As Ian-ravaged parts of Florida face long recovery, where will tourists go?

Hurricane Ian temporarily wiped off the map many of Southwest Florida’s main tourist destinations, so travelers planning to visit Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva islands this fall and winter will have to look elsewhere or stay home. Visit Florida, the state’s publicly funded destination marketing agency, is trying to make sure those seasonal tourists rebook somewhere in Florida. The challenge is to keep the state’s hospitality businesses, Florida’s biggest industry that employs 1.3 million people, from sustaining another devastating blow during the usual busy winter season. [Source: Miami Herald]

Rapid rise in gas prices wipes out most tax holiday savings in Florida

Well, that didn’t last long. Days after Florida’s monthlong gas-tax holiday took effect on Oct. 1, global oil prices spiked and triggered a quick rise in retail gas prices that wiped out most of the savings. You can blame gasoline distributors and retailers who are lightning-quick to hike prices when any oil market disruption occurs, then take their sweet time reducing them when those disruptions ease. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

As Tuesday deadline looms, here's what you need to know to register to vote in Nov. 8 elections

We're just about a month away from the November general election, also known as the midterm election being the midpoint of the president's four-year term in office. Here in Florida, voters will choose candidates to fill various local, county, state and national offices. This includes U.S. senator, U.S. representative and Florida governor. If you haven't registered to vote in Florida, there's still time — but the deadline is fast approaching. More from WTSP and the Florida Times-Union.

Hurricane Ian forecast cone may have been cone of confusion for some people

The hurricane forecast cone was introduced in 2002 as a way to communicate the track of an incoming storm to the public. It has been maligned, misunderstood and regretted ever since. In Hurricane Ian, the cone swung significantly from Pensacola to Miami with the Category 4 storm eventually making landfall near its eastern edge where people may have thought they were safe. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

What happened to the mangoes, tomatoes and other Florida crops after Hurricane Ian?

Across Florida, Hurricane Ian trampled through about 4 million acres of farmland, according to the latest figures from the Agriculture Department for the affected counties. The impact may be small for acres of pasture use, said Gene McAvoy, an emeritus Hendry County vegetable agent. Recovery for small farms like Southern Fresh Farms can be a long season. While larger, commercial farms may cover sprawling land, these farmers depend on smaller parcels, McAvoy said. Insurance money or funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency may take up to a year to become available, he said. [Source: Miami Herald]

Baptist Health Cancer Care: South Florida's cancer experts

Should a screening test lead to a cancer diagnosis, patients can seek treatment from Baptist Health Cancer Care. Miami Cancer Institute and Lynn Cancer Institute are partners in Baptist Health Cancer Care and have integrated their programs to become the largest provider of cancer services in South Florida. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Miami Cancer Institute and Lynn Cancer Institute as top healthcare facilities in the nation for cancer care. Miami Cancer Institute earned honors as a High-Performing oncology program, ranking it in the top 10 percent of cancer centers in America. [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Longtime Tampa business law firm merging with statewide firm Gunster [Tampa Bay Times]
A longtime Tampa business and tax law firm is merging with one of the state’s biggest law firms. Barnett, Kirkwood, Koche, Long & Foster is being absorbed by West Palm Beach firm Gunster, which now has more than 250 attorneys in 12 offices around the state. That includes Barnett’s Bayshore Boulevard office as well as its own office in downtown Tampa. The deal more than doubles Gunster’s Tampa presence.

› South Florida’s home rental market to get pricier after Hurricane Ian. Here’s why [Miami Herald]
More snowbirds are expected to flock to South Florida in the coming winter season because of Hurricane Ian’s devastation across Southwest Florida. These seasonal residents should expect to pay higher rents here in Miami-Dade and Broward counties due to stronger demand for a tight supply of homes, experts say.  

› $7 million repair bill among Orlando Museum of Art’s challenges [Orlando Sentinel]
Still dealing with the fallout of the Basquiat art scandal, Orlando Museum of Art needs at least $7 million to repair its leaking roof and outdated air-conditioning and ventilation system — a situation not helped by Hurricane Ian. That’s just one of the challenges ahead for the museum, as its new board chair tries to maintain relationships with supporters and donors while reassuring staff members.

› Sarasota city officials says debris could take six months to clear [Business Observer]
The city of Sarasota’s emergency manager estimates Hurricane Ian was responsible for twice the damage to trees and other landscaping than 2017’s Hurricane Irma, and that, he says, will take a while to gather and dispose of. “Our debris contractors estimate that there's 150,000 to 200,000 cubic yards of landscape debris,” Todd Kerkering says.

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› Nine hurdles delaying the arrival of Tri-Rail to downtown Miami   [Miami Today]
Steps needed to bring Tri-Rail trains into Miami Central Station are complex. They won’t be arriving for another year, as David Dech, new executive director of the South Florida Regional Authority, told two public meetings last week. The project was to be completed in 2017 but several factors have delayed completion of a link to the Brightline station.

› West Florida Defense Alliance works to help military families find affordable housing [WEAR]
The West Florida Defense Alliance is working to team up with community groups and the government to help service members find affordable housing options. If service members don’t live in base housing, they receive a basic housing allowance or BAH.The Housing Committee Chair for WFDA, Pete King, says this allowance changes once a year, but it hasn’t kept up with inflation.

› $7 million repair bill among Orlando Museum of Art’s challenges [Orlando Sentinel]
Still dealing with the fallout of the Basquiat art scandal, Orlando Museum of Art needs at least $7 million to repair its leaking roof and outdated air-conditioning and ventilation system — a situation not helped by Hurricane Ian. That’s just one of the challenges ahead for the museum, as its new board chair tries to maintain relationships with supporters and donors while reassuring staff members.

› Investors told opening of $618 million Port Charlotte resort will be delayed [Business Observer]
The opening of the $618 million Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor could be pushed back by at least six months as the company deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Allegiant Travel Co., which is building the Port Charlotte resort, announced the decision to investors in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Friday morning — Oct. 7. The filing was meant to update investors on the state of the resort and construction plans after Hurricane Ian.