Citizens proposes first rate drop in 10 years. Is Florida insurance crisis over?
The state’s insurer of last resort is proposing its first rate decrease in 10 years — big enough that its customers in some of the most historically storm-battered parts of the state will see average premium costs drop by hundreds of dollars. Statewide, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is recommending an average 2.6% rate decrease for all its noncommercial property insurance lines at the same time it’s reached another milestone its leaders say indicates the bad old days of Florida’s insurance crisis are well in the rearview mirror. More from the Palm Beach Post.
Lawmakers look to expand ‘guardian’ program after FSU, Brown shootings
A pair of Florida lawmakers recently filed legislation to allow trained employees to carry firearms on college campuses. The next day someone killed two people and injured nine others at Brown University in Rhode Island. The incident was just the latest mass shooting at an American college. State lawmakers were in session in the Capitol last April when a gunman killed two people and injured five others at Florida State University, just blocks away. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
First time homebuyers in South Florida are getting older as affordability challenges grow
The age of the typical first-time homebuyer in the United States is now 40 years old, the highest on record. That's up from 33 years old just five years ago, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. For Osmany Sigler and his wife, that milestone came after years of searching. The South Florida couple bought their first home this year after about five years of trying. "Buying our first home has been a five-year journey," Sigler said. More from CBS News.
Universal Orlando district reveals details on transit system bridging theme park properties
A cache of public documents reveal new details on a proposed transportation system for Universal Orlando Resort. On Dec. 11, Shingle Creek Transit & Utility Community Development District — the public entity created by Universal for addressing infrastructure projects in Orange County — provided Orlando Business Journal records of documents related to a rumored tunnel transportation system connecting Universal's new Epic Universe theme park with its properties along Universal Boulevard including the Universal Orlando Resort properties. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
American Council of Engineering Companies gives awards to 14 firms that worked on Florida projects
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida) is awarding more than a dozen engineering firms responsible for Florida public projects for their work. The projects being honored range from complex road interchanges to environmental projects. The Engineering Excellence Awards will be presented at the ACEC Florida banquet set for Feb. 13 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando. Of the 14 engineering companies that will be honored for their Florida work, seven firms will snag top honors known as “grand awards.” More from Florida Politics.
Tourism
These 2 Florida cities named 'best places for Christmas celebrations'
To identify the most festive and affordable cities for Christmas celebrations, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities in the U.S. based on 28 key indicators, including traditions, shopping, and costs.
“With inflation making Christmas celebrations, gifts, food and travel more expensive, certain cities are much better for your wallet than others during the holiday," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
» More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Fields of gold
Neil Mathis' family has been raising cattle and growing timber on 600-plus acres in eastern Pasco County since the 1860s, after his ancestors “got run out of” Fernandina Beach by Union soldiers.
Today, his property backs up to a 517,220-sq.-ft. Amazon distribution center going up along State Road 52. Bulldozers and mounds of dirt taller than a car surround the giant white warehouse that will open next year, bringing 500 jobs and streams of delivery trucks to the small town of San Antonio.
» Read more from Florida Trend.