Florida will comply with part of Trump commission’s voter data request

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner will provide some of the voter data requested by a federal election integrity commission assembled by President Donald Trump, but his response will be tailored to fit the boundaries of state law. In the letter that Detzner and Gov. Rick Scott sent to Secretary Kris Kobach, Detzner writes:

Although most of the information you've requested is available to the public in Florida, we cannot fully comply with your entire request. Driver's license information and social security numbers are not, and cannot be provided under section 97.0585, Florida Statutes. We will also not release any information that is exempt or confidential under Florida law, including certain information regarding law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and victims of stalking and domestic violence. Additionally, Florida's public record voter database does not capture information on felonies.

See the full letter here. Also read more at the AP, the Naples Daily News and the Miami Herald. Note: Kris Kobach is Kansas secretary of state, and also vice chairman of a new Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.

Related:
» What the federal government can get from your voter file

Where things stand in Florida's governor's race after the dog days of June

Democrats are struggling mightily to raise serious money in their first competitive gubernatorial primary in many years. But in the month of June, Republican Adam Putnam's Florida Grown committee raised nearly four times what the leading Democratic candidates raised combined. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida's female entrepreneurs find success on Instagram

Instagram's marketing power is harnessed through the personal connection people feel to the accounts they follow. Despite many perks, promoting one's business on Instagram is not as easy as it may seem. [Source: Naples Daily News]

Revised forecast projects more intense hurricane season

Forecasters at Colorado State University predict a more active Atlantic hurricane season this year than originally thought. The revised forecast calls for an above-normal season, with 15 named storms. Eight of those named storms are projected as hurricanes. See the full forecast, here. Also read more at WINK News and Business Insurance.

Florida sued over medical marijuana law that bans smoking it

Florida is being sued because its new medical marijuana law doesn't allow patients to smoke the plant. Lawyer John Morgan filed the lawsuit Thursday, saying smoking marijuana is the best way to administer it to some patients. Morgan said he believes if Florida law doesn't allow smoking marijuana for medical use, the newly formed industry will “bankroll a constitutional amendment to put recreational marijuana on the ballot … and I believe it will pass with 60 percent of the vote,” he said. See the court case filing, here. Read more at the Miami Herald.

See also:
» John Morgan on why he can wait to join gov's race, and his next ballot campaign

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida phasing out Project AIDS Care, other Medicaid waivers [WUSF News]
Thousands of Floridians living with AIDS could be losing financial assistance they say is essential to living a normal life, and some AIDS groups are worried the state won't carry through on its promises.

› Lee judge orders ag officials to reimburse residents' destroyed citrus trees [WGCU]
A Lee County circuit court judge said the state agriculture department needs to repay local residents for destroyed citrus trees, or explain why it refuses to pay. The Florida Department of Agriculture has less than 40 days to respond.

› Experience Kissimmee wants to pause work with Visit Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
Experience Kissimmee CEO DT Minich said he wants to hit the pause button with Visit Florida, the statewide agency in charge of promoting tourism.

› South Florida businesses bring products to Walmart shelves. See how they did it. [Miami Herald]
Baked goods containers that allow you carry stacks of frosted brownies at a time, old-fashioned soaps with natural ingredients and a frozen food line of Hispanic cuisine — these South Florida-born products caught the eye of retail giant Walmart during its fourth annual Open Call.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› HSBC cuts nearly 200 jobs in Brandon office [Tampa Bay Times]
Mortgage lender HSBC announced another round of significant layoffs for its Brandon office — 197 employees. In a WARN layoff notice filed with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity dated June 30, HSBC said the cuts will be permanent and take place in early September or October.

› Florida county loses suit, faces $300 million hospital bills [AP]
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that an obscure law requires Sarasota County to reimburse all public and private hospitals for indigent care.

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.

› Jacksonville-based P-3 helps U.S. Customs interdiction of cocaine in Pacific Ocean [Florida Times-Union]
An air crew based in Jacksonville became the eye in the sky for an anti-drug operation in the Pacific Ocean that snared ships carrying about 4,660 pounds of cocaine valued at almost $61 million, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

› ‘Baseball theme park’ to test readiness of Miami Beach’s $615M convention center [Miami Herald]
Marlins Park, with its retractable roof, spray-painted models and whirling home run statue, won’t be South Florida’s only big-ticket project in the spotlight during All-Star week.