Ahead of the start of hurricane season, Florida lauded for its building codes

Florida's hurricane season is more than a month away but some positive news related to the storm period already is blowing through the Sunshine State. The recently released assessment by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety ranked Florida No. 1 in its assessment of residential building code systems in 18 hurricane-prone states. [Source: Florida Today]

See also:
» Dreaded ‘cone of uncertainty’ will shrink for the coming hurricane season

Disney's anti-gambling contributions in Florida continue to build

Chipping in another $105,000 last month, Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. has contributed at least $4.655 million to try to pass a constitutional amendment that could make it harder to expand gambling in the state. More from the Orlando Sentinel and FOX 35.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Economic portrait of Northeast Florida

This look at the economic strengths and challenges for Northeast Florida covers 16 counties in the region and includes Jacksonville, Gainesville and Ocala.

Read the full report.

» Coming tomorrow: The last installment in our economic look at Florida's regions examines Northwest Florida -- from the Big Bend through the Panhandle.

Florida reacts to news of Barbara Bush’s death

Former first lady Barbara Bush’s ties to Florida were anchored by family, friends and philanthropy. The matriarch of the Bush family died Tuesday at 92. Read more at the Palm Beach Post and see also:

» Florida politicians react to the news
» Central Florida remembers Barbara Bush
» The Barbara Bush Foundation For Family Literacy, based in Florida, celebrates the legacy of its founder, Barbara Pierce Bush

More greyhounds may need homes if Florida bans racing

Greyhound rescue organizations around the country may see an influx of dogs needing adoption if Florida decides to ban greyhound racing. Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission is considering putting such a ban on a statewide ballot in November. Florida has 12 greyhound racing tracks. [Source: WTVR]

» See verbiage of "P 6012: Ends Dog Racing," along with seven other revisons from the CRC that wil be on Florida's 2018 General Election ballot.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Space Coast Tourism and the American greenback [Space Coast Daily]
Florida’s Space Coast is an amazing place for tourists to visit. The beautiful beaches, the warm climate, and the friendly welcome are underpinned by the draw of Orlando and Cape Canaveral. Predicting who will visit, however, can be difficult to accomplish effectively.

› Florida judge again backs allowing man to grow marijuana [WJXT]
For the second time in less than a week, a Tallahassee judge has given Tampa strip-club owner Joe Redner the go-ahead to grow his own pot, rejecting a request from state health officials to keep in place a stay blocking the cancer survivor from cultivating medical marijuana.

Your turn:
» Should medical marijuana patients be allowed to grow their own pot? (quick poll)

› Orlando coworking spaces put bickering behind them, create organization [Orlando Sentinel]
A cluster of coworking spaces in Central Florida that provide services to new businesses have joined to create an organization that will unify what had been a splintered group.

› JM Family to launch $150 million headquarters campus renovation in Deerfield Beach [Press Release]
JM Family Enterprises is launching a $150 million headquarters campus renovation and expansion in Deerfield Beach, as part of efforts to attract new generations of workers. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Related, from Florida Trend's Archives:
» Colin Brown, CEO of JM Family Enterprises, is "Floridian of the Year."

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Port Manatee sets first-half cargo records [Press Release]
Port Manatee on Tuesday reported several cargo records set in the first six months of the fiscal year. The Palmetto-based port said it set first-half highs for total tonnage and in a several cargo sectors.

› Disney is giving $500,000 to Central Florida nonprofits this week [Orlando Sentinel]
This week Walt Disney World representatives are surprising five nonprofits in Central Florida with $100,000 each. The Disney Grants are part of the company’s plans to give $34 million in cash and in-kind contributions to the Central Florida community this year.

› Trees bring money, jobs to Florida [Citrus County Chronicle]
What most people do not realize is the importance of the forest or timber industry to the state’s economy. The Florida forest industry has been consistently one of the top three industries in Florida for many years.

› Four world-class soccer teams are playing in Miami this summer [Miami Herald]
The eyes of the soccer world will be on Hard Rock Stadium again this summer, as four of the sport’s most storied clubs – Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Manchester City – play matches in Miami as part of the sixth-annual International Champions Cup.