Florida hurricane fund may pay out as much as $5.1 billion

Hurricane Irma’s damaging rampage through Florida may require the state fund that provides backing to private insurers to pay up to $5.1 billion in claims. Anne Bert, chief operating officer for the fund, said the fund will be able to pay claims with cash. That means the fund will not have to borrow any money. [Source: AP]

Self-made media entrepreneur tells Florida women they don't have to do it alone

A New York Times bestselling author and the first woman president of Telemundo, Nely Galán outlined the keys to achieving a self-made lifestyle during the first day of the Women's Conference of Florida in Tampa. "You have to grow all the time," Galán said. "You can't be stuck thinking you know everything. Or what was successful ten years ago is going to be successful going forward." [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Corcoran to push new transparency measures for tourism groups

House Speaker Richard Corcoran on Thursday unveiled legislation to impose new transparency and accountability requirements on Visit Orlando and other local tourism development councils around the state. See Corcoran's bill, HB3 - "Economic Development and Tourism Promotion Accountability," here. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.

Housing scarce for Puerto Ricans coming to Central Florida

The CEO of United Way says there is nowhere to house people leaving Puerto Rico for Central Florida after Hurricane Maria. "We are sitting on a precipice of a human disaster,” said Jeff Hayward, CEO, Heart of Florida United Way. [Source: WFTV]

FPL to seek $1.3 billion in Hurricane Irma costs

Florida Power & Light will seek to recoup an estimated $1.3 billion from customers to cover the costs of restoring electricity after Hurricane Irma barreled through the state last month, the utility said Thursday. The costs would start showing up in customers' bills in March --- just as they get done paying off costs from Hurricane Matthew in 2016. More from Florida Today and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Frustrations mount over Florida medical marijuana delays [WJAX]
Thousands of ailing patients aren’t getting the help they need because of delays within Florida’s medical marijuana office. The state says it takes 30 days to process an application, but some patients tell us they have been waiting far longer.

› Florida rejects one-way traffic during evacuations [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Opening road shoulders to traffic when hurricanes or other disasters threaten Florida will continue to be the primary way to speed evacuations rather than converting all traffic lanes to the same direction.

› New Port Canaveral: Changes won't include new property taxes or cargo rail route [Florida Today]
Port Canaveral commissioners are seeking to reassure residents that the port's proposed master plan would not lead to some of the residents' worst fears: new property taxes or a cargo rail route over the Banana River.

› Hardware chain plots Florida expansion [Business Observer]
Sunshine Ace Hardware, a Naples based family owned and operated chain of hardware stores, is expanding to Pinellas County.

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› Next step for Tampa ballpark dreams: Deciding how to pay for it [Tampa Bay Times]
Now that Hillsborough County leaders have said where they would like to build a Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, the debate turns to a familiar question: Who will pay for it and how?

› Music director leaving Sarasota Orchestra in 2019 [Sarasota Herald Tribune]
Anu Tali, who has been credited with raising the quality of the Sarasota Orchestra over the last four years, has announced she does not plan to renew her contract when it ends in 2019.

› Disorganized system could become Tropical Storm Philippe [Florida Today]
A low pressure system currently off the coast of Nicaragua has a 40 percent chance of forming into a tropical cyclone over the next five days, National Hurricane Center forecasts said Thursday.

› South Florida costume shops are gearing up for Halloween [Florida Weekly]
There is no shortage of places to shop in South Florida, from family-owned costume shops to pop-up seasonal stores that vanish after the holiday.