How much do Florida’s undocumented immigrants pay in taxes? Numbers may surprise you
Undocumented immigrants in Florida paid $1.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2022, according to a recent report analyzing what people who generally cannot legally work in the United States because of their immigration status contribute to the country’s public coffers. More from the Miami Herald.
Miami-Dade plans to build the biggest waste-to-energy facility in the country
The aging incinerator that burned down last year in Doral processed half of Miami-Dade’s trash, forcing the county to ship the garbage some 100 miles north. If all goes to plan, it could be replaced by what is billed as the largest waste-to-energy facility ever built in the United States. The controversial question about where it will go, however, remains undecided. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Over 300K people have flocked to Central Florida. Where did they come from?
The U.S. Census Bureau has released its most recent data for migration flows by county, which spans from 2016-2020. During this time, over 350,000 people moved to Central Florida, the data shows. Throughout the region, the top places where migrants came from were New York (No. 1) and Puerto Rico (No. 2). According to the data, an estimated 184,000 people from other parts of Florida moved to the region, too. More from Click Orlando.
Dubious $237 million donation to FAMU is ‘fraudulent,’ final investigation report says
FAMU NEWS Dubious $237 million donation to FAMU is ‘fraudulent,’ final investigation report says Portrait of Tarah JeanTarah Jean Tallahassee Democrat A long-awaited, 176-page final report of an investigation into Florida A&M University’s $237 million gift from a Texas hemp farmer found the donation to be "fraudulent," confirming months of skepticism. The Monday report came out the same day Hurricane Debby was raking the state and the university's campus was shut down, and one day after former President Larry Robinson’s last day as FAMU’s president. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
Pompano Beach’s evolving skyline: How this beachside city is seeing a building boom
A surge of new residential high-rises, reaching possibly as high as 21 and 24 stories, are poised to grow Pompano Beach’s beachside skyline, and many more new beachside businesses are expected, too. New condos, hotels and restaurants are envisioned for the coastal destination frequented by visitors, which already has seen much growth through the years. Some residents have long opposed the sheer amount of change, while newcomers have flocked there. What was once a quieter stretch of the beach off Atlantic Boulevard only has grown livelier. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Profile
‘I love people:’ Meet a guy who chalks car tires in downtown St. Petersburg
David Rock Walker has been threatened. Spat on and called slurs. Sometimes he sips on Liquid IV, the electrolyte drink, to get through the day. Still, each morning he commutes from his apartment in Bradenton to St. Petersburg. He clocks in at a downtown office and boards a small white one-seat, three-wheeled vehicle that he needs a motorcycle license to drive. And he begins to ride up and down city blocks, a chalking stick and ticket printer in hand. Walker is a city parking enforcement officer — a role, he says, he was drawn to because he’s social.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Out of the Box
Nationally-recognized Jacksonville pie shop marking closure with 'funeral'
A "funeral" will be held to celebrate the dream as well as mark the abrupt closure of an award-winning Jacksonville artisan bake shop known for its inspired, made-from-scratch specialty pies, homemade pop-tarts and hand pies. Chef Natasha Burton, founder and CEO of Mixed Fillings Pie Shop, announced on social media that the Five Points bake shop, which has earned national and state recognition, will shut its doors at 5 p.m. Aug. 24.
» Read more from the Florida Times-Unioon.