Florida ports dig deep to draw bigger ships, create jobs

All of Florida's ports hope to benefit from increased trade, as a growing middle class in emerging nations demands more imported goods. Labor strikes at ports along the West Coast this year already have prompted some shippers to shift routes to the East Coast through the Panama Canal. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Gov. Scott orders independent analysis of Florida prisons

Gov. Rick Scott is ordering an independent analysis of the state's prison system and the development of two prisons to test new ways of handling and housing prisoners with mental health issues, as well as the general population. [Source: AP]

NASA picks 4 astronauts to fly 1st commercial space missions

NASA has selected four veteran astronauts to lead the way back into orbit from U.S. soil. On Thursday, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden named the four who will fly on capsules built by private companies - SpaceX and Boeing. More from the AP and Florida Today.

Buying still beats renting, despite higher home prices

It's still more affordable to buy a home than rent one in South Florida, though higher prices in recent years make buying less of a deal, a new report shows. While South Florida's rental market also has become increasingly pricey in recent years, rents aren't climbing as quickly as home values. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Four similarities between sports and business

As your business evolves and your needs change, your organizational structure must be flexible enough to meet those needs. If your business is demanding an excessive amount of your time with no goal in sight, you may want to recruit some of the following winning strategies into your business structure. [Source: Forbes]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› s Tampa Bay's real estate market Florida's best kept secret? [Tampa Bay Times]
As a real estate market, Tampa Bay is both undervalued and relatively unknown. With their currencies dropping against the dollar, some foreign buyers no longer can afford lofty South Florida prices and are turning to less expensive places.

› 28 Florida businesses apply with state to grow low-potency marijuana [Florida Times-Union]
More than two dozen agricultural businesses have submitted applications to the Florida Department of Health in hopes of getting a license to grow low-THC marijuana for medicinal use.

› Federal regulators stop South Florida debt collection scheme [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Federal Trade Commission has permanently blocked an operation that regulators say bilked millions of dollars from Spanish-speaking consumers nationwide by tricking them into paying bogus debts.

› Florida tied for first in distressed sales [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Years after the beginning of the housing recovery, Florida continues to rank high nationally for distressed properties, according to an analysis released Thursday by real estate data provider CoreLogic.

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› Lyft is leaving Broward, too [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Ride-hailing service Lyft, a smaller competitor to Uber, announced Thursday that it, too, will withdraw from Broward County at month's end.

› Alan Grayson says he’s in Florida’s U.S. Senate race [Miami Herald]
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, the liberal firebrand whose unpredictability enthralls progressives and worries moderates, announced Thursday that he will run against the more moderate U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy for the Senate seat that would be vacated by current Sen. Marco Rubio, a candidate for the presidency.

› FSW offering new degree focuses, local economy in mind [Naples Herald]
Florida SouthWestern College is giving students in one of their programs more options when it comes to their degree. The Supervision and Management bachelor degree program has four new areas of focus: Accounting, Retail Management and Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Health Services Administration.

› Next big step for vast Miami Worldcenter [Miami Today]
A major step in the evolution of mega development Miami Worldcenter is expected July 14 when county commissioners decide whether to create a Community Development District for the project.