Puerto Ricans aren’t rushing to register to vote in Florida

With so many leaving Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria struck on Sept. 20, the influx of registered Florida voters from the island is expected to play a key role in this year's election and beyond. But so far, the number of newly registered Hispanic voters in Central Florida is not the big number that many forecast. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times.

Harsh drug trafficking sentences may get major overhaul in Florida

Going back to the days of reputed drug traffickers like Pablo Escobar, the Medellin Cartel and former Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega, Florida’s drug trafficking laws – and their stiff minimum mandatory prison sentences – have been viewed as some of the toughest in the nation. [Source: WFLA]

Many resorts in the Lower Keys are still closed due to Hurricane Irma

While the rest of the Florida Keys has recovered faster from Hurricane Irma, rebuilding continues at many resorts and tourist attractions in the Lower Keys and Islamorada. Irma hit the Lower Keys harder than the rest of the Florida Keys.[Source: The Real Deal]

Pedestrian deaths and environmental concerns threaten Florida's high-speed train project

It launched in a fanfare two weeks ago: the first privately-funded express passenger railway in the United States in decades, a new start for long delayed plans, and a “green” alternative to Florida’s increasingly congested highways. But controversies are already surfacing. [Source: The Guardian]

Florida constitution committee keeps alive an education surprise

Proposals to ask voters in November to expand vouchers and school choice were given a predicted green light Friday as a key committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission moved forward in what is a top priority of Florida's Republican leaders. [Source: Times/Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Gov. Scott wants more information on job placement stats [AP]
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is calling for the board of directors at two regional job centers to schedule emergency meetings to deal with allegations that the agencies inflated the number of job placements reported to state officials.

› Florida judge dismisses part of medical marijuana lawsuit [WTXL]
A Florida judge has ruled that a lawsuit against the state's decision to ban smokable forms of medical marijuana can proceed but without one of the key parties.

› How Steven Stamkos became Mr. Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
Evan Longoria is gone, traded by the Rays this offseason. Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston is still unproven. Stamkos is the biggest star on the market's most successful team.

› Pulse memorial debate: Should scene of horror be preserved? [Orlando Sentinel]
The central question in planning a permanent memorial to the Pulse nightclub massacre is more complicated than many thought: Should the scene of unspeakable violence, death and sorrow be preserved?

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› FDLE announces full investigation in Latvala case [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
State law-enforcement officials have found probable cause to open a criminal investigation into possible wrongdoing by former Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who announced his resignation last month amid a probe into allegations of possible public corruption.

› Jaguars turn sights on Lot J at stadium for entertainment district [Florida Times-Union]
The Jaguars appear to be zeroing in on Lot J at the sports complex as the potential site for a large-scale entertainment district that would bring to Jacksonville the kind of indoor venue that other cities have created near their stadiums.

› SpaceX targeting next month for Falcon Heavy launch from KSC [Florida Today]
SpaceX is targeting early next month for the premiere flight of its 27-engine Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center, CEO Elon Musk said Saturday. Musk's confirmation of a launch date – but not yet a specific time of day – comes after Wednesday's successful test firing of the 230-foot-tall rocket at KSC.

› Crocodiles resurging in South Florida [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Crocodiles show up in unexpected places these days, as the species continues its recovery from near-extinction 40 years ago. Last year the state wildlife service fielded 138 crocodile reports from worried South Florida residents, as the toothy reptiles turned up a little too close to their homes, up from 80 reports 10 years ago.