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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
As Hurricane Matthew strengthens, evacuations ordered for Florida's east coast
A monstrous Hurricane Matthew menaced Florida late Wednesday, maintaining a potentially disastrous trajectory that could rake the state's entire Atlantic coast and force the largest evacuation in state history. The Category 3 storm prompted mandatory evacuations in Brevard, Martin and Palm Beach counties, with more expected Thursday. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and Florida Today.
See also:
» Some models show Matthew taking double swipe at Florida
» Could Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Nicole collide?
» Tourists focus on vacations despite Matthew
» Florida Gov. Rick Scott suspends tolls in counties of evacuations
» Hurricane Matthew could take out the US' newest weather satellite before it launches
» Officials at Mayport Naval Station take precautions to be sure sailors, ships are safe ahead of Hurricane Matthew
» Latest updates on Hurricane Matthew, here.
Florida activates price gouging hotline
Attorney General Pam Bondi activated Florida’s price gouging hotline Wednesday as Hurricane Matthew threatened the state. The opening of the hotline comes as Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in all Florida counties in preparation for the potential impact of the category four hurricane. [Source: St. Augustine Record]
Florida business community integral in leading the fight against poverty
Although the state has in many ways recovered from the Great Recession – more than 1 million jobs created since 2010, a record 105 million visitors to the state in 2015 and ranking as the second best state to do business in by Chief Executive magazine, to name a few – a glaring issue still needs to be addressed: generational poverty. [Source: Pensacola News-Journal]
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate announces expansions
Beginning a new chapter in its 12-year heritage, Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate broke ground in summer 2016 for an extensive $40 million expansion project. The luxury golf resort and spa opened in 2004, quickly becoming the cornerstone of the budding ChampionsGate community. [Sponsored Report] Read the full report here.
Florida parks may be sprayed for mosquitoes
State officials last month quietly changed a 29-year-old policy prohibiting aerial spraying of pesticide at state parks. The decision was made without public input or opportunity for citizens to comment. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
› Malaysian casino giant Genting plans mega-yacht marina in Miami
Genting Group will wait no longer. The Malaysian casino giant, through its Resorts World Miami, is moving forward to build a mega-yacht marina at 1 Herald Plaza without first developing the upland, where it long has sought a mammoth gambling resort.
› UF research funding eclipses a record $724 million in 2015
Research dollars are a key component of the University of Florida’s drive toward preeminence. UF secured a record of $724 million in fiscal year 2015, a 2.4 percent increase over the previous record of $706.8 million set in fiscal year 2014.
› Florida cities rank among the fastest-growing in the U.S
WalletHub compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., and Lehigh Acres, Fla., ranked third. Other cities in the overall list included Fort Myers (14), Brandon (16), Miramar (17) and Palm Coast (28).
› Brevard County commissioners debate need for economic incentives
A proposal for the County Commission to approve a property tax break for a medical services company that wants to expand in Cape Canaveral turned into a debate over the county's economic development agency and programs.
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