What historically high lumber prices mean for Florida home buyers

Blame a lack of rail cars in Canada or not enough trucks in the U.S. Forest fires didn’t help. Tariffs played a role, too. High lumber prices are affecting Florida's housing market. For example, lumber for an average-sized new home will cost $9,000 more as compared to January 2017, according to a Realtor.com estimate released Tuesday. One wildcard: hurricanes. If an Irma-like storm slams into the United States again this summer, the demand for lumber to rebuild homes could drive the price even higher. [Source: TBO.com]

Citizens considers hiking homeowners insurance rates about 8 percent

For the second year in a row, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is asking state regulators to approve hefty rate hikes because of an abundance of non-weather claims that end up in court. If approved, the average rates for homeowners covered by Citizens will rise 7.9 percent — just under the legislative cap of 10 percent for increases.See the news release from Citizens here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times, the Palm Beach Post, and the Lakeland Ledger.

Emotions erupt as ‘zero tolerance’ policy overtakes Florida politics

The raw emotions over President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy on immigration swept across the Florida political landscape Tuesday and threatened to reshape the dynamics of a pivotal midterm election. A growing chorus of Florida Republicans, while defending the need for stricter border security, abandoned Trump on separating young children from their parents at the border. [Source: Times/Herald]

See also:
» Florida Republicans in Washington buck Trump on border kids
» Nelson, Wasserman Schultz blocked from entering immigrant children shelter in Homestead
» Bill Nelson and Rick Scott swap brickbats on family separation policy

Apprenticeship plans expand as Florida, federal programs near

State and federal programs set to launch this fall should help expand apprenticeships to new industries and enable more workers to earn pay while working toward a better job, a Central Florida workforce official says. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

To tax or not to tax? Florida voters to see questions on November ballot

Recent polling shows there are four constitutional amendments poised for approval on Florida’s November ballot. Three of those deal exclusively with the issue of taxation. But there’s ongoing concern that determining tax policy through constitutional referendum isn’t in the public’s best interest. Full story from WFSU News, here.

See also:
» Explaining 13 constitutional amendments on Florida’s ballot
» Counties sue to remove amendments from Florida’s November ballot

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Saint Leo University offers new doctoral degrees for professionals [Sponsored Report]
New doctoral degrees in education and criminal justice are aimed at working professionals. A limited amount of classroom time is required during the residencies so that students will make meaningful face-to-face connections with faculty and fellow classmates, and then complete the majority of coursework online.

› PowerDMS names DiGiacomo as new CEO [Press Release]
PowerDMS, a technology company based in downtown Orlando, on Tuesday announced that it has named David DiGiacomo as its chief executive officer. For 15 years, DiGiacomo was CEO and president of OnSolve (formerly ECN), a provider of cloud-based communications for government and private enterprise.

› ADT's Boca headquarters bought for $42 million [Press Release]
A team of property owners have purchased security systems company ADT’s Boca Raton headquarters. Florida-based PEBB Enterprises and Illinois-based Tortoise Properties paid $42 million for the property. Also read more at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

› Tech Data sending a record 700 employees to march in Pride Parade [Tampa Bay Times]
Among the marching bands and twirlers at Saturday’s St. Pete Pride Parade, one major sponsor, Tech Data, is sending by far a record number of employees — more than 700 at last count — to march in Florida’s largest gay pride parade.

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› Florida Coastal School of Law Seeks Restraining Order Against ABA [Daily Business Review]
Florida Coastal School of Law has asked a federal judge to halt new disclosures the American Bar Association has required the troubled school to make to its students, arguing the requirements will undermine its efforts to improve.

› Will China tariffs slow Jacksonville businesses? [First Coast News]
China is slapping a 25 percent tariff on over 100 American products, including cigars and orange juice which are big business in Florida. Michael Barwald, owner of Flying Dragon Citrus Nursery in Jacksonville fears any hike on any American citrus product could see prices rise across the industry.

› Florida Bankers Association recognizes Bill Klich with award [Tampa Bay Times]
Former Tampa Bay banking executive Bill Klich was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Bankers Association last week at an annual meeting in Palm Coast.

› Lobster fishermen can expect plenty of bugs this miniseason [SouthFlorida.com]
When Hurricane Irma made landfall in Cudjoe Key as a Category 4 storm, it brought more than 15 inches of rain, 130 mph winds and damage to infrastructure. It also caused devastation to a critical Florida Keys industry: commercial spiny lobster fishing.