Florida home insurance costs unlikely to fall despite reforms to reduce lawsuits

Home insurance costs in Florida are unlikely to fall even as reforms enacted by the state Legislature last year drive down litigation rates, a national insurance analyst predicted in a newly released report. The report by Karen Clark & Company, titled “Managing Expectations: Why Florida Homeowners Insurance Premiums Are Not Likely to Go Down,” says rising inflation rates, reinsurance costs and effects of climate change will keep insurance losses — and rates — climbing as litigation costs taper off. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

As pythons survive, these hunters fight to curb invasive snake population

Catching pythons is less about skill and more about technique — or at least according to Toby Benoit. The writer, novelist, and python hunter set out for this year’s 2023 Florida Python Challenge with a mission. With a team of first-time python hunters, Benoit led the group through the darkness of the South Florida Everglades. For thousands of years, the Everglades have served as a vital ecosystem for many reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. However, since the Burmese pythons invaded, nearly 90% of the mid-sized mammals in the Everglades have been wiped out. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida gas prices drop despite high oil rates, but war in the Mideast a wild card

Florida gas prices have hit $3.48 a gallon, the lowest price at the pump the state has seen since July 24. But war in the Mideast has become the latest wild card. The state’s daily gas prices continue to fluctuate, but the brief increase of 4 cents per gallon last week was erased, making nearly a 12-cent difference in Florida’s gas prices from last week to this week. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

Florida high school coaching pay remains sore subject

Football coaches in particular, most of whom work nearly year-round, have been vocal about the need for raises for years. The outcry has grown louder as inflation climbs and colleagues leave Florida for higher-paying jobs that come with fewer responsibilities in neighboring states. Aside from teaching responsibilities for most, the workweek additionally includes time spent game-planning for opponents, communicating with media and college coaches, taking players on college trips and monitoring their progress in the classroom. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida’s domestic violence shelters take stock as they face backlog and rebuilding challenges

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s a time when most advocates take stock. And in Florida, shelters for survivors have rarely been so full – leaving many victims with little choice but to stay with their abusers. The problem is driven by the ongoing housing crisis and compounded by Hurricane Idalia. It’s especially concerning in Taylor County, where the storm landed, and many residents are now facing major job loss as the local paper mill prepares to close. [Source: WUSF]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Clearwater aims to catch up on lagging pay for city employees [Tampa Bay Times]
Although the Clearwater City Council adopted its $724 million budget for fiscal year 2024 last week, deliberations over major spending are far from over. The city has more than 200 vacancies that are burdening workers across departments, and current wages are well below St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and other local governments that are culling employees.

› Venture Miami gears up for a tech-filled fall with new events, workshops, and more [Refresh Miami]
As the fall 2023 season unwinds with football, Taylor Swift appearances, and spooky pumpkins, Venture Miami is also keeping busy with events and workshops geared toward our Miami Tech community. Venture Miami, an economic development office focused on improving Miami’s standard of living, came to life in 2021 after Mayor Francis Suarez’s famous “How Can I Help” tweet went viral almost three years ago, attracting new tech firms and companies to the 305.

› Disney grant boosts ongoing UCF research on coastal restoration [WMFE]
A team of researchers based at the University of Central Florida’s Coastal & Estuarine Ecology Laboratory (CEELAB) will expand their work studying sustainable coastal restoration, thanks to a $100,000 grant recently awarded by the Disney Conservation Fund. Pegasus Professor of Biology Linda Walters said UCF doctoral student Katherine Harris deserves “all the credit” for her fieldwork on how mangroves and oyster reefs interact.

› IMG Academy president, in rare comments, provides insight on $1.25B sale, future [Business Observer]
The future of one of Manatee County's largest and most prominent private employers — IMG Academy — coming off its blockbuster $1.25 billion sale is one part digital, one part physical. That's a big takeaway from a rare glimpse into leadership's thinking at the sports academy and school with a global roster of superstars in multiple sports who have trained there.

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› Estuary Program doles out $273K in small grants that may have a big impact on the environment [Pensacola News-Journal]
Plans call for recruiting more students to "embark on a county-wide study of water quality and monitor the success of oyster recruitment at four locations in the local watershed." With so much oyster habitat lost to the contamination of local waterways, the students will be helping oyster farmers and local scientists to determine where efforts to restore the region's population can be conducted successfully.

› In Miami-Dade Schools, all you need to be a substitute teacher is a GED degree [MIami Herald]
Historically, the district had required subs to have completed at least 60 hours of college credit — approximately equivalent to an associate’s degree — and be at least 19 years old. In 2017, the district lowered the college requirements to 30 hours of credit and the age to 18 for K-8 positions, and 19 for high school positions. In August, the district loosened requirements once again.

› Sarasota tops list of home markets to watch with huge increase in residences being built [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The Sarasota-Manatee housing market has been crowned the top home market to watch in the country by Insurify.com, which cites the area's housing construction boom and skyrocketing property values. Three other Florida metros joined Sarasota on the list.

› Orlando International Airport to address parking ahead of holiday travel [WMFE]
The Orlando International Airport is working on improving the parking situation ahead of what is expected to be another record-breaking holiday travel season. Airport officials say 800 additional parking spots should be added by the end of December. And executive Director Kevin Thibault said even before the holidays begin, a new online reservation system for the 20,000 parking spots at the airport will come online.