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News at noon: Miami-Dade ramps up efforts to combat Zika-spreading mosquito; what's next for Sundial? does flossing even work? USF picked to win AAC East

 
Larry Smart, a Miami-Dade County mosquito control inspector, uses a fogger to spray pesticide to kill mosquitos in the Wynwood neighborhood as the county fights to control the Zika virus outbreak on Monday in Miami. [Getty Images]
Larry Smart, a Miami-Dade County mosquito control inspector, uses a fogger to spray pesticide to kill mosquitos in the Wynwood neighborhood as the county fights to control the Zika virus outbreak on Monday in Miami. [Getty Images]
Published Aug. 2, 2016

With a dozen local cases of Zika now confirmed in a single neighborhood, Miami-Dade County officials are ramping up efforts to combat the urban mosquito blamed for spreading the virus.A team of 12 inspectors is being increased to 32 on Tuesday. They will patrol for breeding hotspots and hit those areas with backpack foggers or other mosquito-killing treatments. More personnel will be added if needed

CDC SENDS MONEY TO TRACK ZIKA-RELATED BIRTH DEFECTS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sending another $720,000 to help Florida health officials detect and track birth defects from the Zika virus.

DESPITE MONEY SPENT ON TV ADS, RACE REMAINS TIGHT

The landslide continues, with another super PAC ad in Florida directed at Donald Trump. Trump and allies have spent almost nothing, in part because he's still trying to ramp up fundraising and in part because he's breaking the traditions of campaigning. But Florida remains a dead heat, according to the Real Clear Politics average.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR SUNDIAL?

When the Sundial shopping center was listed for sale last week, real estate developers in Tampa Bay and others familiar with the project weren't surprised. It wasn't the first time developer Bill Edwards had listed the property for sale. But this time it took, leaving the future of downtown St. Petersburg's only shopping center in flux yet again.

SCOTT-LED SUPER PAC LAUNCHES ADS SUPPORTING TRUMP

Rebuilding America Now, the super PAC chaired by Gov. Rick Scott, is now up on the air in Florida with two TV ads supporting Donald Trump.

SENATOR RUBIO OR CANDIDATE RUBIO?

When Marco Rubio visits Costa Del Mar, a polarized sunglass maker in Daytona Beach, Tuesday afternoon, he'll be doing so in his capacity as a U.S. senator, highlighting another advantage he is pressing against his GOP opponent Carlos Beruff.

MILLENNIALS DRIVE GROCERS TO CARRY LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD

For the last several years, consumers have increasingly reached for local or regionally produced items. Grocery stores have taken steps to highlight those products, and the small businesses behind them say it has made a big difference. Consumers between 18 and 35 years old are now the largest population in the country and their shopping trends have drastically changed the market.

TRUMP CALLS CLINTON 'THE DEVIL'

Donald Trump launched a familiar attack against Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday, saying the lawmaker from Vermont made an arrangement that he shouldn't have when he decided to support Hillary Clinton for president. But this time, his word choice was more aggressively critical of Clinton. "He made a deal with the devil. She's the devil," Trump said of Sanders and Clinton.

DOES FLOSSING EVEN WORK?

It's one of the most universal recommendations in all of public health: Floss daily to prevent gum disease and cavities. Except there's little proof that flossing works.

BULLS PICKED TO WIN DIVISION

USF, which returns nearly every offensive skill starter from last season's 8-5 team, has been picked to win the East Division by the American Athletic Conference media.

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DRIVER THREATENS MOTORCYCLIST WITH BAT, STEALS NECKLACE

Hillsborough deputies are searching for a man with a Mohawk hairstyle who is accused of threatening a motorcyclist with a bat before snatching a gold necklace from his neck in a road rage incident last month.

News at noon is a weekday feature from tampabay.com. Check in Monday through Friday for updates and information on the biggest stories of the day.