Florida’s population boom fizzles
Florida’s migration patterns are changing dramatically. Residents in their prime working years are heading to other states, often citing affordability concerns. At the same time, the stream of people arriving from other states is shrinking. Meanwhile, an influx of wealthy people from other states—turbocharged during the pandemic—has helped drive up home prices. Inflation in parts of Florida outpaced the national average over the past decade and home-insurance rates soared. These side-by-side trends could spell trouble for a state whose economy relies on continued population growth and real-estate development. [Source: Wall Street Journal]
Florida dominates WalletHub list of best large cities to start a business
Looking to start your own business? You're in luck. Personal finance company WalletHub ranked the best large cities in the United States to start a business and six out of the top 10 were in Florida. Of course, Florida is no stranger to ranking No. 1. WalletHub also ranked Orlando as the best place in the U.S. to retire. WalletHub compared 100 U.S. cities, and the top five were all in Florida. Only two other states had cities in the Top 10: North Carolina and Oklahoma. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Hurricane season nears. How what happens in the Pacific impacts Florida
ENSO. La Niña. El Niño. Hurricanes. Chances are you're very familiar with that last word and a little — or a lot — less clear on the others. But they not only have an impact on hurricane development and strengthening, but also on weather across the United States and Florida. Here's what you should know as we wait for the start of the 2026 hurricane season. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Wildfires erupt around Florida as drought intensifies
Wildfire activity is rapidly growing across parts of Florida as drought conditions intensify, with state officials reporting more than 100 active fires. The surge in wildfires comes amid one of the driest stretches the state has experienced in decades, with low humidity, gusty winds and a lack of rainfall contributing to the nearly ideal fire conditions. According to the Florida Forest Service, most of the recent wildfire activity has been concentrated across North and North-Central Florida, though wildfires have been reported from the Panhandle to South Florida. More from WUSF and the Palm Beach Post.
Mega-merger in Florida creates largest local realtor association in U.S.
The Miami Association of Realtors and Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors (RWorld) are merging into one association and MLS to create the largest local Realtor association in the country with a total of about 93,000 members, the companies announced on Monday. "Two of the strongest MLS and Realtor organizations in the U.S. are now one, building on South Florida's momentum as a global real estate powerhouse and shaping the industry's next frontier," Alfredo Pujol, chairman of the board of Miami Association of Realtors, said in a statement. [Source: Real Estate News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Royal Caribbean’s Florida-bound Legend of the Seas begins sea trials
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas set sail for the first time Sunday evening for sea trials ahead of the vessel’s Mediterranean debut in July and its Florida arrival in November. The 248,663-gross-ton megaship, the third to join the cruise line’s Icon class, ventured out of the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland to travel 2,400 nautical miles while testing the ship’s navigation systems, propulsion, speed, safety features and more.
› Megarounds fuel $1.15 billion windfall for South Florida startups
South Florida startups raised $1.15 billion from venture capital investors in the first quarter of the year, powered by multiple $100 million or more mega-rounds. Startups based in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach collectively secured that funding over 100 deals, according to a new PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor Report. The region ranked No. 7 nationally for venture capital investments, coming ahead of large markets such as Washington, D.C. ($1 billion) and Denver ($800 million).
› FBI warns of scam active in Northeast Florida
The FBI Jacksonville Field Office is warning the public about a scheme involving scammers impersonating law enforcement or government officials, including FBI special agents, in attempts to extort money or steal personal identity information. In an April 20 bulletin, the FBI said initial contact is made via a text message, email or phone call.
› Southwest Florida highlighted as ‘global hub for innovation’ at 2026 Edison Awards
Five tech-focused companies headquartered in Lee and Collier counties earned praise at the 2026 Edison Awards, generating additional buzz internationally as the region emerges as a thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. The five local companies earned a combined six awards, including a Gold Edison Award for Fort Myers-based ADDMAN.
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› Tavares City Council approve four-year terms for November election ballot
Pitching it as a cost-cutting measure, the Tavares City Council is calling a referendum this November to extend its terms from two to four years. The proposed charter amendment would provide staggered four-year terms and align municipal elections with statewide general elections held in even-numbered years.
› New UF/IFAS office aims to create more businesses, commercial products from agricultural research
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is launching a new office for public-private partnerships and commercialization of its research. The UF/IFAS Office of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation will open May 15 and be the commercial outreach and entrepreneurial development arm of the institute. The main goals of this office will be to support faculty as they engage in entrepreneurship and commercialization and to get more UF/IFAS research solutions to the marketplace.
› Leon County's career expo gives the region's high school students some hands-on career exploration
Hundreds of Big Bend area high school students were checking out career possibilities on Friday, April 17 during the Leon Works Expo. Some students were trying their hand at bricklaying at David Langston's Masonry, Incorporated booth. Dozens of other public and private sector employers set up shop in the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center's exhibit hall and parking lot to give the students from Leon and surrounding counties a feel for all kinds of career paths.
› Miami HEAT taps FIU students to harness the best of AI and tech
When Franklin Filho walked into the Miami HEAT’s offices at Kaseya Center for what he thought would be a three week internship, he felt the pressure immediately. “It was my first internship,” he recalls. “I kept thinking, What can I do to prove myself?” Three weeks turned into a second internship. That led to a full-time offer. Today, Filho is a junior software engineer at the Miami HEAT and 601 Analytics — the HEAT’s data and analytics arm. Filho’s rapid rise is not an outlier.