Florida Trend Exclusive
Fraud hotspot
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission tracks fraud cases of all stripes and, as you might expect, cybercrime is a major source of financial loss for consumers — particularly in Florida, which in 2025 ranked 11th nationwide in incidents of what the FTC calls "malware and computer exploits." Floridians last year reported 4,168 such incidents, which might not seem like a lot, given the state's large and rapidly growing population, but scammers made off with more than $6.3 million — a financial loss of more than $1,500 per person. That's a higher average hit to the wallet than other fraud hotspots such as California and Texas. [Source: Florida Trend]
El Niño lowers Florida's major hurricane odds to 12% this season
The arrival of El Niño is expected to reduce the chances of a destructive hurricane season. During an El Niño year, the odds of a hurricane making landfall in the U.S. drop to 55% from 89% during a La Niña year. Florida's chance of a major hurricane landfall is 12% during El Niño, compared to 23% during La Niña. Despite lower overall odds, forecasters note that areas from the Florida Panhandle to New Orleans may have a higher risk of storm impacts. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Debate over tracking school vouchers holds up Florida's new budget
A disagreement over how to track School Choice funding is holding up Florida's state budget. Florida lawmakers are working on that budget this week, but there is debate over how those scholarships should be listed. The Florida Senate wants school choice funding separated into its own line in the budget. The Florida House of Representatives wants to keep the voucher funds mixed in with public school funds. [Source: WEAR]
Why Florida’s property tax plans could upend local governments
Florida's state government is considering property tax reforms that could significantly impact municipal revenues Local governments are concerned about funding essential services like police, fire, and parks if property taxes are eliminated. Municipalities are exploring new revenue sources, such as fees and levies, to prepare for potential budget shortfalls Opponents argue the reform would shift the tax burden to renters, businesses, and owners of second homes [Source: Palm Beach Post]
Drought could dampen July 4 fireworks in Florida
Floridians could be advised to celebrate the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary without fireworks if heavy, ground-soaking rains don’t soon arrive. Members of the state Cabinet warned Tuesday they won’t hold back on taking legal action against those responsible for blazes that get out of control and affect residential areas as the peak of an already highly active year for wildfires has yet to arrive. [Source: News Service of Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Where do local officials stand ahead of nonbinding Rays stadium vote?
This week, Hillsborough’s Board of County Commissioners and the Tampa City Council are set to cast back-to-back votes on a stadium agreement. Their votes on a memorandum of understanding with the team will be nonbinding but significant — a first litmus test for the Rays’ Tampa stadium aspirations. The decision has been billed as a way to continue negotiations with the Rays, rather than an end-all, be-all vote on the team’s future in Tampa.
› Orange schools to launch baseball, softball academy to lure back students
Orange County Public Schools plans to launch a “microschool” in August for elementary school students passionate about baseball and softball, hoping the tiny, sports-focused academy will help lure back families who’ve opted for private schools or homeschooling in recent years. If the new offering proves successful, OCPS could look to expand the concept and open microschools — a term otherwise used to describe home-schooling groups — for other activities, like soccer, music and martial arts, said Harold Border, OCPS chief strategy officer.
› Soccer fan surge lifts Tri-Rail’s Sunday ridership to a record — will Florida lawmakers notice?
If there’s good news to use, why not exploit it? Tri-Rail, the commuter line that serves 19 destinations in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, did just that on Monday after finding that a surge of Inter Miami CF soccer fans attending a home game at the team’s new Nu Stadium helped produce a ridership record for Sundays. The tally: more than 8,600 rides.
› UNF lab will test the effects of extreme heat on athletes, military and workers
A new lab at the University of North Florida will test how extreme weather affects athletes, workers and members of the military. The Perry Weather Heat Lab is part of the Korey Stringer Institute’s UNF satellite location. The institute is named for the Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle who collapsed and died 25 years ago of heatstroke from exertion during training camp.
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› Ocoee firefighters to get 15% pay raise in new labor deal
Firefighters in Ocoee are poised for a big pay increase as departments across Central Florida have been dealing with high turnover. In a meeting on Tuesday, commissioners will vote to ratify the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Ocoee Professional Firefighters Union. The three-year contract provides for a 15% pay increase for the first fiscal year.
› Jaguars won't have to pay Urban Meyer $30 million from contract
Former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer has lost his grievance against the club to be paid the remainder of his contract he signed in 2021. The independent arbiter ruled the Jaguars were able to fire Meyer on Dec. 16, 2021, with cause and not pay the remaining money (at least $30 million) on the final four years of his contract.
› St. Pete opens $42M federal housing program for developers
Roughly $42 million in federal hurricane recovery funding is now available for affordable rental housing projects in St. Petersburg. The funding provides a new source of capital for multifamily construction, rehabilitation and conversion projects, including individual awards of up to $15 million per project through a competitive application process funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program following Hurricanes Idalia and Helene.
› Luxury terminal that allows travelers to avoid MIA crowds now has opening date
Imagine flying out of MIA without mixing with the masses at the regular terminal. And having a TSA agent come to you just after enjoying a massage, or a rare whisky, then getting chauffeured in a BMW across the airstrip to your waiting plane. On June 30, that all becomes real as Miami International Airport’s first private terminal arrives, one of only a handful in the United States.