Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/14/2024

Florida hospitals, doctors left reeling after major cyberattack

Florida health care providers are reeling from a massive cyberattack that has crippled a company that hospitals and doctors’ offices use to submit medical claims to insurers and get reimbursed. The Florida Hospital Association estimates that if the problems continue for a whole month, hospitals statewide will face $1.3 billion in unpaid claims, said Mary Mayhew, the group’s president and chief executive. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Publix heir to step down from grocer’s board after 45 years

Veteran Publix executive and the son of founder George Jenkins is retiring from the company’s board of directors after 45 years of service. Howard Jenkins’ departure from the board is due to a general policy that directors do not stand for re-election after reaching age 72, according to Publix’s 2024 proxy statement. More from the South Florida Business Journal.

Jacksonville TV stations may not experience election-year bump

For much of the last two decades, Jacksonville television stations would look forward to election years because of a surge in revenue from political advertising. However, 2024 could be disappointing for them as Florida is no longer considered a battleground state. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.

SeaWorld offers $60 tickets for 60th birthday

SeaWorld is turning 60, and it’s celebrating with $60 theme park tickets good on select days sprinkled throughout 2024. The deadline for purchases is March 17. The first $60 date is March 20, and there are eligible days in every month of the year, leaning heavily on Wednesdays. June, July and August have an increased number of $60 day opportunities. The final available day is Dec. 18. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Rays stadium deal not done yet with St. Petersburg City Council

The city may have gotten the Tampa Bay Rays to say they were staying in St. Petersburg last year after announcing the outlines of a deal to build the team a stadium and redevelop the land around it. Six months later, there’s still no guarantee the team will get that stadium, no matter how many T-shirts the Rays give away that say they are “here to stay.” More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Public Safety
Florida truckers want you to ‘share the road’

The Florida Trucking Association (FTA) has launched a “Share the Road” campaign to educate drivers on the importance of sharing the road safely and improving driving behavior, particularly around large trucks and buses with operating limitations. “Our ‘Share the Road’ initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to safety and underscores the vital role that collaboration plays in enhancing road safety for all users,” said FTA President and CEO Alix Miller.

» More from Florida Politics.

Innovation
Sustainable boating

Blue Innovations Group, an electric boat startup in Pinellas Park, has unveiled its first EV boat — the R30. The 30-foot vessel can accommodate up to 12 people, has a run time of up to eight hours on a 221-kWh battery pack and can reach a maximum speed of 45 mph. Amenities include a kitchenette, a bathroom with a bidet, an expandable solar canopy and air conditioning.