Florida's top 50 stocks outperform S&P 500 in quarter

The index of Florida’s top 50 stocks, considered a barometer of the state’s economy, outperformed the Standard &Poor’s 500 from April to June, according to University of Miami’s quarterly index report. The "Florida 50" index, which tracks all Florida firms in the S&P Composite 1500® Index, beat the S&P 500 by 4.63% and the S&P 1500 by 4.74% for the quarter. See the full story from the University of Miami, here. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

See also:
» List of Florida's top 50 public companies, as ranked by revenue in 2016
» Stock quotes for Florida's top 50 publicly traded companies (will be updated shortly after markets open at 9:30 a.m.)

Puerto Ricans struggle to find careers in Florida

As the island's best and brightest join an exodus of nearly half a million Puerto Ricans coming stateside to escape the territory's 10-year economic recession, they're hitting the same barriers most migrants face: language difficulties, costly certifications, confusing requirements and culture clashes. [Source: AP]

Forecaster says budget cuts could hurt hurricane predictions

Recent progress in forecasting the intensity of hurricanes - which has lagged behind storm track forecasting - could be undermined by proposed cuts in federal funding for tropical weather research, says the retiring chief of a team of U.S. hurricane specialists. [Source: AP]

Publisher's Column
Florida Law: Legal news to note in Florida

As anyone who keeps up with the news these days knows, Florida law is evolving rapidly. Regulations are being scaled back, and new legislation is becoming more complex. In addition, more laws are passed with every legislative session — the Florida statutes now run more than 1,000 pages. Read Andy Corty's full column here.

Federal officials to review endangered status of Florida panther

Four months after federal officials declared manatees are no longer endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it's now reviewing the endangered status of the Florida panther. At issue this year will be the panther's taxonomy, meaning wildlife officials will be looking at genetics to see whether the Florida panther is really a distinct sub-species of the pumas found out West, and thus deserving of legal protection. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Orlando's year-over-year rent rate growth leads state [Orlando Business Journal]
Orlando-area rents increased 0.9% over the past month and are up 5% in comparison to the same time last year, a new report from Apartment List shows.

› Florida growers to benefit from $5 million water security grant [UF News Release]
A $5 million, five-year grant received by the University of Florida Water Institute to promote water security for the region’s farmers and foresters should come as welcome relief for growers.

› For patients seeking legal pot in Florida, process is a quick one [Palm Beach Post]
Floridians with severe illnesses are just a few weeks and a few hundred dollars away from buying weed through the state’s newly expanded medical marijuana program.

› Culinary program helps homeless veterans find a way forward [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The Vets-2-Chefs program at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee helps returning veterans put the wars they fought behind them, and pull their lives together by entering a civilian career in the culinary arts.

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› Study: Economic impact of arts, culture growing in South Florida [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
While South Florida’s sandy beaches and rich culinary offerings are vital tourism beacons, the area’s vibrant arts and culture scene is playing an increasingly important role in the region’s economy, a new report shows.

› Florida opens large stretch of Gulf Coast for scalloping [Naples Daily News]
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened an area from St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to the Pasco and Hernando County line to recreational scalloping over the weekend.

› Florida schedules its first execution in more than 18 months [Times/Herald]
Florida is planning to execute its next Death Row inmate in August — which will be the first execution after more than 18 months of legal limbo over the state's death penalty law.

› Scientists say 2017 sea turtle nesting season on target for new record [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Nearly halfway through the 2017 sea turtle nesting season, local scientists say the Sarasota-Manatee County area is on track for another record-breaking year.