The high — and getting higher — cost of living in Florida

Gasoline. Groceries. Rent. Insurance. It has been getting more expensive to live in Florida — a lot more expensive. Overall, prices for all kinds of things are up almost nine percent from a year ago. Paychecks are not keeping up with the price hikes. Inflation is here , and it is squeezing Floridians, especially seniors — a huge population in this state. It particularly hurts lower - income Floridians and retirees reliant on Social Security checks. And it will likely play a role in elections later this year. [Source: WUWF]

Florida Trend Exclusive

Florida Icon: Doretha Edgecomb

The former teacher, principal and school district administrator tells us: "The things that they call change really don’t advance education. Education has become too political, too partial. I don’t think when the decisions are made it’s about the kids anymore. It’s more about the adults, and what they want. It’s about their political point of view, and that doesn’t advance education." [Source: Florida Trend]

Supreme Court sides with state on Medicaid money

Nearly 14 years after a Lee County girl was catastrophically injured when she was hit by a truck, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said Florida’s Medicaid program can recoup a chunk of the money it paid for her initial care. Justices, in a 7-2 opinion, sided with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration in a case that drew attention from officials across the country. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Everything you need to know to vote by mail in Florida

More Floridians than ever before are voting by mail. In 2020, more than 4.8 million Floridians voted by mail, 2 million more than the number of people who voted in 2018 and in 2016. While the pandemic was a factor in the number of people opting to mail in a ballot instead of showing up in person, usage of the vote-by-mail option in Florida has been growing over the past decade. [Source: Click Orlando]

After setting record, when will Florida gas prices drop?

The price of gasoline is breaking records again. The average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel in the Tampa Bay area and Florida reached a new height on Monday at $4.76, according to data from AAA The Auto Club Group. Experts warn that it could reach $5 this summer. “Right now, gas prices appear to be on an upward trajectory with very few options for relief,” said AAA Florida spokesperson Mark Jenkins. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› United Way Suncoast aims to tackle poverty with new $18 million commitment [Tampa Bay Times]
The United Way Suncoast announced on Monday a new way of funding local nonprofit programs with a goal of helping its partners create more sustainable programs. The organization will distribute $18 million over a three-year period to more than 100 nonprofit programs that work to clear educational and financial barriers for low-income families. The multi-year grants differ from the United Way’s past distribution model, which required nonprofits to apply annually to receive program funding.

› Punta Gorda airport lands $3M in funding for expanded training school [Business Observer]
The state budget approved June 2 includes $3 million for a new combined hangar and classroom facility for Charlotte Technical College’s FAA-certified Aviation Maintenance Technician School. The larger and enhanced facility, at Punta Gorda Airport, is necessary to meet the aviation industry’s demand for aircraft mechanics, according to a statement. In addition, airport officials in the statement say that state funding is “essential to keep CTC’s costs low enough for tuition to remain affordable for students.”

› CareerSource Central Florida to start new workforce program for businesses and job seekers [Orlando Business Journal]
CareerSource Central Florida is partnering with Orange County on a workforce program for businesses and job seekers. Orange County has directed over $10.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds it got toward the Level Up Orange program. The program will be a successor to the Help is Here program the county and nonprofit workforce board partnered on in 2020, which got $7 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.

› Spirit reviews latest JetBlue counteroffer as takeover fight nears finale [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Hours after Spirit Airlines received a revised takeover bid from JetBlue Airways, the South Florida-based carrier said Monday its board of directors would review it. The move by JetBlue, which has been waging a hostile bid for Spirit in a now weeks-old battle against Frontier Airlines of Denver, is just days ahead of a scheduled June 10 vote by Spirit shareholders to decide on whether to accept a bid from Frontier.

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› Free admission to SeaWorld for Florida teachers [WJXT]
SeaWorld Orlando is offering free unlimited admission to its park for Florida teachers through August 31. Public School Teachers must pre-register online using their ID.me credentials. Private school teachers need to bring a letter from their principal on official letterhead stating that they are a teacher along with a Florida Picture ID and paystub at the front gate. Staff will verify eligibility and provide you with a Florida Teacher Card.

› Doors guitarist Robby Krieger: Make Jim Morrison's Melbourne 'birth home' a Doors museum [Florida Today]
Jim Morrison's modest "birth home" — where the revered rock frontman briefly lived as an infant — remains listed for sale for a whopping $2.4 million in downtown Melbourne. And his bandmate with The Doors, guitarist Robby Krieger, envisions this 1935-vintage cottage as a shrine honoring the controversial singer-poet and their band, which has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

› Tallahassee airport's International Processing Facility to bring unseen global access to capital city  [Tallahassee Democrat]
A $28-million capital investment to Tallahassee's airport is expected to unlock international access for travelers and economic development. In a few years, residents will be able to book non-stop flights overseas, including charter, business or general aviation flights. Some could include flights to the Caribbean, Central and South America and Canada.

› John Madden makes the cover of Orlando-made Madden NFL 23 [Orlando Sentinel]
The late John Madden will be featured on the cover of Electronic Arts’ Orlando-made game Madden NFL 23. This year’s game will be released on Aug. 19 and the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions will feature a new “ultra-realistic” gameplay system called “FieldSENSE,” a news release said. Madden, a Hall of Fame NFL coach and broadcaster, died last year.