Miami Innovation District idea gaining steam

While debate continues over a 10-acre development centered around a 633-foot LED tower, support is growing among some local entrepreneurs and tech investors for the Miami Innovation District proposed for the Park West section of downtown. However, what distinguishes successful innovation districts are big tech anchors, and this proposal may need to land a big one. [Read more from the Miami Herald]

Florida's bee population rebounds

A surge of interest from amateur bee enthusiasts, an influx of out-of-state beekeepers and education efforts have resulted in a 145 percent increase in managed bee colonies during the past eight years. Crucial to Florida's $120 billion agriculture industry, the state is now home to nearly 400,000 bee colonies. However, when bees die off, beekeepers split their colonies to try to make up for the losses. The practice weakens the parent colony. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Two months late, Florida lawmakers approve a state budget

The $78.7 billion spending plan has less money for schools per student and more modest tax cuts than Gov. Scott had sought in a year when the state had a $1.4 billion surplus. But lawmakers steered $400 million to hospitals to offset a loss of federal money for the cost of treating poor and uninsured patients. [Source: Times/Herald]

See also:
» What passed, what failed in Florida's 2015 legislative session

Ruth's Chris hopes remodeling will help attract younger set

With more bar space and open patios, executives at Ruth's Chris hope a renovation project called Ruth's 2.0 can help draw a new generation of customers to the traditionally high-end steakhouse. A Orlando restaurant was one of the first two to receive the remodel, and the company is hoping to start work on as many as 15 locations this year. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush jab at each other, carefully

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are largely in line on the issues, so they are plying other avenues to undermine each other. The back-and-forth is a case study in the subtler art of political combat. It's also an illustration of how strong Rubio, who has long seen Bush as the standard-bearer for Florida Republicans, has emerged in the contest's early stages. A new poll shows him at Bush's heels in Florida, crucial to any Republican's shot at the White House. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Drone watch is on in Pensacola [News Journal]
The use of drones is growing by leaps and bounds but the regulation of their use is progressing much more slowly.

› Executive pay: How South Florida CEOs stack up [Herald]
Most of the chief executive officers at South Florida’s largest public companies got a raise last year. Even the minority whose total compensation fell from 2013 levels collected enough to make ends meet.

› Unhappy Amendment 1 backers mull their next move [Gainesville Sun]
What is certain right now is that Florida Forever will receive a pittance compared to salaries and personnel costs.

› FPL technology investment should result in fewer outages [Palm Beach Post]
The company is installing 20,000 automated lateral switches across its 35 county coverage area that will not only let FPL know where and when there is an outage but will also work toward fixing the outages on their own.

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› FWC to decide fate of bear hunt on Wednesday [Tallahassee Democrat]
The black bear's population has grown, but biologists are still updating those outdated numbers from the 2002 estimate of around 3,000 bears.

› Rick Scott takes 7-city tax cut 'victory tour' [Palm Beach Post]
Gov. Rick Scott is declaring victory after pushing for $673 million in tax cuts and getting a $429 million reduction from Florida legislators.

› Judges crack down on serial bankruptcy filers [Tampa Bay Times]
In the past year and a half, at least 85 Tampa Bay residents have been barred from refiling for up to two years after it became obvious they declared bankruptcy primarily to block foreclosure.

› Special Report: A money pipeline to Latin America [Miami Herald]
Bal Harbour police exposed a vast network of businesses, many in the Doral area, that were used by drug cartels and other criminal groups to launder millions. In the end, no one was ever charged.