Can’t find a doctor? Florida facing physician shortage amid growth, aging population

If it’s taking you longer to get in to see a doctor for a checkup or health issue, you’re not alone. A shortage of physicians is making it harder to get appointments and the shortage is likely to get more acute. “South Florida already has a shortage of physicians,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Cendan, interim dean of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. “Today, we have about 55,000 doctors in the state. And we should have about 59,000.” [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida among the top talent pools for major tech firms

Florida is among the top 10 states in the nation where large tech firms find a majority of their employees, according to a new report. According to a survey by TonerGiant, Florida ranks at No. 9 nationally as a talent pool for 26 of the biggest tech companies in the nation, including Amazon, Microsoft and Google. More than 13,000 graduates from Florida universities work or have worked at a major tech firm since graduating, according to LinkedIn data analyzed by TonerGiant. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal]

As home insurance firms fail, Citizens Insurance heads toward 1 million policies

As more private home insurance carriers enter receivership, Citizens property insurance is projected to hit over 1 million policies this year, according to local residential insurer experts. One of the biggest challenges Citizens is facing is the increasing policy rates caused by more home insurance companies becoming insolvent that the state has been attempting to depopulate, said Sha`Ron James, insurance attorney at Gunster law firm and former Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate. [Source: Miami Today]

Florida ready to wrap up manatee feeding efforts, leaving sea cows to fend for themselves

Manatees warmed this winter to state biologists' efforts to feed them at the spot where Indian River Lagoon water enters and exits Florida Power & Light Co.'s power plant in Port St. John. Soon, however, as the water temperature climbs and the sea cows began to leave the power plant's balmy discharge area, the FWC's lettuce feeding station there will go away too. Then the manatees will once again have to fend for themselves in foul, stagnant waters of the Indian River Lagoon where the giant mammal's staple diet of seagrass is all but gone. [Source: Florida Today]

Disney workers plan walkout to protest Florida’s ‘don’t say gay’ bill

Disney workers are planning walkouts this week to protest CEO Bob Chapek’s slow response in publicly criticizing Florida legislation that critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The act of protest will culminate next Tuesday with a general walkout by LGBTQ workers and their supporters at Disney worksites in California, Florida and elsewhere, the group of Disney employees said this week on their website. [Source: AP News]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Diapers will be tax free in Florida, starting on July 1 [Orlando Sentinel]
There will be a little wiggle room in parents’ budgets this summer: Diapers are going to be tax-free in Florida for one year. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, originally sponsored the bill for diapers to be tax-free permanently, but the revised version that was passed by the Legislature is for one year. It also includes baby clothes. The savings starts July 1.

› Jabil sells $32M in St. Petersburg land for housing, industrial projects [Tampa Bay Times]
One of Tampa Bay’s biggest public companies has sold more than 93 acres of land in St. Petersburg’s Gateway district for $32 million, clearing the way for a major industrial and residential development. Technology giant Jabil Inc. sold two parcels at the northwest corner of Gandy Boulevard and Interstate 275 to limited liability corporations managed by Charleston, S.C.’s Greystar, one of the world’s biggest developers of rental properties. The deal closed on Tuesday, according to Pinellas County property records.

› Florida bird flu: Outbreak spreads to 38 cases in 5 counties and 'hundreds more' estimated [TCPalm]
A first-of-its-kind outbreak is growing in Florida. Five counties, including Martin, have 38 confirmed cases of an "extremely infectious" new bird flu strain, and wildlife officials suspect there are "hundreds more" unconfirmed cases, including in Indian River, according to the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Brevard County appears to be the epicenter of the outbreak.

› Chef Art Smith dishes on his project to revitalize the American diner at Orlando airport [Orlando Sentinel]
Celebrity chef Art Smith wants to bring back the American diner with a new Orlando restaurant, and his plan calls for an eatery more in line with today’s trends and features dishes showing off Florida cuisine. That means a full bar, fresh fruit and key lime pie will be among the things on the menu, he said.

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› Astra Space back in business with Alaska launch, 3 Canaveral missions on tap [Orlando Sentinel]
Cheers rose as Astra Space’s rocket managed to do Tuesday from Alaska what it could not in a failure from the Space Coast last month. The Alameda, California-based company’s Rocket 3.3 lifted off on time from its Kodiak, Alaska spaceport at 12:22 p.m. EDT, and it looked just as good as it did when it took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 12. That February launch, though, went awry after problems with the fairing deployment that sent the second stage tumbling end-over-end, ultimately leading to a mission failure and loss of the four small satellites it was trying to put into orbit for NASA.

› IQ Fiber begins $8.4 million underground installation in San Marco [Jacksonville Daily Record ]
IQ Fiber, a Jacksonville-owned residential fiber-optic service provider, began installing underground conduit and fiber-optic cable in San Marco on March 15. On March 1, the company announced plans to install and service homes in Atlantic Beach. Construction costs for the San Marco project are set at $8.4 million.

› Tampa Bay Area firms make list of Southeast’s fastest-growing companies  [Business Observer]
PainTEQ, a Tampa company that specializes in innovative medical devices that treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and Byte Federal, a Venice-based financial services firm, have been named to Inc. magazine’s rankings of the 173 fastest-growing businesses in the Southeast. With 1,590% growth between 2018 and 2020, Byte Federal lands at No. 7 on the list. Right behind it, at No. 8, is PainTEQ, which posted 1,538% growth from 2018 to 2020. Clearwater-based retailer Bearbottom Clothing occupies the No. 11 spot on the list.

› Hotel of South Beach renamed. Famed News Café reopening there [Miami Herald]
The Hotel of South Beach is getting a new name: Goldman Properties will rename the hotel The Tony Hotel South Beach after the company’s founder, the renowned South Beach developer Tony Goldman in honor of the 10th anniversary of his death. The company also said the popular News Café will reopen in May after a 17-month hiatus. It is located on the ground floor of The Tony Hotel South Beach on Ocean Drive.