Tropics come alive and hurricane season hasn’t even hit its peak

While Tropical Storm Harvey continues its westerly track toward Central America, forecasters are keeping a wary eye on a tropical disturbance that could target the East Coast — and Florida — by late next week. Right now, the disturbance has a 70% chance of becoming a storm in the next 48 hours. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the Miami Herald, and WBBH.

Florida governor dines with Trump as others keep distant

Some Florida Republicans are condemning President Donald Trump's reaction to events in Charlottesville, Virginia. Others are tiptoeing around the issue, or remaining silent. Florida's Goernor Rick Scott meanwhile, went on a lunch date with the President on Thursday. [Source: AP] About the lunch, Gov. Scott's office released a statement, saying they talked about Florida's environment and also touched on "efforts President Trump is taking to keep America safe."

Florida prisons — all of them — on lockdown

All of Florida’s 97,000 state prison inmates are on lockdown — and will remain confined to their dorms at least through the weekend — in response to unspecified threats about possible uprisings, officials from the Florida Department of Corrections confirmed. See the announcement from the FDOC, "Weekend visitation cancelled statewide to ensure safety." Also read more at the Miami Herald.

Florida counties create freight logistics zone

The establishment of the Gulf to Gadsden Freight Logistics Zone can provide the counties of Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty and Franklin with priority for state funding and incentives when pursuing certain projects within the zone. Details in the news release, here. Also read more at Progressive Railroading.

Florida auto insurance 'no-fault' system repeal again proposed

A long-discussed proposal to repeal Florida's no-fault auto insurance system is headed back to the Legislature in 2018. In its place, the proposed bill would require motorists to carry bodily-injury and medical-payment coverages. The bill, SB 150, was submitted by Sen. Tom Lee (R-Thonotosassa) earlier this week. SB 150 would repeal the no-fault system, which requires motorists to carry $10,000 in personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage. See text of the bill here. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce appoints Uber policy director to board [South Florida Business Journal]
The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new member to its board of governors: Uber Technologies Inc. Senior Public Policy Associate Cesar Fernandez.

› Florida AG investigating after small businesses complain about fake registration mailers [WFTS]
For more than a year the state of Florida has issued warnings to small business owners to not pay fees through unofficial fictitious name renewal notices.

› Cleveland Clinic will pull event from Mar-a-Lago resort [AP]
A leading U.S. hospital says it will pull an annual fundraiser from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort after all.

› Courtyard hotel in Coral Springs sold for $12.5 million [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Coral Springs hotel has traded hands in a $12.5 million deal, Broward County property deeds show.

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› John Morgan intends to pressure every Florida politician to fund wage initiative [Tampa Bay Times]
John Morgan, the publicity-loving personal injury lawyer/entrepreneur who spearheaded the successful medical marijuana initiative, soon plans to start collecting signatures for a 2020 ballot initiative raising Florida minimum wage.

› Gainesville, UAB postpone biomass decision [Gainesville Sun]
The Gainesville city commission met with its Utility Advisory Board this week to discuss the possibility of buying the controversial biomass plant that has put a multi-billion dollar burden on the city.

› 24 Jacksonville-area firms make list of country’s fastest-growing companies [Florida Times-Union]
Twenty-four Jacksonville area companies have made the Inc. 5000 list for 2017 as the fastest-growing companies in the country. At the top of the local list is E-file.com, an online vehicle for preparing and filing federal income taxes.

› Miami-born ‘Moonlight’ creator to develop new TV series [Miami Herald]
The “Moonlight” effect continues, Miami. Tarell Alvin McCraney, who co-wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for the made-in-Miami film, just got the green light for a new TV series set in South Florida.