend its express passenger service beyond West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The first BrightPink train rolled into the MiamiCentral station on March 29 and more test runs are set to begin the week of April 8. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The mystery behind why a beautiful movie theater in the town created by Disney World has been closed for almost a decade

Walt Disney World created the town of Celebration, Florida, in the mid-1990s, and its retro movie theater is the downtown's crown jewel. But the theater, leased by AMC, has been closed since 2010, and the community is frustrated. More from the Business Insider.

Out of the Box
Florida's Best Waffle

A Sarasota restaurant has received national attention for one of its menu items. Food Network named Toasted Mango Cafe’s chef’s special waffle as its Florida choice in a list of best waffles state-to-state. “The airy malted discs — pressed for exactly three minutes — arrive crisp and warm, adorned with cubes of ripe mango, toasted coconut flakes and whipped cream,” the article said. “It’s a true taste of paradise.”

» More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and WFLA.

Florida History
Firestorm of 1998

At the time, it was the largest aerial fire suppression operation in the U.S. A record-breaking number of firefighters — 10,000 — helped battle 2,200 blazes across Florida. In 1998, the fires that ravaged the state forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents and damaged or destroyed 337 homes and 33 businesses.