May 18, 2024

Tuesday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/3/2023

Florida achieved economic milestones in 2022

Florida’s economy reached many milestones in 2022, including recording it’s second lowest unemployment rate in state history and reaching record levels of job creation and budget reserves. It also closed 2022 with nearly $22 billion in surplus, the highest in state history, and decreased its debt by $1.3 billion. [Source: The Center Square]

At food banks, need is up, donations are down

Food banks are facing difficult math right now: Need is once again rising, but donations are declining. It’s been one thing after another lately in South Florida: the pandemic, inflation, Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. “The holidays have been an extremely difficult time for our families, especially with food prices going up, with rent going up,” said Paco Vélez with Feeding South Florida. “The need has gone up. Another $5 here and another $10 there is pretty significant for our families.” [Source: Marketplace]

Florida officials must choose between day job or holding office under new law

A new Florida law is forcing some public officials to choose between their day jobs or holding office. The measure, which took effect over the weekend, prohibits public officials from working as lobbyists while holding public office. It also bars state and local elected officials from lobbying their state agencies or offices for six years after leaving office, up from a previous two-year ban. [Source: CBS News]

Squeeze on Florida’s orange crop may cause surge in orange juice prices, analysts predict

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting Florida farmers to produce about 20 million boxes of oranges. That would be a 51% drop from last year. It would also be the smallest crop since the 1936 season. Officials are blaming extreme weather and a citrus disease for the low supply. Analysts are predicting that a surge in orange juice prices will go into in 2023. [Source: WFTV]

Florida gas prices on the rise after last week’s low, expect ups and downs in 2023

If you’ve pulled into a gas station lately you’ve most likely noticed that gasoline prices have moved back above $3 a gallon in Florida, and look to be trending upward. Florida is currently sitting a nickel higher than the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded at $3.26. According to GasBuddy, a tech company that monitors the fuel industry, is predicting that we’ll see gas prices move back above $4 a gallon in 2023, and unless something unexpected takes place we’ll probably see that happen during the summer. [Source: Positively Osceola]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Arrival of hundreds of Cuban migrants forces temporary closure of Dry Tortugas National Park
A U.S. national park comprising a cluster of uninhabited islands in the Florida Keys was closed Monday after 300 migrants made 10 landings there over the weekend, officials said. Dry Tortugas National Park, about 70 miles west of Key West, was closed so law enforcement and medical personnel could evaluate the migrants before moving them to Key West, the park tweeted. “The closure, which is expected to last several days, is necessary for the safety of visitors and staff because of the resources and space needed to attend to the migrants,” park officials said in their statement.

› 6 stories that could dominate Tampa Bay headlines in 2023
It’s likely that the biggest story of 2023 will come seemingly out of nowhere. Had the Tampa Bay Times outlined the most important stories to watch in 2022, it’s unlikely we would have called that a near-Category 5 hurricane would churn through Southwest Florida (narrowly missing Tampa Bay), or that a star quarterback would retire and un-retire, or that Gov. Ron DeSantis would suddenly oust the Hillsborough state attorney. Major news events, like the whims of political stars and football GOATs, are hard to predict.

› Need help with rental, mortgage costs? Miami-Dade financial assistance programs can help
As a new year begins, Miami-Dade County residents are coping with a protracted housing-affordability crisis. Finding an affordable home to rent or buy in an area with a dwindling supply of available homes, and some of the highest prices in the country, is difficult. Here are a group of local government and bank financial resource programs for individuals and families that need rental assistance, money toward buying a home or to avert eviction.

› Central Florida developers paid big bucks for land in 2022
Developers and homebuilders paid top dollar for vacant land in Central Florida, where the two priciest sales were scooped up for future distribution centers. A 248-acre industrial park still under construction next to the Orlando Apopka Airport sold in March for $92.5 million, making it the most expensive land deal in Central Florida for 2022.

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