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Monday's Daily Pulse

Tropical Storm Colin threatens Florida, southeastern U.S.

The storm, expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast by Monday afternoon, began drenching parts of the southeastern United States on Sunday. Forecasters warned of severe thunderstorms along the East Coast and issued a tropical storm warning for Florida's Gulf Coast. Full story from Reuters, here. Also see more at the Weather Channel, Tampa Bay Times, and the AP.

NASA

Rachel Zietz, now 15, started Gladiator Lacrosse, which had sales of almost $1 million last year.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida teen ‘Shark Tank'

When she was 12, Rachel Zietz enrolled in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA. Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester (New York) with support from the Kauffman Foundation and aligned with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and its member chambers, the program teaches middle and high school student’s business skills rarely covered in grade school. Access full story.

With help from IFAS, olive growers taking baby steps

In recent years, IFAS, the nonprofit Florida Olive Council and farmers around the state have toiled to see if olives, which have been grown in Florida since the 1700s, can become a viable commercial crop here. [Source: Gainesville Sun]

Florida homeowners in untested, but financially stable climate entering hurricane season

Eleven years without a major hurricane doesn't just mean Floridians have become increasingly complacent. It means for more and more property owners, insurers and even regulators, the next big storm will be their first. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida: Murder up, crime down

There were 1,040 murders in Florida last year, up from 984 the year before. That includes 767 murders involving guns, an increase of 11.2 percent. That's the most murders in Florida since 2008, when FDLE reported 1,168. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Is flipping 'pressure-cooker' near?
Investors in Southwest Florida remain head-over-heels for home flipping. The Sarasota-Manatee region ranked 40th among major U.S. metro areas in the first quarter of 2016 for flips as a percentage of all home sales.

› Florida voters have chance to reshape congressional delegation
This election will be the first where the new districts will be used. How much of an effect it will have is yet to be determined, but we already see new candidates running for seats they consider competitive.

› Israeli solar energy company celebrates opening of Glynn County plant, first in the U.S
With a “Shalom, y’all,” an Israeli company celebrated the opening of a 49-acre solar generation plant north of the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, the company’s first in the U.S. Energiya USA’s $20 million plant will generate 22 megawatts at full capacity, company president David M. Herskovits said.

› Orlando City looks to pubs to grow soccer culture
Orlando's burgeoning soccer team is reaching out to bars and restaurants across Central Florida, trying to give fans a first-rate experience even when the team isn't in town.

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› Unique tax issues affect those with foreign connections
If you are a dual citizen of a foreign country and the U.S. or a resident alien, you are subject to federal income tax in the United States.

Community Portrait of

Lee County

In this community portrait, we look at the economies and demographics of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Sanibel. The portrait includes county hot spots, key sectors major businesses, manufacturing and must-know contacts. Read it in full, here.

› South Florida outpaces U.S. in wage increases
With more jobs and fewer workers available in the economic recovery, South Florida employers are starting to raise wages, economists say. And employers are having to be more competitive in pay to attract and retain workers.

› Armory may get new life as defense-company HQ
The Gainesville Army Reserve Center has been dormant for seven years. After 60 years of service, the building was vacated in 2009 and returned to the city in 2011. It has been abandoned since.

› Port Tampa Bay has a $3 billion vision for the future
Port Tampa Bay made a splash last fall with its long-range plan for a $1.7 billion Channelside development featuring urban waterfront parks, a marina and two 75-story residential high-rises.