Legislative session ends without consensus on major issues

After a contentious session that saw top Republicans snipe at one another and Gov. Rick Scott for more than two months, the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature finally called it quits Monday after approving a roughly $83 billion state budget. More from WWSB and the AP.

See also:
» State lawmakers pass $82.4 billion budget that heads now to Rick Scott
» $419M schools bill headed to Gov. Scott, after barely surviving Senate vote

Governor’s race getting crowded, more candidates coming

As quickly as it began, Florida's legislative session is over with some major losses and wins. The race for Florida governor is getting crowded, more potential candidates are considering the race and there’s still plenty of time for a surprise who could upend expectations. The deadline to qualify for the ballot is more than a year away, in June 2018. [Source: St. Augustine Record]

About 66 percent of Florida is facing drought

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 66-percent of the sunshine state is in a drought. That's the highest percentage of any state, including California. Parts of Florida are classified as being in an "extreme" drought - the second-worst level. [Source: WWSB]

Florida's Movers & Influencers See some of Florida's top executive moves, board appointments, civic accomplishments, and more at Florida Trend's Movers & Influencers. Each profile appears in three places: in a weekly eNewsletter, online at FloridaTrend.com and in a monthly print issue of Florida Trend. Read more here.

In Florida, fighting mosquitoes by meddling with their sex lives

Near Key West, mosquito-control officers are trying something new. They’re releasing more mosquitoes. In a 12-week test running through early July, 40,000 male mosquitoes are being released each week with the eventual goal of preventing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika and dengue. [Source: Science News]

Florida Trend Exclusive

The President's impact on trade and transportation in Florida

One of President Donald Trump’s first acts as president was to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement, and he has vowed “America First” trade and foreign policies that could include initiatives such as new and higher tariffs on imports. Access full story.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Poynter President Tim Franklin will be senior associate dean at the Medill School of Journalism [Poynter]
Tim Franklin, president of the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida, is leaving to become senior associate dean at the Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing at Northwestern University. Franklin had been president of Poynter since 2014. Andy Corty, president and publisher of Florida Trend magazine, will take on additional duties and run Poynter as interim leader while the board of trustees conducts a search for Franklin's successor. Poynter Institute is a non-profit school for journalists that owns both the Tampa Bay Times and Florida Trend.

› The Florida Aquarium hires new CEO from Chicago [Tampa Bay Times]
The Florida Aquarium has hired Roger Germann to be the organization's next president and chief executive officer. Germann was previously the executive vice president of the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

› MTV making Siesta Key-set reality show [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
For its next reality show, MTV will turn its cameras to Siesta Key. A commercial for a new show called “Siesta Key” ran Sunday during the MTV Movie & TV Awards. The TV spot proclaims “From The Hills to the Beach, Welcome to Siesta Key.”

› Gov. Scott sets special election to replace Artiles [Miami Herald]
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has picked the dates for a special election to replace Miami Republican Sen. Frank Artiles. Artiles resigned last month after unleashing racist and sexist remarks in a conversation with two African-American senators.

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› Prosecutor: Governor Changed His View on Meddling in Cases [AP]
A Florida prosecutor who refuses to seek the death penalty says in court documents that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has changed his views on whether it's proper to interfere with prosecutors' decisions.

› Disappointed supporters say need for Florida Forever ‘greater than ever’ [Daytona Beach News Journal]
Florida Forever supporters suspected it was coming, but they are still incredulous that the final budget to be considered by state legislators contained not even a single penny for the popular conservation land-buying program.

› Gas prices continue downward trend in Florida [Northwest Florida Daily News]
The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped 7 cents in Florida over the past week to $2.35 on Monday. The state average was the lowest in more than a month, and the price could fall farther, according to the weekly Gas Price Brief from AAA.

› What Tax Will Airbnb Pay To Alachua County? [WUFT]
Thousands of dollars worth of possible tax revenue are on the table in Alachua County as Airbnb works out a deal with the county for the collection of tourist development tax, also known as bed tax.