Florida voters asking to be removed from voter rolls

Local elections officials are trying to talk voters out of unregistering, as privacy concerns continue to mount in response to a special commission created by President Donald Trump. But for now, efforts by the federal Advisory Commission on Election Integrity to crack down on a perceived threat of voter fraud have been suspended. The Commission told Florida election officials it is rescinding its request for voter registration information now that they are being sued by the DC-based nonprofit research group Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). More from the Palm Beach Post and WFTS.

70 years since Tropicana pioneered mass production of Florida orange juice

For 70 years, Tropicana has been adding to the American breakfast by getting freshly-squeezed orange juice from Florida into grocery stores across the U.S. The brand was created by Italian immigrant Anthony Rossi, who developed flash pasteurization and pioneered orange juice transport in 1970 via train from Florida to New York. [Source: ABC News]

German state makes pitch for Florida tourists

Europe is a hot summer destination this year as the stronger U.S. dollar continues to make the region a more affordable option for Americans. That was partly the message tourism officials from Southwest Germany brought to a pitch in Fort Lauderdale to travel and lifestyle writers. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida Blue to hire 600 temporary contractors

Florida Blue will hire 600 temporary contractors for the health insurance open enrollment period this fall. The jobs involve telephone sales and support starting in August and continuing through mid-December. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

Nationwide Medicare fraud bust includes 80 suspects in South Florida

More than 400 suspects nationwide have been charged with falsely billing $1.3 billion to the taxpayer-funded Medicare program as well as some private insurers, including about 80 defendants in South Florida. From the news release issued by the Department of Justice:

For the Strike Force locations, in the Southern District of Florida, a total of 77 defendants were charged with offenses relating to their participation in various fraud schemes involving over $141 million in false billings for services including home health care, mental health services and pharmacy fraud. In one case, the owner and operator of a purported addiction treatment center and home for recovering addicts and one other individual were charged in a scheme involving the submission of over $58 million in fraudulent medical insurance claims for purported drug treatment services. (Read more here.)

See more at the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Five reasons to attend the Brevard Cultural Summit [Florida Today]
As more workers, and families, move into the area related to the burgeoning aerospace and defense industry, the cultural offerings on the Space Coast are growing in importance.

› Jacksonville-based Dignity U Wear taken over by Nashville nonprofit with similar mission [Press Release]
Jacksonville-based Dignity U Wear, which has collected new clothing and distributed it to the needy through a nationwide network of social services agencies for 17 years, has been acquired by Soles4Souls. Also read more at the Florida Times-Union.

› Orlando company draws fire for snortable chocolate [Orlando Sentinel]
A snortable chocolate powder developed by an Orlando resident is drawing fire from a top lawmaker in Washington, D.C. Orlando-based Legal Lean is selling a powdered chocolate meant to be snorted under the name Coco Loko.

› Alachua nonprofit trains adults for blossoming jobs [Gainesville Sun]
Growing Real Opportunities to Work - Harvest of Urban Business Inc. wants to trains adults with disabilities and wounded veterans for jobs in the agricultural field while creating jobs in small businesses.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Regulators approve FPL’s administrative shortcut on Broward plant [Miami Herald]
In a move that could help speed up a power-plant project in Broward County, state regulators Thursday approved a proposal that will exempt Florida Power & Light from seeking possible alternatives to the project.

› Orlando tech startup can make you cash for answering questions [Orlando Sentinel]
The ages-old question of how to wing your eyeliner is a mystery no more. An Orlando company called Askedoo has been building a database of user-generated live stream sessions that ask the audience for tips on various topics.

› St. Pete Beach selects best businesses, hotels [Tampa Bay Times]
The City of St. Pete Beach unveiled its winners of the "Best of St. Pete Beach Awards" during the city's 60th anniversary brunch at the Don Cesar Hotel.

› Sarasota Improv Festival features acts from around the world at FST [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
“BLANK!” is the headliner act for the ninth improv festival, which will feature 22 troupes, including three new additions. The show had a short run off-Broadway but then moved to the Broadway Comedy Club, where it continues in an open-end run.