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Associated PressAugust 16, 2016

With the state’s iconic citrus industry reeling due to a so-far incurable bacterial disease, some Florida farmers are eyeing a new niche crop that can tap into the country’s burgeoning beer-brewing business: hops. Hops are vining plants that produce pungent flowers or buds that for hundreds of years have been used by brewers as the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 11, 2016

Travelers might be worried about Zika, but it isn’t stopping them from traveling to the Sunshine State. The University of Florida’s Tourism Crisis Management Initiative found more than 70 percent of potential visitors are concerned about the mosquito-borne virus. However, the study found about 10 percent of potential visitors have actually changed their travel plans. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 4, 2016

The tourism industry may suffer because of algae blooms that have plagued parts of South Florida. A joint study by Black Hills State University and the University of Florida’s Tourism Crisis Management Initiative shows more than half of potential visitors are concerned about the blue-green algae blooms in parts of South Florida. The study found more than 70 percent […]

Associated PressAugust 3, 2016

Worried you might catch the Zika virus? Scammers and bug spray companies are counting on it. Marketers know this is the time to pounce: The Summer Olympics are about to start in Brazil, where the recent Zika epidemic started, and 14 mosquito-borne cases of Zika were identified recently in the Miami area, the first in […]

Associated PressJuly 29, 2016

The Latest on the Zika virus in Florida (all times local): 1 p.m. President Obama‘s spokesman says Florida needs more federal money to limit the spread of the Zika virus. White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Friday’s announcement that South Florida has four mosquito-transmitted cases should be a wake-up call for Congress “to […]

Associated PressJuly 29, 2016

An entomologist at the University of Florida says it’s not surprising that no mosquitoes have tested positive for Zika even though four residents in South Florida have been found to be the first cases of mosquito-borne Zika virus in the U.S. mainland. Roxanne Connelly said Friday that finding positive mosquitoes is like chasing a moving […]

Staff ReportsJuly 29, 2016

Consumer sentiment among Floridians increased in July to 93.7, according to the latest University of Florida consumer survey. This reading is four points higher than June’s revised figure of 89.7, turning upward after three straight months of declines and marking the second-highest reading over the past year. Of the five components that make up the […]

Ryan RayJune 24, 2016

Florida’s consumer sentiment is trending negatively for the third straight month, according to a University of Florida survey. Consumers’ confidence in the wellbeing of the state economy dropped to 89, one point down from May’s report and tied with September 2015 for the lowest reading in the last year and a half. Overall economic news was […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 9, 2016

A mosquito trap designed by University of Florida researchers could limit the spread of the Zika virus, but first it needs approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Phil Koehler, a professor in the university’s entomology and nematology department, said researchers have requested an emergency registration permit for the product. If granted, the university would […]

Peter SchorschJune 3, 2016

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Lawyer-lobbyist Nicole “Nikki” Fried tells FloridaPolitics.com she’s leaving Colodny Fass to form her own South Florida influence shop. The new firm, to be called Igniting Florida, will be based in Fort Lauderdale. Fried now works in Sunrise. Fried, who’s become a go-to person in medical marijuana lobbying, will keep her clients. They include San Felasco […]

Tag: University of Florida
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough. Image via AP.

Some Florida farmers eyeing hops as next niche crop

Zika concerns not stopping travelers from visiting Florida

Report: Algae blooms could start choking Florida’s tourism industry

Scammers, bug spray companies capitalizing on Zika fears

White House: Congress should get back to work on Zika

Finding Zika mosquitoes is like ‘chasing a moving target,’ researcher says

Florida consumer sentiment up in July, reversing a three-month slide

Florida consumer confidence down for third straight month amid mixed economic news

UF seeks approval for device that could help stop spread of Zika

Personnel note: Nikki Fried to open own firm