Monday's Daily Pulse
Which way Florida goes hinges on Puerto Rican voters
With a population of more than 20 million, Florida is the country's largest swing state. And its population is changing — thanks to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's stagnant economy has brought tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans to Florida each year over the last decade. Listen to the audio story below, or read more at KUNC.
No easy fix for algae plague in Florida’s waterways
The enormous algae outbreak that has coated swaths of Florida’s St. Lucie River with guacamole-like sludge is a man-made affliction, arising from political and economic decisions made over the past 140 years. What led to the outbreak? This article from the Associated Press details the history and offers possible solutions. Solutions include not releasing as much water from Lake Okeechobee (which is being done now), strengthening the dike, building retention reservoirs, and reducing the amount of nutrients that farmers and others near the lake leech into the water.
3 Florida things to watch at the Republican National Convention
Just because convention delegates plan to nominate Trump doesn’t mean they’re all happy about it. Florida is sending some delegates who were particularly vocal Trump opponents during the primary. [Source: Miami Herald]
See also:
» Florida GOP delegates to seek unity in Cleveland
» Rick Scott's support of Trump puts him on center stage — and at risk
Florida's first medical marijuana crop cut up, stored
Florida's first legal harvest of marijuana is stored in multiple vacuum-packed, 441-gram bags in a freezer on the outskirts of Tallahassee. Each is the result of months of careful growing, monitoring, coaxing, and finally cultivating, scores of plants in a hidden farm overseen by horticulturists and protected by armed guards. [Source: WJXT]
As Florida banks get stronger, many customers are still waiting to reap the benefits
Florida, a financial minefield of failing banks six years ago, is overflowing with healthy, top-rated community banks. These may not be boom times again, but both community banks and megabanks have rebounded strongly from the Great Recession. Is that trickling down to their customers? Not so much. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
› Farm Credit of Central Florida celebrates 100 years of helping agriculture [Lakeland Ledger]
Reggie Holt, CEO of Farm Credit of Central Florida, would chafe at being compared to George Bailey, the small-town banker in the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life” willing to set aside lending conventions to help others. But Bill Klinger would find the comparison apt.
› Florida battles rising cases of addicted newborns [Fort Myers News-Press]
Florida's collective addiction to painkillers and drugs like heroin continues to take a toll on the state's most vulnerable victims: newborn babies.
› At British enclaves near Disney World, Brexit creates worry and opportunity [Orlando Sentinel]
Many local Brits said they are anticipating a slowdown in U.K. buyers for Florida real estate, and a short-term increase in the number now open to selling their Florida real estate.
› Publix announces plans to sell cage-free eggs exclusively [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Publix Super Markets pledged Friday that 100 percent of the eggs sold in its stores would be cage-free by 2026.
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› Longtime skin care maker expanding in Boca Raton [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
As it embarks on a $2 million expansion project, a Boca Raton cosmetic manufacturer is targeting not only age-conscious baby boomers but also younger millennials who want that healthy glow.
› UCF lacks diversity among faculty, leadership [Orlando Sentinel]
At the University of Central Florida, more than four out of every 10 students are minorities. But inside the classrooms and the administrative offices, much of that diversity disappears.
› Argentina probes ties between ex-presidents, Miami real estate empire [Miami Herald]
Where did a mystery man from Argentina get nearly $65 million to spend on ultra-luxury Miami condos, New York apartments and South Florida strip malls? That’s what Argentine prosecutors want to know.
› Despite promises to improve, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric still lag in customer service [Tampa Bay Times]
Despite years of ongoing claims that they are improving their customer service, St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida and Tampa-based Tampa Electric still lag behind major Southern electric companies in providing satisfactory services to their residential customers.