Florida's leaders review financial outlook. State is in ‘great shape,' but don't expect new programs

Florida’s financial outlook is in “great shape,” barring a direct hit from a hurricane or another pandemic, officials said Friday. And even with an anticipated influx of tax dollars, don’t expect budget leaders to support proposals for new or expanded programs as lawmakers hold an election-year legislative session that begins in January. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission on Friday accepted a report known as the “Long-Range Financial Outlook” from state economists, with lawmakers expected to use the information as they put together a 2022-2023 spending plan during the session. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Florida grapples with COVID-19's deadliest phase yet

Florida is in the grip of its deadliest wave of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, a disaster driven by the highly contagious delta variant. While Florida's vaccination rate is slightly higher than the national average, the Sunshine State has an outsize population of elderly people, who are especially vulnerable to the virus; a vibrant party scene; and a Republican governor who has taken a hard line against mask requirements, vaccine passports and business shutdowns. [Source: AP]

Tropical disturbance on projected path to Florida. Here’s the latest

The peak of hurricane season is this Friday, so the tropics are expectedly active. An area of low pressure will try to develop in the northern Gulf of Mexico and then move over North Florida by the middle of the week. The system is forecast to move slowly northward or northeastward over the central and then northeastern Gulf of Mexico, likely reaching the northern Gulf coast in a few days. [Source: Click Orlando]

Florida sees substitute teacher shortage during pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic altered how students learn in the classroom. Now, it’s the main factor behind a statewide substitute teacher shortage, according to the President of the Duval County Teachers United. “We have a shortage everywhere in the Duval County school system like they do all over the state, and we have a shortage of teachers, paraprofessionals bookkeepers, custodial workers, bus drivers,” said Terrie Brady, President of the Duval County Teachers United, the district’s teachers union. [Source: WJXT]

Affordable housing initiative tops 62,000 signatures

Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at ensuring money for affordable housing continue adding petition signatures as they try to get on the November 2022 ballot. The Florida Division of Elections as of late Friday afternoon had received 62,552 valid petition signatures for the initiative spearheaded by the political committee Floridians for Housing. If the proposal gets on the ballot and is approved by 60 percent of voters, it would establish in the Florida Constitution the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund. [Source: News Service of Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› 'Supply and demand': Workforce shortages cause Northwest Florida wages to skyrocket [Northwest Florida Daily News]
Florida voters approved a plan last November to incrementally increase the state's minimum wage from $8.56 to $15 an hour by 2026. Although business owners generally opposed the idea at the time, a year later, many of them find themselves paying well over the $10 hourly wage taking effect Sept. 30. In fact, many already are offering $15 or more to anyone willing to work.

› Coastal commuter rail line won’t arrive anytime soon [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Attention commuters: Mark your calendars for 2028. That’s when planners of a proposed commuter rail system estimate that travelers can start buying tickets to ride between Deerfield Beach and Aventura in Miami-Dade County. Despite widespread support for a system that has been dubbed for years as the coastal rail link, the long lead time is probably a good idea because the project is already encountering headwinds.

› SpaceX all-civilian flight clears flight readiness review for Kennedy Space Center launch [Orlando Sentinel]
In less than two weeks, four civilians are looking to blast off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the company’s first civilian flight of its Crew Dragon spacecraft. The Inspiration4 mission aims to take four passengers on a multiday orbital trip launching from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Three days before liftoff, the company will narrow down the launch window to five hours based on weather conditions. There is a backup launch opportunity on Sept. 16.

› Kroger eyes potential entry into Southwest Florida marketplace [WFTX]
Grocery retailer Kroger is expanding its reach into the Sunshine State and eyeing a possible presence here in Southwest Florida. Unlike competitors Publix and Walmart, company leaders think customers will "Go Krogering" completely online - without a single brick-and-mortar store to be built. The plan is to offer online only ordering and grocery delivery with a mix of manpower and state-of-the-art artificial intelligence.

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› With evictions set to soar, Miami-Dade seeks to mediate between landlords and tenants [Miami Herald]
Miami-Dade County has launched a free online platform to serve as a mediator between landlords and tenants in eviction cases. The platform, called courtHELP (court Housing Eviction Landlord/Tenant Platform), can be accessed at courtinnovations.com/FLCOURTHELP and is intended to help resolve eviction cases outside of courts, where a flood of new cases is expected now that the moratorium has ended.

› What’s next for the Beach Theatre? New owner wants your input. [Tampa Bay Times]
Want to see movies at the Beach Theatre again? Think it’s suited for cabaret and live theater? What about dinner shows? The new owner of the beloved  property wants to hear your thoughts. Christopher Scott bought the Beach last month as-is for $652,000 — $173,000 over list price. Ever since, he’s heard from the people of St. Pete Beach. “People were really enthused about it,” Christopher said. “I’ve been inundated with letters and messages.”

› Two years in the making, The Bread & Board opens Jacksonville flagship restaurant, marketplace [Florida Times-Union]
The Bread & Board opened its newest restaurant on Thursday, expanding its footprint at downtown's VyStar Credit Union campus. The restaurant, known for its made-to-order artisan sandwiches, boards and bowls along with rotating entree specials, is adding new salads and ultimately, breakfast fare.

› Delayed Avalon Park food hall now set to open on Sept. 18 [Orlando Sentinel]
The Marketplace at Avalon Park food hall is expected to have a grand opening Sept. 18. The 7,500-square-foot hall at 3801 Avalon Park East Boulevard in east Orange County will feature nine eateries, an indoor and outdoor bar from Bowigens Beer Company, and a general store selling wine and products made by artisans.