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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Sea-level rise might soon raise Florida's insurance costs
If you thought sea-level rise was the greatest immediate threat to South Florida’s future, you may need to think again. There’s growing concern that the perception of the sea-level rise threat by insurers, banks and investors might submerge South Florida before rising seas do. At an insurance industry conference in Miami last week, experts said the federal government could begin factoring sea-level rise risk into insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program -- perhaps in just two or three years. [Source: WLRN]
See also:
» Living with rising sea levels: Miami Beach’s plans for resilience
» Report says Florida cities are at highest risk from climate change
» Foreign investors shrug off Miami's rising sea levels
Related Florida Trend Content
» Sea-level rise: Learning to live with water
Florida Trend Exclusive
Off the rails
The elevated rail system through downtown Jacksonville was projected to carry about 100,000 riders a day, but ridership was only about 1 million in the entire last fiscal year, or about 2,735 a day, even with the service offered free. Talk now is centered on thinking about better uses for the system. Full story here.
Also in this series on transportation in Florida:
» Coast to coast: The cross-state bike/hike trail is now 80% complete
Publix to evaluate donation process after political backlash
Amid a growing backlash for its sizable donation to pro-NRA gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, Publix has said it will evaluate its processes for giving to ensure it better reflects the chain's "intended desire." See the latest statement from Publix, here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times and the Lakeland Ledger.
Commentary: The outlook for Florida's franchise sector is bright
The fact that Florida continues to experience franchise growth is not surprising. Apart from the sunny weather, Florida has no state income tax, corporate franchise tax on capital stock, or property tax on business inventories. [Source: Daily Business Review]
Termite damage poses a threat as hurricane season approaches, study says
The start of hurricane season is just days away, and Florida residents might want to add one more thing to their preparation list: a termite inspection. Termite damage in houses and trees can leave homes vulnerable to suffering even more damage during high winds, according to a recent study published in the Florida Entomologist journal. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Lake Nona developer wants shipping container food truck park
Lake Nona builder Tavistock Development Co. hopes to build new food truck park using shipping containers. The park from the developer of the southeast Orlando residential and business district would use repurposed shipping containers that food trucks could pull up to.
› Seminole Tribe continues challenge to state utility taxes
The Seminole Tribe of Florida has gone to a federal appeals court as part of a long-running legal dispute about whether the tribe should be shielded from state utility taxes on electricity used on reservation land.
› Orlando, Ocala living up to 'sinkhole alley' name as geologists brace for more
As more rain falls on the Orlando area, Florida geologists are bracing for the possibility that more sinkholes will open up. Dr. Anthony Randozzo, professor emeritus of geology at the University of Florida, said Hurricane Irma caused more than 400 sinkholes to open last year.
› South Florida commercial insurance rates ‘dodged bullet’
South Florida’s commercial insurance rates have “dodged a bullet” after weathering a series of natural disasters. It was expected for rates to spike from 10% to 25% in 2018, but after the first quarter, the increases weren’t what was assumed during a busy storm season.
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