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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida's population is estimated at 22.6 million
Florida is projected to have a population of 22.6 million on April 1 and could top 25 million in 2032, a report released Thursday shows. The population is projected to hit 22.9 million in April 2024, 23.2 million in April 2025 and continue increasing until topping 25 million in April 2032. The report by the state’s Demographic Estimating Conference, however, said growth is expected to slow “modestly each year. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Column: Here’s how to go global with Florida exports
Many Sunshine State businesses are boosting their bottom line and competitiveness by selling internationally. In 2022, Florida exports reached $67.5 billion. Small and medium-sized enterprises — some 39,380 companies — accounted for 95% of Florida goods exporters in 2020. Altogether, the state’s exports support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, contributing to economic growth and prosperity. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Lawyers form nonprofit to fill ‘great need’ for guardians in Central Florida
A group of Central Florida lawyers have formed a nonprofit to aid incapacitated people in need of someone to make pivotal, life-altering decisions on their behalf. The Art’s Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit that formed roughly a year ago, plans to use donations to pay guardians to assist impoverished people who arrive at local hospitals medically incapacitated and without a natural caretaker in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola counties. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
People are dying from fake weed, just as the push is on in Florida to legalize recreational marijuana
Legalizing recreational marijuana is a high-stakes initiative that comes as Florida is poised to award cannabis-growing licenses to another 22 companies in April, adding to the 22 currently licensed operators. “Florida is the largest medical marijuana market in the country,” said Cris Rivera, Florida Regional President, Cresco Labs, a cannabis company that operates 23 Sunnyside stores in Florida. “It’s a really, really great market. We have fantastic quality products and every assortment mix you can imagine.” With marijuana production in the state poised to ramp up further, researchers are studying the risks. So far, research shows fake weed has made its way into the state, sickening or killing Floridians. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Another Florida property insurer heads into receivership
State regulators moved forward Thursday with placing United Property & Casualty Insurance Co. into receivership after higher-than-expected losses from Hurricane Ian helped push the insurer into insolvency. Interim Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworksy sent a letter to state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to trigger a process that will lead to seeking court approval to place the St. Petersburg-based insurer into receivership, according to documents posted on the Office of Insurance Regulation website. United Property & Casualty agreed to the move. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Gainesville leaders approve large-scale solar farm project
Gainesville’s first large-scale solar project is one step closer to its moment in the sun. The City Commission unanimously approved a contract amendment to the FL Solar 6 project, a 75-megawatt solar plant about 15 miles west of downtown Gainesville in 2024. The amendment allows for an expansion of the plant and moves it further from its original location near the historic Black community in Archer.
› Florida teacher who posted video showing empty bookshelves in school library gets fired
A substitute teacher with Duval County schools has been fired, three weeks after posting a video showing empty bookshelves in the school’s library, according to a report by First Coast News. Brian Covey, who worked at Mandarin Middle School, posted a video on Jan. 27 showing rows of empty bookshelves. Duval County Public Schools gave First Coast News a statement saying Covey was fired for “misrepresentation of the books available to students in the school’s library” and for violating his employer’s social media and cellphone policies.
› St. Pete's EDC chief to step down
J.P. DuBuque, the founding president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Economic Development Corp. has resigned. He will leave his post in April. In a statement released Friday, the EDC says DuBuque is joining the accounting firm Rivero, Gordimer & Co. as COO. His resignation is effective April 28. The St. Petersburg EDC was founded in 2016 and under DuBuque has announced more than 2,100 jobs, increased private sector revenue by 86% and public support by 50% over the past six years, according to the statement.
› South Beach Wine & Food festival witnessed Miami’s evolution into a ‘food town’
In the days before Michelin stars, omakase bars and extravagant clubstaurants swarmed this tropical paradise, before every New York restaurateur staked a claim in the sand, Miami’s wine and food festival was a modest event. It had no choice but to be humble: In the late 1990s, the only restaurants most people tended to recognize were The Forge (now late, lamented) and Joe’s Stone Crab.
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