Presidential debate moved to Florida after the University of Michigan withdraws

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts will host a presidential debate in October, bringing the full weight of the 2020 election to Miami less than three weeks before Nov. 3 election. The county-owned venue, home to the first Democratic primary debates in June of last year, confirmed Tuesday morning that it will host the event. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Clearwater medical tech firm's bid for international sales expansion wins approval

Apyx Medical Corp. (NASDAQ: APYX), a Clearwater-based maker of medical devices and supplies, has won regulatory approval to sell its Helium Plasma Technology product in Australia, Brazil, Israel, Taiwan and Thailand. According to a press release, Apyx, formerly known as Bovie Medical Corp., has already contracted with distributors to market and sell the cosmetic surgery product — known by the brand name Renuvion — in each country. More from the Business Observer.

FPL pitches statewide vehicle charging proposal

Pointing to “range anxiety” as an obstacle to motorists driving electric vehicles, Florida Power & Light is asking regulators to approve a proposal that could lead to more vehicle-charging stations in the state. The proposal, filed Friday at the Florida Public Service Commission, would create a pilot program that includes the possibility of FPL operating vehicle-charging stations or partnering with businesses or governments in operating the facilities. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Judge weighs battle over Florida's unemployment system

After four hours of arguments Monday, a Leon County circuit judge will decide whether to move forward with a potential class-action lawsuit stemming from massive problems in Florida’s unemployment compensation system. Attorneys for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Deloitte Consulting, a contractor that helped put the online system in place in 2013, argued that Judge John Cooper should dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed after a crush of coronavirus-caused unemployment claims overwhelmed the system this spring. More from WOFL.

A plume of Saharan dust could soon reach parts of Florida; Here’s what to expect

A strikingly colorful sunset may soon be coming to an evening sky near you. As a layer of Saharan dust continues its nearly 5,000-mile trek westward from off the coast of Africa, National Weather Service meteorologists said Florida could see a reduced chance of tropical activity and potentially hazy skies in the coming days. While this plume of atmospheric dust particles is “unusually large in both size and density,” it is common for Saharan dust to move across the Atlantic Ocean several times each year, according to the National Weather Service Eastern Region. More from the Gainesville Sun.