Millennials struggle harder to buy a home in Florida than Gen X or Boomers did

A new study that compares Millennial home ownership among states shows that it's harder today for a Millennial to buy a home than it used to be. Young adults used to account for a much larger portion of homeowners than they do today — the prevalence of college, mounting student loan debt, and an increasingly tight housing market are slowly pushing back the age of first-time home buyers. The percentage of owners between the ages of 18 and 35 has been sloping downward nationally for more than 10 years. In Florida, two metros are among the worst in the nation for disappearing young-adult homeowners.

» Full story from Abodo is here. Story includes chart of Millennial homebuying power in Florida's largest metros.
» Earlier, from Florida Trend: Meet Florida's Millennial generation

Florida Gov. Scott wants changes to Senate health care bill

The former health care executive and Republican governor wants a guarantee that Florida will not receive less money for Medicaid than other states that expanded the program under the health care overhaul pushed into law by President Barack Obama. [Source: AP]

See also:
» Rubio, Scott talk health care as vote put off for now
» Bill Nelson knocks Rick Scott over Senate health bill
» Governors attack GOP health plan: ‘This bill is unacceptable’

Death penalty dispute goes to Florida Supreme Court

A fight between Florida's governor and a state attorney goes before the state's highest court in a case that touches on the death penalty, the independence of prosecutors and the governor's power. More from the AP and the Times/Herald.

Florida retailers should expect Independence Day weekend boost

The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) expects grocers and other retailers to enjoy a surge of shoppers for the upcoming holiday weekend. Average per person and total spending on food for cookouts and picnics is expected to be up from 2016. Full story from FRF, here.

South Florida and Netherlands officials swap strategies on sea-level rise

When it comes to water, South Florida has a lot in common with the Netherlands. Both regions are close to sea level and rely on canals, seawalls and pumps to prevent flooding. And both face an increasing threat from sea-level rise. [Source: WLRN]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Darden CEO: Millennials still enjoy chains like Olive Garden [Palm Beach Post]
Millennials may be shunning some habits beloved by past generations, but one Florida restaurant company CEO says they still want to go to sit-down chains like Olive Garden.

› Tampa Chamber launches minority business program [Business Observer]
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce has launched a Minority Business Accelerator program. The program is geared toward helping Black and Hispanic business owners identify and overcome barriers to company growth.

› Zika outbreak in Wynwood stifled local economy [FIU News]
A new study released by FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work found that last year’s Zika outbreak hit the bottom line of Wynwood businesses; some of which reported losing as much as 40 percent of revenue.

› NOAA considers moving Miami headquarters amid budget cuts [Miami Herald]
The federal agency that oversees hurricane research and manages fisheries along the nation’s southeast coast faces an overhaul and potential downsizing that could cripple partnerships that have made Miami a leader in the world of marine and atmospheric science.

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› Airbnb says county agreements should lead it to equal 2016 tax payments in first six months [Florida Politics]
Vacation home-rental marketing giant Airbnb said Tuesday its expanding list of tax agreements and its growing business in Florida should lead it to equal last year’s total sales and tourist tax payments just in the first six months of 2017.

› SpaceX will try for third Falcon 9 launch in less than two weeks [Space Flight Now]
After back-to-back launches last weekend, SpaceX could launch its next Falcon 9 mission as soon as Sunday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a high-power Intelsat communications satellite.

› Tampa moves to pause permits for 5G wireless equipment to assess impact of new Florida law [Tampa Bay Times]
With the regulatory landscape changing fast — the law goes into effect Saturday — the city of Tampa is moving to put a six-month pause on issuing permits for putting the new technology on its rights of way.

› Florida bitcoin processing boss gets over 5 years in prison [AP]
A Florida man has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison by a New York judge who says he used a "pyramid of lies" to boost a business that helped criminals process illegal bitcoin transactions.