By wide margin, voters add solar tax break to state Constitution

The runaway winner in Tuesday’s primary election was at the end of the ballot, as voters in Florida overwhelmingly approved a tax break to encourage businesses to go solar. The amendment, which will become part of the Florida Constitution, exempts solar and other renewable energy devices on business and industrial property from property taxes for 20 years. More from the Times/Herald, Florida Politics, WLRN, and CBS Miami. See full statewide election results here.

See also:
» Easy primary wins set stage for Rubio and Murphy showdown
» After easy win, Rubio has bigger challenge to keep seat
» Ousted from DNC, Wasserman Schultz wins Florida primary
» Indicted Florida member of Congress loses re-election bid
» Election recap: Races didn't attract lots of voters

Research Florida
Turning point: What Sanford Burnham Prebys' exit means

A research institute retreats from central Florida. Some see a failure of public incentives. Others point to evidence that the deal has helped create a healthy and growing life sciences landscape in the state. Read the full story here.

Related story:
» Research briefs: The latest in research being conducted around Florida

Florida among top states in business startup growth

Florida is among the top five states that had an increase in new businesses last year, according to a new study. The study – by the Kauffman Foundation – showed nearly two-thirds of U.S. states had an increase of new business. [Source: CBS Miami]

FSU research team makes Zika drug breakthrough

A team of researchers from Florida State University, Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health has found existing drug compounds that can both stop Zika from replicating in the body and from damaging the crucial fetal brain cells that lead to birth defects in newborns. [Source: FSU News]

Florida shows U.S.'s largest improvement in distressed real estate sales rate

All but eight states recorded lower distressed sales shares in May 2016 compared with a year earlier. Florida saw 15.8 percent of its total sales in the distressed category, but saw the largest decline of any state from the same time last year, at 5.5 percentage points. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Swath of Florida Gulf Coast under tropical storm warning [Miami Herald]
A tropical storm warning was issued Wednesday morning for Florida’s Big Bend as a depression showed signs of intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico. Over the next day or two, the National Hurricane Center said the tropical depression is expected to grow more organized and make a northeast turn toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

› Global auto parts firm revs up in Fort Myers [Business Observer]
Liftmatic, a global automotive, aviation and industrial parts distributor, plans to open its first distribution center in the United States, in Fort Myers.

› USTA Florida names contractor, reveals more Lake Nona office details [Orlando Business Journal]
The $1.4 million headquarters for the U.S. Tennis Association's Florida division now has a contractor — Precision Building Construction LLC in Orlando.

› FAA loosens commercial drone regulations, First Coast company hopes to train operators [Florida Times-Union]
New Federal Aviation Administration rules covering commercial drone use went in to affect Monday and a First Coast business is hoping to capitalize on the development that’s likely to lead to more drone use than ever before.

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› Top Florida election official: No fear about hacked election systems [Times/Herald]
Federal officials have sounded the alarm to several states that their election systems may be at risk of being hacked, the Washington Post reported late Monday. But Secretary of State Ken Detzner says Florida is not among them.

› Column: Will current restoration projects sustain Florida? [Tallahassee Democrat]
Some policy makers argue that publicly held land takes property off the tax rolls and there is additional cost to manage the land. These can be valid points in some contexts but may be dangerously short sighted considering the threats that challenge Florida now and in the coming years.

› Fort Lauderdale-based Silver Airlines gets Cuban OK for Fort Lauderdale-to-Santa Clara flights [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Silver Airways is the latest U.S. carrier to receive Cuban government approval to begin regularly scheduled flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Santa Clara, Cuba.

› Furniture brand continues expansion in South Florida [South Florida Business Journal]
Robb & Stucky, a luxury home furnishings retailer, continues expanding into South Florida with the groundbreaking of its Boca Raton store.