Florida company gets approval to land on moon

The U.S. government announced it has cleared Florida-based company Moon Express to send a robotic lander to the moon in 2017. It is the first time the U.S. government has approved a private space mission to the moon — let alone a trip beyond Earth’s orbit. The mission, as approved by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, will send the MX-1E -- a 20-pound suitcase-sized lander that will “hop” across the surface -- to the moon for a two-week mission next year. Read the FAA's announcement granting Moon Express permission, here. See more at Inverse, Tech Crunch, Florida Today and have a look at Moon Express' information PDF titled, "We Return."

Florida Trend Exclusive
Purple state, high stakes for Florida

Elections can be intense in Florida, the biggest purple state in the country, particularly in presidential years when the state’s 29 Electoral College votes are in play. But most people in Florida have never seen a campaign season quite like this one. Access full story.

Will Wegmans take Publix on in Florida?

As Publix continues expanding up the East Coast, Wegmans maintains its inexorable push south. As its southern expansion continues, the obvious question is whether Wegmans will make its way into Florida, a market long dominated by employee-owned Publix. More from Retailwire and New York Upstate.

Public hearing set for proposed Citizens insurance rate hike

Rate hike proposals averaging nearly 10 percent next year for South Florida customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will be scrutinized in public hearings in Tallahassee on Aug. 18. Statewide, Citizens wants to raise rates 6.8 percent statewide in 2017. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Scammers, bug spray companies capitalizing on Zika fears

Worried you might catch the Zika virus? Scammers and bug spray companies are counting on it. "From a marketing point of view, it's a golden opportunity," said Jonathan Day, a University of Florida mosquito expert and researcher. [Source: AP]

See also:
» Mutant mosquitoes could fight Zika in Florida, but misinformation spreads
» Florida gov offers free Zika test kits for pregnant women

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› SeaWorld misses sales expectations as Florida parks attendance drops [MarketWatch]
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., reported Thursday second-quarter earnings that rose to $17.8 million, or 21 cents a share, from $5.8 million, or 7 cents a share, in the same period a year ago.

› Pembroke Pines a top market for flipping houses [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Pembroke Pines ranks No. 18 on a list of the nation's best housing markets for flipping, according to WalletHub, a personal finance website.

› For Gainesville business owner, targeting students is a social undertaking [Gainesville Business Report]
As with so many businesses in Gainesville, Collin Austin’s company is targeted largely towards the city’s student population. In fact, more than 90% of his revenue comes directly from the student market.

› Sarasota-based circus faces wrongful death suit [AP]
A year after a circus tent collapsed in New Hampshire killing a man and his 6-year-old daughter, a Florida-based circus operator is facing numerous charges and lawsuits.

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› International soccer tournament to expand to St. Petersburg [AP]
The Florida Cup, an exhibition soccer tournament that began in Orlando last year, will expand to St. Petersburg next year.

› Company announces opening of Latin American HQ in South Florida [South Florida Business Journal]
A Minnesota-based company working to expand its role in the burgeoning Latin American markets will open its South Florida offices Wednesday morning.

› Lakeland pharmacy benefit manager sells to private equity [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
The Carlyle Group has a definitive agreement to acquire WellDyneRx Inc., a pharmacy benefit manager headquartered in Lakeland.

› Miami firm files Chapter 7; hundreds of investors may lose millions [Miami Herald]
Providence Financial Investments, a Miami-based firm that took in millions in investors’ money in South Florida and across the nation, filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Southern District of Florida court last week.