Fast-growing, diverse part of Florida earns special political attention

Florida is always critical in a presidential election, but this year, Daytona Beach, home to the nation’s most popular NASCAR race, could prove especially important. Situated in Volusia County, the city sits at the far eastern end of the infamous “I-4 corridor” of swing voters that stretches from Daytona Beach, through Orlando out west to Tampa. [Source: Washington Post]

See also:
» Zika becomes campaign issue in Florida
» Florida is most likely to be the election 'tipping point'

Orlando labor market matures at mid-year

Orlando’s run as the country’s leading job engine continues, as area employers add more technical positions at higher wage levels. Orlando employers added an additional 4,300 jobs in June, bringing private year-over-year employment gains to 49,000 jobs. Full news release here, with charts.

FIU professor: U.S. losing trillions to trade-based money laundering

Corporate tax evasion and money laundering have cost the U.S. $2.3 trillion in tax revenue, according to an analysis by a professor at Florida International University. The study, by FIU College of Business professor John Zdanowicz, a fraud expert, indicates that U.S. companies used false invoices to mask the true value of imported and exported goods. Full story from FIU News, here. Also read more at the Miami Herald and the South Florida Business Journal.

Cuba, Florida to team up for reef research

The Florida Aquarium and Cuba's National Aquarium of Havana are collaborating on research methods to populate corals for restoration of Florida Keys Reefs. It is the first time aquariums from the longtime Cold War enemy nations have ever worked together in an official partnership. More from WFLA and the Tampa Bay Times.

Activists push to restore voting rights to ex-felons in Florida

For the past year, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition has been collecting signatures supporting a state constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to felons after they've completed their sentences — including prison time, parole and probation. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› UF receives record $724 million in research funding in FY 2015-16 [UF News]
Research focused on Alzheimer’s disease, agricultural pests and economic development was among the thousands of projects funded with a record $724 million in research awards to the University of Florida last fiscal year.

› Florida school bells ringing earlier this year [Business Journals]
Tens of thousands of Florida school children will return to their classrooms next week as districts take advantage of a state law that allows schools to start as early as Aug. 10.

› Port Canaveral ending ban on park-and-ride operators [Florida Today]
Port Canaveral commissioners have agreed to end a four-year moratorium on issuing permits for "park-and-ride" businesses that transport cruise passengers to and from the port.

› Southwest Florida home prices outpace state, nation [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Home prices in Southwest Florida are still outpacing state and national increases. Single-family home prices rose 7.8 percent in the Sarasota-Manatee region in June over the year, data provider CoreLogic reported Tuesday.

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› Governor: Florida is 'safe state' despite Zika [Gainesville Sun]
Florida political leaders say controlling the spread of the Zika virus is doable but will take everyone's help, as travel advisories have been posted about visiting the state.

› Publix stock down, but company stays on record sales pace [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Despite another dip in its stock price, Publix Super Markets is on pace for another record-breaking year. On Monday, the Lakeland-based grocery chain released financial data for the second quarter of 2016.

› Florida Lottery overhauls daily draw games [Lottery News Release]
The Florida Lottery has introducing two new daily Draw games: PICK 2™ and PICK 5™ are on sale now.

› Central Florida craft beer maker looks to local Hispanic market [Orlando Sentinel]
Altamonte Springs businessman Danny Ramos has launched his own craft beer company to target Hispanic drinkers called Boricua Craft Beer.