A tax credit that powers Florida’s small businesses is going away
When the Affordable Care Act passed, premium tax credits were only available to people earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. This year, 400% of the federal poverty level is about $60,000 for a single earner. But in 2021, Congress expanded the credits and removed the income cap, allowing more middle-income families to qualify. Small businesses and self-employed workers disproportionately benefited from this expansion and saw record coverage gains over the last four years. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Saharan dust is helping limit Atlantic hurricane formation. It won’t last much longer
A tropical wave rolled off the coast of Africa a few days ago and began its journey across the Atlantic. But unlike the start of many of the Atlantic basin’s worst hurricane stories, this one is likely to have a short ending — thanks in part to a blast of dust from the Saharan desert. On average, Saharan dust becomes less common in late July. The peak of the hurricane season is August or September, and it’s more rare to see a storm throttled by dry, dusty air. Source: Miami Herald]
Florida students could get even more public money for private school
A national voucher program, promising to help students across the country pay for private school, is likely to hand a windfall to families in the Sunshine State who can add it to one of the nation’s most generous state-paid private school subsidy programs. The new federal program, approved earlier this month as part of the GOP’s sweeping domestic policy bill, will create a pot of money for tuition and other expenses by allowing people to contribute to nonprofit scholarship funding organizations and then subtract the value of their donations from their tax bills. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
‘The new normal?’ What the die-off mystery in the Keys means for endangered sawfish
Nearly two years after one of the planet’s rarest fish began washing up dead in the Lower Keys, scientists investigating the deaths say one thing seems certain: whatever caused it will likely be around for years to come. “We’re gonna probably have this tax on the sawfish population indefinitely. We’re now introducing a new component of natural mortality that’s going to kill somewhere between X and Y number of sawfish,” said Ross Boucek, a marine biologist with the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. “The question is how do we recoup that tax?” To do that, they’ll need to better understand conditions caused by an ocean heat wave that slammed Florida before the deaths, and to try to find ways to prevent them. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
For many arts groups, the state budget is still a waiting game
Florida’s state budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year is signed, but uncertainty remains for many Florida arts organizations as to how much — if any — funding they’ll receive. Arts leaders, battered by years of political vagaries, are trying to remain sanguine, especially when they recall 2024’s last-minute veto of funding in all four of the state’s major cultural-grants programs. Because of a change in the way grant money will be awarded, a number of prominent arts groups still don’t know if they will receive general operating funds from the state or not. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Blocks all stacked for NASA’s future Artemis tower at KSC
There’s still more than a year’s worth of work to do on NASA’s future Artemis launch tower at Kennedy Space Center, but all of the big pieces have been put in place. The last of seven modular steel blocks that make up the bulk of the tower’s height was put into place on July 2 by the tower’s contractor Bechtel. The block called Mod 10 brings it to 377 feet tall from the base structure.
› Brevard's options to boost revenue include increased sales tax, new gas or electricity tax
There's something new in the Brevard County manager's budget message this year — a rundown of various ways county commissioners could raise taxes to boost revenue. Interim County Manager Jim Liesenfelt isn't necessarily suggesting any of the options. He's just letting commissioners know their options for what he's calling the "significant financial challenges" facing Brevard. Options include an increase in the sales tax to help pay for county infrastructure projects, as well as new taxes on electricity or gasoline.
› Boca Raton residents push for voter control over public land, spurred by government campus project
Residents are demanding that the city hold a referendum election for any proposal involving the selling or leasing of more than a half-acre of city-owned property. Boca Raton resident Buffy Tucker is part of a growing grassroots movement called Save Boca, which came from opposition to one specific project on city-owned land: the government campus redevelopment plan.
› Analysts speculate BNSF may seek merger with Jacksonville-based CSX
After reports that western railroad company Union Pacific Corp. is interested in buying eastern rail company Norfolk Southern Corp., some analysts are speculating the other major western railroad could be interested in merging with Jacksonville-based CSX Corp. CSX and Norfolk Southern are the two major eastern U.S. railroads and Union Pacific and BNSF Railway are the two major western railroads.
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› Florida developers usually destroy trees. Here's why, where one planted 300 cedars, pines
Developers typically clear-cut their land to build sprawling new neighborhoods, but one company not only preserved some native habitat in Martin County, it planted 300 trees after a wildfire consumed the conservation area. Pulte Homes spent $70,000 planting 300 cedar and pine trees over three weeks in June, said Todd Templin, executive vice president of the developer's marketing firm, Boardroom PR.
› Residents, members frustrated Sarasota's iconic Meadows Country Club hits bankruptcy
Once a pioneer of the Sarasota retirement golf community landscape, one of the area’s largest and most familiar golf clubs is closed for business and entrenched in bankruptcy proceedings after a protracted decline. The Meadows Country Club filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy July 7, capping a slide that’s shut down the golf courses, tennis courts and other facilities. The filing comes as Meadows residents continue to express confusion and frustration with their community association.
› Princess Cruises’ theatrical energy booms on Florida campus ahead of new ship debut
Princess Cruises’ new ship Star Princess will debut out of Port Everglades later this year, but a spate of new theatrical stage shows are working out the kinks now at nearby Nova Southeastern University. The cruise line entertainment team put on display some of the performers’ efforts giving students and media a taste of what’s to come on board the sister ship to last year’s Sun Princess, the second in the line’s Sphere class of ships.
› 57 jobs cut at Polk County manufacturing plant
Nearly 60 employees will lose their jobs when a Polk County manufacturing facility closes one department in the coming months, according to a letter filed with state officials. Mizkan America, a company that makes liquid condiments and owns brands like Ragu and Bertolli, plans to wind down operations of the bottling department at its Lake Alfred plant and lay off 57 workers on or around Sept. 19.