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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
U.S. Supreme Court gives boost to Florida sports betting plan
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the go-ahead to an appeals court ruling that could help lead to the Seminole Tribe of Florida offering online sports betting throughout the state. The court lifted a temporary hold that Chief Justice John Roberts placed Oct. 12 on a ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in a lawsuit about a gambling deal reached in 2021 by the tribe and the state. More from CBS Miami and Politico.
Citizens policies drop amid 'depopulation'
The number of customers of the state's Citizens Property Insurance Corp. dropped this month after private carriers took nearly 100,000 policies. Citizens had 1.325 million policies as of Friday, down from 1.412 million policies two weeks earlier, according to Citizens data. The drop came as five private insurers assumed 99,773 Citizens policies in mid-October as part of a state effort, known as “depopulation,” to shift homeowners into the private market. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Orange you glad I didn't say banana? The impact of citrus on the economy
Florida citrus industry contributes just under $7 billion in industry output to Florida's economy. That includes multiplier effects of the industries involved in fruit production, fresh fruit packing, as well as orange juice, grapefruit juice and other citrus juice production.We're the top of citrus producing state in the country closely followed by California. California produces mostly for fresh fruit production, and we happen to produce mostly for a juice processing. [Source: WUSF]
Florida sues Meta, saying its social media platforms harm kids
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit alleging the parent company of Facebook and Instagram uses "manipulative" features to keep minors hooked on the social-media platforms. Moody’s lawsuit came on the same day that 33 states filed a similar lawsuit in California against the company, Meta, which defended itself by saying it has tools to protect minors who use the platforms. The company also pointed to “the complexity of mental health” and various challenges that teens face outside of concerns related to social media. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Roller coaster turtle-nesting season in Southwest Florida
It was a year with a record-breaking number of nests and a record-breaking number of false crawls. It was also a year with an extremely high number of nests lost to storms, heat and coyotes. The 2023 turtle nesting season ends Oct. 31, leaving turtle experts looking back on this roller coaster season on local beaches. [Source: Naples Daily News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› The Tallahassee Chamber teaches skills-based hiring amid a worker shortage
Since the pandemic, many companies have struggled to find qualified employees amid a worker shortage. As a result, some are tossing out old ideas about how to find candidates and pivoting toward skills-based hiring. In some cases, that means letting go of the notion that a college degree should be required. The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce is creating a workshop that will run over a 12-week period to help businesses think outside the box when crafting job requirements.
› Cryptocurrency companies loved Miami. Did any stay?
2023 has been a volatile year for the cryptocurrency market. But only a few years ago, crypto fever took over Miami. The value of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin jumped to record highs at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic as fears of economic instability drove people to invest in the emerging assets. Several blockchain and cryptocurrency ventures either launched or expanded in Miami during that period, encouraged by Mayor Francis Suarez's support of the industry. Collapsed exchange FTX even had its name on the Miami Heat's downtown arena.
› Orlando ZIP code is among fastest growing in nation for new apartments
A ZIP code in the heart of Orlando is among the fastest growing in the nation for new apartments delivered in recent years, a new study shows. A report released last week by RentCafe, a subsidiary of Santa Barbara, California-based Yardi Systems, ranked downtown Orlando's 32801 ZIP code among the top-50 in the U.S. for number of apartments added between 2017 and 2022.
› St. Pete firm motors ahead on big plans to move fuel via rail lines
Belvedere Terminals, a St. Petersburg firm, plans to spend $750 million on an ambitious Florida railcar system to improve gasoline and diesel delivery in Florida. Florida has not a single refinery, so gasoline and diesel are usually transported from three main ports (Tampa, Jacksonville and Port Everglades) via trucks. That results in higher distribution costs, according to the Florida attorney general's website.
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