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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Inflation rises in March: Florida has highest inflation in U.S.
Inflation increased for a third straight month in March, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index (CPI). Overall prices were up 3.5% from March 2023 and up from February's 3.2% increase. And nowhere are they rising more than Florida. The Sunshine State has the nation's highest inflation rate, 3.91%, according to an analysis of index data by Moody’s Analytics based on a three-month moving average. More from the Tallahassee Democrat and the Daytona Beach News Journal.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Thomas Wilkins
Thomas Wilkins, former resident conductor of The Florida Orchestra and principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra tells us: "A life in classical music reminds me that I play an important role in nurturing not just artists but society. This is not a career — it’s a calling. It’s not about me at all; I’m just a vehicle to get this music out to people and to make their lives better." [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida among top destinations for millennials. Here’s where they moved
A study by HireaHelper earlier this year found the top spots that millennials moved to in 2023. Between unaffordable housing, high rental prices and sizable debt, many millennials lacked the means to move relative to their Gen Z counterparts, the study explains. However, those who did move reportedly did so mainly due to wanting better housing or seizing new job opportunities. [Source: Click Orlando]
Court orders Florida to explain its standing in immigration suit
A federal appeals court is looking at whether Florida could legally challenge Biden administration immigration policies after a district judge sided with the state in a fight spearheaded by Attorney General Ashley Moody and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The order came after the U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled that Texas and Louisiana did not have standing to challenge federal immigration-enforcement policies. The U.S. Supreme Court case involved policies related to arresting migrants. More from the News Service of Florida and CBS Miami.
After losing Medicaid, parents of Florida’s sickest kids are in limbo
Over the last year, Florida has dropped over 1.3 million people, including 460,000 children, from its state Medicaid program after the end of a pandemic-era policy that banned states from removing participants who became ineligible. In March, the state began redetermining eligibility for kids with chronic complex conditions. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Spring is in the air and so is Keeping Florida Beautiful
Spring cleaning isn’t just for dusting and decluttering in your home. It’s also for cleaning up and greening up in your community - and the local affiliates of Keep Florida Beautiful (KFB) invite you, your family, your neighbors and your business to get involved! Needless to say, there are numerous reasons for maintaining a clean, green and beautiful Florida and this responsibility is one that we all share. [Sponsored Report]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Project Opioid to work with Orlando business leaders to combat drug abuse
Project Opioid is ramping up its efforts to find business leaders willing to help fight drug abuse. The local nonprofit hosted an event April 1 at the Orlando Magic's Amway Center with business leaders and human resource executives. Project Opioid, which met with 140 new leaders last year, wants to continue expanding the effort to reach out to community, business and faith leaders.
› Bucking the trends, Miami Angels posted a record 2023, a strong start in ’24
Jared Schwitzke took the helm of Miami Angels last year amid a steep downturn in venture capital globally. But the angel network, one of the largest in the country, has emerged stronger, logging a record year for investments in 2023 and on track for another one. “Under Jared’s leadership, we’re in the midst of Miami Angels 3.0. We weathered the nuclear winter in the VC market beautifully and beat previous capital deployment records,” said Mark Kingdon, Board Chairman of Miami Angels.
› Tampa firm part of trial to prove Alzheimer’s can be detected in blood tests
The most reliable way to to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is through a positron emission tomography or PET scan of the brain, an expensive test not always covered by insurance. Another option is an examination of cerebrospinal fluid, which requires an invasive and sometimes painful spinal tap. But a new clinical study is bringing hope that the disease, the most common form of dementia, could in the future be diagnosed with a simple blood test.
› Visit Jacksonville says it worked with 193 groups for meetings and events in 2023
In 2023, Visit Jacksonville worked with 193 groups who hosted a meeting, conference, sporting event or convention in Jacksonville, amounting to 93,141 room nights and more than $34 million of economic impact. The numbers represent a 55% increase in the number of rooms and nearly a $15 million increase in economic impact compared with 2022 statistics.
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