Florida ranks 2nd for attracting and maintaining residents
A new U-Haul survey ranked Florida highly for attracting and maintaining residents. Florida ranked second on the U-Haul Growth Index, which analyzes one-way customer transactions during 2025, according to the moving company. It’s a two-spot improvement over 2024 and consistent with the state’s top-five finish in 2023. U-Haul’s report focuses on the net gain or loss of customers who rented a one-way truck, trailer, or U-Box moving container in one state and dropped their equipment off in another state. More from the Orlando Sentinel, the Business Observer, and the Tallahassee Democrat.
Florida violated rights of Medicaid recipients with confusing notices, judge rules
A federal judge Tuesday ruled that Florida has violated the constitutional rights of people who were dropped from the Medicaid program because it sent notices to them that “border on the incomprehensible.” U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard, in a 273-page ruling in a class-action lawsuit, also barred the state from terminating benefits of people for financial-eligibility reasons unless it provides adequate notices. Howard wrote that people who receive what is described as family-related Medicaid coverage “are among the state’s most vulnerable citizens.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida lawmakers prepare to tackle property taxes, state budget in 2026 legislative session
Florida lawmakers are set to converge on Tallahassee next Tuesday, where they will begin to tackle issues like Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed $117 billion budget, a reduction in statewide property taxes, and a possible redistricting push, among other things. Lawmakers and the governor have each released key details about their proposals. [Source: Spectrum News]
Influenza cases hit record high. Florida hasn't reported any since Dec. 13
The United States is seeing record-high flu cases across the country, but Florida hasn’t published its weekly influenza report in more than three weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects flu activity to continue for several weeks still. A new flu subclade of influenza A H3N2 called subclade K is primarily responsible for driving flu activity this season. [Source: Florida Today]
Corporation for Public Broadcasting dissolved. Will this affect Florida?
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has voted to dissolve after nearly 60 years due to federal funding cuts and political pressure. The cuts affected 10 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliates and 20 National Public Radio (NPR) stations in Florida. Florida's PBS and NPR affiliates are facing significant financial losses, with state-level help unlikely after Gov. Ron DeSantis also vetoed millions in funding.[Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
A decade of growth
A private, not-for-profit healthcare system, Orlando Health has remained committed throughout its 100-year history to delivering exceptional care to the communities it serves. That commitment has accelerated over the past decade, expanding the organization’s reach across Central Florida, from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast and now into Central Alabama through the Baptist Health brand. This strategic growth also includes assets in Puerto Rico and an expanding presence along Florida’s East Coast, where Orlando Health acquired hospitals and physician practices in 2024. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› JTA fare cuts came amid budget shortfall, lower NAVI ridership
At its final meeting of 2025, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority board of directors approved a six-month pilot program to lower fares for JTA’s bus systems and remove all costs to ride its Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation shuttles Downtown. Those moves came shortly after JTA recorded an $18.99 million budget shortfall and amid a drop in ridership for the NAVI program, a Jacksonville City Council auditor’s report shows.
› NASA's pivotal moon mission could launch from Florida soon. What to know
Four astronauts are on the verge of becoming the first humans to venture near the moon in more than half a century since NASA's iconic Apollo era came to an end. As early as February, the crew of a mission known as Artemis 2 will board the U.S. space agency's Orion capsule atop NASA's Space Launch System rocket in Florida for a 10-day trip circumnavigating the moon. The mission doesn't include plans for a moon landing – yet. Instead, the four astronauts will venture on a cosmic journey that will lay the groundwork for future astronauts to step foot on the lunar surface in the years ahead.
› What's driving the astronomical country club buy-in fees in Palm Beach County?
Country clubs in Palm Beach County have become a refuge for multi-millionaires — even billionaires — with some charging buy-in fees of up to $500,000. And the soaring fees, which only get you into the club, show no signs letting up. “These country clubs are out of reach for your everyday doctor or lawyer,” said Jeff Lichtenstein of Echo Fine Properties, who specializes in high-end real estate at premier country clubs.
› Tampa ranks among top 5 U.S. cities for corporate HQs
Tampa has entered the national top tier for corporate headquarters. The City of Tampa ranked No. 5 on Site Selection Magazine’s latest list of the top 10 U.S. cities for corporate headquarters, based on a nationwide survey of site selection consultants who advise companies on where to locate and expand. It is the first time Tampa has appeared on the list, a milestone local leaders say reflects rising national confidence in the region’s business climate.
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› Elliman Report: South Florida home sales end 2025 on an upbeat note
In the final Elliman Report for 2025, home sales in two South Florida coastal counties ticked up year over year, while Miami-Dade County’s housing market remained sluggish. The Elliman Report’s monthly analysis showed Broward County saw a significant jump in houses sold in December compared to a year prior. There were 293 new signed contracts for home transactions in Broward in December. That’s up by 54.2% over the 190 homes sold in that county in the same month for 2024.
› Fort Myers police secure grants for safety, training in 2026
Fort Myers Police Department will receive new funding in 2026 to combat gun violence and drug trafficking, improve roadway safety and expand officer training in crisis response and de-escalation tactics. City Council approved a series of law enforcement initiatives at its Jan. 5 meeting, the first regular meeting of the year. The programs are funded through a combination of state and federal grants and the city’s budget.
› Records show Amazon purchase of 45 acres in Titusville for $6.1 million
Brevard County property records show Amazon recently purchased 45 acres in Titusville for a potential future site. The $6.1 million deal follows the e-commerce giant's acquisition of 90 acres of land in West Melbourne last year as the company continues to grow its footprint in Central Florida. Announced last year, Amazon is developing a large facility in West Melbourne, which will be home to a 117-acre industrial-retail center anchored by an Amazon warehouse spanning 652,060 square feet.
› Anheuser-Busch to invest $30 million in Jacksonville facilities
Anheuser-Busch announced Jan. 6 it will invest $30 million to upgrade its Jacksonville brewery and can manufacturing plant in Jacksonville. The Anheuser-Busch brewery is at 111 Busch Drive in North Jacksonville. Its Metal Container Corp. can plant is at 1100 Ellis Road in West Jacksonville. Anheuser-Busch said the investment will go toward upgrading brewing and packaging equipment to increase the production of its Michelob Ultra beer.