The economy’s booming, but Florida voters are still worried

The nation’s economy is humming along, with unemployment near historic lows and growth roaring past 3 percent. So is the economy in the country’s largest swing state. So why do so many voters in Florida — particularly the bloc of voters 50 and older that are often so decisive in elections there — feel like they are falling behind? Among all Floridians, 38 percent cite affordable health care as their biggest concern and 22 percent are worried they won't be able to afford retirement. [Source: Politico]

Related quick poll:
» Are you optimistic that you'll have the financial resources for a comfortable retirement?

Judge sides with environmentalists, says lawmakers failed to comply with Amendment 1

A Florida judge agrees with environmentalists that lawmakers didn't follow the wishes of voters who overwhelmingly approved a land preservation proposal. In 2014, 75 percent of voters supported a constitutional amendment to dedicate 33 percent of an existing real estate tax for land preservation, or roughly a billion dollars a year. More from the AP and the Tampa Bay Times.

Perry Ellis' founder gets his 'baby' back. He is taking the Miami company private.

The founder is getting his baby back: George Feldenkreis has successfully bid to take Perry Ellis International private. The apparel producer's board announced early Saturday it had accepted his $437 million buyout offer. Perry Ellis shareholders will receive $27.50 per share in cash. See the announcement from the company here, and read more at the Miami Herald.

Where have all the Florida grapefruit gone?

Twenty years ago, the life of a Florida citrus grower was pretty sweet – at least compared to modern times. Back in the 1997-1998 season, Florida grapefruit producers harvested and packed a record 49.5 million boxes. Fast forward to today and that number now stands at a projected 3.88 million boxes for the 2017-2018 campaign, according to the latest USDA citrus crop estimate. More in the story from Growing Produce, here.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Art and sole: Profile of Miami designer Fabrice Tardieu

Hand-stitched, leather sneakers made in Italy that cost $298 to $798 a pair are not for everyone, but the creations Miami designer Fabrice Tardieu calls “laid-back luxury” are popular among celebrities, including actor Will Smith, basketball player Dwyane Wade, rapper-entrepreneur Sean Combs and actress Gabrielle Union. Full story here (part of a business news roundup for Miami-Dade).

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tampa-based Cody’s Original Roadhouse expanding here and beyond [Tampa Bay Times]
Amid changes in consumer habits and a slump in sales for many casual dining chains, Tampa-based Cody’s Original Roadhouse is preparing to expand its Florida frontier. Cody’s plans to open up to five more Tampa Bay locations as part of a broader initiative to add 50 restaurants throughout the Southeast over the next five years.

› Is Florida making another run at a Virginia-based aircraft carrier? [Military.com]
Sen. Marco Rubio's attempt to amend the 2019 defense authorization bill has caught the eye of Virginia's two senators, who fear it might be a step toward moving an aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Florida.

› Miami Beach wanted a new vision for convention center hotel. Only one group made a bid. [Miami Herald]
After years of failed attempts, a Miami Beach Convention Center hotel is edging closer to reality with a proposal submitted by two South Florida real estate heavyweights. David Martin, president of Terra Group, and Jackie Soffer, chairman and chief executive of Turnberry, have joined forces and filed a proposal under the entity name Miami Beach Connect.

› Blueberry Springs Farm: the evolution of a family business [Tallahassee Democrat]
They say don't believe everything you read. But, if Jack and Teresa Krause took that advice to heart nearly 30 years ago, they would never have created the local legacy of their Rabbiteye Blueberry farm.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Fort Lauderdale airport to close runway in 2019; flights will be cut [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Travelers at Fort Lauderdale’s airport will have fewer flights to choose from next year as one of its two runways is shut down for five months. Airport director Mark Gale predicts the number of flights could drop by 20 percent to 25 percent when the north runway closes from June through October 2019.

› Strange brew? Tampa Bay group hopes to grow hops and medical marijuana in the same spot [Tampa Bay Times]
Among topics that stir passionate interest, two that rank high are medical marijuana and craft beers. A group of Tampa Bay entrepreneurs has ambitious plans to profit from both. They are leasing a vast warehouse space in St. Petersburg where they hope to build Pinellas County’s first medical marijuana greenhouse.

› How 'perfect storm' of jellyfish stung 1,200 Florida beach-goers within days [ABC News]
Hundreds and hundreds of central Florida beach-goers enjoying the sun and surf last week were faced with a very unpleasant shock. About 1,200 beach-goers were stung by jellyfish just from Saturday to Wednesday in Volusia County, said Captain Tamra Malphurs, Public Information Officer for the Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue.

› Study: Florida obesity rate higher than thought at 37 percent [UH Health News]
According to the study from the UF Health, Florida Hospital in Orlando and the Tampa-based nonprofit Obesity Action Coalition, the state’s obesity rate is 37.1 percent, 10 points higher than what the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reported.