Florida government projects face major delays. Here's why

Local government projects in Florida — ranging from an airport terminal expansion to roads and pipeline construction — are feeling the impacts of increased costs. Some are even facing significant delays. In Palm Beach County, for example, supply-chain issues, high labor costs and inflation have created havoc with more than a half-billion dollars’ worth of county construction projects, forcing delays of as long as a year. [Source: Florida Today]

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Key milestone

Two hundred years ago this month, the Florida Territorial Legislature created Monroe County — which contains all but one of the Florida Keys — as Florida’s sixth county. Five years later, Key West was incorporated as a city and became the county seat. The Florida Keys include 1,700 islands stretching over 220 miles. The Calusa and Tequesta tribes were the original inhabitants of the islands. [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida emergency officials are urging residents to take heat precautions

State emergency management officials are advising Floridians to ensure safety amid stifling heat. "With the heat index value reaching an upwards of 110 degrees in some areas, it’s important to take breaks from the heat and drink plenty of water," Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said in a prepared statement. "I urge all Floridians to practice heat safety and remember it is never safe to leave children or pets alone in a parked car." The National Weather Service on Tuesday said a lengthy and dangerous heat wave will continue in South Florida and other parts of the country. [Source: WUSF]

Florida economist breaks down the state's unique inflation problems

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics last week released Consumer Price Index data for June ahead of the Federal Reserve’s July meeting next week. University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting Director Sean Snaith tells WMFE's Talia Blake that the report shows we’re heading in the right direction to bring down inflation nationally, but Florida continues to deal with unique problems. [Source: WUSF]

Canada wildfires: Could we see smoke clouds from Florida?

More than 67 million Americans across the U.S. awoke to air quality alerts this weekk as smoke from wildfires burning across Canada continues to fill the sky, leading to potential health hazards. What began as "unhealthy" air quality levels across parts of the West has pushed off to the east at the start of the workweek, leaving a smoky haze in places such as Boston. The distant Canadian wildfires are creeping into parts of Florida. [Source: WOFL]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Leon County declares Florida PACE Funding Agency a 'public danger' over home improvement loans [Tallahassee Democrat]
Leon County is taking legal steps against the Florida PACE Funding Agency over its refusal to comply with regulations on home improvement loans designed to protect consumers from high tax bills and foreclosures. County commissioners voted unanimously July 11 to declare FPFA "a danger to the public’s health, safety or welfare" and repeal a resolution allowing the entity to operate its financing program locally.

› How a toxic chemical infiltrated the Floridan Aquifer, tainting Seminole County tap water [Orlando Sentinel]
The toxic chemical in the drinking water of thousands of Seminole County homes has properties that can seem sinister. 1,4-dioxane turns water into its Trojan Horse. Colorless and smelling mildly sweet, it does that because it is infinitely soluble, or entirely dissolvable in water. With that trick, it masquerades among crystalline currents deep underground in the Floridan Aquifer where Lake Mary, Sanford and Seminole County obtain drinking water.

› Miami tech influx slows, still strong [Miami Today]
After the height of the post-pandemic technology sector relocation and expansion trend, Miami continues to attract tech firms and startups at a reduced level, still depending on local talent and business incentives. Technology has been a targeted industry for recruitment efforts for a long time, said James Kohnstamm, executive vice president of economic development at the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the county’s public-private partnership for economic growth.

› Proposed Pinellas budget includes raises, public safety, steady tax rate [Tampa Bay Times]
Pinellas County commissioners got their first look this week at a proposed budget of $3.8 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins in October. The plan includes $2.8 billion for day-to-day operations and another $946 million for capital projects such as roads, buildings and parks. County Administrator Barry Burton, presenting the proposal to the County Commission, said the budget focuses on “the things that make our residents feel safe,” with emphases on public safety, mental and behavioral health resources and transportation infrastructure.

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› Miami International Airport to get one new hotel, not two [Miami Today]
Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert III was pushing for two new hotels at Miami International Airport. He got half of what he asked for at Tuesday’s meeting. The quest for a new, upscale hotel at the airport was supposed to be “expedited,” on the fast track, when it was first proposed. That was three years ago.

› Could Jacksonville hit 100 degrees this week? [Florida Times-Union]
Did you see it? 100 degrees is on the seven-day forecast from Jacksonville's Most Accurate Weather Team. You heard that right! On average, Jacksonville records only one 100-degree day in a single calendar year. The last time the city hit 100 degrees was more than a year ago on June 23 of 2022. Before that, Jacksonville hit 100 degrees back in 2019. We skipped through the years 2020 and 2021 without observing a high temperature in the triple digits.

› Orlando Health patients may lose UnitedHealthcare coverage amid stalled contract dispute [Orlando Sentinel]
Thousands of UnitedHealthcare members in Central Florida may soon lose access to in-network care at Orlando Health amid stalled contract negotiations. After months of negotiating new terms, with less than two weeks to go, both sides have accused the other of holding up negotiations, making misleading statements about the negotiations and making unreasonable proposals.

› Pasco gives Miami developer the go-ahead for resort redevelopment [Business Observer]
Pasco County Commissioners approved a redevelopment plan July 11 for the iconic Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel — despite concerns from some residents about required renovations to their units. The redevelopment will bring apartments, town homes and retail and office space inside a proposed town center and elsewhere on the property. The project also calls for a major update to the resort’s facilities.