Hurricane season is in a lull. Is it expected to last?
The National Hurricane Center often refers to peak hurricane season as Sept. 10, and most tropical activity occurs between mid-August and mid-October. On Tuesday, however, federal forecasters were not watching any Atlantic systems. A wave that emerged last week in the Atlantic had a 90% chance of developing, but fizzled out over the weekend. And despite record-hot sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf, no storm activity is expected in the next week. The lull is unusual for this time of year. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Bill Nelson
“The view of Earth from orbit is seared into my consciousness. You don’t see political divisions from up there, ” says former astronaut and NASA Administrator, Bill Nelson. He also tells us: "For a democracy to work, you have to build consensus. It’s like a football field. The way you govern in a democracy is between the two 40-yard lines where you can hash out your differences. If your politics get to either end zone, it’s very hard to build consensus. That’s what’s happened to our country." [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida is threatening local transportation like never before, leaders say
To cities like Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando, the state warned: Restore street murals and risk losing state funds. Two months earlier, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wrote to airports that they could lose funding if they don’t aid state efforts to ban “weather modification." A law passed this year threatened to withhold state dollars from public transit agencies, airports and ports that adopt carbon emissions reduction policies. That the state is making this many threats against transportation dollars at all represents a change from business as usual, officials said.[Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida homes in these areas face worst flood, wind dangers. Costs could be in the billions
Florida has led the nation in many things. Best economy, best beaches, fastest growing state. But it also ranks at the top of states where the most homes are threatened by flood and wind risks, according to a new study, On Sept. 3 − a week before the 2025 peak of hurricane season − a Realtor.com report looked at how flood, hurricane wind and wildfire threats were affecting housing markets and insurance availability. The Sunshine State did not do well. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
Vaccine confusion and frustration overwhelm Florida
In Florida, many pharmacists, doctors, and patients find themselves confused about who has access to COVID-19, flu, RSV and other vaccines, as well as the cost of those shots. Some pharmacies are giving out the new COVID-19 vaccine boosters, while others are not. Some doctors are issuing prescriptions for COVID vaccines, while others are incorrectly informing patients that there’s a state-imposed temporary hold on their ability to do so. And some patients are finding vaccines fully covered by insurance, while others are paying several hundred dollars out of pocket. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Jacksonville City Council rejects tax rate cut for now
Jacksonville City Council rejected a property tax rate cut on a 10-8 vote at its Sept. 9 meeting but the question will almost certainly come back again in two weeks when a revote could give enough support for the 1.1% cut in the millage rate. The vote by City Council for keeping the current millage rate showed a majority of City Council in favor of the current millage rate that Mayor Donna Deegan used for her proposed 2025-26 budget. But that 10-8 vote included support by City Council member Ron Salem for the current rate solely to break a 9-9 deadlock. He said he will vote for the tax rate cut in two weeks.
› What’s in a pay raise? Pinellas teacher contract talks stumble over the issue.
Another round of negotiations for Pinellas County teacher pay came up empty Monday as the sides again could not agree on what constitutes a raise. Deputy superintendent Stephanie Woodford aimed to sweeten the district’s offer of 0.7% — the amount provided in the state budget — with an additional $600 per teacher from the unused portion of property tax referendum revenue. She said the added amount would boost the increases to 1.13%.
› Boca Raton-based SkyWind Solutions is bringing hyperlocal tide forecasts to Florida’s coastal communities
South Florida doesn’t need reminders of what rising seas can do. Streets flood on sunny days, businesses brace for storm surges, and municipalities are under pressure to plan for a future where the waterline keeps creeping higher. That’s the challenge SkyWind Solutions, a Boca Raton-based startup, is tackling with hyperlocal tide forecasts built to give coastal communities a sharper, more reliable view of what’s coming.
› Behind the scenes: Orange County's highest-paid employees aren't who you might think
Orange County’s top earners aren’t the elected officials you might expect. Instead, the highest-paid employees work behind the scenes in key leadership and technical roles — some earning well over $300,000 annually. Orange County government, one of Central Florida’s largest employers, has 8,800 employees with publicly available pay data. The average salary among them is $65,475, spanning multiple departments and collective bargaining agreements.
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› Sanibel's $80K Live, Work, Play campaign draws national eye
Sanibel Island officials launched an $80,000 marketing campaign May 1 targeting regional and national tourism markets impacted by hurricanes Ian, Helen and Milton. Since Ian in 2022, nearly three-quarters of the total number of restaurants, retail shops and accommodations on the island that were closed have reopened, Sanibel & Captiva Island Chamber of Commerce CEO John Lai reported. That count includes only chamber member businesses, both legacy organizations and those that reopened with similar services but under different names.
› From hours to outcomes: Tampa panel explores the future of work in an AI world
Last Thursday evening, business leaders across Tampa Bay gathered at Embarc Collective’s ReliaQuest Auditorium for a provocative conversation to discuss: What if time is no longer the best measure of value at work? The event, “Back to the Future of Work: Why Time-Based Pricing is History,” challenged attendees to rethink how we measure the value of work in an AI-powered economy.
› South Florida Wildlife Center plans to build new home in Southwest Ranches
The South Florida Wildlife Center will eventually leave its longtime home in Fort Lauderdale for a new campus in Southwest Ranches. In late August, the center reached an agreement to lease an 8-acre property in Southwest Ranches as the site for its future hospital and wildlife care campus. It remains to be seen how much the new center will cost or when it will open, said Jeffrey Arciniaco, the center’s president and board chairman.
› Tokyo-based Nomura preparing for Downtown Southbank space in Jacksonville
The city is reviewing a permit for Tokyo-based Nomura to create information technology space on part of the fourth floor of Riverplace Tower on the Downtown Southbank as it takes over one of Macquarie Group’s business units. Ajax Building Co. of Midway is the contractor for the estimated $250,000 project. Gensler is the architect. Meskel & Associates Engineering PLLC is providing private plan review.