Study finds wide differences in prices for same medical procedures

The Internet has turned us into experts when it comes to buying most products we want and need. We have instant access to price comparisons across most retailers, as well as quality scores from professional reviewers and previous customers. That expertise does not extend to health care purchases. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

See also:
» Why most people don't shop around for medical procedures
» Women's medical procedures vary widely in cost by region

Florida ag commissioner talks water shortage in Israel

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is in Israel this week to discuss the challenges facing the world's water supply. The International Conference on Water brings together government officials and business leaders from around the world. [Source: AP]

Judge's ruling upends Florida's political landscape

The political careers of several members of Congress - including a Republican seeking to become the next U.S. House speaker - could come to an abrupt halt under a sweeping overhaul of Florida's electoral map. [Source: AP]

Florida circus elephants find second career in research

In March, the circus company Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced with some reluctance that it would end its elephant acts by 2018. It said it wanted to use the retired animals to help save their endangered species through breeding and medical research. [Source: Reuters]

Health inspectors hustle to keep up with food trucks

State inspectors apply the same food-safety standards to food trucks as they do other restaurants, checking each at least twice a year for cleanliness, proper temperatures and sanitation. When state regulators show up at a food-truck event for a surprise inspection, things can get hectic. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Fantasy sports promoters ramp up political presence in Florida [Tampa Bay Times]
Fantasy sports companies and their national trade association have begun ramping up a political profile in Florida, hiring big-name lobbyists and handing out large campaign donations to key state legislators as they aim to protect their lucrative industry from regulatory scrutiny.

› Connecting Fed policy and South Florida exports [Miami Herald]
When the final tally on 2015 is calculated, U.S. trade will have fallen for the first time in at least two decades without a significant shock to the U.S. and global economy.

› 5 Florida plants, 1 river mussel could be listed as threatened or endangered [AP]
Federal authorities say several Florida plants and a Suwannee River mussel should be protected as threatened or endangered species.

› FAA approves two Miami towers about 1,000 feet tall [The Real Deal]
Florida East Coast Realty obtained approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the height of two planned towers in downtown Miami, both designed to rise about 1,000 feet.

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› SeaWorld faces big dilemma after California breeding vote [Orlando Sentinel]
SeaWorld Entertainment faces a quagmire after a California agency's ruling that it can expand its killer-whale tanks, but only if it doesn't breed its orcas or bring in any more.

› The story behind Priatek, the little company with its name on Pinellas County's tallest building [Tampa Bay Times]
Miami has the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower. Atlanta has Bank of America Plaza. Houston has the J.P. Morgan Chase Tower. St. Petersburg has Priatek Plaza. Who?

› City of Sarasota issues record number of building permits [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The city of Sarasota issued a record number of building permits in the recently completed fiscal year, processing 8,402 jobs valued at $330.6 million.

› One Sotheby’s real estate brokerage teams up with Miami Heat [Miami Herald]
One Sotheby’s International Realty is now the Miami Heat’s official luxury real estate partner, according to a news release issued Friday.