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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida economist says inflation is coming down, but at a slow pace
Many Florida residents continue to deal with the impacts of inflation which peaked at more than 9% last summer. Sean Snaith, director at the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, tells WMFE's Talia Blake that while inflation is lower, the decline is slow. ot all prices adjust at the same speed in the economy. For some things, it's very quick. The price of a share of stock adjusts within milliseconds to information (or) price of a barrel of oil can adjust very quickly. Other things, like food and rent, change at a much slower pace. [Source: WUSF]
Lawmakers win round in redistricting fight
As they try to defend a congressional redistricting plan, the Florida House and Senate will be able to challenge part of a 2010 constitutional amendment that set rules for drawing maps, a Leon County circuit judge said Monday. The ruling by Judge J. Lee Marsh came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of voting-rights groups and individual plaintiffs that contends, in part, the redistricting plan violates the 2010 “Fair Districts” constitutional amendment because it diminishes the voting power of Black residents in North Florida. [Source: News Service of Florida]
My Safe Florida Home’s $10,000 grant program snags another $100 million, goes statewide
Get ready, Orlando, Gainesville, Lakeland, Tallahassee, Sanford, Ocala, and many other Florida cities. Homeowners throughout the state are now eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in state funding to protect your home from damaging hurricane winds. The program provides $2 for every $1 you spend to replace roofs, garage doors, exterior doors (such as front doors, doors leading from garages or sliding glass doors), and — for homes without storm shutters — old-style windows. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Federal judge stops enforcement of Florida’s transgender care bans for some parents
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Florida to stop enforcing its bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth for some parents challenging the rules. The ruling stems from a lawsuit initially filed against the state medical boards and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo by a group of Florida parents and their transgender children. Plaintiffs amended the lawsuit in May to seek an injunction on the bill Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law, placing the medical boards’ restrictions into statute. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
New to Florida? Here's what you need to know as hurricane season starts
According to the U.S. Census, Orlando grew by 65,000 residents last year. The Villages was the fastest-growing U.S. metro area, increasing by 7.5% between 2021 and 2022. That means there are a lot of new people in Florida who might be experiencing a hurricane for the first time this year. WMFE’s Danielle Prieur spoke with Florida Public Radio Emergency Network Meteorologist Megan Borowski about storm terminology and how to prepare. [Source: WFSU]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› The largest human-made lagoon in the country just opened in Pasco County
Tampa Bay is known for its beaches, but a new attraction in Pasco County offers the chance to spend a day by the water without visiting the shore. The Mirada Lagoon is a human-made body of water that spans more than 15 acres, making it the largest in the United States. Located at the Mirada housing development in San Antonio, the lagoon features sandy shorelines, a swim-up bar, water slide, kids play area, kayak, paddleboard and cabana rentals and a floating obstacle course.
› The only ones having a better spring than the Heat, Panthers really are Miami sports bars
A few days before the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers both hit the road last month to start their Eastern Conference finals, Paul Maurice mused about what this must be like for people in other walks of life across the region. “The only thing better than coaching one of these two teams,” the Panthers coach said, “would be owning a sports bar because you are on a roll right now.” He was right.
› Why glass artists come from all over to work at this St. Petersburg gallery
When Canadian artist Stephen Pon pulled his 6-foot sculpture Tower of Babel from the kiln at the Duncan McClellan Gallery in March, it had been weeks in the making. Pon is one of many artists from around the world who come to St. Petersburg to work in glass art, and specifically at McClellan’s gallery, which has helped turn the city into a mecca for glass art and establish the Warehouse Arts District.
› Jacksonville University College of Law: ‘It’s hard to imagine having a better first year’
On July 19, 2022, Nicholas Allard was announced as Jacksonville University’s first law school dean. The following month, 14 students — seven men and seven women — began their first of three years of classes toward a Juris Doctor at the JU College of Law campus, established on the 18th floor of VyStar Tower Downtown With final exams administered May 3 and the academic year concluded, the law school is completing the makeup of its fall 2023 class.
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