Florida's economy growing faster than other big states and far better than U.S. overall

New figures show Florida's real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 — the latest quarterly data available — ranking the Sunshine State fourth in growth among the states and District of Columbia, behind Texas, Utah and Washington. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Wages for Florida workers was flat for a decade

The Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida this week released a 10-year overview that said average wages remained relatively flat between 2005 and 2015. [Source: AP]

Looming sunset of flood insurance deal stirs angst in Florida, Congress

An 11th-hour compromise three years ago averted what would have been financial disaster for hundreds of thousands of Floridians: sharp rate increases in flood insurance premiums that had many openly worrying whether they’d have to sell their homes. [Source: Naples Daily News]

Good start to 2017 for Florida banks

Florida’s financial institutions kicked off 2017 with a bang. The state’s 144 banks and thrifts earned a combined $413 million in the first quarter, their best year-opening performance in 20 years, according to data released last week by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Too early? 2018 Florida governor’s race is well underway

With primaries still 15 months away and the general election 17 months off in a state that has a history of upending early conventional wisdom, most Florida voters haven’t begun to focus on the 2018 governor’s race. But the campaign is well underway. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida's Amendment 1: A cautionary tale for 2018? [BBC News]
A Florida election fight shows the ups and downs of dealing with the politics of confusion around climate and energy policy.

› Boat numbers slowly recovering in Florida [Florida Today]
While Florida's population swelled, the number of boats registered in the Sunshine State sank for seven years straight, only inching back up in the past few years as economic recovery put more wind in people's sails.

› FECI’s Mike Reininger: Big expectations for Brightline’s success [Miami Herald]
Brightline hasn’t picked up a train passenger yet or even announced what fares will be when it does, but its former boss says the passenger train service won’t lose money during its first full year in operation.

› Authorities say cocaine is making a comeback in Florida [AP]
Drug enforcement officials say traffickers are bringing more cocaine into South Florida than at any time in the past decade.

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› Airbnb use in Central Florida grows in first quarter of 2017 [Orlando Sentinel]
Airbnb use in Central Florida has been growing exponentially, according to statistics the company has provided.

› After 16 years, billion dollar project’s fate rests in the hands of Miami [Miami Herald]
The tumultuous saga of Flagstone Island Gardens is finally coming to a head after 16 years of lawsuits, delays and deadline extensions. Miami commissioners have called a special meeting Tuesday to debate the fate of the $1 billion complex of shops and hotel towers.

› 4 Florida counties part of liver disease cluster [AP]
Four counties along Florida's Treasure Coast make up a cluster with high rates of both deaths from liver disease and algae blooms.

› Posh Guy Harvey RV park to open in Tampa Bay with $250,000 cottages [Tampa Bay Times]
Love those Guy Harvey T-shirts with the soaring marlins? In the not too distant future, you might be able to kick back in your own Guy Harvey cottage in the first-ever Guy Harvey RV park.