Florida citrus growers look for state, federal aid
With the industry’s problems exacerbated by Hurricane Milton, Florida citrus growers are turning to state and federal lawmakers for help. Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Steve Johnson said Wednesday he’s met with farmers from North Carolina and Georgia, who sustained damage in last month’s Hurricane Helene, to jointly pressure Congress to pass agricultural disaster assistance. More from the News Service of Florida and the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Hurricane season isn’t over: A tropical cyclone could form in next two weeks, experts say
Temperatures have cooled in Florida recently, making it tempting to think that hurricane season is over. Mother Nature, however, may have something different in mind. In late October and November, the tropical Atlantic calms down and tends not to produce storms, but the Caribbean is a different story. Forecasters warn that several factors in the western Caribbean, including high water temperatures, indicate that a system could kick up in that region some time after Halloween. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Campaign finance, tax measures draw little attention
Amid fierce political battles about proposed constitutional amendments on abortion rights and recreational marijuana, two ballot measures about public financing of campaigns and property taxes are flying “under the radar.” The measures, put on the Nov. 5 ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature, would end a matching-funds program available to candidates for governor and state Cabinet seats and revise the homestead property-tax exemption. [Source: News Service of Florida]
See also:
» Florida's constitutional amendments: The other four
Publix is on another growth spurt. Here’s a list of the new supermarkets in Florida
Publix is expanding again. The Lakeland-based supermarket chain opened six new stores in September and October in North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Those include two in Florida: Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale. Destin is next up in Florida, with a 61,000-square-foot supermarket opening on Oct. 30. [Source: Miami Herald]
Why Florida's new safety inspection law is creating havoc for condo owners
After the collapse of Surfside's Champlain Towers, the law that allowed associations to defer critical maintenance was eliminated, creating costly problems on the horizon for many condo owners. Recent condo buyers are likely to be the most affected by the fallout from the new law. Older buyers benefited from deferred repairs that resulted in lower fees. They also bought at a time before prices surged. [Source: Florida Today]
Fulfilling life's mission
Arlen Cordero knew as a teen that her future included two things: a college education and a career helping others. Born to parents who immigrated from Cuba, Cordero was encouraged to work hard and learn, but also informed early on that college tuition would be her responsibility. As Cordero discovered her passion for helping others, her older brother introduced her to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› DeSantis announces financial aid for Big Bend fishing industries affected by hurricanes
Gov. Ron DeSantis returned to Taylor County in North Florida’s Big Bend Wednesday to announce that the state will contribute $1 million from the Florida Disaster Fund to support rebuilding of working waterfronts damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton. In addition, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Foundation will make an additional grant from the fund to rebuild boat slips, repair fish houses, give financial assistance to aquaculture businesses, and finance other important infrastructure repairs to Florida’s fishing economy across the region.
› Housing sales sag in Sarasota, Manatee; Realtors point to hurricane
The Sarasota-Bradenton area real estate market experienced a "slowdown" in September, with fewer sales and a declining median price, according to a report on last month's sales released Wednesday by the Realtors Association of Sarasota and Manatee. The metro area that stretches from Bradenton to North Port experienced the fewest closed sales since January, while the median sales price fell to the lowest it's been in more than two years in September.
› Port Canaveral reports record 7.6 million passengers for fiscal year
The cruise business is booming at Port Canaveral with nearly 7.6 million passenger movements recorded in the fiscal year. From October 2023 through September 2024, the Orlando-area port had 911 ship calls, only five more than it saw in fiscal 2023, but because of bigger ships sailing at more than 100% capacity, the cruise side of the year’s budget blew up by 800,000 passengers year over year.
› How a Miami power couple’s gifts and ‘profound impact’ have led to a top civic honor
Philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell have spread millions of dollars in gifts across cultural arts and religious institutions, Miami’s underserved, educational and medical organizations. Their generosity has now earned them a gift. The Bells will be honored with the 2024 Sand in My Shoes Award, a top civic recognition from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
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› Vote delayed on moving forward on new Sarasota performing arts venue
As the city of Sarasota nears a Nov. 30 deadline for approving an agreement to build a new performing arts hall, the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, its partner in the project, asked the City Commission to delay a vote after the recent back-to-back hurricanes.
› Could Pensacola be next for Amtrak passenger rail service?
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg received a rousing welcome Tuesday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama, as he arrived to assist in breaking ground at the site of a train platform needed to accommodate Amtrak passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast from Alabama to Louisiana. Buttigieg also said the administration would be open to expanding the Gulf Coast line east to Pensacola and perhaps beyond.
› City's new downtown Orlando vision sees up to $750 million in projects
Orlando City Council members got a detailed look and new timelines for major projects announced during last week's State of Downtown address. All told, the initiative known as DTO Action Plan promises to change Orlando's urban core to the tune of as much as $750 million.
› Naples' Golf Club of the Everglades sold to Orlando company
The Pulte Home Co. has sold the Golf Club of the Everglades to Concert Golf Partners, an Orlando-area company with a portfolio of 35 courses across the United States. The sale price was not disclosed, but according to Collier County records the property belonging to the Naples club sold for $17.15 million.
"His ballooning experience is really quite extensive."
British billionaire and Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson is investing in Titusville-based Space Perspective, and he will co-pilot a pressurized capsule and enormous hydrogen balloon on the company's upcoming maiden crewed flight about 19 miles up above the Earth's surface.
When? The landmark mission may launch in late 2025, following a series of eight to 10 more uncrewed test flights to collect more data.
Read more at Florida Today