Tourists still flocking to Florida in record numbers for now

Tourists are flocking to the Sunshine State in record numbers -- at least for now. Florida Gov. Rick Scott will announce Friday that 57.4 million tourists visited the state during the first half of 2016. State officials say that's the highest six-month total ever and a 4.3 percent increase over the year. [Source: AP]

Forecasters: Brace yourself for this hurricane season to get a lot busier

U.S. forecasters say it's more likely this could be the busiest Atlantic hurricane season since 2012. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's updated outlook predicts 12 to 17 named storms, including five to eight hurricanes, two to four of which could be "major." See the full, revised prediction from NOAA here. Also read more at the AP and the Miami Herald.

Number of locally transmitted Zika cases in Florida rises to 25

The Florida Department of Health has identified three new local Zika cases believed to be contracted via mosquito bite in the Miami-Wynwood cluster, according to a news release from Gov. Rick Scott's office. Scott said the Florida Department of Health (DOH) cleared an additional four blocks in the Southwest corner of the impacted zone in Wynwood, concluding that no local transmissions of Zika are occurring in the newly cleared area. Full statement, with map, here. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

See also:
» Visitors concerned about Zika but still plan to travel to Florida, UF study shows
» Zika virus infects two Wynwood restaurant employees
» Obama administration provides $81 million from other NIH funds for Zika vaccine

Florida bank takes baby step closer to marijuana industry

Regions Bank in Tampa is extending a line of credit to a company called Efftech. It owns a south Florida hydroponics business called The Future Farms. Kim Rivers, CEO of Tallahassee’s medical marijuana dispensary Trulieve, says that’s a good sign, but banking is still difficult for cannabis businesses. [Source: WUSF]

Opinion: Higher education research vital to Tallahassee’s economy

With $200 million plus in research funding flowing into our community each year from our higher-education institutions, why is it that people seem unaware of such a critical part of our economic well-being? I think the answer lies in a common misconception. More from Gary Ostrander of FSU at the Tallahassee Democrat.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Cushman & Wakefield acquires Taylor & Mathis of Florida [Florida Trend]
Cushman & Wakefield announced this week that it has acquired Taylor & Mathis of Florida, LLC, a leading commercial real estate company specializing in agency leasing and property management.

› Tech Coast Conference set for Wednesday to be largest in event's short history in Jacksonville [Florida Times-Union]
Technology in Jacksonville will be at the center of a conference Wednesday that organizers say could be a pivotal event for the local industry.

› IRS ends eight-year audit of Florida’s Villages without penalty [Bloomberg]
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has closed an eight-year exam of about $300 million of tax-exempt bonds issued for The Villages, one of the world’s largest retirement communities, without imposing a penalty.

› Tampa’s Odyssey Marine preps to swap treasure hunting for bigger ocean game [TBO.com]
Tampa's Odyssey Marine Exploration, still under financial pressure, is trying to reinvent itself as an underwater hunter of ocean-floor minerals, metals and other important commodities.

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› University of West Florida Haas Center hires new research economists [UWF News]
The Haas Center at the University of West Florida has hired three economists – Dr. Kalyan “Kal” Chakraborty, John Hartman and Dr. Aigbokhai “Aig” Unuigbe – to bolster its continuing research efforts.

› Free entrepreneurial program available to Broward residents [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A free program for budding entrepreneurs is available to Broward County residents this fall. Kauffman's FastTrac NewVenture program will run from Sept. 8 through Dec. 15.

› Transfer students make up majority of UCF's incoming class [Orlando Sentinel]
About 65 percent of incoming USF students are transfer students, up from about 52 percent in 2005, the school reported. Among the estimated 6,700 incoming UCF transfer students, their average age is about 23.

› Florida's Walt Disney World pulling plug on famed Electrical Parade [Florida Times-Union]
Disney Parks says the famed Main Street Electrical Parade will end its run at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park in October. The parade has dazzled visitors with floats covered in colorful lights featuring Disney characters since it first debuted at the Florida resort in 1977.