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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Charlie Crist, man of many political comebacks, launches another campaign for Florida governor
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist officially launched his campaign for Florida governor on Tuesday, the first major candidate to jump into the Democratic primary with hopes of taking on Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. This will be Crist’s second attempt at winning back the job he held from 2007 to 2011, when he was a Republican. He was the Democratic Party’s nominee for governor in 2014, a race he narrowly lost to Rick Scott, who is now the state’s junior senator. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Industrial rents are rising for small Orlando companies. Here's why.
Rents are on the rise for small industrial tenants across Orlando, another sign of the real estate sector's demand there. Rent costs may jump 10%-20% for spaces roughly 15,000 square feet in size, which typically house smaller businesses, industrial real estate experts say. Industrial users may see these costs rise even if they signed a lease as soon as three years ago. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Is this tech’s turning point in Miami? Leaders look ahead to major conference in 2022
The effort to transform Miami into a major tech hub stretches back at least a decade. Since then, many observers thought the city would inch toward that goal. But over the past several months, the city has skipped toward it, emerging as a refuge for tech entrepreneurs looking to escape Silicon Valley and COVID lockdowns. Combined with the online recruitment efforts of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a growing chorus of tech community voices — local and new alike — are saying that long-standing goal may now be within reach. More from the Miami Herald.
Boca Raton telemarketing company owners face federal charges in $46 million health care fraud
Three telemarketing company owners face federal charges in a $46 million health care fraud, kickback, and money laundering scheme, authorities say. The Boca Raton men are accused of referring medically unnecessary cancer genetic tests to labs in exchange for kickbacks, according to federal documents that were unsealed Monday. The men allegedly involved are Christian McKeon, 35; Athanasios Ziros, 42; and Gregory Orr, 64. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Florida Capitol set to open after 14 months of being closed
After nearly 14 months of being closed to the public, the Florida Capitol will reopen this week ahead of a special legislative session on gambling. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, made the announcement Monday, but it’s not clear if other parts of state government will follow a public-health advisory by Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees to open back up as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Simpson’s office sent out a memo that said the Capitol will be open to the public Friday, one week after lawmakers finished the regular 60-day legislative session. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Development
Want to bank on Wynwood? A developer is crowdfunding $20 million for a rental project
Willing to bank on real estate in Wynwood? Investors may have their chance. The Brickell-based development firm Rilea Group has launched a $20 million crowdfunding campaign through the Los Angeles-based investment firm RealtyMogul for the apartment rental project Mohawk at Wynwood, according to the firm’s president Diego Ojeda.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Out of the Box
A mammoth discovery: Divers find ice age bones in Florida
For two Florida scuba divers, ancient history resurfaced when they discovered a 4-foot, 50-pound mammoth bone dating back to the ice age. The fossil could be tens of thousands of years old. Derek Demeter and Henry Sadler, both avid explorers and amateur paleontologists, made their big discovery when diving in the dark waters of the Peace River near Arcadia on April 25.
» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.
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