U.S. HealthWorks acquires 14 Florida-based health care centers

U.S. HealthWorks is buying 14 Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers in the Tampa Bay, Lakeland and Orlando areas, in a deal that more than doubles U.S. HealthWorks' Florida operations. U.S. HealthWorks had 13 clinics in Florida before the acquisition, and is now the largest operator of occupational health centers in the state, with a total of 27 centers. Full statement from U.S. HealthWorks is here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Florida Senate leader proposes $2 billion Lake Okeechobee cleanup

The Florida Senate's incoming president has announced a $2.4 billion plan aimed at reducing toxic algae outbreaks in the rivers flowing from Lake Okeechobee. Joe Negron said Tuesday that his plan calls for buying 60,000 acres of land south of Lake Okeechobee and turning it into reservoirs where water from the lake could be sent. More from the AP and the Times/Herald.

» Your turn: Do you think Florida Senator Joe Negron's idea about purchasing land south of Lake Okeechobee to clean up the algae mess is a good one? (quick poll)

June foreclosures in Florida drop by 41 percent

Lenders closed on 59,749 foreclosures in Florida during the 12-month period ended in June, accounting for 13 percent of all the seized homes nationwide, data provider CoreLogic reported Tuesday. But that was down by more than 41,600 foreclosures in the prior year, a 41 percent decline. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Zika reports blamed for business downturn in Wynwood

Business has plummeted in Miami's Wynwood arts district since Zika infections were reported there, according to gallery and restaurant owners who want government officials to speed up their response and help offset their losses. [Source: Naples Daily News]

See also:
» First Zika case confirmed in the Keys
» Clinton focuses on Zika in battleground state of Florida
» Campuses making sure students are aware of Zika prevention
» Biotech firm joins fight against Zika

Florida: The swingiest swing state

With 29 electoral votes, Florida is the biggest prize of the battleground states. But the difference between winning and losing the Sunshine State is often very small. [Source: CNN]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Jupiter-based Max Planck institute gets $2.4 million grant for eye-brain research [News Release]
A researcher at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience in Jupiter has been awarded a $2.4 million, five-year grant from the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

› Space Coast experts give their take on possible SpaceX, ULA competition [Orlando Business Journal]
Local space industry experts believe the latest request for proposals from the U.S. Air Force will come down to two competitors: SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. And that's great news for Central Florida's business community.

› Miami tech firm making waves in shipping industry [Miami Herald]
Story: Ninety percent of everything around you was carried over on a shipping container before it reached you. Yet, very few companies are trying to solve the hard problems facing this industry, says Octopi co-founder Luc Castera.

› Disney lays off Imagineers in Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
The Walt Disney Co.'s Imagineering division has laid off an unspecified number of workers, including some in Orlando.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Arkansas bank eyeing greater Florida presence [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Home BancShares Inc. is looking at bulking up its Florida footprint. Home (NASDAQ: HOMB), the parent company of Centennial Bank, has had a letter of intent to buy an unidentified bank in Florida for several months.

› Tampa charter dropping Cuba flights as commercial service nears [Tampa Bay Times]
The first commercial flights from Tampa to Havana in more than 50 years begin in late October at the earliest but they're already muscling out at least one local charter company.

› Five-year waiting period waived for KidCare [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Good news for thousands of immigrant families who have been unable to obtain low-cost Florida KidCare health insurance without a five-year wait. The wait is ending.

› Asurion will hire 350 for new Orlando call center [Orlando Sentinel]
Nashville-based tech support company Asurion is launching its first office in Orlando with a job fair on Tuesday, Aug. 16, to hire support technicians to handle incoming calls.