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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Lawsuit filed against U.S. Sugar, Florida Crystals to stop sugar cane field burning
A federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday against sugar growers south of Lake Okeechobee claiming the practice of burning sugarcane fields is a health hazard to area residents. The lawsuit was filed by the Berman Law Group against U.S. Sugar Corp., Florida Crystals and nine other defendants on behalf of residents in Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay and surrounding communities. More from TCPalm.
Florida ranked 3rd least safe state in U.S.
After analyzing all 50 states across 52 safety indicators grouped into five different categories, Wallethub put together a list to see how dangerous each state is. With data sets ranging from assaults per capita to unemployment rate to total loss amounts from climate disasters per capita the new report found Florida to be the 3rd most dangerous state in the country. See more from WalletHub and WFLA.
Miami International Airport wins approval for $5 billion in modernization projects
On Tuesday, the Miami-Dade commission approved a capital improvement plan for the airport which would fund up to $5 billion in modernization projects over the next five to 15 years. The changes are needed as MIA is projected to reach 77 million travelers and more than four million tons of freight by the year 2040. More from CBS Miami.
Jacksonville economy soars, but memories of Great Recession linger
Whether it’s passengers flying out of Jacksonville International Airport or help-wanted ads or rising home values or hard hats at new construction sites, the Jacksonville area’s economy has regained the ground it lost after the Great Recession from a decade ago. This is what it feels like to live in a region where the economy is on a roll. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Court awards Boca security firm ADT $4 million in deceptive sales lawsuit
Security firm ADT has been awarded $4 million in damages in a federal lawsuit against a rival that it claims misled hundreds of ADT customers. Alder’s lawyer Mike Marcil, of Gunster law firm in Fort Lauderdale, said ADT didn’t get the damages it had sought from the court, which could have been as much as $54 million. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Entertainment
Look back at 60 years of Busch Gardens thrill rides
Sixty years ago this month, Busch Gardens opened as a lush, admission-free garden to promote the products of the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Born on June 1, 1959, Busch Gardens evolved over the years into a zoo-like setting, then a theme park full of rides and games. Without the movies of Disney or Harry Potter to draw guests like its theme park competitors to the east, Busch Gardens turned to adrenaline as its signature.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Out of the Box
Only in Florida: Car dealership includes 50s style barbershop
A Fort Walton Beach car dealership now offers its customers a lineup, fade or trim, all while shopping for a new set of wheels. Clark’s Barber Lounge opened a second barber shop location inside the Cadillac Fort Walton Beach dealership. Owners Joe Clark and Bobby Griggs said Step One Automotive Group approached them with the idea for an upscale barbershop inside the dealership last year.
» Read more from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
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