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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
A Flamingo flock inspires hope. Have the rare birds returned to the Everglades for good?
For the last century, flamingos in Florida were more likely to be spotted on T-shirts and cups in a souvenir shop than flapping around in the wild. Then last summer, a flock of the rare and beautiful birds — a group is fittingly known as a “flamboyance” of flamingos — was blown to Florida on the fierce winds of Hurricane Idalia. Eight months later, they remain on the shores of Florida Bay, delighting scientists and inspiring hope that this could be the year they stick around for good. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida’s home insurance industry may be worse than anyone realizes
Seven property insurers in Florida went bankrupt in 2021 and 2022. The bankruptcies left thousands of homeowners scrambling to get new coverage, which often came with a big increase in cost. Worse, many had outstanding claims for hurricane damage that had not been addressed. More from Bloomberg and Yahoo News.
See also:
» Florida homeowners insurance is skyrocketing: Here’s what to know
Florida adds restrictions to dairy cows to prevent bird flu
As the federal government brings tougher regulations to cattle farms to prevent the spread of H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, Florida has imposed its own restrictions on cattle brought into the state. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services put into place an emergency rule that halted the import of cattle exposed to H5N1 and any lactating dairy cattle from other states that have suspected or confirmed cases. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Florida cities among cleanest areas for air quality in U.S.
Florida cities are pretty clean compared to many metropolises in other states, according to the newest American Lung Association “State of the Air” report. The report concluded that 4 in 10 people in the U.S. “live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution.” The Sunshine State is not one of those places. There were 10 Florida cities or regions that made the list of the cleanest cities. [Source: Florida Politics]
Money to harden your home? Florida program is changing. Here’s how.
Good news for Florida homeowners: The popular state program that awards up to $10,000 to harden your home is being renewed this year, and it now includes condominiums. But now, older and low-income homeowners are the priority. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday approved another $200 million for the My Safe Florida Home program, which was revived by state lawmakers in 2022. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Tallahassee Democrat.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Small Business Week: Pinellas entrepreneurs share stories, tips
Small Business Week runs April 28-May 4 and celebrates the hard work of entrepreneurs and small businesses everywhere Lucky for Pinellas County, there are many resources for those thinking of launching a small business and keeping it successful. According to the Florida Small Business Development Center, Pinellas County is a strong business incubator and leader.
› Multinationals influx spurs Coral Gables economy
Coral Gables is gearing up for a bustling spring and summer season with events to promote local businesses and the influx of major multinational corporations such as FIFA, Ryder and Apple into the city. Nearing its 100th anniversary next year, Coral Gables is home to over 10,000 businesses and continues expanding as an international business hub.
› Home prices in Jax double faster than most other metro areas
It has taken less than a decade for home prices in Jacksonville to double, according to a recently released study. The national median home price has been a roller-coaster ride toward twice what it was 10 years ago. According to the report, the average home in the United States went from around $200,000 to $400,000, molded by an unrelenting storm of inflation, tight supply and surging demand.
› Port Canaveral chalks up record month amid growing cruise demand
Port Canaveral saw just under 800,000 cruise passengers move on and off its ships in March as part of a record year that keeps topping expectations. That set a one-month record for the port with an average of nearly 25,600 people a day around 93 cruise ship calls. March is traditionally one of the strongest months of the year for the port with its spring break traffic.
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