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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida has seen 59 Zika cases this year
Florida has had 59 reported cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in 2018, according to a state Department of Health website. The number is down from the past two years, but still bears close watching. The 59 cases reported as of Monday are all classified as “travel related” — generally meaning people were infected elsewhere and brought the virus into the state. More from the Ocala StarBanner.
Auditors reviewing Putnam’s office over concealed carry background checks
Florida auditors are reviewing the operations of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s agency, including the office responsible for issuing permits for concealed weapons. It’s not clear when the audit will be finished, but the review was underway before news stories revealed problems in the office. The audit is being done by the state’s auditor general, who is appointed by the Legislature. More from the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Tupperware stock plunges as sales slide in second quarter
Tupperware’s stock fell 12 percent in early trading Wednesday after the Kissimmee-based company turned in disappointing sales for the second quarter. It's been a rough year so far for Tupperware, as the company’s stock price has dropped 35 percent and the value of the company has fallen by $1.2 billion. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Revint Solutions to open regional headquarters in Lynn Haven
Revint Solutions, a revenue recovery company for the healthcare industry, is opening up a new regional headquarters in Lynn Haven, the Bay County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) and city of Lynn Haven announced Tuesday. The company plans to bring on 150 employees to support the headquarters and employee service center. More from the Panama City News Herald.
Now it’s Walmart’s turn to deliver groceries to hungry South Floridians
Earlier this week, Amazon announced it would be offering Whole Foods deliveries to South Florida Prime members for free within two hours for orders of $35, with an ultra-fast delivery costing $7.99. Not long after, Walmart announced it too would be offering grocery delivery locally for $9.95. The two retail giants join Publix, which offers delivery via both Instacart and Postmates. More from the Miami Herald.
Guide to Florida's Budget
Florida TaxWatch unveils interactive budget guide
The 2018 Florida Legislature, after deducting the Governor’s vetoes, appropriated $89.313 billion, a $4.360 billion (5.1 percent) increase over the current year and the largest spending total in the state’s history. "As a business person and a taxpayer, I believe it is critical for Floridians to understand where their tax dollars are going," said Florida TaxWatch Chairman David Mann. So today, Florida TaxWatch released the Taxpayers' Budget Guide to the FY2018-19 state budget, which went into effect July 1, 2018. See the full guide here.
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