Millions of dollars in local projects must survive Rick Scott’s veto pen

The biggest state budget in Florida history is headed to Gov. Rick Scott, who will have the final say on hundreds of millions of dollars in local projects in cities and towns across the state. They include roads, water and sewer repairs, festivals, fire stations, street lights, a manatee hospital, a cattle call, and even a quilting museum — all courtesy of Florida taxpayers. [Source: Times/Herald]

See also:
» Florida Legislature 2018: What passed and what failed
» Arts groups face major cutbacks in Florida budget

Florida's female chefs, restaurant owners look to swell ranks

Women in Florida’s restaurant scene are banding together to fight for recognition and a path forward in an industry where just less than 20 percent of head chefs are female, compared with 59 percent of all professional cooks, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Ex-Mexico governor sued for funneling cash into Miami homes

The Mexican state of Veracruz is looking to recoup money it says was stolen by its imprisoned former governor and invested in real estate around Miami-Dade County. Veracruz sued in Florida state court last month saying the ill-gotten funds from former politician Javier Duarte were invested in Florida properties. [Source: Bloomberg]

Should voters get a chance to ban assault weapons? Panel could put it on 2018 ballot

In a long-shot bid to get an amendment on the November ballot to ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, Chris Smith of the Constitution Revision Commission is asking the panel to adopt his proposal to prohibit the sale and transfer of the semiautomatic weapons. More from the Miami Herald and Florida Politics.

Florida Trend Business Profile
Chemical break down

Oxalate is a naturally occurring chemical found in most plant foods and is produced as an end product as the body metabolizes vitamin C. Some who consume foods with high levels of oxalate can develop kidney stones or other problems. Aaron and Helena Cowley of Gainesville founded Captozyme to target oxalate overload. Full story here (part of a business news roundup for Northeast Florida).

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Hurricane center updates Irma death toll in US, Caribbean [AP]
The death toll from Hurricane Irma's catastrophic rampage across the Caribbean and the southeastern U.S. has risen to 44 fatalities directly caused by its strong winds and heavy rains, plus 85 fatalities indirectly linked to the storm.

› Florida has the 9th lowest tax rates in the country [WalletHub]
In WalletHub's 2018 Taxpayer Survey, Florida ranks 9th lowest overall for state and local tax rate. Florida ranks #1 for "effective income tax" in the nation. Find out how the state ranks for other tax metrics, here. Also at this survey, find out what citizens think of Trump's tax reform, and what they might do to have a tax-free future.

› New chamber seeks Canadians in Central Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
Leonardo Vilela is looking for Canadians in Central Florida who want to raise their level of business networking. He’s trying to start a new chapter of the Canada-Florida Chamber of Commerce. He is relatively new to the Orlando area.

› Steel manufacturer announces Frostproof plant [Press Release]
Nucor Corporation will build a quarter-billion-dollar rebar micro (steel) mill outside Frostproof. The company says it's expected to employ approximately 250 people, paying an average annual salary of $66,000. Polk County economic-development officials are celebrating one of the county’s biggest recruitment successes. Read more at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

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› A relatively unknown town in Florida has become a horse 'Disneyland' for the richest of the rich [Business Insider]
To most of the country, the name "Wellington, Florida," doesn't mean anything. However, to a certain elite group that ranges from Olympians to the children of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Bruce Springsteen, the small town has become a magnet that draws thousands of people every winter.

› Florida restaurateur raises $182K for school massacre survivors, victims' families [Orlando Sentinel]
Restaurateur and horse trainer Carlo Vaccarezza, whose sons Michael and Nicholas survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, raised $182,254 in a fundraiser to benefit the school at his Boca restaurant, Frank and Dino's.

› Why Hillsborough’s record tourism year may help build a Rays ballpark in Ybor City [Tampa Bay Times]
For the first time, visitors staying overnight in Hillsborough County hotels, motels and other short-term rentals spent more than $600 million in a calendar year. The record-setting year means Hillsborough is now a "high-impact tourism" county.

› Florida keeping eye out for invasive pest that’s caused real stink elsewhere [Florida Times-Union]
Twenty years after showing up in Allentown, Penn., the brown marmorated stinkbug has spread to more than 40 states, including Florida. But luckily for Floridians, it doesn’t seem as if they’re established here — yet.