Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/9/2018

Gov. Scott to declare state of emergency over algae bloom on west coast

Gov. Rick Scott said Monday he plans to issue a state of emergency later today due to the algae blooms raging in the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. The Army Corps stopped flows to both rivers Monday (see their announcement here). This is the third year in a row the region has suffered from excess water flows and algae blooms. More from the Fort Myers News-Press, WINK News, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Update - 4:00 pm
» Gov. Scott issues emergency order to combat algal blooms in South Florida

Women making an impact on the local Gainesville economy

The number of female business owners and entrepreneurs have grown significantly in recent years. Some reports estimate that women-owned businesses have grown 67% since 2007. Gainesville is experiencing and benefiting from this growth as well. More from the Gainesville Business Report.

See the first image of Beckham's proposed soccer stadium complex in Miami

David Beckham and his partners have released the first image of a proposed stadium complex and park, called Miami Freedom Park, that would replace a city-owned golf course near Miami International Airport. More from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Want to hunt alligators in Florida? More permits go on sale Tuesday

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it will make more than 1,300 gator hunting permits available on Tuesday. Alligator hunts in Florida resumed in 1988 to help control the population, and permits are often hard to get. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Will FPL customers get Hurricane Matthew refund? Commission to vote Tuesday

Florida’s Public Service Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to approve a settlement between Florida Power & Light Co. and the Office of Public Counsel for a $27.7 million refund to customers relating to 2016’s Hurricane Matthew. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida Small Business
Fund it

Another installment in our "how-to" series explores self-financing, loans, targeted financing, private investors, crowdfunding and grants. The story begins:
If you’ve been working the program so far — you’ve chosen a name and a location, you’ve begun applying for permits and licenses, you’re working on a business plan, etc., etc. — you may be scratching your head and wondering what to do about the elephant that remains in this room. Money. Wonder no more. The time has come to ask yourself: “How am I going to pay for this?” and consider the following options.

» More from Florida Small Business.

Out of the Box
Fly me to the moon ... for a proposal?

If you can hold off another four years and have $145 million to spare – and, honestly, who doesn’t? – a French company wants to send you into space from Kennedy Space Center for an out-of-this-world marriage proposal.