Florida businesses rush to lend a hand to Pulse victims

Since news broke early Sunday of the mass shooting that left 49 dead Orlando businesses have jumped in to find ways to help and show their support. Some provided financial donations while others chose visible expressions of grief and assistance. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

See also:
» What local tech firms are doing to help Orlando shooting victims
» Pulse fund on GoFundMe nears $5M, breaks records
» Orlando shooting victims scams: How to donate money to nightclub Pulse fundraiser without being duped
» Walt Disney Company donates 1 milliion to OneOrlando fund
» Target, Citi, Publix contribute a combined $600,000 to Orlando mass shooting victims, others
» Lynx unveils new bus wrap commemorating Orlando shooting victims

Orlando tourism comes to grips with attack at nightclub

In response to what was already a growing sense of vulnerability among the traveling and general public, theme parks around Orlando had stepped up security even before Sunday’s mass shooting. More from Travel Weekly, NPR, Florida Today, and Meetings and Conventions.

See also:
» How has Orlando changed us?
» No 'direct link' between Orlando shooter and foreign terror groups
» Federal grand jury investigating Orlando nightclub rampage
» Athletes, teams can help heal, and lead, well beyond tragedies
» Poll: Americans split on Orlando massacre
» Omar Mateen mystery: Why was Orlando shooter fired by prison?

In Florida, lobbying is a family affair

Children follow in their parents’ footsteps. Siblings go up against each other on tough issues. And everyone comes together in moments of happiness and times of crisis. For many, the decision to get into the family business is a no-brainer. This is also true when the business is political. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

Florida growers battle greening, lobby legislators for help

Citrus greening and legislative action to help growers battle the disease were key topics of discussion at this year’s Florida citrus industry yearly conference. On the federal side, congressional lawmakers increased greening funding to $60 million but the U.S. Senate didn’t fund the efforts at that level. [Source: The Packer]

Florida No. 3 in country for auto theft

Florida ranks third in the nation for stolen and recovered vehicles, behind only California and Texas, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau and research from LoJack, a leader in vehicle theft recovery. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Fort Myers retailer responds to agitated shareholder [Business Observer]
Chico’s FAS, in a letter to investors, accused shareholder Barington Capital Group of misleading investors about the scope of cuts at the women’s retailer.

› Palm Beach County welcomes record 2.16 million tourists in first-quarter 2016 [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Palm Beach County welcomed a record 2.16 million tourists during the first three months of 2016, in spite of economic and currency challenges in some of its key overseas markets such as Brazil and Canada.

› Deerfield Beach company named one of 'best workplaces to retire from' [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
JM Family Enterprises is the only Florida company to have made Fortune's 2016 list of "30 Best Workplaces to Retire From." The group of automotive-related businesses based in Deerfield Beach ranked 13th on the list.

› Apple’s slowdown shows up on St. Petersburg-based Jabil’s bottom line [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
The first slide in iPhone sales pulled down quarterly financials at Jabil Circuit Inc. Jabil, an electronics products company in St. Petersburg that helps build the iPhone, reported a big dip in net income for the three months ended May 31 compared to the same period a year ago.

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› A call for public/private partnerships to help win South Florida’s battle with rising sea levels [Urban Land]
Conversations are taking place between private developers, public sector leaders, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions in south Florida on a shared, multifaceted approach to climate change.

› Bradenton brewery in a music battle [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
As the city of Bradenton and Manatee County consider revising their noise ordinances pertaining to late-night music at entertainment venues, two competing factions want to be heard on their issue — and their voices are likely to get louder.

› New chemistry building at UF to honor $10M donor [Gainesville Sun]
A New York entrepreneur has donated $10 million to the University of Florida to enhance the chemistry department and a chemistry building now under construction will be named Joseph Hernandez Hall in his honor.

› South Florida airline begins selling tickets for regularly scheduled flights to Cuba [South Florida Business Journal]
Fort Lauderdale-based Silver Airways has begun selling tickets for regularly scheduled flights to Cuba as it awaits further approvals from the Cuban government.