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Tuesday's Daily Pulse

Florida Trend Exclusive
The military in Florida: Real money in make-believe

Central Florida is home to more than 150 modeling, simulation and training companies that together employ more than 15,000 workers and generate a gross state product of $6 billion a year. [Source: Florida Trend]

What it means for Florida to be a 'no-fault' state

If you’re a Florida driver, the chances that you have heard people say "Florida is a no fault state" are pretty likely. But what is the likelihood that you actually know what that law means? The law has nothing to do with determining who's at fault in a crash and everything to do with why we have certain insurance coverages. [Source: WKMG]

Many Puerto Ricans adrift in hotels after Hurricane Maria

Around Florida and the U.S., many Puerto Ricans are adrift in hotels because of the Sept. 20 hurricane. The move north spared them from the misery of the storm’s aftermath on the island. But the transition has often proved to be difficult, disruptive and expensive as people try to find housing, jobs, schools and even furniture and clothes to start fresh on the mainland. [Source: AP]

Don’t be distracted by the beauty. Florida’s national parks are falling apart

Four months after Hurricane Irma buzz-sawed its way across South Florida, the state’s busiest national park is understandably still recovering. But the shoddy conditions date way before the latest storm. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida medical marijuana registry keeps growing, blazes past 70,000

The number of patients in Florida’s medical marijuana registry shot past 70,000 last week, reaching 71,720 as of Friday, according to the Florida Department of Health. There are just 27 dispensaries for now, but the 13 licensed pot purveyors ultimately could open 325 retail locations from Pensacola to Key West. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tamiami Angel Fund wins big for investors
A bet on a health tech company has netted a healthy return for investors in a Naples-based fund. The Tamiami Angel Fund III reported its highest return on an investment with the sale of iScribes, a medical transcription service for physicians, to a publicly traded company.

› Ex-U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown starts 5-year prison sentence
Former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown began a five-year sentence Monday at a minimum-security camp inside one of the country’s largest federal prison complexes.

› Miami-based Brickell Bank finally finds buyer
Brickell Bank has agreed to be sold to a wealthy Swiss financer, ending months of speculation about who would purchase the small Miami-based bank. The bank and its principal shareholder, Banco Espírito Santo, S.A, which is in liquidation, have entered into an agreement to be acquired by Joseph Benhamou.

› Microsoft exec jumps to Florida-based hydrogen startup Joi Scientific
Stefan Sjöström led public sector activities for Microsoft in Asia and Western Europe for the last eight years. He will now be the president of international business for Joi.

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› Alex Rodriguez has an idea on how to fix the Marlins
The Miami Marlins, despite two World Series championships, have never experienced sustained winning. And South Florida, despite having a major league franchise for a quarter-century, still faces questions about its viability as a baseball market.

› Florida Supreme Court halts activity on school financing lawsuit during the legislative session
Any effort to continue fighting Florida's education funding system will have to wait until 15 days after lawmakers complete their work for 2018. The Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling late Friday granting legislative leaders' request for a stay on the challenge:

› Record number of inmates died in Florida prisons last year
More inmates died in Florida prisons last year than in any other year on record, leaving the state scrambling to identify causes and find solutions. The tally, 428 inmate deaths in 2017, was released Jan. 19 by the Florida Department of Corrections and showed a 20 percent increase over previous years.

› Meet South Florida's Bizwomen mentors for 2018
Ahead of Mentoring Monday 2018, the Business Journal is highlighting the distinguished group of prominent executives serving as mentors for the annual event.