Tropical Storm Gordon weakens after killing one in Florida

Tropical Storm Gordon never became a hurricane but it was deadly all the same, killing a child by blowing a tree onto a mobile home in Pensacola as it made landfall late Tuesday just west of the Alabama-Mississippi border. More than 27,000 customers were without power as Gordon began pushing ashore, mostly in coastal Alabama and the western tip of the Florida Panhandle. More from CNBC, NBC, and the Pensacola News Journal.

See also:
» Tropical Storm Gordon makes landfall as forecasters watch 3 other systems in the Atlantic

Florida consumer confidence dips, but remains strong overall

Florida consumer sentiment fell in August, but remains high overall for the year, according to an analysis released Tuesday by the University of Florida. Consumer confidence dropped 2.3 points in August to 98.3. But figures for July were revised higher, showing Florida consumer sentiment at 100.6, topping 100 points for the third time this year — which hasn’t happened since 2000. Full story from UF is here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times and Florida Politics.

Can underground power lines protect Florida's electric grid?

South Florida’s largest utility wants to put more power lines underground to help prevent electrical outages during and after storms. With the prospect of rising seas and more severe storms, some question whether this is an adequate solution for keeping the power on. More from WLRN.

Campaign matching funds expected to keep climbing

Florida’s controversial public matching-funds program for statewide candidates remains on a pace to surpass a high of $6.1 million that was handed out in the 2010 elections. Last week’s primaries eliminated four of the nine gubernatorial and Cabinet candidates who had qualified for the program, which has already topped $4.9 million in distributions during the 2018 election cycle. More from Florida Politics and the Gainesville Sun.

See also:
» Bill Nelson, Rick Scott deadlocked at 47% according to latest poll of race for Florida’s U.S Senate seat
» FBI investigation looms over Gillum campaign in Florida
» Florida governor's race too close to call, Quinnipiac University poll finds; Big gender and racial gaps
» The job of Florida lieutenant governor — and how it got that way

$75,000 a year with benefits; no college needed. Yet South Florida employers can’t fill jobs

Miami is a city with an ever changing skyline. And those who make it happen — the plumbers, electricians, brick masons and carpenters — earn far above the local median: $55,000-75,000 a year with full benefits and a pension. But as the economy barrels toward full employment, local contractors are struggling to find enough skilled workers to fuel the construction boom. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Research from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems is "empowering the energy revolution" [Sponsored Report]
In early 1990, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) tapped into the coming energy revolution when it launched the advanced class gas turbine and set a goal to get 65% net fuel efficiency in the 2020’s.This year, MHPS researchers successfully tested a large-scale, high-efficiency gas turbine fueled by a 30% hydrogen mix.

› Red tide: Venice vice mayor to seek citywide ban of fertilizer [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Vice Mayor Bob Daniels is asking the Venice City Council to consider a ban on the use of fertilizer within the city limits, similar to one put in place by Sewall’s Point, in Martin County, on the east coast of Florida

› Before merger, First Green Bank is trying to get all of its employees re-hired [Orlando Sentinel]
In an email sent to clients, shareholders, bankers and friends, Orlando-based First Green included a list of job titles corresponding to the employees who will lose their jobs when the bank is sold to Seacoast Bank in the next several months.

› How much higher can Florida gas prices rise? [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Floridians paid the highest average gasoline prices in four years during the just-completed summer driving season, and possibly face further price increases as Tropical Storm Gordon prompted oil producers to shut down rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

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› Florida gun rights group sues FSU over ban on rifles, shotguns in vehicles on campus [Tallahassee Democrat]
A gun-rights group is again suing Florida State University claiming that although the school amended its student handbook allowing concealed weapons in vehicles, it still prohibits rifles and shotguns.

› In mid ’60s, a troubled Jacksonville looked for a new approach to government [Florida Times-Union]
A lot went wrong in the city of Jacksonville and surrounding Duval County in the quarter-century that preceded the decision that the city and county governments should consolidate 50 years ago.

› Florida Tech to host 11th Annual NanoFlorida Research Conference October 5-7 [Space Coast Daily]
Florida Tech will host a large gathering this fall centered on a very small thing. More than 200 people from the Sunshine State and the southeast United States are expected to visit Florida Tech Oct. 5-7 for the 11th NanoFlorida Research Conference.

› Pitbull is hiring for his new Miami Beach restaurant. Can you say 'Dale?' [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Pitbull is hiring. The Cuban-American rapper has several positions to fill for his upcoming restaurant, iLov305 in Miami Beach. The Latin steakhouse and nightlife destination is looking for male and female dancers, models, singers and positions called “speciality performers".