Hurricane Michael update: hardest-hit areas still largely without power as death toll expected to rise

The total number of people killed by this storm is expected to rise when the hardest-hit towns, Mexico Beach and Panama City, begin to use dogs and listening devices to search through the wreckage. Some reports indicate that has already begun, though state emergency officials have said those "deep" searches haven't started yet in earnest. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

See also:
» At least 46 missing in Florida city hit hard by Hurricane Michael
» Roads reopening, cell service slowly returning as Hurricane Michael recovery begins
» Report: Insured damages for Hurricane Michael pegged at $3B to $5B
» Florida’s building code is tough, but Michael was tougher. Is it time for a rewrite?
» Officials confirm nearly 3,000 Florida inmates evacuated because of prison damages
» Trump in Florida today to examine Hurricane Michael damage

Florida citrus forecast looks up — for a change

Forecast numbers announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are still down from where the industry has been most of the past five decades. But the projections are encouraging for an industry that has been on a steady decline because of citrus greening disease and pressures from development. Read more at the Orlando Sentinel and see tull story from the Packer.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: JoAnn Morgan

The NASA aerospace engineer was the first woman senior executive at Kennedy Space Center. She tells Florida Trend: "I’m so lucky. I never had a dull day. I had bad days — and a bad day in the space business means one of those horrible disasters and loss of life and billions of dollars affected in flight hardware." Read the full Icon interview here.

The 12 constitutional amendments on Florida’s 2018 ballot and what they do

When Floridians head to the ballot box in November, they will encounter a list of candidates asking for their vote for seats in the state House to the U.S. Senate. Among the choices they must make will also be one of the longest lists of proposed constitutional changes in decades, from betting on dog racing to implementing a ban on public officials lobbying for six years after they leave office. [Source: Miami Herald]

See also:
» Florida TaxWatch: 2018 Voter Guide to Florida's Constitutional Amendments
» Earlier, from Florida Trend: Florida's constitutional amendments are a mixed bag

What Red Tide? New Florida tourism campaigns promote museums, craft beer and local experiences

Visit Florida’s latest ad campaign doesn’t feature sprawling beach scenes with toes in the sand. Instead, look for craft beers, restaurants, museums and murals — a move designed to hook millennial travelers seeking to experience cities "like a local." [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Your turn:
» Red tide still impacting your favorite Florida beach? (quick poll)

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Embraer debuts new private jets in Florida [Business Insider]
Embraer introduced a pair of new private jets on Sunday in Orlando, Florida dubbed the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600. The pair represents the Brazilian plane maker's newest entrants in the mid-size and super mid-size private jet market.

› Electoral battle for Hispanics intensifies in Florida [The Hill]
Republicans and Democrats alike are investing heavily in wooing Florida’s Hispanic voters as they battle over the governor's mansion, a Senate seat and at least four House seats that are up for grabs in November.

› Boca Raton could snag new headquarters from New Jersey [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Palm Beach County Commission on Tuesday will consider awarding incentives to bring a new corporate headquarters to Boca Raton from New Jersey. The company is in the “tracking and monitoring” industry, according to a resolution passed by the Boca Raton City Commission.

› Google Maps integrates ticketing technology built by Lake Mary's Accesso [Orlando Sentinel]
An Orlando tech company that provides the backbone of several ticketing applications for major clients, including Legoland, ICON Orlando and Gatorland, will soon integrate into a handful of Google platforms, including Maps. Also see the company announcement here.

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› Florida child first to die of flu this season [WCTV]
Florida health officials say a child is the first to die during this year's flu season. The Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Epidemiology said in a report that the unidentified child tested positive for influenza B and died between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6.

› Scientists to study red tide impact on humans [AP]
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute are taking take nasal swabs, blood and urine looking for traces of the toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) that's been plaguing Florida beaches.

› Impact of Fort Lauderdale boat show? 'From an economic impact point of view, it’s the annual Super Bowl for us' [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
This year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, is expected to host about 110,000 visitors and have a total economic impact of $857 million for the state. Of that, more than $283 million is generated in Broward County and $532 million in South Florida, according to the most recent study available by the University of Florida.

› Tourists come for the beach, but don’t stay for much else. Has Miami Beach lost its mojo? [Miami Herald]
Ricky Arriola remembers 1990s Miami Beach in shades of pulsing neon and “Miami Vice” pastels. Tourists shared sidewalks with European models and fashion titans. Nightlife was so hot that Mickey Rourke, Prince and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood opened their own clubs. But not anymore.