Push made to get more Floridians college education

Two out of three Floridians don’t have a college degree. A state panel is recommending strategies to raise the number of degree or certificate holders to 55 percent over the next eight years. To bring that number down, the chairman of Florida's Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC), Alan Levine, said the state needs to highlight the value of trade degrees. [Source: WJXT]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Healthier connections for Florida cities

Health considerations, and health impact assessments, are becoming part of the planning process in more and more civic and business contexts: In road and highway planning, for example, where the route and type of road can affect the health of residents nearby. The full column by Florida Trend 's Executive Editor Mark Howard is here.

SpaceX launches ISS resupply mission, lands rocket at Cape Canaveral

SpaceX’s launch is part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services Contract and is the first of two planned for this week. United Launch Alliance has a launch scheduled for 8:03 a.m. Friday from Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. According to NASA, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that launched Monday is also carrying research materials to the International Space Station. One of the experiments on the way to the ISS is aimed at seeking a better understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Another is seeking the origin of cosmic rays. Full story from NASA is here. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.

Opinion: Protect forestry economics in tax reform

Although Florida is widely recognized for its beautiful beaches, our state also owes a debt of gratitude to its more than 17 million acres of healthy and productive forestlands that provide a host of benefits both economic and environmental. They are also key to the production of more than 5,000 items consumers use every day. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

South Florida emerging as U.S. aviation leader

While NYC and LA are considered the typical hotspots for private aviation in the US, Miami and South Florida are surprising the industry. And it’s not just an improving economy that’s fueling this surge – it’s technology. South Florida is seeing the largest number of private jet departures than any other state during Q2 of 2017, according to Argus TraqPak. Read more in a press release.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida ranks 7th as 'Worst State to Have a Baby' says WalletHub [Florida Trend]
With August being one of the most popular months for newborn arrival and Americans paying the highest birthing costs in the world, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2017’s Best & Worst States to Have a Baby.

› Titusville landmark will flip into urban hub for software company [Florida Today]
It's been a mystery for years — what's in the upper levels of the old Walker Hotel in downtown Titusville. The near century-old building is a landmark in downtown, housing a handful of businesses on its ground floor. But despite it's bustling lower level, a certain secrecy looms above. Also see more in the news release from the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast.

› Florida homebuilder’s sales decline after best month [Business Observer]
Homebuilder Neal Communities sold 85 homes in July. In June, the homebuilder had 116 sales. According to a press release, June was the company’s best sales month of 2017.

› Alex Rodriguez kicks off real estate conference in Florida [AP]
Former major league baseball player Alex Rodriguez knows a lot about home runs. It turns out he also knows a lot about homes of the real estate kind.

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› Slight drop for gas prices in Florida [Florida Times-Union]
Gas prices in Florida are continuing to drop slowly, while prices stay steady elsewhere. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Florida dropped 2 cents in the past week to $2.26.

› Jacksonville council president wants Confederate monuments off city property [Click Orlando]
The president of Jacksonville City Council on Monday asked several city departments conduct an inventory of all Confederate monuments, memorials and markers on public property with the intention of asking that they be removed.

› Park preparations coming together for World Rowing Championships [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
With 65 days left until the biggest international sports event in Southwest Florida history, preparations are continuing at Nathan Benderson Park.

› Florida legislators: Time to ban minor marriages in state [AP]
Top Republican legislators say it's time to stop minors from being able to marry in Florida. Two high-ranking state senators filed a bill (SB 140) on Monday that would make it illegal to issue a marriage certificate to anyone under 18.