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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida to feel effects of tropical system after a fourth pops up in the Atlantic
Yet another tropical disturbance is being tracked in the Atlantic Ocean by the National Hurricane Center, bringing the tally of active systems up to four. One of the disturbances is set to move into the Gulf of Mexico, which will be affecting South Florida and the Florida Keys — bringing even more rain to an already saturated area. More from the Miami Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida law: Knocked down, not out
In Florida, business interests and the insurance industry complained the plaintiffs' bar enjoyed too much leverage. The business-backed American Tort Reform Foundation in 2017-18 named Florida the nation’s top “Judicial Hellhole.” (Other states have since gotten the top ranking.) The Florida Chamber’s Florida Scorecard ranks the state as having the nation’s fifth worst legal climate. The state’s property insurance crisis, blamed on excess litigation, didn’t help the plaintiffs' bar. Property insurers won approval of their agenda in a December 2022 special legislative session. More from Florida Trend.
Just how bad is Florida’s coral bleaching crisis? Experts are ‘truly sobered.’
By nearly all metrics, the marine heatwave striking Florida has caused the worst coral bleaching event in the state’s history: The heat arrived sooner. The water is running hotter. It’s staying hotter longer. Many of the corals off the Florida Keys have already been sitting in dangerously high ocean temperatures for six weeks, and evidence of the damage is mounting. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida has another season. Warning: It’s kind of creepy
Seeing more spiders lately? From August into September, many homeowners begin to notice an uptick in spiders. There’s a reason. Whether you see more webs or find them inside the house, the weather plays a role in why the arachnids are seen more frequently. While Florida doesn’t see big temperature swings to define the seasons like our northern friends, spiders know when summer is coming to an end and fall is approaching. It’s their biological clock ticking. It’s mating season. More from Click Orlando.
Publix to Florida: Do not bring your pet dog inside. Really, don’t.
Publix — a supermarket as much a part of Florida culture as Disney World, sunshine and snowbirds — is taking a stand on dogs. As in, unless they are service animals, no pet dogs perusing the produce aisle, no pups riding high in grocery carts, no dogs tucked into shopping totes. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
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Business Beat - Week of August 18th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Travel Trends
Jet set
Pan Am airlines launched Miami’s commercial aviation industry nearly a century ago. Now, its former headquarters is being turned into a luxury terminal for travelers looking to avoid crowded terminals and security lines. PS — which launched in 2017 as the Private Suite — plans to open its latest private terminal in the old Pan Am headquarters by 2025. For a price, travelers will be able to choose between a posh lounge called the Salon and private suites offering a balcony, a daybed, spa services and chef-prepared meals.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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