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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida a leader in lists of where residents want to leave, and move
It's no secret that people flock to Florida. Between its beaches and warm climate, there's a reason why it was the number one state that people moved to in 2022. Yet, Florida gets a lot of flack too — raised rents, recent unruly hurricane seasons, and constant political turmoil complete with controversial new laws. After a study by moving company SelfStorage, new research revealed that Florida topped the lists of states that Americans want to move to and relocate from according to Google search data. More from Florida Today and the Fort Myers News-Press.
Armed with new law, Florida utility wants Irma lawsuit tossed
After Gov. Ron DeSantis last week signed a measure that gave legal protection to utilities, Florida Power & Light is asking a judge to toss out a class-action lawsuit about power outages from Hurricane Irma. FPL filed a motion Wednesday in Miami-Dade County circuit court to dismiss the long-running lawsuit. It pointed to part of the new law that says a “utility is not liable for damages based in whole or in part on changes in the reliability, continuity, or quality of utility services which arise in any way out of an emergency or disaster” and gives the Florida Public Service Commission authority to resolve issues about disaster preparedness and response. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Mote hopes sea turtle protection zone will lead to fewer turtle deaths
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium has established a voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone in waters off Sarasota County, with the hope that increased publicity will help raise public awareness and protect sea turtles from unintended boat strikes. The zone stretches from Longboat Key to Siesta Key, including Sarasota Bay, and extends from the shore to 1.5 miles in the Gulf of Mexico. It makes Sarasota only the second county, along with Palm Beach, where the protection zones have been established. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Financial reports: Jacksonville-based FIS close to Worldpay sale
Almost five months after Fidelity National Information Services Inc. announced plans to spin off its Worldpay unit as a separate company, two reports from financial news outlets say FIS is nearing a sale of the business. Jacksonville-based banking technology company FIS acquired Worldpay for $43 billion in 2019 to expand its operations, but the Worldpay business has produced disappointing results. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Miami and Brazilian developers join to build $1 billion worth of apartments in 5 years
Miami investment management company Leste Group and one of Brazil’s biggest real estate investors, Opportunity Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário, are teaming to build more than $1 billion of apartment buildings in Miami over five years offering up to 5,000 apartments. Under the partnership LORE Development Group, the developers are moving ahead as Miami deals with a housing crisis caused by years of soaring prices and rents and a stubbornly tight supply of homes. More from the Miami Herald.
Out of the Box
The world's largest 3D printed building: an equestrian facility in Florida
COBOD, whose mission is to build smarter through multifunctional construction robots based on 3D printing technology, has completed another record-breaking project: printing the world’s largest 3D printed building, a luxury horse barn called Printed Farms. COBOD printers had already printed the tallest (Saudi Arabia 33 ft / 9.9 m) and the fastest (3 buildings in 8 days in Oman) buildings worldwide.
» More from Interesting Engineering.
Business Profile
I-Drive’s Orlando Auto Museum jams in history, design, pop culture
It’s bumper-to-bumper inside Orlando Auto Museum, the large car collection at Dezerland Park Orlando on International Drive. There are about 2,000 vehicles on the property, most of which are accessible with paid admission to the attraction. There’s an international flair there, and history mixes with pop culture. Visitors see military tanks one moment and a set of Batmobiles the next.
» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.
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