Visit Florida girds for change, industry headwinds, despite budget win

A drop in international tourists, turnover of its top executives and new rules regarding transparency and how it spends money have board members of the state’s public-private tourism promotion group questioning whether they can meet this year’s goal of 120 million tourists. “If we can hit it, it’s spectacular, but I think it’s quite optimistic,” said Gene Prescott, a Visit Florida board member. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Traveling this holiday? So are credit card skimmers

As Floridians are expected to hit the road for the Fourth of July, credit card skimmers are also expected to take advantage at the pumps. The state Department of Agriculture says 276 credit card skimmers were removed from pumps in Florida this year. More from First Coast News and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

See also:
» How to avoid skimmers at the pump (tips from the Federal Trade Commission)
» Use of illegal credit card skimmers surging at Florida gas stations
» Florida Department of Agriculture and consumer services warning about credit card skimmers for July 4th Holiday

Citizens takeout program could be a model for flood insurance reform

The depopulation program that keeps state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. from growing too large should be a model for reforming flood insurance nationwide. That’s the idea a Florida lawmaker is promoting as Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize a National Flood Insurance Program. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida undecided on request from voter fraud commission

Florida officials say they are considering a request for voter information from President Donald Trump’s commission investigating alleged voter fraud in the 2016 election. See the letter sent from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, here. Also read more from the AP.

Your turn:
» Should Florida give state voter information to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity? (quick poll)

Florida’s departing fiscal watchdog used public scrutiny as a weapon

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who stepped down as CFO on Friday after serving 17 years in state government, the last of which as the state’s fiscal watchdog, knows where every penny of the state’s $83 billion budget goes. He also knows where to find the waste — and he’s tried to expose it. [Source: Times/Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Brazilian buyers show renewed interest in Miami real estate [The Real Deal]
Many wealthy Brazilians are buying real estate in the Miami area again after a retreat during the last two years.

› Florida boating accidents, deaths increase in last year [WTLV]
What boaters do and don’t do is a big part of why boating accidents are happening more in Florida, according to state and national studies. Florida saw a 20 percent increase in deaths from boating accidents in 2016.

› Florida Gov. Rick Scott worth nearly $150 million [AP]
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a multi-millionaire who turns down the $130,000 annual salary that goes with his job, saw his personal wealth rise in the past year.

› Wyndham defeats Orlando whistleblower lawsuit [Orlando Sentinel]
Wyndham’s Orlando-based timeshare company has settled a whistleblower lawsuit in Florida federal courts that accused the company of firing two employees after they complained about illegal sales tactics.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Ocala business assists patients seeking medical marijuana [Ocala Star-Banner]
Florida’s legalization of medical marijuana is trickling down to Marion County. Both city of Ocala and Marion County officials have created ordinances establishing rules for dispensaries, should any ever set up shop there.

› Veteran activist from Florida chosen as NOW's new leader [News Release]
A long-time feminist activist whose campaign resume noted that she had an illegal abortion in 1968 has been elected as the new president of the National Organization for Women. Also read more at the AP.

› Orlando's 'zombie' foreclosures tougher to find [Orlando Sentinel]
Cast members for the Orlando-based cable show “Zombie House Flipping” say it’s become tough to find the kind of abandoned foreclosures that made Central Florida somewhat infamous a few years ago.

› Record South Florida rain threatens Glades wildlife, sets stage for summer water woes [SFWMD News Release]
So much rain so early in the wet season has led to a slow-moving crisis across South Florida: what to do with all the water before things get really bad. Also read more at the Miami Herald.