Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/19/2017

Florida insurers place all options on table to address AOB abuse

Florida’s home insurers hope the public doesn’t blame them as they implement rate increases, initiate coverage changes and nonrenew policies. They say they have no choice after the Florida Legislature for the fifth year in a row failed to address the crisis in water damage claims abuse. More from the Insurance Journal. Also see the document: 5-Year Rate Projections for Homeowners (HO-3) Insurance By Florida County and Risk Type (PDF).

Yes, there’s been a lot of hiring lately in Jacksonville

No, it’s not your imagination. Jobs have really been popping in Jacksonville lately. In the past 10 days, Amazon held job fairs, the Jacksonville Jaguars had a job fair, Ikea began recruiting, Florida Blue announced it's looking for temporary workers, among others. See more at the Florida Times-Union.

Two Ocalans jump into artificial reality industry

Matthew Buckman is the CEO and founder of Twelve Eight Media, where he works along with Executive Vice President Seth Farley on creating digital marketing campaigns and business websites as well as developing augmented and virtual reality applications. More from the Ocala Star-Banner.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Urban living makes its way into the suburbs

Portico in Broward County

In March, across from Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise in west Broward, Richman Signature Properties finished the last building at its Portico project, a five-story, 417-unit luxury apartment development that’s the latest example of the growth of urban hubs in suburban southeast Florida. Access full story.

Girl Scouts report ranks Florida 39th in overall well-being for girls

Florida is failing many of its girls, according to a new Girl Scouts of America report. The state has about 1.5 million girls ages 5 to 17 and about 23 percent of them live in poverty. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Volunteerism
Shared vision, shared values

Time is a valuable commodity. What leads busy professionals with hectic schedules and pressing demands to invest their time serving on the Florida Sea Grant Advisory Council?

» Full story here. [Sponsored report]

Business Profile
All Star Laundry and Dry Cleaning

A typical day for Cheryl Walstad, president of Sarasota-based All Star Laundry and Dry Cleaning, could have her shuttling between one of the company’s coin laundromats, dealing with one of its hotel clients and completing a uniform fitting at a local college. Her life wasn’t always supposed to be this busy.