Ruling rejects limits on medical marijuana businesses

In a ruling that could have a revolutionary impact if it stands, Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson has found a law limiting the number of medical marijuana operators to be unconstitutional in Florida. Dodson ruled that the law, which puts a cap on the number of medical marijuana treatment centers "directly contradicts the amendment" passed by Florida voters two years ago. See the amendment here, and read the ruling from Judge Dodson here. Also see more at WJXT, the News Service of Florida, and Florida Politics.

See also:
» Florida seeks to uphold ban on smoking medical marijuana

Florida's 2018 back-to-school sales tax holiday weekend was a success

The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) said early indications suggest this year's back to school sales tax holiday weekend was a success. James Miller with the FRF said despite the success it's unlikely savings will be as high as last year because expensive electronic items like laptop computers weren't included in the list of items for purchase. More from WEAR and Capitol News Service.

Florida's VPK ‘readiness’ test faces growing scrutiny

When Florida implemented a new Kindergarten Readiness test last fall — designed to determine if the state’s thousands of Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) programs were preparing children for school — 42 percent of providers statewide missed the minimum threshold of having at least 60 percent of their former students pass a state test. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

More than 250,000 Florida voters have already cast ballots for Aug. 28 primary

Florida’s Aug. 28 primaries have already happened for more than 250,000 voters. As of Monday morning, 259,289 voters had returned ballots by mail, according to the Florida Division of Elections website. The figure includes 120,939 Republicans and 98,493 Democrats. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

See also:
» Tampa Bay sees surge of mail ballot returns in primary
» Closed primary shuts out 3.5 million Florida voters
» Quick poll: For the August 28 primary, will you vote early, or on the day?

Rising water temperatures have sharks moving north away from Florida

Feeling hot lately? Well, so are sharks. And over the last decade, they’ve been changing age-old habits to keep up with the rising heat — habits that could have far-reaching consequences on the ecosystem as well as our economy. The annual "State of the Climate" from the American Meteorlogical Society, showed 2017 was one of the hottest years on record. Because the warmer waters, Florida Atlantic University shark researcher Stephen Kajiura said, “Last year, we saw a dramatic decline in the number of blacktip sharks that migrated south." Read more at WPLG.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› An unlikely city has become the first in Florida to allow scooters on its streets [Miami Herald]
Scooters are back—at least on Miracle Mile. On Monday, Coral Gables launched a test program with Spin, a San Francisco-based dockless scooter company, to allow the two-wheelers to be used on its city streets.

› Former finance head sues medical marijuana grower 3 Boys Farm alleging embezzlement, harassment [Tampa Bay Times]
A Hillsborough County medical marijuana farm is being sued by its former director of finance, who says she was subject to significant, targeted harassment by the CEO after she reported him for possible embezzlement of company funds.

› Supreme Court halts Scott’s judicial appointment of Bass [Daily Business Review]
A divided Florida Supreme Court at least temporarily blocked Gov. Rick Scott from following through on the appointment of a Jacksonville-area circuit judge. The 4-3 decision by the Supreme Court effectively blocked a lower court from finalizing a decision that would allow Scott to appoint Duval County Judge Lester Bass to replace retiring Circuit Judge Robert Foster.

› Red tide makes its way to Anna Maria Island [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Red tide has made its way to Anna Maria Island, with brownish water and dead fish on several of the island community’s beaches. The island on Manatee County’s western coast is just the latest to face what has been the worst outbreak of red tide in more than a decade, with symptoms of Karenia brevis found along more than 120 miles of West Florida’s shores.

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› Tallahassee manufacturers brace for impacts from President Trump's tariffs [Tallahassee Democrat]
Area manufacturing companies like Residential Elevators and Danfoss Turbocor Compressors that depend on international imports are beginning to feel the impact and the higher cost due to the trade war being waged in Washington and other world capitals.

› A new Parkland school could be a Florida fortress [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Steel rods to keep cars from ramming in. Classrooms fortified with bullet-resistant doors and glass. Surveillance cameras monitored in real-time. These are just some of the features of Somerset Academy Parkland, a proposed school that could become Florida’s most advanced in terms of security.

› Florida governor to attend swearing-in of Colombia president [US News & World Report]
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is traveling to Colombia to attend the inauguration of the nation's next president. Scott's office announced late Sunday that the governor will fly to the Latin American nation to attend the swearing in of President-elect Ivan Duque.

› SeaWorld swings to 2Q profit on attendance boost [AP]
SeaWorld swung to a second-quarter profit on a boost in attendance at its theme parks. The company earned $22.7 million, or 26 cents per share, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.