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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Vaping illness cases continue to climb in Florida
Florida had 13 vaping-related pulmonary illnesses reported last week, bringing the number of cases to 52 as of Saturday, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. While the number of cases continued climbing, the number of vaping-related deaths remained at one. More from WFOR.
8 Florida business leaders receive ‘Women of Color Achievement Award’
Eight Florida business leaders will be honored with the “Women of Color Achievement Award” next week. Given by the 100 Black Men of Tampa Bay Inc. and Women Presidents’ Organization, the award recognizes professional achievement and “exemplary” community service. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
University of Miami housing complex moves forward
The University of Miami is steadily pushing ahead with its plans to replace the current student housing, built about 50 years ago, with accommodations that mirror the way young people learn today. “Nothing impacts the quality of life for students who live on campus more than the quality of their on-campus housing,” the school’s housing website says. “As the University of Miami continues to rise as a top-tier research institution, so too do students’ expectations for a comfortable, secure and supportive living and learning environment.” More from Miami Today.
Virus in imported tomatoes worries Florida agriculture officials
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services expressed concern Wednesday about a virus dangerous to tomatoes and peppers that has been found in tomatoes imported from Mexico. State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to “step up, initiate tracebacks to Mexican producers, and fulfill its responsibility to protect American growers and consumers.” More from WPTV.
Royal Caribbean sails into beer business with South Florida’s Funky Buddha
Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean ships will soon be drinking a specialty beer brewed just for the Miami cruise line. Royal Caribbean is collaborating with Funky Buddha to develop an exclusive brand of beer that will be available next month on the cruise line’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay and at the Oakland Park brewery. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of this World
NASA's first female launch director to lead countdowns during Artemis missions to the moon
More than 30 years ago as a wide-eyed Clemson University senior, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson walked into Firing Room 1 at Kennedy Space Center – a historically male-dominated setting – hoping to land a job testing software for space shuttle payloads. Today, Blackwell-Thompson commands that firing room. As NASA's first female launch director, she'll lead the countdown when the ambitious Artemis missions propel the next American astronauts to the moon – including the first woman.
» More from the Florida Today.
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| Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders | |
| Leslie Sturmer Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Specialist, UF/IFAS Sturmer is credited by some as being almost single-handedly responsible for creating the $40-million clam industry in Cedar Key. Read More. |
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