Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 10/27/2015

America's economy is in the Twilight Zone

Uncertainty reigns. Businesses are back at record profits, but they're hoarding cash. Americans are finding jobs again and enjoying cheap gas prices, but they still feel uneasy. More than three out of five people say they are "sometimes" or "frequently" anxious about their financial situation. More at Money.

Florida property insurers pass hurricane 'stress tests'

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FOIR) conducted its third year of catastrophe stress tests, and have announced that Florida property insurance market can withstand significant catastrophic losses. All of the 112 insurance companies, including 67 Florida-based insurers, that participated in the Annual Reinsurance Data Call were found to have sufficient reinsurance, capital and surplus to pay policyholder claims in the event of a one in a 100 year storm. Full story here.

Bill would waive Florida state park fees for an entire year

The idea behind the bill is to encourage more people to enjoy the beauty of the Sunshine State's outdoors. Conservationists, however, are worried that if the fees go away, the state might look for new ways of raising money, like allowing logging and cattle grazing on state park land. More at Bright House Networks.

Florida fights grapefruit size issues

he first Florida grapefruit of the season was picked in early October and, according to sources, fruit sugars and juice levels are ahead of last year’s pace. The diameter of this season’s grapefruit crop is posing some challenges, however. More at Fruitnet.

Orlando home prices climb out of Florida's bottom half

Metro Orlando home prices have improved from being in the bottom half statewide five years ago to now being among the top quarter of all Florida metros, according to Florida Realtors. More at the Orlando Sentinel.

Profile
Watchmaker still in business at University Mall in Tampa

Doug Maggard is a third-generation horologist. What does that mean? Maggard, 58, describes it as being a mechanic, just on a smaller scale. As the owner of Maggard's Watch and Jewelry Repair Service in Tampa, he fixes watches and clocks, repairs jewelry, resizes rings and does engravings, among other things.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times

Out of the Box
White sand, waves, water and cars?

People have been driving on the hard-packed sand of Daytona Beach for more than a century. Races were held on the beach until they were moved to the Daytona International Speedway in 1959. After the racers left, cars and trucks continued to cruise on the sand. But now, there's a debate raging about whether it's finally time to ban vehicles on Daytona Beach.