Workers comp rates in Florida expected to decrease
Workers’ compensation insurance rates in Florida should decrease by an average 6.9% in 2026 under a proposal by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Submitted last month, the NCCI’s proposed reduction is a recommendation only. Rates are set by the Florida Commissioner of Insurance, usually after a public hearing. The recommended filing is based on experience data for policy years 2022 and 2023 as of year‐end 2024. The proposed reduction is being driven by declines in lost-time claim frequency, according to a summary from NCCI. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
A new tropical system is more likely. Is it a concern? What the spaghetti models are showing
Another week, another tropical wave to keep an eye on. The system is in the far eastern Atlantic and the National Hurricane Center said it is likely to develop into a tropical depression by this weekend or even, eventually, Tropical Storm or Hurricane Gabrielle. But it’s many days away, and its future strength and track are very uncertain, forecasters say. For now, the tropical lull continues into the peak stretch of hurricane season. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
After viral video of giant manta ray capture, bipartisan Florida lawmakers want change
Florida is home to a rare manta ray nursery habitat and a large seasonal aggregation of adult manta rays, according to the Florida Manta Project. Florida lawmakers are seeking change from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after a July video showed a company capturing a live manta ray offshore of Panama City Beach. Not only do they want the agency to revoke the permit that allowed the manta ray to be caught, they also want to suspend any future “Marine Special Activity Licenses” that green-light the capture of endangered species. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida investment fraud losses jump over 40% in two years, one of the largest in U.S.
Florida saw one of the nation’s largest investment fraud losses in the second quarter, with investors losing $104.2 million compared to $73.2 million in the same time period two years ago, according to Federal Trade Commission data. The bulk of the losses came from schemes tied to investment advisers and miscellaneous investments. Overall, investment fraud in the Sunshine State surged 42.35% in the past two years and marked the top category for fraud across the state. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Bamboo could be an alternative crop for struggling Florida citrus farmers
With a global market valued at nearly $67 billion, bamboo may offer an alternative crop for some Florida growers reeling from a devastated citrus crop, says a University of Florida expert. “Bamboo is a good alternative crop to diversify beyond citrus,” said Michael Rogers director of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), part of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Clumping bamboo, which grows well in Florida, is considered a low risk for invasion. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Ready to respond
As Florida enters the height of hurricane season, one thing is certain. Preparation is everything. For a telecommunications leader like Comcast, preparation doesn’t begin with the fi rst warning, it’s a year-round mission rooted in strategy, service and technology. From advanced technology to boots-on-the-ground crews, Comcast is working to ensure Floridians can rely on their Xfinity and Comcast Business services during storm season. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tampa Bay area schools are, so far, seeing fewer students in class this year
Schools in the Tampa Bay area are seeing fewer students in their classrooms than last year, according to districts' preliminary 10-day counts. While districts expected the drop in enrollment, some experienced a larger decline than anticipated, which could mean a hit to school budgets. Various factors are contributing to enrollment declines across the nation, including a falling birth rate and education options outside of the traditional public school.
› How JAX Bridges is using AI to help entrepreneurs
The JAX Bridges entrepreneurial development program has added a new team member to the person-to-person counseling and coaching it provides to small- and medium-size businesses in Jacksonville. The newcomer is artificial intelligence. “For the last 50-plus years, the way we’ve supported entrepreneurs, human-to-human, has not changed,” said Carlton Robinson, chief innovation officer at JAX Chamber and head of JAX Bridges.
› GRU Authority files second complaint, says city referendum disenfranchises non-city ratepayers
The Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority (GRU) filed a complaint against the city to stop a November election concerning the GRU board's future. GRU argues that the election disenfranchises non-city ratepayers and that the ballot language is misleading. GRU claims the referendum violates state and federal constitutions, while a city commissioner accuses the authority of mismanaging funds and resisting public control.
› Space Coast pulls back on marketing to Canadian tourists, but keeps promotions in UK
The Space Coast Office of Tourism will be spending more than $12 million to market Brevard County to tourists in its 2025-26 budget year. But one place that is not likely to be a focus of that spending is Canada. Social media ads for the Space Coast targeting Canadians this year have not been well-received, said the tourism office Executive Director Peter Cranis.
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› Jacksonville surges to third place among fastest-growing US cities in new economic study
Jacksonville is surging onto the national stage as one of America’s fastest-growing big cities, landing third in a new study of economic momentum across the country. The report examined growth in the nation’s largest cities between 2019 and 2023, measuring performance across 11 key categories including GDP expansion, housing growth, infrastructure, exports, workforce stability, and educational attainment.
› NASA's next big mission prepares for launch in Titusville. Meet IMAP spacecraft.
Meet IMAP. Set to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than late September from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A, the spacecraft will study the Sun's activities. IMAP arrived in May at the Astrotech facility in Titusville, and has been undergoing testing and processing. Now the spacecraft is fueled and going through the final steps before integration into a SpaceX payload fairing.
› Collier panel backs $758K in arts grants despite state cuts
Collier County arts organizations received the blessing of the Tourism Development Council Aug. 19 — a recommendation that 18 arts grants applicants receive a total of $758,000, up $8,000 from last year. Still, there’s an additional applicant for that money this year. And funding help is becoming more critical for Collier arts.
› Fort Myers cancer lab firm wins federal patent lawsuit
Fort Myers-based cancer-focused genetic testing services firm NeoGenomics has won a summary judgement in a patent infringement case with a Texas competitor. Austin-based Natera sued NeoGenomics in federal court in North Carolina. Natera claimed in court documents that NeoGenomics had infringed on two of its patented products that provide early detection of cancer relapse.