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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Over 2 million Floridians without power — as Ian causes major damage to state’s power grid
Hurricane Ian left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power to 2.5 million people as it dumped rain across the peninsula on Thursday. One of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States threatened catastrophic flooding around the state. Ian’s tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 415 miles (665 km), and nearly all of Florida was getting drenched. More from the Miami Herald and the AP.
Citrus industry could take hurricane hit
Florida’s already-struggling citrus industry could take a hit from Hurricane Ian. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences said Wednesday that 375,000 acres of citrus groves could be affected by the massive hurricane, including 175,000 acres where hurricane-strength winds are expected and 200,000 acres likely to see tropical storm-force winds. [Source: News Service of Florida]
New York drivers switching to Florida driver's licenses in record numbers, report says
In August, a total of 5,838 people switched their license from New York to Florida, according to data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. That total marks the highest number to make the switch in a single month on record, the New York Post said. Year-to-date, almost 42,000 New Yorkers have made the I.D. switch after moving to the Sunshine State, the outlet added. [Source: KATV]
Hurricane Ian: DeSantis, Biden are burying the hatchet
Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Biden have put aside their considerable political differences as Hurricane Ian prepares to hammer Florida. During a White House press briefing Tuesday, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said she talked with Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday, a day before President Joe Biden signed off on a federal emergency declaration. “We do not bring politics into our ability to respond to these disasters,” Criswell said. “We’re going to support whatever Gov. DeSantis asks of us.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
See how the latest voter registration data is likely to tilt Florida’s midterm elections
For years, Republicans have been making gains with registered voters in Florida, catching up to Democrats last year for the first time, an accomplishment Gov. Ron DeSantis has often touted. This month, they reached a new milestone: officially surpassing Democrats by more than one percentage point, or 177,529 registered voters, according to new Division of Elections data analyzed by the Miami Herald. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Astra Space updates why its rocket failed during Cape Canaveral launch
Astra Space, which had two rocket launch failures on both of its tries to fly from the Space Coast announced Wednesday the likely reason for the most recent loss. Teams moving through a four-step investigation have completed their flight data review and timeline reconstruction, and are nearly complete with a fault-tree analysis, according to a release on the company’s website.
› 'Dress for Success' clothing drive aims to give women head-to-toe boost in confidence
Imagine that you're a single mom with dreams of landing a good job and providing a safe, happy home for your children. Now imagine that you're also the victim of domestic violence. That you need to find a job after fleeing your home with nothing but your children and your life. That type of situation is the impetus behind the second annual "Dress for Success," sponsored by the Brevard chapter of The Links, Incorporated, in partnership with The Women's Center of Brevard.
› Downtown Miami paves way for 15,000 more housing units
An analysis commissioned by the Miami DDA’s Downtown Development of Regional Impact (DDRI) Task Force has pinpointed land use exchanges to create a pool of credits to allow 15,000 or so more downtown residential units, which are already over the development limit. The memorandum by North Carolina-based planning, engineering and design consultant Kimley-Horn on July 21 summarized potential rebalancing scenarios for the development program’s caps, using land exchange rates that would convert some less-utilized categories into more in-demand uses, such as residential and office.
› JEA pauses utility disconnections and city replenishes emergency relief program
JEA customers who face disconnection of their utility service will get a grace period through Oct. 9 and the city of Jacksonville will use a fresh infusion of money in its 2022-23 budget for emergency relief that can help residents keep the lights on. That strategy might not be enough to head off disconnections in the months ahead as JEA customers will continue to see high prices for electricity. But at least in the short term, city leaders said they think it will make a difference for people squeezed by rising costs.
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