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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Insurers warn Floridians to prepare for tropical storm
A tropical storm stands an excellent chance of hitting South Florida this weekend. An insurance industry group wants Floridians to start getting ready. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America on Wednesday recommended Floridians review their policies now. [Source: Florida Politics]
See also:
» Will your homeowner insurance protect you if the Big One hits?
» Tropical wave's slow crawl to Florida continues
» Tropical system likely near Florida this weekend as hurricane hunters prepare another flight
» Too early to predict system's impact on Florida
» Hurricane would soak already waterlogged South
Existing home sales in Florida sink
Florida's housing market reported rising median prices and fewer all-cash closed sales in July, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors. Closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 24,083 last month, down 8% from July 2015, reflecting the state's current shortfall in inventory. Full story here.
See also:
» Home prices are down, yet existing home sales are slumping. Why?
» Home-sales chill extends beyond Orlando
» South Florida home sales suffer double-digit drop in July
HHS analysis shows Floridians will still have affordable health coverage options next year
An estimated 82% percent of Florida HealthCare.gov consumers could still purchase a plan for less than $75 per month, even if all final rates were to increase by double digits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says two important factors will protect Floridians from the impact of rate increases: Tax credits go up along with rate increases, and secondly, consumers can shop aroundl. Read more here.
Film Florida pushes funding for productions
Stung by the Florida Legislature’s refusal for four consecutive years to revive a moribund tax rebate program, the Film Florida entertainment production association, an industry advocacy group, is considering its strategy for the 2017 session. [Source: Miami Today]
Florida poll: Trump 43, Clinton 41; Rubio beating Murphy
Donald Trump has made up for lost ground in Florida, according to a new poll from Florida Atlantic University. Trump gets 43 percent of the vote while Clinton scores 41 percent, within the poll's margin of error. In the Senate race, Marco Rubio has a slightly better advantage over Patrick Murphy, 44 to 39. Story from FAU, here. Download the PDF of the report here, and read more at the Tampa Bay Times.
› Orlando Health, Florida Hospital won't bill Pulse shooting victims
Orlando Health and Florida Hospital will not bill survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre for out-of-pocket medical expenses, officials announced Wednesday. Instead, the hospitals will write off an estimated $5.5 million or more in care.
› Inside the Hitachi rail car assembly plant in Miami-Dade
If you’ve never darkened the doorway of a train manufacturing plant, it’s understandable to at first mistake Medley’s Hitachi facility for a contemporary art museum and the first three of 136 Metrorail cars being assembled there now to replace Miami-Dade’s fleet as a unique exhibit.
› SpaceX to lease building at Port Canaveral, build another one
SpaceX is moving some of its operations to Port Canaveral, port Chief Executive Officer John Murray said. The space launch company plans to lease the now-vacant former Spacehab building on the north side of the port, as well as construct a second building on vacant land.
› UF expert rates Florida utilities readiness for severe storms
As the director of energy studies at the University of Florida’s Public Utility Research Center, Ted Kury helps utility providers and policymakers decide how to best prepare for severe storms.
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