Ravaged by back-to-back hurricanes last year, Florida businesses hope to draw in tourists as rebuilding continues
Some areas along Florida's Gulf Coast are still rebuilding after being slammed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which hit the Sunshine State back-to-back during the 2024 hurricane season. But the hot-spot tourist communities are also trying to share a simple, but vital message that they're open for business. Tourism is the main economic engine for communities along the Gulf Coast. Last year, more than 15 million visitors had an $11 billion impact on the St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida, area. This year, it remains to be seen. While businesses and hotels are back up and running, scars from the storms remain.[Source: CBS News]
Saharan dust and Canadian smoke? Yes, this is Florida
A "wall of dust" is heading toward Florida and could hang around until the weekend. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has also dipped as far south as North Florida. The same conditions bringing the Saharan dust into Florida is moving the Canadian smoke out. Saharan dust helps prevent hurricanes from developing or strengthening and provides some vivid sunrises and sunsets. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Column: Florida must strengthen its electrical grid before it’s too late
Florida’s power grid faces mounting risks, from hurricanes to cyber threats and supply chain disruptions. Without investment in grid infrastructure, power outages will become more frequent, longer-lasting, and costly. Every hour of lost power costs businesses millions of dollars in lost productivity. For hospitals, emergency responders, and vulnerable Floridians, power loss isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a life-threatening risk. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Study: Expect more hurricanes like Frances in a warmer world, but with way more rain
Hurricane Frances stalled over the Space Coast for what seemed a brutal, biblical eternity. The 2004 storm caused more than a quarter-billion in damages in Brevard County. Now scientists warn that type of tempest is increasingly likely as our world warms. But the Frances of the future could also be much wetter, with rains that approach what's now only expected once every 500 years. [Source: Florida Today]
Is Publix the most satisfying grocer in Florida?
The American Customer Satisfaction Index has released the latest scores for customer satisfaction at supermarkets nationwide, revealing that the Florida-native Publix chain is not actually alone at the top of the list. The study examines several benchmarks for determining customer experiences at grocery stores, including the convenience of store hours/locations, checkout speed, and store layouts. [Source: Click Orlando]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› UNF poll surprise: This issue tops crime as Jacksonville's top problem
Worries about the cost of housing vaulted over crime as the biggest concern for Jacksonville residents in a new University of North Florida poll. The UNF poll released June 3 also gauged favorability ratings for Mayor Donna Deegan, Sheriff T.K. Waters and State Attorney Melissa Nelson. Waters stood at 64% favorability while Deegan and Nelson each was at 61%. All three are polling as strongly now as they did a year ago.
› Is Lakeland Electric going nuclear? Not yet. But it might take a small step to find out more
For more than a decade, the idea of Lakeland Electric purchasing or producing nuclear power to provide electricity to customers has been talked about.
Now the city's taking a small step that could make that a reality in the future. Lakeland Electric is considering nuclear power as a future energy source and will vote on accepting a grant to explore the possibility.
› Property values are cooling in Miami-Dade. New report hints at weakness to come
Miami-Dade’s real estate market is cooling, with signs of a sharper slowdown to come, according to new numbers from the county property appraiser. The annual market summary released Friday shows a slower growth rate in properties’ taxable values than this time a year ago — up 8.5% in 2025, compared to 10.7% growth in 2024. This is the first time Miami-Dade has recorded single-digit growth since the start of 2021.
› Hawaii firm wins EPA approval for aquaculture operation off Sarasota coast
Federal environmental authorities this month granted a permit for the operation of a long-discussed aquaculture operation offshore from Sarasota-area beaches. The permit from the Environmental Protection Agency on May 15 gives Hawaii-based Ocean Era permission to launch its Velella Epsilon project in federal waters, about 40 miles off the Sarasota County coast.
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› All Treasure Coast artificial reef projects are halted. Here's why
McCulley Marine Services deployed artificial reefs from Brevard to Miami-Dade counties for over two decades, but now there's no one left to do that work since the Fort Pierce business closed in 2023. Instead of sinking ships and rubble to create artificial reefs offshore, Treasure Coast governments and nonprofits are now focusing on smaller projects in nearshore ocean waters and the Indian River Lagoon.
› DIA CEO responds to community concerns, suggestions on proposed land swap for UF campus
After a proposed exchange of Jacksonville-owned riverfront property for an office building that would be used for the University of Florida graduate campus after the swap drew opposition from a former Downtown Investment Authority board chair and a pro-parks advocacy group, the DIA’s top administrator is defending it.
› As final vote nears, fate of UF’s next president no sure thing
Santa Ono faces the final hurdle in his bid to become University of Florida’s next president Tuesday. It could be his toughest yet. Ono has faced an intense lobbying effort against his approval from conservative politicians and activists, including U.S. Rep Byron Donalds and Donald Trump Jr., who have called on the state Board of Governors to veto Ono’s presidency over prior comments on diversity initiatives and climate change.
› Lockheed Martin workers end strike in Orlando
Workers for Lockheed Martin in Orlando and Denver have ended a strike after ratifying a new contract with the company. Roughly 900 workers were on strike for nearly a month before the agreement with the Bethesda, Maryland-based firm was reached. The contract raises the starting wage floor from $15 to $20 an hour, as well as an increase in the hourly wage per year of service of $1 — up from 60 cents per year.