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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Identity theft in South Florida tops all large U.S. metros
If you live in South Florida, chances are higher that you will become an identity theft victim than if you lived in any other major U.S. metro region, according to a new report. That’s not to say anywhere in the U.S. is safe. It’s just worse here, the report by credit card aggregator Upgraded Points revealed this week. The Miami metro region, which includes all of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, reported the highest rate of identity theft fraud — 87.3 per 10,000 residents — among 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents. More from South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Florida homeowners seeing insurance premium hikes after Hurricane Ian
One of the most annoying things many of us have endured after Hurricane Ian is looking to slam your wallet once again. From lackluster customer service, faulty claims, and not one cent seen by hundreds of people trying to rebuild, homeowners insurance has been everything except a walk in the park. And the headache is not over. More from WINK.
DeSantis set to relaunch migrant flight program with 3 new vendors
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has selected three companies to carry out its expanded, multi-million dollar program to relocate migrants anywhere in the country, less than a year after the governor sent 49 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The program, which could start as soon as contracts are finalized, will involve an undetermined number of migrants and could last until June 30, 2025 unless a contract is terminated, state records show. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
JaxPort welcomes its biggest cargo ship as global trade upsizes
Anyone on or near the St. Johns River between the Atlantic Ocean and the Dames Point bridge on Tuesday might have seen a magenta-painted mega-ship sailing to the Blount Island Terminal. It won't be the last time that sight appears on the river. The One Stork is the largest cargo ship to ever call on Jacksonville. Once a week, ships at or near its size will arrive at the Blount Island terminal as part of a nine-vessel rotation operated by the shipping line Ocean Network Express. More from the Florida Times-Union.
SeaWorld guest numbers grow as company plans expansion
SeaWorld reported its eighth consecutive quarter of record finances Tuesday as international and group visitors trickle back and guests generally spend more in the company’s theme parks. The Orlando-based company slightly exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 guest numbers this quarter as it continues efforts to boost attendance. Company officials are hopeful the opening of new rides and attractions this year, including a new rollercoaster and children’s water play area in Orlando, will turn the tide. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Oil gushed into the Gulf and people got sick. A secret Florida warehouse may hold clues
The warehouse looks like countless others in South Florida. But what’s inside is anything but typical. Steel barrels lined up wall to wall. Shelves of vials and jars stacked along the sides of refrigerated storage rooms. Inside the containers, large and small, are samples from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 — the largest oil spill in history.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Business Profile
Seeds of change
On a drab, industrial street in the shadows of St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, an oasis of leafy greens is flourishing. It has taken root not on sprawling acres outdoors, but inside 20 former shipping containers just west of downtown. You could drive past Brick Street Farms and never have any inkling of the operation inside — in fact, you might not notice it at all.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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