Food is getting pricey. Where does Florida rank in spending?
Florida ranks among the top states for both total food spending and dining out expenses. Since 2019, spending on dining out in Florida has increased by 48.1%, despite inflation concerns. The number of restaurant locations in the state has grown, contradicting claims of a "restaurant apocalypse." Experts attribute the rise in restaurant spending to Florida's population growth and changing consumer habits. [Source: Naples Daily News]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Kathleen Deagan
The University of Florida distinguished professor emeritus of archaeology tells us: "People don’t appreciate the depth of both history and prehistory here in Florida. It was one of the earliest places that humans came into what’s now the United States, and it’s the earliest place where Europeans and Africans came in. We think of Florida as this wacky, overgrown place where everything is new, but European people settled here more than 50 years before Jamestown." [Source: Florida Trend]
Column: What we miss when we talk about property taxes
When we talk about property taxes, the conversation often starts and ends with the number at the bottom of the bill. What’s usually missing is a clear understanding of what that bill actually represents — and just as importantly, what it does not. That context is often lost when residents say they want to “cut city taxes.” In reality, cities are being asked to do more with a relatively small slice of the overall tax bill, even as service demands continue to grow. [Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel]
Florida eyes penalties for employers of undocumented migrants hurt on the job
Florida lawmakers have filed a bill to penalize companies employing undocumented immigrants who get hurt on the job, months after a Tampa Bay Times investigation revealed a state contractor has relied on migrant labor for years with deadly consequences. Senate Bill 1380 would require employers who knowingly hire people not authorized to work in the United States to pay for those workers’ medical bills if they get hurt. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Coalition working on Medicaid expansion in Florida grows by two
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the American Heart Association announced Monday that they are “joining forces to support” putting an amendment before Florida voters during the 2028 election cycle to expand the health care safety net program to people at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, which for an individual in 2026 is about $22,025 annually. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Publix among world’s most admired companies
Florida’s native grocer Publix has been dubbed as one of the most admired companies in the world, according to a recent report released by Korn Ferry. Publix Super Markets ranked No. 50 overall, managing to eke its way into the “All Stars” of the list. This marks the 31st consecutive year that the grocery chain has earned the honor.
› NASA's Artemis II launch poised to deliver $160M jolt to Central Florida economy
As NASA prepares for the crewed Artemis II mission this spring, the launch is expected to deliver a major economic boost to Central Florida, drawing roughly 400,000 visitors and generating an estimated $160 million in regional impact. Launched in 2017, NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a long-term human presence on the moon and conduct scientific and technological research that will lay the groundwork for future missions to Mars.
› Miami International Boat Show eyes another $1 billion economic impact as 2026 event spotlights tech, new vessels
Organizers of the 2026 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show expect the event to again generate more than $1 billion in economic impact, continuing a streak the show has maintained since its 2023 edition. The show, which runs Feb. 11–15 over Presidents Day weekend, will return with a redesigned, multi-venue footprint, bringing together world boat debuts, emerging marine technologies and thousands of exhibitors, industry executives and visitors to one of South Florida’s largest annual economic drivers.
› Tampa Bay’s tree coverage is shrinking. That’s bad for electric bills
Around Tampa Bay and beyond, residents were shocked by their electricity bills last summer. Experts identified utility rate hikes, hurricane costs and stubborn fossil fuel prices as key factors. Tree canopy — greatly reduced by hurricanes and widespread development in recent years — also plays an outsize role in how air temperatures feel inside homes.
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› Amid huge opposition, Fontainebleau Miami Beach delays water slide proposal
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach postponed a hearing Tuesday on its application to install 11 water slides as part of an overhaul of its pool deck area — a plan that has drawn a wave of community opposition. The deferral came as a surprise to people who had packed the chambers at Miami Beach City Hall for a meeting of the city’s Historic Preservation Board. Minutes before the meeting was set to begin, a Fontainebleau representative submitted a deferral letter.
› A decade of art, science and movement at Marie Selby Gardens exhibit
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is hosting a new exhibition, "Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement," through May 31. The exhibition celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition series, blending art with nature. This event coincides with President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki's 10-year anniversary leading the organization.
› Affordable apartments in Tampa have increased 49% since 2020
The number of new affordable housing qualified apartments in Tampa has grown 49% in the past five years, according to a just released report from RentCafe. The national apartment search website found metro Tampa completed 3,711 fully affordable apartments between 2020 and 2024 out 48,522 apartments built. Of those, 25% were delivered in 2024.
› Walmart buys land in Orlando tourism corridor once slated for AREA15
Walmart has continued its recent buying spree, scooping up prime real estate in the heart of Orlando’s tourism corridor where an immersive art and event center called AREA15 was once planned. The company paid $35 million to Cornerstone Collard Vineland, LLC, a partnership between South Florida-based The Cornerstone Group and Winter Park-based Michael Collard Properties.