Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Friday's Daily Pulse

Judge fears 25,000 voters won't be eligible for Nov. 8 election

A federal judge is demanding an explanation from state officials at a hearing today about a backlog in the number of newly registered voters who haven't been verified in time so they can vote in Florida's election. More from the Times/Herald and the AP.

See also:
» Florida early vote could near 3 million today
» Latinos voting early in Florida, could play key role in election
» Florida female voters face a complicated election season

Nation's orange juice supply is shrinking

orange grove

Orange juice sales ended the 2015-16 Florida citrus season down 5.4 percent — the 14th decline in the last 15 seasons. But the recent market performance of the state’s signature beverage may have less to do with the consumers’ drink preferences and more with the stark reality that there’s less OJ to buy. [Source: Tribune News Service]

Related:
» Florida Citrus Commission approves 2016-17 budget

Florida: We're losing our film business to Georgia

Florida got rid of its film tax incentive program earlier this year, and now it is losing business to Georgia. “The industry here is one step away from dead,” said Fred Moyse, business manager of IATSE Local 477, which represents film crews in southern Florida, told Deadline. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal]

Looking ahead at Florida farming culture

In 2014, Florida had 47,600 commercials farms using a total of 9.5 million acres of land making Florida the eighth in the U.S. for agricultural exports. Farming culture is a key factor to Florida’s agricultural success and locals believe by 2037 this influence will grow exponentially. [Source: WWSB]

Florida Primary 2016

Florida battle map: Where Clinton and Trump must concentrate efforts in swing state

The 2012 county vote map of Florida illustrates in stark blue and red the tasks ahead for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the general election. To win next month, the campaigns must boost turnout of their base voters and win the battle for the strip of swing voters flanking Interstate 4. [Source: Wall Street Journal]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida’s I-4 is the deadliest highway in America
The deadliest highway in America is right here in Florida. The I-4 Freeway that runs from Daytona Beach, through Orlando to Tampa is 132 miles long. There is an accident nearly every two miles according to a survey from EverQuote.

› HistoryMiami’s president, who oversaw the museum’s growth, will step down next year
Stuart Chase, president and CEO of HistoryMiami Museum, announced Thursday he will step down from his position in February and be replaced by museum director Jorge Zamanillo.

› IAAPA would get $240,000 in state, local money for Orlando move
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions would receive $240,000 in government money to relocate its global headquarters to the Orlando area under a plan Orange County commissioners will vote on next week.

› Bacardi adds bat housing to Florida plant
Bacardi has long used a bat as its company logo. Now the liquor industry giant has added bat habitats to its Jacksonville bottling facility.

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› Maritime Professional Training opens 25,000-square-foot expansion in Fort Lauderdale
The roughly $6 million state-of-the-art project effectively doubled the size of the facility, now called the S.M.A.R.T. (Simulation for Maritime Assessment, Research and Training) campus, and added more classrooms and training labs as well as new maritime simulation technology.

› More than 50 layoffs hit troubled Orlando law firm
A troubled Orlando law firm has laid off more than 50 employees and shut down a network of offices in Florida. At least two attorneys at LawyerASAP, formerly K.E.L. Attorneys, are also facing open investigations by the Florida Bar.

› Shula's Steak House coming to UF Hilton
Shula's Steak House, a white-tablecloth, fine-dining restaurant, will replace the existing Albert's Restaurant and 2-Bits Lounge at the Hilton UF Conference Center.

› How Miami’s real estate market is coping with Treasury’s shell company crackdown
For those in Miami’s real estate market waiting for the Treasury Department to stop tracking shell companies that buy luxury homes, don’t hold your breath.