Supercharged September: Atlantic hurricane season to intensify dramatically
A surge of hurricanes and tropical storms will shatter the silence across the Atlantic Ocean less than three weeks before the peak of hurricane season. Dry, dusty air kept most tropical activity across the Atlantic at bay throughout most of August, with Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Ernesto being the two exceptions. However, a major shift in the weather pattern will soon blow the doors wide open for a frenzy of tropical activity to unfold. More from Accuweather and Florida's Voice.
Business Beat - Week of August 23rd
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Political opposition grows to Florida plan for golf courses in state parks
The bipartisan blowback toward a plan to build golf courses and 350-room lodges on state park land grew into a roar on Thursday as a growing list of powerful Republicans came out against the proposals. In an extraordinary show of unified opposition, elected officials in the state Legislature, Cabinet and Congress all said they were against the plans, which would make expansive changes to nine Florida state parks — including the construction of cabins, pickleball courts and disc golf courses. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Updated process could provide ‘clarity' to felons in Florida who want to vote
State elections officials are moving forward with an updated process aimed at providing more clarity for people seeking to determine if they are eligible to vote, after a federal lawsuit over the handling of a constitutional amendment that restored voting rights to felons who completed their sentences. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Health department starts notifying Floridians whose information was stolen, leaked
The Florida Department of Health is sending notices out to people whose personal and health information was stolen by hackers and released on the dark web last month. Floridians are being notified by mail if they were a victim of the cyberattack, and the state is offering them free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services, the department wrote in a public notice Wednesday. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
See also:
» Florida's health department offering credit monitoring after data breach
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Duke Energy customers will see smaller rate hikes on their bills next year
State regulators in Tallahassee approved an agreement that will increase the base rates on nearly 2 million Floridians’ Duke Energy bills, though by much less than the company originally requested. Governor-appointed members of the Florida Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, praised the 338-page settlement agreement as a fair compromise between the needs of the utility and the public.
› Affordable homes built by Escambia County sitting empty during housing crisis
Escambia County’s use of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) is under scrutiny after county staff announced there is no longer any funding available for down payment assistance through the SHIP program. Now some are questioning why the county is spending so much on other programs including building brand new homes and rebuilding others, and it's not really clear who is getting these homes or how recipients are selected.
› Negotiations face deadline for Baptist Health to keep accepting Florida Blue insurance
Tens of thousands of Florida Blue customers who use Baptist Health have been opening the mail from the two health care giants and finding letters that show both sides are far apart on insurance contract negotiations while a looming Sept. 30 deadline approaches.
› City of Sarasota doubles homestead tax exemption for lower income, older homeowners
The Sarasota City Commission doubled the local homestead tax exemption to $50,000 for some older homeowners, effective on Jan. 1, 2025. The tax exemption is only available to homeowners aged 65 and above with a household income of $36,614 at the most – which is about 52% lower than the median household income of Sarasota County.
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› IMG Academy adds softball, appoints Olympic medalist as director
IMG Academy is adding softball to its repertoire of girls sports. The Bradenton-based sports and education company announced Aug. 21 that it will break ground this week on facilities for softball, which will start up in 2025. It also appointed an Olympic bronze medalist to direct the program.
› Two iconic Kendall malls are transforming. What’s new at Dadeland and The Falls?
The Falls and Dadeland are growing and getting face lifts. The landmark Kendall-area malls announced the arrival of at least 10 new stores in coming months, according to marketing spokeswomen Lourdes Rodriguez of Simon and Isabelle Braun of Citizen Relations. Simon Property Group owns Dadeland, opened in 1962, and The Falls, opened in 1980.
› DeSantis announces grant to help build Titusville space industrial park
The Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority has received a $5.8 million state grant to pay the lion's share of a new road leading to a future 1.1-million-square-foot industrial park, which will be built for high-tech space and aerospace companies.
› St. Petersburg suspends HR director after bonus debacle
The St. Petersburg human resources director who approved $250,000 in bonuses for city employees involved in the deal for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium has been suspended, according to city records. City Administrator Rob Gerdes suspended Christopher Guella on Tuesday, a day after Mayor Ken Welch announced he’d ordered 17 employees to return the payouts they received last week.