How bad are the Florida fires? Officials prepping like a hurricane
Fire-feeding winds have slowed their assault on Florida and a kiss of moisture returned to the air, but blazes stoked early in the week have doubled in size as emergency officials discuss preparations akin to an approaching hurricane. On Wednesday, April 22, about 21,000 acres of Florida from the veined inlets of the Panhandle to the forlornly dry Everglades was on fire. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said that fire fighting equipment was being staged throughout the state like the teams of electrical magicians who rush in after a tropical beating to turn everyone back on. [Source: Palm Beach Post] Florida Trend Exclusive Samantha Suffich got the call that Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital was closing its labor and delivery unit around Thanksgiving 2024. Struggling with low demand and staff shortages, the hospital would consolidate the services with those at its Tradition Hospital 30 minutes away. The labor and delivery unit — Martin County's only one, where a third of the county's babies were born in 2024 — officially closed last April. Soon, the idea for the Treasure Coast Maternity Center was born. [Source: Florida Trend] Florida housing market turns a corner as sales, prices rise in March After a so-so year in 2025, Realtors in Florida ended this year's first quarter on a roll with an uptick in both sale prices for homes as well as the number sold. The $420,000 median sale price for existing single-family homes sold in March — meaning half sold for more and half for less — was the highest in 21 months, according to the latest numbers from the Florida Realtors association. The 24,497 closed sales of homes for the month was up 5.9% from 23,128 a year ago and the most sold in 10 months. [Source: Florida Today] DeSantis signs bill making it easier to develop farmland Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation supporters say boosts property rights and helps address Florida's housing shortage, while critics warn it may increase sprawl and weaken local control. The new law, SB 686, applies to cases where farmland is surrounded by development. It speeds up the application process for landowners to get something called an "agricultural enclave" designation, which opens the door for development similar to what's close by. [Source: WUSF] Florida’s non-tribal casinos make $64 million in slot revenue in March, down 4.1% year-over-year Florida’s non-tribal casinos earned $64 million in slot revenue in March, down 4.1% year-over-year. According to a report published by the Florida Gaming Control Commission, Magic City Casino saw the highest revenue during the period- $13.1 million, up 0.7%. Harrah’s Pompano Beach followed with revenues of $12.4 million, down 6%. [Source: CDC Gaming] ALSO AROUND FLORIDA: › Groveland considers budget increase as it tackles financial mismanagement › These South Florida billionaires are the nation's top philanthropic donors › Seagrasses are on the rebound in much of the Tampa Bay region › ‘Worst financial deal’: Did Florida city approve city hall that would cost taxpayers $724M? More stories ... › Tampa-based XTEND lands Israeli defense contract › State may be asked to fund Miami-Dade County water transit network › Florida UNFI workers approve union contract, averting strike › In race to prep for Artemis III, rocket’s core stage on way to Kennedy Space Center
See also:
» Florida is experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons in decades
» These are the biggest wildfires to erupt in Florida so far this year
Ensuring a healthy start
Taking the first step in fixing years of financial mismanagement by city leaders and staff, the Groveland City Council is planning a $6.79 million mid-year budget increase. Earlier this month, Groveland Mayor Keith Keogh gave a presentation outlining “systemic operational breakdowns” within the city that led to numerous financial issues, including late payments for major construction projects, expenditures listed in the wrong fiscal year and flawed budgeting processes, among other problems.
Billionaires from South Florida gifted over $1 billion last year, led by hedge fund founder and NFL team owner David Tepper. Tepper, a Palm Beach resident who founded Appaloosa Management and owns the Carolina Panthers, ranked No. 1 in South Florida and No. 10 nationally, donating nearly $530 million to a range of charities and organizations in 2025, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s analysis of billionaire giving through 501(c)(3) entities.
The health of much of the waters around Tampa Bay is looking good. That's the preliminary results of a survey being done by water district officials, who say part of the reason is our ongoing drought. Regular surveys of seagrass around the region are done by teams from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Fort Lauderdale city commissioners pumped the brakes on a controversial plan to build a new city hall. The city commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to delay a key vote on signing the interim agreement between the city and the developer behind the $268 million project because of unanswered questions regarding financing. In the meantime, city staff will examine other options.
XTEND, the Tampa-based defense technology company preparing to go public through a $1.5 billion merger, has won a $1.67 million contract with Israel’s Ministry of Defense to supply operational drone systems, the company announced April 21. The agreement calls for delivery of the systems and related services during 2026 and adds to XTEND’s contract pipeline as it scales production ahead of its planned public listing.
A request for state officials to pinpoint funds to launch a waterborne transportation network is being floated on April 23 before the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization as new cross-bay commuter water taxis funded by Miami Beach show early success. The resolution sponsored by Miami Beach Commissioner David Suarez points to a 2023 feasibility study fueled by the planning organization that targeted six preliminary routes “that could provide significant benefits.”
Employees at a United Natural Foods, Inc. warehouse in Pompano Beach, Florida, have ratified a five-year contract with the grocery distributor, according to an announcement from the Teamsters, the union that represents the workers. The deal, which covers over 200 workers, includes wage increases and stronger benefits along with what the union described as “strong workplace protections.”
The biggest piece of rocketry needed for the next Artemis mission is headed to Florida. While the base of the Space Launch System rocket’s core stage has been waiting at Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building since last summer, the top four-fifths of what will be a 212-foot-tall piece of hardware was loaded onto NASA’s Pegasus barge Monday after shipping out from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The barge is expected to arrive to KSC on Monday.