Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 10/31/2018

Tale of the turnout: Nearly 3.5 million votes are in with six days to go

Six days to go and Florida's voter turnout looks like this: Republicans still have a total ballot advantage over Democrats. It's shrinking slightly and is now slightly less than 2 percentage points. Florida is on track for a record-high turnout of total voters for a midterm election. The pace of early voting is intensifying and is much higher than four years ago. No blue wave, but millions still haven't voted. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Destroyer Hudner will be 18th ship at Naval Station Mayport

Naval Station Mayport’s newest ship arrived Tuesday weeks ahead of being commissioned, continuing force movements that could reinvigorate a base whose future seemed unclear when its last aircraft carrier left. More from the Florida Times-Union.

New invasive species threatens South Florida properties, eco-system

Termites have been around since the days of the dinosaur and are certainly not uncommon in sub-tropical South Florida. Among this army of so-called "silent destroyers" is a new invasive species, the Asian subterranean termite. More from WPLG.

When Florida elects a CFO, it’s also choosing the state’s top arson investigator

In Florida, the least-talked-about elected office — and perhaps the state’s most boring — has the potential to decide life or death for criminal defendants. In addition to managing the state’s retirement system, the chief financial officer is also the state’s top arson investigator. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Telehealth finds multiple successful niches in Miami-Dade

Baptist Health South Florida, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the University of Miami Health System and the MAVEN Project are finding success in the telehealth space and room to expand. Each organization plans to expand its services, many looking towards behavioral health as the next frontier. More from Miami Today.

Unbridled ambition at Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University has made millions of dollars in strategic investments to attract world-class scientists, develop new STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs and grow its research enterprise. [Sponsored report]

Out of the Box
VAMP

Makeup artists who create ghoulish effects are in high demand leading up to Halloween. VAMP — the Vocational Academy of Makeup and Prosthetics — in Orlando teaches makeup artists the skills needed to pull off realistic 'Night of the Living Dead' effects.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Recreation
Hogfish recreational season closes Nov. 1 in Keys/East Florida

Hogfish recreational harvest will close in state and federal waters off Florida’s Atlantic and southern Gulf coasts Nov. 1. This closure includes all state waters south of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida, and up the Atlantic coast. The Keys/east Florida hogfish season runs from May 1 through Oct. 31. Recreational harvest remains open in state and federal waters north of Cape Sable in the Gulf.