As competition grows, Space Florida has a plan to bolster state's private aerospace industry

Space Florida, the state agency responsible for developing Florida’s private space industry, said competition across the country is fierce. "We have new ideas, developing on governance, access to capital workforce and research. But so too does everybody else on the planet who's trying to get a role in space,” said Space Florida's Dale Ketcham. A recent report from Space Florida estimates an economic impact of $1.1 billion a year over the next five years, thanks to its investment in space. [Source: WMFE]

Hurricanes Ian and Nicole left devastating flooding in Central Florida. Will it happen again?

Across the region, central Floridians are facing a long recovery from a historic 2022 hurricane season that wielded a one-two punch. Now as central Floridians begin to rebuild many are wondering whether the unprecedented flooding represents a new normal in a changing world. One preliminary study concluded that human-induced climate change increased Hurricane Ian’s rainfall rates by more than 10 percent, according to researchers at Stony Brook University and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Florida’s flood control was not designed for today’s more damaging hurricanes or the state’s booming population, which has grown by 13 percent during the past decade to 22 million. [Source: WLRN]

Wood stork’s Florida recovery prompts feds to propose endangered list removal

The ungainly yet graceful wood stork, which was on the brink of extinction in 1984, has recovered sufficiently in Florida and other Southern states that U.S. wildlife officials on Tuesday proposed removing the wading bird from the endangered species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a news release that restoration of the wood stork’s habitat, especially in the Florida Everglades and adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve, led to a sharp increase in breeding pairs. Those numbers had shrunk to just 5,000 pairs in 1984, whereas there are more than 10,000 pairs today. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Opinion: Stop helping billboard lawyers at our expense

Florida’s economy and quality of life are a model for nearly every state in America. We have excellent schools (including the nation’s No. 1 rated colleges and universities), a great environment, a quality of life second to none and a growing economy. In fact, Florida has nearly 450,000 open jobs, is growing by over 1,000 people every day, and leads the nation in hourly wealth migration, which is three times Texas, at $2.7 million per hour. However, a massive storm cloud on Florida’s otherwise bright future is our inflationary lawsuit abuse problem. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida Senate advances fentanyl bills that would increase penalties, OK test strips

As it stands now, Florida law allows for someone to be charged with first-degree murder if their distribution of a certain drug, like fentanyl, is considered the “proximate cause” of a person’s death. But Brodeur’s bill would change the standard to say if the drug is “proven to have been a substantial factor” in the death, instead of the primary cause, then someone involved in distributing it could be charged with first-degree murder — a charge that could make them eligible for the death penalty. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› 'They can't afford to live here': Orlando leaders sound off on challenges of region's population growth [Orlando Business Journal]
It has been about about six months since Tiffany Homler Hawkins took over as the CEO for Lynx, Central Florida's regional transportation agency, and already she has dealt with the very real effects of the region's housing shortage as an executive looking to hire talent. "We have had candidates for management positions from outside of the area who have turned down those jobs because they can't find housing that is affordable," said Hawkins, who became the agency's interim CEO in August 2022 and was elevated to the permanent role in late January. "They want to come and work with us, but they cant afford to live here."

› Miami International Boat Show on deck. Here are 7 things to know about it before you go [Miami Herald]
The Miami International Boat Show, one of the largest boating events in the world, opened Wednesday and runs through Sunday. At six venues on Biscayne Bay, boating professionals and hobbyists can see the latest technology, design and trends in boating — from paddle boards to superyachts. The show usually draws about 100,000 people from 35 countries, organizers said. There are hundreds of exhibitors on and off the water showing the latest water toys, safety technology and boats of all sizes for all needs.

› Prominent Sarasota architecture nonprofit names first president [Business Observer]
After its founding two years ago, Architecture Sarasota is finally ready for its first president. Architect and historic preservationist Morris "Marty" Hylton III has stepped into the role with a goal of supporting the organization’s commitment of preserving and promoting design innovations, a press release states.

› High-income renter households skyrocket in South Florida [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Lured by remote work and the promise of warm weather year around, the number of higher-income renters in South Florida has more than doubled, new data reveals. Cities across South Florida have experienced record growth over the past five years in terms of millionaire and higher-income households deciding to rent in our area, according to an analysis from RentCafe.

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› UF's International Shark Attack File: Unprovoked bites down in 2022 [Gainesville Sun]
The number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide decreased last year, tying with 2020 for the fewest number of reported incidents in the last 10 years. According to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File, there were a total of 57 unprovoked bites in 2022, most of which occurred in the United States and Australia. Of these, five attacks were fatal, down from nine deaths in 2021, and 10 the year prior. Since 2013, there has been an average of 74 unprovoked bites per year.

› By the numbers: Which airlines carried the most passengers at JIA in 2022? [Florida Times-Union]
Air travel on the First Coast soared again last year, with total passengers at Jacksonville International Airport rising 30.3% from the year before, new data from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority shows. The 6,574,902 head-count logged in 2022 was still short of passenger numbers from before the pandemic, when people flying in and out of Jacksonville topped seven million per year.

› Environmental groups sue National Park Service over Miami waterpark [Miami Today]
Four conservation groups sued last week in federal court charging the National Park Service with failing to protect plants and wildlife threatened by a planned 27.5-acre water park, Miami Wilds, and retail development adjacent to Zoo Miami. The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida by the Center for Biological Diversity, Bat Conservation International, Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, and Tropical Audubon Society.

› These St. Petersburg murals will come alive with virtual performances [Tampa Bay Times]
St. Petersburg is already rich with murals, and now a selection of them are embedded with virtual performances in music, drama, poetry, song, dance and meditation by local artists. Presented by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, the project called Murals in Mind launched today. Twelve Shine festival murals were selected to activate with virtual performance videos.