Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 6/27/2018

Supreme Court sides with Florida in decades-long dispute with Georgia over water rights

The Supreme Court Wednesday handed Florida a victory in its decades-long fight with Georgia over water rights, ruling a court-appointed special master was "too strict" in determining that no remedy in the court's power would boost water flow into the Apalachicola River and help the region's beleaguered oyster industry. The case has been remanded to the special master. More from USA Today, WTSP, and the AP.

» Read the Supreme Court opinion: Florida V. Georgia. One excerpt:
In sum, in respect to the evidentiary questions at issue, the Master assumed that: (1) Florida has likely suffered harm as a result of decreased water flow into the Apalachicola River; (2) Florida has made some showing that Georgia, contrary to equitable principles, has taken too much water from the Flint River; and (3) Georgia’s inequitable use of the water may have injured Florida, but more findings are needed.

Feds say PortMiami’s deeper harbor isn’t deep enough

After three major upgrades to Port Miami’s channels to handle ever-bigger ships, including a $205 million project that ended in 2015, a fourth round of digging may be needed because the improved harbor is outdated, federal officials say. More from Miami Today.

Orlando jobs in construction post another May increase

Metro Orlando ranks eighth in U.S. metro areas for construction jobs gained with 6,200 more in May than a year earlier, Associated General Contractors said this week. Orlando recorded 79,500 construction jobs for the month, its highest May since recording 92,000 construction jobs in 2006. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Passport thefts are on the rise in Florida

A new report shows passports are going missing in the mail here in Florida as well as in Texas and New York. Passports are key to navigating the globe and they have very sensitive information inside including our name, address, birthday, signature, and photo. More from WFTX.

Royal Caribbean targets millennials with upgraded ship, shorter cruises

Royal Caribbean has invested $120 million in a 15-year-old ship as part of a plan to attract younger travelers with shorter cruises. A company news release says the Mariner of the Seas arrived at its new home last week in PortMiami. More from the AP.

Out of the Box
Vanity or profanity?

If there’s a rule, some joker is always going to try to break it. Florida drivers — who get a lot of freedom in license tags for cars — can take the standard-issue license plate. They can choose from some 120 specialty tags. Or they can come up with one of their own. That last option seems to bring out the mischief.

» More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Transportation
Getting a lift

Mears, like the rest of the taxi industry, has seen its business rocked in recent years by the emergence of ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. So it is now turning to outside investors in hopes of building a more sophisticated technology platform.