Is Florida's film industry back?
Is Florida getting its close-up moment again? After years of losing big-screen productions to states with lucrative tax incentives, a surge of new film and TV projects is bringing Hollywood back to the Sunshine State, from Miami’s neon-lit streets to West Palm Beach's sunny beaches and Tampa Bay’s coastal backdrops. Recent projects include films starring Paul Rudd, Scarlett Johansson, and Brad Pitt, filmed across the state. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Business Beat - Week of April 17th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
First-time jobless claims in Florida grow
For a second consecutive week, Florida saw an increase in first-time jobless claims. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 6,146 initial unemployment applications were filed last week in Florida, up from 5,584 the week ending April 4 and 5,110 the week ending March 28. The increase comes between releases of monthly unemployment reports from the state Department of Commerce. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Should Florida let insurers buy less from the Cat Fund?
For years, a segment of the Florida property insurance industry had lobbied for more access to the lower-cost reinsurance offered by the state-sanctioned Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund—mainly through a lowered retention, or deductible, level. Today, three years into Florida’s tort-reform era, things are changing. Private reinsurance rates have fallen steadily. [Source: Insurance Journal]
Florida 2026 childhood vaccination rates fall, even as measles cases hit record levels
Florida’s childhood vaccination rates continued to drop in the 2025-26 school year, even as measles cases in the state soared in 2026. The vaccination rate for Florida kindergartners now hovers around 88% for the second school year in a row, after having been well above 90% in the decade before the pandemic, according to newly released Florida Department of Health data. In 2016, the rate had been as high as 94%. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› "Frozen fire": Inside Jacksonville's LNG plant
The JAX LNG plant chills natural gas to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit to turn it into a liquid for storage and transport. This liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used as a cleaner-burning fuel for ships, trucks, and even rocket launches. Despite global events affecting gas prices, the U.S. natural gas market has remained stable. JAX LNG primarily serves the transportation industry, including fueling TOTE Maritime's cargo ships.
› New upscale restaurants are popping up all over Miami-Dade
From a Michelin-starred wagyu counter in Tokyo to the world’s best pizza chef, some of the most acclaimed dining names on the planet are setting up outposts in South Florida. Several high-end restaurants with roots in London, Tokyo, Dallas and beyond have opened across South Florida in early 2026. For local diners, that means access to menus and dining experiences that previously required a plane ticket.
› Farm stands bring back ‘old ways’ in north central Florida
At the end of a dirt road lined with chicken coops and backyard gardens, a small wooden stand filled with homemade goods draws a steady stream of visitors. The menu is simple: eggs, jams, baked goods, soaps. But what’s really being exchanged is something less tangible. This small business is serving a return to older ways of living, eating and connecting. Across rural north central Florida, farm stands are quietly reshaping how some communities think about food.
› What happened to the thousands of Pinellas homes damaged by 2024 hurricanes?
It’s been nearly two years since hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc on the Tampa Bay region. In the aftermath, local governments set out to determine which flood-damaged homes could be fixed and which would need to be demolished or elevated in accordance with strict federal guidelines. More than 1,400 homes in Pinellas County were deemed “substantially damaged,” meaning the cost of repairing the home would exceed half its value.
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› Live Nation verdict could reshape Tampa concert pipeline
A federal jury found Live Nation illegally monopolized concert ticketing in the U.S. on Wednesday, a ruling that could reshape how venues book shows and sell tickets as Tampa builds out its next phase of live entertainment venues. The decision, after a five-week trial in New York, allows more than 30 states to pursue remedies that could include breaking up Live Nation and its Ticketmaster division. The company is expected to appeal. For Tampa, the case reaches beyond ticket prices.
› State attorney widens scope of JEA subpoena as council probe continues
The State Attorney's Office has expanded its investigation into JEA by seeking communications with the lobbying firm Ballard Partners. A special City Council committee is also investigating JEA, leading some to call for it to pause its work. Mayor Donna Deegan supports the State Attorney's investigation, hoping it will bring more transparency to contentions related to the utility.
› Spanish grocery stores booming in Palm Beach County. Here's why.
Hispanic supermarkets are rapidly expanding in South Florida, filling vacant retail spaces and becoming community hubs. Beyond groceries, these stores provide a cultural experience with in-store cafeterias, custom butcher services, and a social atmosphere. The economic power of the Hispanic community, which contributed over $396 billion to Florida's economy, is a key driver of this growth.
› $9.5 million vacation home could set ‘most expensive’ record in Lake Nona
Estate homes directly on Lake Nona rarely hit the market, and one that’s being offered complete with its designer furnishings and art? This is a first. And priced at just under $9.5 million, it could be the most expensive home ever sold in the community, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. It was completed in 2024 and has been sparingly lived in since then.