Will a hurricane hit Florida this week? It's possible. Here's what you should know
Weather forecasters continue to eye a broad area of low pressure near Central America that could develop into a tropical storm or a hurricane and affect Florida late this week. But exactly where the storm goes and how strong it will be remains unclear. Once a storm develops, forecasters will have a better idea of where it will go. Most current models show possible storm tracks toward the Florida panhandle and the state’s Big Bend area, while some show tracks closer to Tampa Bay. More from the Tallahassee Democrat, Weather.com, and the Tampa Bay Times.
Cyber Florida and FloridaMakes partner to strengthen cybersecurity statewide
Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida has partnered with FloridaMakes to boost economic growth and resilience while improving cybersecurity awareness statewide. With the rising threat of data breaches, ransomware attacks and business email compromise — particularly impacting small businesses — the collaboration aims to address these challenges, the organizations said in a release. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Judge refuses to dismiss manatees case
A federal judge last week refused to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that Florida has violated the Endangered Species Act because of sewage discharges into the Indian River Lagoon that have helped lead to manatee deaths. U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 30-page ruling that rejected a motion by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to toss out the lawsuit filed in 2022 by the environmental group Bear Warriors United. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida students still lag in college financial aid applications
Seemingly never-ending problems with the federal student financial aid application system continue to resonate in Florida, which saw program participation decrease about 13% from a year ago. Only eight states had worse completion rates. And the troubles might not be over. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
They fled violence and poverty. Now, in Florida, asylum seekers face an endless wait
More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country in the last decade, making it one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Most have escaped to neighboring Latin American countries like Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Chile. But nearly 550,000 have settled in the U.S., and Florida is one of the top destinations. The Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area is home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities. [Source: WLRN]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Will American Dream Miami lose part of its mega-mall site? Big project now in court
After years of delays, the American Dream Miami mega-mall project now faces a potentially catastrophic setback: the loss of a big chunk of its development site. A recent lawsuit filed earlier this month reveals the developer behind the project, Triple Five, is fighting to retain control of a third of its 175-acre development site outside Hialeah.
› Tampa Bay’s innovation ecosystem impresses UK delegation
The United Kingdom’s trade commissioner recently led a delegation of 23 life science companies across the pond – and Tampa Bay – to explore potential expansion, collaboration and partnership opportunities. The extensive contingent met with the U.S. Commercial Service and leadership from local academic institutions, tech incubators and accelerators, industry associations, hospitals and health systems.
› Jacksonville area unemployment rate falls to 3.7% in August
Jacksonville’s unemployment rate edged lower in August after reaching a three-year high in July. The jobless rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties fell from 3.8% in July to 3.7% in August, the Florida Department of Commerce reported Sept. 20.
› What's the impact? Brightline marks one year in Orlando, as SunRail marks 10
Brightline marks one year operating in Orlando on Sunday, September 22, with 2.6 million rides taken between Central and South Florida. Meanwhile, SunRail last month completed a three phase plan to add 17 stations across Central Florida, after celebrating its 10 year anniversary back in May. With more than 20 million people living in Florida, Bob O’Malley, President of Right Track Public Affairs, said the expansion of passenger rail is important.
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› ‘Second class’ in Disney Springs: Some restaurant workers push for better pay, benefits
When guests arrive at Disney Springs and eat at one of the entertainment complex’s restaurants, they might assume that all the employees serving them with smiles work for Walt Disney World. But the magic most people associate with Disney doesn’t exist for some Disney Springs’ employees, say union officials.
› SRQ airport seeks more wins after $40M, 350-job announcement
Excluding airlines, the FAA, TSA, rental car companies, airline services, hotels and passenger terminal businesses, there are currently 39 tenants surrounding the airfield on airport property. Twelve of them are now, or in the process of becoming, involved in the aviation ecosystem.
› Florida Blue has until Sept. 30 for new contracts with Baptist Health and NCH in Naples
Florida Blue is up against the clock on reaching agreements not only with Baptist Health in Jacksonville but also with Naples Comprehensive Health in Southwest Florida as negotiations head toward a Sept. 30 deadline for keeping each of the health care systems in the Florida Blue network.
› Estimated Florida agricultural production losses from Hurricane Debby top $93M
The agricultural production losses Florida experienced due to Hurricane Debby have an estimated value between $93.7 million and $263.2 million, according to a preliminary UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) report based on producer surveys. The Category 1 storm made landfall Aug. 5 near Steinhatchee, Florida, and affected more than 2.2 million acres of agricultural lands — 68 percent of it used for grazing.