Dangerous but disarmed: How Florida has confiscated thousands of guns

Once, it would have seemed unlikely in the “Gunshine State,” known for lawmakers in lockstep with the National Rifle Association. But since Florida enacted its “red flag” law in March 2018, thousands of guns - handguns, shotguns, hunting rifles and the kind of semi-automatic weapons used in mass shootings across America - have been given up or taken by authorities. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Trump approves Florida disaster declaration in wake of Dorian

President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for Florida in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. A White House statement says the declaration means that federal funding is now available to eligible state and local governments, as well as certain nonprofits. The statement says funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and repairs or replacements of facilities damaged by the storm between Aug. 28 and Sept. 9. More from the Miami Herald and WPTV.

Florida First Amendment Foundation President talks importance of open government, independent media

For 25 years, Barbara Petersen has served as president of the Tallahassee-based First Amendment Foundation (FAF). She’s been on a continuous quest to keep government dealings in the sunshine and hold lawmakers accountable when they withhold records from the public. She’s retiring from the job at the end of the year. Her replacement is Pamela Marsh, a former US Attorney in North Florida. [Source: WLRN]

Opinion: Miami is at the forefront of new industrial spaces created for work and play

Much the same way Miami has gained prominence from a residential, cultural and tourism standpoint, the city has become a hotbed for industrial investment activity over the past decade, thanks in large part to its status as one of the country’s leading import and export regions. [Source: Miami Herald]

Former sex workers see value in Florida’s mandated sex trafficking education

This month, Florida became the first state in the nation requiring sex-trafficking education as part of every student's curriculum. The new policy requires every school district to implement age-appropriate lessons about the dangers of one of the state's fastest-growing industries. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Space Florida: Driving Florida's aerospace future

Florida is well-positioned to dominate the future of the aerospace industry and lead the world in enabling space commerce and innovation. There is a growing recognition within the global aerospace industry that Florida has the kind of business operating and living environment that next-generation aerospace companies need to thrive. [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Could the Tampa Bay area lose another of its largest companies? [Tampa Bay Times]
In recent years, outsiders have bought three of Tampa Bay’s largest companies. In 2016, Canada’s Emera took over TECO, parent of Tampa Electric. The next year, QVC purchased St. Petersburg’s HSN, which got its start as the Home Shopping Club in 1982. In March, St. Louis-based Centene announced it was acquiring Tampa’s WellCare Health Plans.

› Unique partnership injects funding into coral restoration [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Venice-based Enzymedica hopes to help fund Mote Marine coral restoration efforts through sales of new Aqua-Biome fish oil product, as scientists toil to save the Florida Reef Tract.

› Publix launches new line of fan apparel [Florida Times-Union]
Publix Super Markets Inc. is cashing in on fan devotion with a new line of colorful merchandise featuring fan faves like the Pub Sub, bogos and chicken tenders. T-shirts and other attire feature prints with the super market chain’s popular submarine sandwiches. There’s a pillow emblazoned with the phrase: “Just dreaming about buy 1 get 1.”

› Florida Orchestra brings back free happy hour concerts [WFLA]
Happy hour just got a little happier. The Florida Orchestra is bringing back its wildly popular series of free Happy Hour Concerts at Armature Works just in time for Halloween. Imagine yourself unwinding from a grueling day at the office, sipping drinks and enjoying bewitching favorites like Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre and Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain for the casual. The orchestra will perform under Principal Guest Conductor Stuart Malina.

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› Impact 100 SRQ Announces 5 high-impact grant finalists [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Impact 100 SRQ, a group of local women philanthropists committed to high impact strategic grant making, announced the five finalists that will compete for two $114,000 grants at the inaugural Impact 100 SRQ annual meeting and awards celebration on Nov. 3 at Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club.

› Calling All Florida Citrus Growers to Take Industry Survey [Growing Produce]
The annual Florida Grower Citrus State of the Industry Survey is a great opportunity for growers and industry stakeholders to provide a pulse of what is happening in the groves and markets. The survey dives deeper than just the production estimate and gives a sense of the collective mood of the industry heading into the 2019-2020 crop season.

› Future Sarasota-Manatee transportation plan to focus on congestion management [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
As the population and number of jobs in the Sarasota-Manatee region continue to grow in the decades ahead, transportation planners say curtailing traffic congestion will have to be a constant priority. Yet they contend that, with proper land use planning and the availability of alternatives to the individually owned automobile, that congestion can be better controlled and contained.

› New Port Richey considers scooter ordinance [Tampa Bay Times]
Motorized scooters could become a presence in downtown New Port Richey with city leaders eyeing a proposal from a company to rent them for tours. Motorized scooters have made national headlines recently with some cities, including Tampa, allowing the launch of scooter ride-sharing services.