‘On borrowed time.’ Why coastal Florida keeps rebuilding after storms like Hurricane Ian

Southwest Florida has already answered the immediate question after Hurricane Ian slammed into the coast, killing dozens of people and destroying thousands of homes with record-high storm surge: Will we rebuild? The answer — yes, of course — is practically a given in storm-prone Florida, despite the double whammy of an exploding population on the coast and climate change raising the risk of hurricanes with deadly coastal flooding. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida Republicans register 9 new voters for every 1 new Democrat in months leading to midterms

The final totals of Floridians registered to vote in the 2022 midterm election shows the Republican Party continuing to surge while the Democrats are stagnating. The latest numbers underscore the reality that Florida is leaving behind its longtime position as the biggest swing state in the country, one that could go either way in big elections, and is landing solidly in the Republican red column. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

NHC says 90% chance Caribbean tropical depression will form

The National Hurricane Center is keeping its eye on a system in the Caribbean with high chances to become the season’s next tropical depression. As of 2 p.m. Sunday, the NHC said the broad area of low pressure was producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms in the eastern Caribbean, and will produce heavy rainfall over the weekend over portions of the Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. “An additional increase in organization in the associated shower and thunderstorm activity could prompt the development of a tropical depression or storm over the next day or so,” forecasters said. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Fall festivals help Central Florida farms stay green with cash

Agritourism combines two of Florida’s largest industries, agriculture and tourism, to offer visitors fun things to do on Florida’s farms. Fall is a big season for locals seeking a rustic escape. Common agritourism attractions include u-pick groves and orchards, farm tours and goat yoga, in addition to traditional harvest-time activities such as pumpkin patches, hay rides, corn mazes and haunted trails. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

FPL seeking to recoup $1 billion from state customers to cover Ian power restoration

After pouring workers and equipment into restoring electricity after Hurricane Ian, Florida Power & Light expects to seek approval to recoup about $1.1 billion from customers, officials said Friday. It was not immediately clear when FPL will file a proposal to the Florida Public Service Commission — or how the proposal would affect customers’ monthly bills. But utilities have traditionally been allowed to recover costs from customers after hurricanes, and a rate agreement approved last year by the commission contemplates FPL being able to make such a proposal. [Source: Miami Herald]

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› Port Canaveral gears up for busy winter after record year [Orlando Sentinel]
Despite the uncertainty of COVID-19 that still had its grips on the cruise industry in 2021, Port Canaveral finished its latest fiscal year with record numbers and is gearing up for a winter with bigger and better ships than ever. “The year ended up quite successfully considering how we started at the tail-end of the pandemic,” said port CEO Capt. John Murray at the port commission meeting on Wednesday.

› Look inside Kforce’s hybrid-focused ‘office of the future’ in Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
You can see so much from the virtually 360-degree view from Kforce’s new corporate headquarters in Midtown Tampa. Sunsets. Storm clouds. Shoppers coming and going from the Whole Foods and REI down below. The traffic situation on Interstate 275 and N Dale Mabry. But it’s what visitors won’t see, said CEO Joe Liberatore, that makes the new headquarters feel so different from the old one.

› Orlando's business environment puts it in top 10 at drawing foreign business, study shows [Orlando Business Journal]
The level of "aftercare" Orlando provides foreign companies looking to expand in the U.S. helps make it one of the best-positioned cities in the U.S. to draw foreign investment, new research from the Financial Times and Nikkei shows. Orlando came in at No. 2 on an inaugural study that rated cities’ economic, regulatory and social characteristics through the lens of overseas businesses.

› After a violent spiral, famed Chicago chef seeks redemption — and Michelin stars — in South Florida [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Jacob Bickelhaupt moved to West Palm Beach in July with two equally ambitious goals: rebuilding his life in Palm Beach County and earning more Michelin stars. His acclaimed Chicago restaurant 42 Grams picked up two Michelin stars in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He won Food & Wine’s Best Chef in 2015 and received James Beard Award semifinalist nods in 2016 and 2017.

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› Jacksonville Jaguars' owner Shad Khan talks state of team, TIAA Bank Field renovation, Lemon Bar [Florida Times-Union]
In a 30-minute interview Saturday with the Times-Union, the 72-year-old owner – along with team president Mark Lamping – expounded on a number of topics. They ranged from matters of football, to the status of a potential renovation of TIAA Bank Field, to their support for keeping the Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville, to Khan’s vision for his recent purchase of the Seahorse Inn/Lemon Bar in Neptune Beach.

› State pays millions to company employing undocumented workers linked to deputy’s death [Miami Herald]
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has paid more than $8 million to a construction contractor since authorities found it had hired several undocumented workers — including two men who have been charged in connection with the death of a Pinellas County deputy. The state contractor, Archer Western-De Moya Joint Venture, has a standing contract with the Florida Department of Transportation to do work on the Gateway Expressway in the Tampa Bay area.

› Orlando’s Skyline Attractions helps launch roller coaster inside art museum [Orlando Sentinel]
A single-person roller coaster is mingling with museum patrons thanks to Orlando-based Skyline Attractions, designer of the ride that glides through an art exhibit by EJ Hill. “As far as we know, this is the first working, ridable roller coaster in a museum — ever,” says Chris Gray, Skyline’s vice president. The ride has been installed at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art — MASS MoCA, for short — and will be operating during Hill’s “Brake Run Helix,” which debuts at the museum in North Adams, Massachusetts, this weekend.

› Delray Beach’s Atlantic Crossing will finally open. What you’ll see: restaurants, apartments and lots more. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
After a decade of planning, the doors are close to finally opening on the $300 million Atlantic Crossing development in downtown Delray Beach. Spanning nine acres along Atlantic Avenue just east of Federal Highway, Atlantic Crossing will feature restaurants, shops, 83,000 square feet of office space and 261 luxury apartments, making it one of the biggest projects in the city’s history.