'Florida's got a great shot': Push begins to bring NASA headquarters to state
The influx of jobs would benefit the Space Coast, and the addition of NASA's command post would help cement Florida's status as "the space state." But the nationwide impact across the agency is complicated. Don Platt, director of the Florida Institute of Technology's Spaceport Education Center in Titusville, questioned the strategic effectiveness of moving NASA's headquarters to the Space Coast. Why? He said NASA's interesting and important work happens at technical sites like KSC, Johnson Space Center in Texas, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California — while the Washington, D.C., headquarters are populated by "bean counters" and "policy wonks, if you will." [Source: Florida Today]
Florida budget vetoes eyed amid broader dispute
Special Florida House panels are teed up this week to scrutinize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ line-item budget vetoes, setting up possible overrides amid a dispute between the governor and Republican legislative leaders over immigration-enforcement plans. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, on Thursday assembled four “combined workgroups” to examine DeSantis’ vetoes in different areas of the fiscal 2024-2025 budget, which took effect July 1. The governor in June vetoed close to $950 million from the spending plan approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Immigration changes affect Florida population projections
A state panel last week decided to hold off on revising Florida population projections because of the potential effects of new federal and state immigration policies. The conference last year projected that Florida would have about 23.33 million residents in 2025, with the number growing to about 24.77 million in 2030 and 25.91 million in 2035. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida job stayers see 4.4% wage increase in January
Job stayers in Florida who were with the same employer in January and 12 months earlier saw their wages increase 4.4% year over year, ranking the state 44th for wage growth, according to data from ADP’s Pay Insights report. The report captures wages from the same cohort of almost 10 million individual employees over 12 months. ADP also found the median annual salary for job stayers in Florida in January was $52,000. Nationally, the median annual pay for job stayers grew to $60,500. [Source: Gulfshore Business]
How Florida's unbanked population compares to the rest of the nation
About 4.2% of Americans were considered unbanked in 2023, according to survey data the FDIC released in November. In Florida, 3.2% of residents do not have a bank account. Not using banking services can be expensive and time-consuming. Researchers at the Federal Reserve have referred to being unbanked as "financial exclusion." Access to banking services can provide the resources to turn ideas into businesses. Banks offer accounts for storing wages and building financial security through savings. They also lend money to entrepreneurs, which creates jobs and benefits communities. [Source: WOKV]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Partnered with SpaceX, space station company Vast targets 2026 Space Coast launches
The race among commercial companies to replace the International Space Station may have a frontrunner in the company Vast with a partnership with SpaceX — but a delay in development has pushed launch of its Haven-1 station from Florida into 2026. But that still puts it at least one year ahead of its closest competitor. The Long Beach, California-based company posted an update on progress made on its planned small space station — with a habitable area about the size of a moving truck — saying it now targets a launch from Space Coast atop a Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than May 2026.
› Lennar completes $6.5 billion spinoff
Miami-based Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) has completed its spin off of a new company in a deal valued at billions of dollars. The spinoff that created Millrose Properties, Inc. was completed on Feb. 7 and the new corporation is now traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock ticker "MRP." Millrose, based in Miami's Brickell Financial District, will act as a land banking platform that will acquire and develop residential land and then sell back the "finished homesites" back to Lennar and other homebuilders.
› Canaveral National Seashore, 'Place of Canes,' turns 50, as SpaceX, others eye more rockets
Spanish explorers sought gold and the Fountain of Youth as they happened upon what they'd call Canaveral, a 'Place of Canes,' 500 years ago. But the riches the area provided came not from digging into the ground, but from sending things to space. For the last half-century, the area has walked the tightrope of being a place of great natural beauty, while also being home to the world's busiest space launch facility.
› St. Petersburg commits to not shutting off water because of high bills
The city will not shut off water service or charge late fees to any households that have received utility bills that are higher than normal, in some cases by thousands of dollars, pledged City Administrator Rob Gerdes. City officials on offered no sweeping explanation for why so many water bills are out of whack, and could not say how many customers are affected in a presentation to the St. Petersburg City Council.
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› ‘Subpar conditions and equipment’: Orlando air traffic control facility due for upgrade
A critical air traffic control facility at Orlando International Airport is struggling to keep up with the region’s growth, sparking concerns that the 42-year-old center could pose a safety threat and worsen flight delays if it isn’t replaced soon, according to a Central Florida congressman and an employee union. While not a visible feature at the airport, the Central Florida Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, known as the TRACON, helps to guide tens of millions of flyers to safe landings and departures each year.
› Investor group buys Winn-Dixie parent from Aldi
Winn-Dixie parent Southeastern Grocers Inc., which was acquired by Aldi in March 2024, announced Feb. 7 that a consortium of private investors acquired the company. Winn-Dixie has long been a staple for grocery shoppers in the Southeast. The Winn & Lovett supermarket chain, which would eventually become Winn-Dixie, established its headquarters in Jacksonville in 1944.
› Coast Guard looking for source of oily tar balls that washed up on Fort Lauderdale Beach
Beachgoers from Palm Beach to Broward counties had their Saturday beach day interrupted when tar balls started washing up along the shoreline, possibly due to an oil spill from a freighter or cruise ship, officials say. The Coast Guard is working with the Department of Environmental Protection and state partners in responding to reports of tar balls washing ashore on multiple beaches in Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach, said Petty Officer Diana Sherbs, spokeswoman for the Coast Guard.
› New York boating insurance firm debuts in Florida
A New York insurance brokerage that specializes in boat coverage is expanding to Florida. The company, Ahoy! Insurance, says its coverage will extend to vessels up to 95 feet and $2.5 million in value. The company, according to a statement, is also an E&S broker, for excess and surplus, which is for risks usually too complex or high for traditional insurance policies, according to a statement.