Hurricane Irma’s insurance claims near $10 billion in Florida

Claims for damage caused by Hurricane Irma in Florida are closing in on the $10 billion mark. Nearly 1 million Florida property owners have filed claims for insured losses from Irma, which barrelled through the state nine months ago, according to a new report from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. See the full report here (includes charts) and read more at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

See also:
» Despite Irma, Floridians still not preparing for hurricane season

Florida releases 2018 test results for reading, math, science and social studies

Florida students posted higher scores this year than last on state math, science and social studies exams and, in some grades, did better on state reading tests, too, according to results released by the Florida Department of Education. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

See also:
» Gov. Scott: Florida students continue to make achievement gains

Snowbirds drive double-digit price growth in Florida

Luxury home buyers from northern U.S. cities and Canada—known as “snowbirds” —are flocking south and driving real estate markets in smaller Florida cities, according to data Realtor.com published Thursday. See the news release, "Buyers from the north drive Florida to top of fastest-growing luxury markets." Also read more at Mansion Global.

Poll cites economic, school safety and environmental policies as top election issues for Floridians

According to the Florida Division of Elections, 698 people have filed the paperwork to run for state office, from governor to state representative, in this year’s elections. If they need ideas on what issues to stress when purchasing air time and campaign ads, a Florida Atlantic University (FAU) College of Business poll has identified three. More from Florida Watchdog and TCPalm.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Diners Club: Metro Diner offers a new take on comfort food

The diner is back. This time it’s Metro Diner, born and bred in Jacksonville and now spread to 50 lucky neighborhoods. It’s the real thing: Chicken pot pie, meatloaf, biscuits ’n’ sausage gravy and Western omelets. And prices that crack $10 by only a couple of bucks. Full dining column here.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› JetSmarter expands private jet services to public [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
For the first time since it began in 2013, Fort Lauderdale-based JetSmarter has opened its private-jet flight scheduling app to the public. The change is designed to drive creation of new routes and flight frequency for JetSmarter.

› Decades of neglect caused financial problems for Sarasota’s Bobby Jones Golf Club [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The Great Recession, which caused the real estate market to collapse and halted new construction 10 years ago, forced city officials to divert money from the once profitable, nearly 100-year-old club — which could require a $650,000 subsidy next budget year — to pay for vital city services, Sue Martin, the course’s manager said Thursday.

› Business looks to open doors for vets across Tampa Bay [Tampa Bay Times]
Steve Deveaux always knew it was his passion and duty to help veterans transition into civilian workforce. So, he and his fiancee Danielle Woodruff decided to expand the JDog Junk Removal business from Pennsylvania to Tampa and continue to pay it forward.

› Orlando self-driving car tech firm lands Volvo investment [Orlando Sentinel]
An Orlando company working on sensor-based systems meant to make self-driving cars safer has received the backing of a major auto manufacturer. The investment is the first of its kind for Volvo’s automotive technology fund, launched early this year.

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› Sun King heading to Sunshine State [Inside Indiana Business]
Indianapolis-based Sun King Brewing has entered into a deal to bring its beers to Florida beginning next month. The state's second-largest brewery has inked a partnership with Cavalier Distributing to sell some of its beers in bars and liquor stores in the state.

› JEA land sale could pay for septic tank removals, water line extensions [Florida Times-Union]
JEA interim chief executive officer Aaron Zahn wants the city-owned utility to donate the bulk of the proceeds from an impending $18.5 million land sale to City Hall to pay for community priorities like phasing out septic tanks.

› Pensacola native and veteran wins Governor's Young Entrepreneur Award [WJHG]
Alex Hill, 26, is an Army Combat Veteran turned entrepreneur who was awarded the Governor's Young Entrepreneur Award Wednesday morning. Hill, a Pensacola native and University of West Florida student, started his company "Florida Coconuts" when he returned from his service in Afghanistan.

› Here’s why Waze and other Israeli tech companies are keen on Tampa Bay [TBO.com]
Most people think of Waze as a GPS navigation system. But the Tel Aviv-based tech firm, now owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., is trying to be much more — such as when it partnered with the city of Tampa and the state a few years ago for its Connected Citizens Program.