Florida's population is estimated at 22.6 million

Florida is projected to have a population of 22.6 million on April 1 and could top 25 million in 2032, a report released Thursday shows. The population is projected to hit 22.9 million in April 2024, 23.2 million in April 2025 and continue increasing until topping 25 million in April 2032. The report by the state’s Demographic Estimating Conference, however, said growth is expected to slow “modestly each year. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Column: Here’s how to go global with Florida exports

Many Sunshine State businesses are boosting their bottom line and competitiveness by selling internationally. In 2022, Florida exports reached $67.5 billion. Small and medium-sized enterprises — some 39,380 companies — accounted for 95% of Florida goods exporters in 2020. Altogether, the state’s exports support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, contributing to economic growth and prosperity. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Lawyers form nonprofit to fill ‘great need’ for guardians in Central Florida

A group of Central Florida lawyers have formed a nonprofit to aid incapacitated people in need of someone to make pivotal, life-altering decisions on their behalf. The Art’s Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit that formed roughly a year ago, plans to use donations to pay guardians to assist impoverished people who arrive at local hospitals medically incapacitated and without a natural caretaker in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola counties. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

People are dying from fake weed, just as the push is on in Florida to legalize recreational marijuana

Legalizing recreational marijuana is a high-stakes initiative that comes as Florida is poised to award cannabis-growing licenses to another 22 companies in April, adding to the 22 currently licensed operators. “Florida is the largest medical marijuana market in the country,” said Cris Rivera, Florida Regional President, Cresco Labs, a cannabis company that operates 23 Sunnyside stores in Florida. “It’s a really, really great market. We have fantastic quality products and every assortment mix you can imagine.” With marijuana production in the state poised to ramp up further, researchers are studying the risks. So far, research shows fake weed has made its way into the state, sickening or killing Floridians. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Another Florida property insurer heads into receivership

State regulators moved forward Thursday with placing United Property & Casualty Insurance Co. into receivership after higher-than-expected losses from Hurricane Ian helped push the insurer into insolvency. Interim Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworksy sent a letter to state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to trigger a process that will lead to seeking court approval to place the St. Petersburg-based insurer into receivership, according to documents posted on the Office of Insurance Regulation website. United Property & Casualty agreed to the move. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Gainesville leaders approve large-scale solar farm project [Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville’s first large-scale solar project is one step closer to its moment in the sun. The City Commission unanimously approved a contract amendment to the FL Solar 6 project, a 75-megawatt solar plant about 15 miles west of downtown Gainesville in 2024. The amendment allows for an expansion of the plant and moves it further from its original location near the historic Black community in Archer.

› Florida teacher who posted video showing empty bookshelves in school library gets fired [Orlando Sentinel]
A substitute teacher with Duval County schools has been fired, three weeks after posting a video showing empty bookshelves in the school’s library, according to a report by First Coast News. Brian Covey, who worked at Mandarin Middle School, posted a video on Jan. 27 showing rows of empty bookshelves. Duval County Public Schools gave First Coast News a statement saying Covey was fired for “misrepresentation of the books available to students in the school’s library” and for violating his employer’s social media and cellphone policies.

› St. Pete's EDC chief to step down [Business Observer]
J.P. DuBuque, the founding president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Economic Development Corp. has resigned. He will leave his post in April. In a statement released Friday, the EDC says DuBuque is joining the accounting firm Rivero, Gordimer & Co. as COO. His resignation is effective April 28. The St. Petersburg EDC was founded in 2016 and under DuBuque has announced more than 2,100 jobs, increased private sector revenue by 86% and public support by 50% over the past six years, according to the statement.

› South Beach Wine & Food festival witnessed Miami’s evolution into a ‘food town’ [Miami Herald]
In the days before Michelin stars, omakase bars and extravagant clubstaurants swarmed this tropical paradise, before every New York restaurateur staked a claim in the sand, Miami’s wine and food festival was a modest event. It had no choice but to be humble: In the late 1990s, the only restaurants most people tended to recognize were The Forge (now late, lamented) and Joe’s Stone Crab.

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› Fifth Third Bank expanding in Northeast Florida [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Fifth Third Bank has been expanding in Northeast Florida. As of Sept. 30, Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bancorp had $205 billion in assets and operated 1,080 full-service banking centers and 2,146 Fifth Third-branded ATMs in 11 states throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S. It has 11 locations in Northeast Florida.

› Woman accidentally breaks $42,000 Jeff Koons sculpture at Art Wynwood in Miami [Miami Herald]
Don’t touch the art, people. That cute little balloon dog just might be a $42,000 porcelain sculpture. A woman attending Art Wynwood, a contemporary art fair in downtown Miami, accidentally broke a pricey sculpture by world-famous artist Jeff Koons Thursday night. The shiny, electric blue sculpture was on display at Bel-Air Fine Art’s booth during the fair’s VIP Preview event. Once the sculpture shattered, the VIPs gathered.

› Spirit of Manatee highlights philanthropy, philanthropists [Sarassota Herald-Tribune]
Manatee Community Foundation recently announced the 2023 Spirit of Manatee winners. Honorees will be celebrated March 29 at the annual lunch spotlighting philanthropy in Manatee County. Bob and Carol Carter, known for their philanthropic leadership locally and nationwide, will receive the Mary E. Parker Lifetime Spirit Award.

› Daytona 500 helps Florida businesses bounce back after hurricane season [Fox Weather]
The Daytona 500 helps businesses bounce back after hurricane season, and owners are excited about the large crowds it brings. Months after hurricanes Ian and Nicole, the clean-up continues, and visitors are returning to enjoy Daytona Beach. "Nicole came along and just really kind of showed us how strong Mother Nature could be," said Rob Burnetti general manager of the Shores Resort and Spa. Burnetti said while the majority of the resort is now fine, they still have to complete work on their hot tub and stair access to the beach. Their bookings have also been down, until now.