Florida officially joins national voter database network

Florida officials announced Wednesday that the state’s voter registration rolls are now linked to a national database that could help elections officials detect possible fraud — or spot multiple voter registration files across state lines. Florida has had its share of ballot box controversies over the years, including the revelation earlier this year that hackers had infiltrated the election systems of at least two of the state’s 67 counties. More from WFLA and the AP.

New project to test humans for health risks from toxic blue-green algae

The Florida Department of Health announced that $650,000 in legislatively-appropriated funds was awarded to four Florida universities. This funding will support these researchers in their efforts to improve the understanding of the potential long-term human-health impacts of harmful algal blooms like blue-green algae and red tide. [Source: CBS 12]

Researchers finally figured out how to grow hops in Florida

Florida might be known as the Sunshine State, but it doesn’t have enough rays to naturally produce hops -- one of the key ingredients for making craft beer. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences figured out a way to successfully grow hops with supplemental lighting. [Source: WTSP]

Trade between U.S. and Latin American countries is boosting industrial real estate in South Florida

Trade between Latin American countries and the United States is shaping South Florida’s industrial market. The trade activity will draw more interest to industrial real estate in Miami-Dade County, Walter Byrd, executive managing director for Florida operations at Transwestern Commercial Services, said. Although demand for warehouse space and rent growth come primarily from more consumers in South Florida, Byrd said, continual trade activity will contribute to an increase in industrial leases in 2020. [Source: Miami Herald]

Retire in Florida? Sure. But eight states are better bets, survey says

Iowa, the state famed for its corn, state fairs and for being the home of the first bread slicing machine, according to World Atlas, nevertheless has been deemed the No. 1 state in the country in which to retire. The Best and Worst States for Retirees survey, done by the Blacktower US Financial Management Group, factored in metrics like the cost of living, crime rates, life expectancy, property prices and population age to make that call. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Boca Raton approves new Brightline express train station [Miami Herald]
Boca Raton’s City Council has approved a long-term land lease with Brightline, soon to be Virgin Trains, for the construction of a train station and parking garage near the city’s downtown library. Brightline will begin building the train station, which it will fully fund and operate, on a 1.8-acre site in 2021, as a rail-ready connection to the $4 billion, 170-mile intercity train system.

› AmeriPro EMS acquires longtime Ambulance Service in Jacksonville [Florida Times-Union]
AmeriPro EMS announced it has purchased Ambulance Service Inc., an independently owned mainstay in the Jacksonville area for 54 years. AmeriPro EMS is one of the fastest-growing emergency medical services transport companies in the country and has services in Florida and Georgia.

› 84 more hotels in the wings for Miami-Dade market [Miami Today]
A new wave of 84 announced hotels could catapult 16,135 more hotel rooms into the Miami-Dade market within four years, adding more than 27% to hotel capacity at a time the industry is also feeling the growth of short-term rental services operators like Airbnb.

› Sea urchins to the rescue: Florida researchers launch breeding program to help revive ailing reefs [WJCT]
Florida has an underappreciated secret weapon to help heal its ailing reefs: prickly sea urchins. This week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration unveiled a $97 million rescue effort expected to take five to seven years. Part of the plan will include an unprecedented lab-breeding program to help revive long-spined sea urchins, a shimmering black-spined urchin and one of the largest on the planet.

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› Alorica laying off 482 and closing call center east of Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
California-based customer service company Alorica is closing its call center near U.S. 301 and Adamo Drive and laying off 482 employees. Layoffs are scheduled to take place in seven phases from Feb. 9 through March 27, according to a notice the company sent to Tallahassee officials this week.

› At Miami International Airport, Sola flying solo on upgrades [Miami Today]
Five months after giving the OK to a $5 billion plan to improve Miami International Airport (MIA) through 2035, Miami-Dade lawmakers have opted to cut themselves out of the loop in approving its programs. County Commissioners last week voted 7-3 for a new section of the county code granting Mayor Carlos Giménez and Aviation Director Lester Sola authority – without commission approval – to advertise, negotiate, award and amend contracts for goods, services and construction projects that are part of the massive plan.

› PortMiami Welcomes Largest Container Ship to Dock in Florida [NBC Miami]
The largest container ship to ever call on a Florida port sailed into PortMiami early Wednesday morning. Officials from the county, including Mayor Carlos Gimenez and others, welcomed the CMA CGM Magellan into the port. The 167-foot wide vessel can hold between 120,000 and 146,000 pallets.

› Florida Senate Committee Gives Green Light To Statewide Office Of Resiliency [WGCU]
The Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee approved proposals this week that would establish a Statewide Office of Resiliency under the governor (SPB 7016) and direct the Public Service Commission to work with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on electric-vehicle charging station infrastructure (SPB 7018).