Florida's citrus crop forecast takes another hit

The seasonal forecast for Florida’s struggling citrus industry got squeezed further Wednesday to a level not seen since before the country entered World War II. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reduced the projected orange crop by 5.3 percent from the February forecast and the grapefruit crop by 4.9 percent. The forecast is the latest sign of trouble for an industry that has been on a downward trajectory for nearly two decades because of deadly citrus greening disease and pressure from development. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Panhandle blazes continue expanding

Wildfires in Northwest Florida’s Gulf, Calhoun and Bay counties have expanded to more than 34,000 acres as crews continue trying to control the blazes, according to information released Wednesday by the Florida Forest Service. The forest service said Tuesday night that the wildfires covered 29,200 acres. The largest fire is what is dubbed the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, which started in Gulf County and spread to Calhoun and Bay counties. More from the Weather Channel and the News Service of Florida.

Wealthy Russians buying up properties in Florida

In Sunny Isles Beach — also known as “Little Moscow” — real estate experts say wealthy Russians are parking their money in empty condos. Daniel Gielchinsky said the U.S. sanctions, intended to separate rich Russians from their money in response to the invasion of Ukraine, are in fact encouraging sales in Sunny Isles Beach. “Many of those condos will be dark pretty much for the life of those buildings even though someone owns them, is paying for them, is paying the taxes and insurance, utilities because they didn’t buy it to live there,” Gielchinsky said. [Source: WFLA]

Martin McClain, ‘titan' Florida death row lawyer, dies at 67

Martin McClain, a trailblazing attorney whose representation of Death Row inmates earned accolades from judges, Supreme Court justices and his peers, died suddenly at his Wilton Manors home this week, sources close to the lawyer said Tuesday. In a Florida career that spanned more than three decades, McClain played an instrumental role in the elimination of the electric chair as the state’s sole means of execution, championed clients whose death sentences were overturned and led more than 300 post-conviction appeals in capital cases at the Florida Supreme Court. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Officials: Warmer waters mean manatees are venturing away from feeding sites

Warming waters in Florida mean manatees are venturing away from warming sites along the state's east coast; it also means that by springtime the state's feeding program will come to an end. Still, while the sea cows are moving away from the feeding site, wildlife officials say starvation will continue to be an issue for the animals throughout the year. More than 80 rescued manatees are in rehabilitation centers across the U.S. as officials continue to try to stem starvation deaths due, in part, to poor water quality. [Source: WTSP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› For sale: ‘Edward Scissorhands’ house in Florida comes with ‘priceless collection of memorabilia’ [WFLA]
A home in Lutz, Florida, where portions of “Edward Scissorhands” were filmed is back on the market. Joey and Sharon Licalzi, the current owners, had purchased the house at the end of 2020 after a brief bidding war. Joey was already a big fan of the film, as he had worked as an on-set dishwasher during its production. After settling in, the Licalzis decided to give back to their community by turning a portion of the residence into a free museum, which they affectionately dubbed “Scissorland.”

› Mount Dora businesses take off with more people, new bars and shops [Orlando Sentinel]
The mimosas are sold out of a window here, letting shoppers walk the streets of the lakefront downtown with drinks in hand. Just a few years ago, the mimosa bar Bubbles + Juice and the marketplace that houses it didn’t exist. Growth in this Lake County city about 40 minutes northwest of downtown Orlando is drawing more people to both live and play here.

› Food, rent or lights? GRU customers say utility bills are the highest they've ever seen [Gainesville Sun]
For the second straight month, GRU’s residential electric bills are the highest in the state when compared to all other city-operated utilities, sitting about $34 above the municipal average. When compared with investor-owned utilities, GRU ranked third, behind only Florida Power and Light Northwest and Duke Energy.

› Norwegian fish food manufacturer plans South Miami-Dade plant [Miami Today]
Skretting, a Norwegian global manufacturer and supplier of fish feed to land-based aquaculture companies, plans a new feed facility in South Miami-Dade close to Atlantic Sapphire, one of its largest customers. Atlantic Sapphire raises land-based salmon at its Homestead Bluehouse facility. The announcement fulfills an earlier agreement between the two companies through which Skretting will finance and build a new feed plant in exchange for Atlantic Sapphire’s commitment to source the majority of its salmon feed from Skretting for 10 years.

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› Nearly $72 million workforce apartment project coming to Fort Myers [Business Observer]
A workforce housing developer is building 336 apartments in Fort Myers. New York-based Redburn Development Services will build the complex of, what it calls, “moderately priced” apartments at 2010 Hanson St. The total project, the first for Redburn in Florida, is expected to cost $71.7 million.

› Central Florida business owners feeling pain at the pump [WOFL]
People and business owners are feeling the pain at the pump. "I’m spending over $200 a week just in gas, and it’s not worth the money. It feels like we just have to work to put gas in the car," Debbie Grey said. She owns Fairy Dogmother Pet Care in Orlando and loves what she does, walking and caring for pets every day. Now getting from one 4-legged client to another these days is biting into her profit.

› From vodka to borscht, ways Tampa Bay businesses are supporting Ukraine [Tampa Bay Times]
Many countries have taken action to condemn Russia for launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine — and businesses are following suit. Grocers are stopping sales of Russian vodka. McDonald’s announced Tuesday that it’ll temporarily shut down all of its Russian restaurants and Shell said it would stop buying Russian oil and natural gas. Businesses in Tampa Bay, big and small, have also found ways to support Ukraine by offering perks for donations to refugees or setting aside profits to go toward nonprofit efforts.

› Dining revamp coming to new Port Canaveral-bound cruise ship Norwegian Prima [Orlando Sentinel]
There will be 35 ways to eat and drink on new cruise ship Norwegian Prima when it makes it to Port Canaveral this year, featuring a slew of new and revamped concepts for Norwegian Cruise Line. The ship, which is still under construction at the Fincantieri shipyards in Italy, will introduce nine brand-new venues including a bar with only sustainable drink, Mediterranean seafood specialty dining and hibachi and sushi dinner offerings.