Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Afternoon Update

Census shows greatest Hispanic growth rate in north Florida

North Florida counties led the state in the growth rate of Florida's Hispanic population last year. But traditional bastions in South Florida and central Florida led in pure numbers. Figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau offer a snapshot of how Florida's Hispanic population changed from July 2016 to July 2017. More from the AP and WPTV.

See also:
» Census Bureau: Flagler, Volusia populations getting older
» Sarasota-Manatee is still getting older, census shows
» Marion County’s senior population tops 100,000
» Census report: U.S. population getting older, more diverse

Sarasota nonprofit grows budget 500% in four years — to $157 million

Sarasota-based CAN Community Health is amid an unprecedented growth spurt for practically any entity, anywhere — for-profit or 501(c)3. The funding behind the surge comes almost exclusively from a complicated federal program called 340B, which CAN has honed over the past three years. More from the Business Observer.

Yellow fever outbreak in Brazil possible threat to Florida

A large, ongoing yellow fever outbreak in Brazil has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning people not to travel there unless they get vaccinated against the deadly mosquito-borne illness. With Florida being a hub for visitors from South and Central America, some health officials are concerned yellow fever could make its way to the United States. More from WUSF.

Scooter companies pulling out of Miami just weeks after making their debut

And just like that, they were gone. Mere weeks after blanketing the City of Miami with electronic scooters, two major scooter providers are temporarily pulling out after the city attorneys issued cease and desist letters stating they were in violation of Florida statutes. More from the Miami Herald.

Darden turns in big fourth-quarter sales, profits even as newly acquired Cheddar's struggles

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen struggled for Darden Restaurants in the fourth quarter even as the Orlando-based company turned in higher sales at flagships Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen same-restaurant sales fell 4.7 percent in the three months ending May 27. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Remembrance
Jack Shreve

 Jack Shreve, a long-time champion of the rights of Florida consumers in cases involving telephone and utility companies seeking higher rates, died June 12. He was 85 and was a long-time resident of Tallahassee. Shreve served two terms in the state House as a Democrat from 1970 to 1974, representing Brevard County. After he left the Legislature, he ran the Office of Public Counsel for a quarter of a century.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Out of the Box
Vending machines that sell WiFi

florida Vending machines sell drinks, chips and phones. Why not WiFi? Miami International Airport now has vending machines that sell palm-sized portable hot spots. The boxy vending machines, which also include power packs and adapters, are from Skyroam, an international WiFi provider that describes its orange devices as “grab-and-go-WIFI.”

» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.