Florida prepares for 'the big one' — the 2016 election

This election year the state will again be in the nation's crosshairs as a pivotal battleground state with a rocky electoral past. Months before Florida helps pick a new president, county election experts are on alert for potential minefields, from a fickle statewide voter database to public confusion over shifting political boundaries. [Source: Times/Herald]

See also:
» The myth that the president can save the economy
» Why a B-minus economy may be causing a turbulent election
» Voter stereotypes may not work with Clinton, Trump

Eliminating automatic refugee benefits for Cubans could save U.S. money

It seems obvious, but now a nonpartisan report confirms it: Ending automatic welfare payments to Cuban immigrants would save the federal government money. The CBO estimated the feds would save $2.45 billion over 10 years if recently arrived Cubans were no longer treated automatically as refugees. [Source: Miami Herald]

Americans are fatter than ever, CDC survey finds

The results are in from the one of the largest and broadest surveys of health in the United States. And although many of the findings are encouraging -- more Americans had health insurance and fewer smoked cigarettes in 2015 than in previous years -- the gains were overshadowed by rising rates of obesity and diabetes. [Source: CNN]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Community Portrait of Lee County

Lee County is growing by nearly 1,000 people a month. Now officials are working to diversify the county’s workforce to fill employment needs and continue to attract other companies in the wake of Hertz’s relocation there. In this community portrait, we look at the economies and demographics of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Sanibel. The portrait includes county hot spots, key sectors major businesses, manufacturing and must-know contacts. Read it in full, here.

Feds spend billions to run ancient technology

The government is spending about three-fourths of its technology budget maintaining aging computer systems, including platforms more than 50 years old in vital areas from nuclear weapons to Social Security. One still uses floppy disks. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Analysts say NextEra might end bid for Hawaiian Electric [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
NextEra Energy Inc.'s proposed $4.3 billion takeover of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. is looking increasingly less likely as the company gets a new chance to buy the largest power distributor in Texas, analysts said.

› Company HQ, plus 560 jobs, heads to Naples [Business Observer]
A company that promises 560 jobs over five years and a $63 million capital investment plans to move its corporate headquarters to Naples in return for nearly at least $3 million in state and local subsidies.

› Lionfish available at Whole Foods across Florida [WPTV]
Hungry for lionfish? All 26 Whole Foods stores across Florida just made it a little easier for shoppers to purchase the much-publicized invasive species.

› Jacksonville STEM program selected for national initiative [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Northeast Florida STEM 2 Hub, a not-for-profit dedicated to growing science, technology, engineering, math and medical education in Jacksonville, was selected to join a prestigious national learning initiative.

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› Why did cutting edge businesses like Shipt, Drizly and Carvana choose Tampa Bay? [Tampa Bay Times]
In choosing Tampa Bay and other mid-sized metros in the Southeast, the companies largely eschewed more high-profile areas known for a tech-driven youth culture with money to burn.

› Sin tax in the Keys could raise $10 million for poor and disabled [Miami Herald]
A local sales tax on alcohol and tobacco products could save nonprofit agencies that provide services to the working poor and medically disabled in the Florida Keys. A so-called sin tax could generate $10 million annually for a proposed Keys Human Services Trust, advocates said this week.

› State education not perfect but not crisis, judge says [Gainesville Sun]
A circuit judge ruled in favor of the Florida State Board of Education in a lawsuit challenging the state’s commitment to public education.

› Will tech-drive ag make it easier to protect state water? [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Jobs today. Jobs tomorrow. Jobs 10 years from now. That's what the Palm Beach International Agricultural Summit, which filled the Palm Beach County Convention Center early this month, was all about.