Friday's Afternoon Update
Census is yet another worry for Florida Panhandle after Hurricane Michael
In the places where Hurricane Michael hit hardest last year, officials have a new worry over the 2020 U.S. Census, which they say could record their population as unusually low, skewing federal funding and political representation for up to a decade. Cities and counties in the storm’s path have suffered lingering population loss, which will not be remedied by the time the Census marks a snapshot of the American people. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Intelligent growth for AI-powered business software firm
Tampa-based tech startup CoLabs has been on a fundraising tear, raising $6.2 million from investors to support IntelAgree, its Software-as-a-Service platform that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to automate many tedious business processes, particularly contracts. More from the Business Observer.
Buying vowels, solving puzzles: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ auditions coming to South Florida
Fans of buying vowels, solving puzzles and watching Pat Sajak and Vanna White can look forward to the arrival of “The Wheelmobile" in South Florida. The 36-foot yellow Winnebago, which travels around the country looking for “Wheel of Fortune” contestants, will stop Oct. 26-27 in Miami. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Florida's honey bees facing multiple threats
One of the foundations of American agriculture is under attack on several fronts. The victims - bees. WUSF visits one beekeeper in Polk County who has to drive thousands of miles every year to keep his hives humming. More from WUSF and WJCT.
Broward will use artificial intelligence to improve your commute. Think of it as the ‘county brain.'
With little room left to widen roads to reduce congestion, Broward County is turning to artificial intelligence to shorten commuter drive times. The county is building a network of cameras and sensors on its roads that will quickly adjust signals to reduce delays as changing traffic patterns are detected. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Out of the Box
How Eckerd College helped build a more perfect cantaloupe
The St. Petersburg college teamed up with a central Florida plant breeder to create the Triton cantaloupe. Home gardeners and farmers interested in experimenting with the new melon will likely buy much of the first batch. If commercial farmers start planting Tritons, they’ll need tens of millions of seeds. That usually comes after a major grocer decides to stock them.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida Dining
Florida's deli revival
For all the complaints about the death of old-school New York-style delis in the state, there is a revival in monster $13 sandwiches of pastrami and corned beef (with a schmear of chopped liver), bowtie pasta and kasha across Florida. The deli revival is driven by more than nostalgia for hearty comfort foods. Young chefs and restaurateurs from gastro pubs are turning to the old-world tradition of salting, brining, curing and smoking beef. They love making pickles and sauerkraut.
» Read more from Florida Trend.