Florida near the top in tax structure in U.S.

Florida has the fourth-most competitive tax structure in the nation, according to a new study released this week by the Tax Foundation. In their annual State Business Tax Climate Index, the organization ranked Florida fourth, behind Wyoming, South Dakota, and Alaska. Florida received high marks for not having an individual income tax, and also ranked in the top 10 for tax structures on unemployment insurance and property taxes. Download the 2017 State Business Tax Climate Index report, here. Also ead more at the Naples Herald.

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Community Portrait: Miami-Dade

A special report on the county, including key sectors like banking, healthcare, tourism, real estate and education. Plus, a compendium of notable firms and key contacts. Read the full report here, or direct-link to some of the more popular features within the report:

• Demographics, with income, education level and more
• Key economic sectors
• Business assets
• Must-know contacts

Florida Lottery plans major expansion under huge new deal

The administration of Florida Gov. Rick Scott has approved a massive new contract for the Florida Lottery that could lead to a major expansion. Lottery officials, who report to Scott, earlier this month signed a 13-year contract worth more than $700 million with IGT Global Solutions. More from the AP and Gaming Today. Also see the PDF of the Florida Lottery Regulatory Plan for FY2016-17.

Florida watches, waits to see what Hurricane Matthew will do

Only a sliver of Florida's east coast was included on the outskirts of the storm's long-range path as of Sunday morning, but forecasters cautioned that it was too soon to say with certainty what Matthew would do. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Al.com and the Miami Herald.

In Florida and elsewhere, confidential information is used to investigate and intimidate others

Police officers across the country misuse confidential law enforcement databases to get information on romantic partners, business associates, neighbors, journalists and others for reasons that have nothing to do with daily police work. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Arnold Palmer changed golf, business and Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
Palmer reshaped his sport, revolutionized the entire sports-marketing business and changed the face of Orlando.

› Jacksonville contingent looks to score business connections in Nantes, France [Florida Times-Union]
A contingent of Duval County business representatives are heading to Nantes, France, in hopes of expanding their commercial ties in Europe.

› Fort Lauderdale-based company working to reinvent retail stores [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A retail store transformation is taking place in downtown Fort Lauderdale. That's where Sato Global Solutions, the new software division of Japan-based Sato Holdings, is working on ways to make shopping at brick-and-mortar retailers "fun" again.

› Small airports stay competitive in crowded Southwest Florida market [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Managers at Southwest Florida’s regional airports would move mountains to nab a nonstop route to a western hub. But as the airline market has consolidated and limited the ways Americans travel, moving mountains seems easier than getting to them.

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› New batch of Zika-carrying mosquitoes found in Miami Beach [AP]
More Zika-carrying mosquitoes have been captured in Miami Beach, this time in a new neighborhood. The Florida Department of Agriculture said Saturday that it's the sixth time Zika-bearing mosquitoes have been captured in Miami Beach.

› London learns to root for Jaguars [Florida Times-Union]
Under the leadership of owner Shad Khan, the Jaguars are committed to play a home game at Wembley Stadium through the 2020 season. Khan and Jaguars president Mark Lamping have consistently said the financial benefit of the annual game at Wembley helps stabilize the franchise in Jacksonville.

› Siegel's Westgate Resorts set to expand throughout Central Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
Westgate Resorts, David Siegel's portfolio of destination hotels, will grow in the next year as more than $61 million of new investment is made in the company's Central Florida properties.

› Rising business star Brian Lamb is out to elevate Tampa Bay's economy [Tampa Bay Times]
Brian Lamb may not be a household name in Tampa Bay — yet. But among area movers and shakers, Lamb is a once up-and-comer who has distinctly arrived.