Insurers broke the law in limiting Hurricane Ian payouts, group alleges

The announcement comes after a story in the Washington Post alleged that insurers dramatically reduced adjuster estimates of Hurricane Ian damage in southwest Florida to justify much lower payout amounts to storm victims. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Business Beat - Week of March 17

Get the top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Up Front: Beacons of hope

We’ve all experienced times when either our own children or the children of a family member, friend, business associate or acquaintance needed specialized care. Floridians are fortunate to have access to some of the best health care in the nation. Florida is home to four non-profit specialty licensed children’s hospitals, which provide exceptional and critical care to children throughout our state — and even around the world. [Source: Florida Trend]

South Florida companies attracted $5.8B in VC in 2022, a new record, eMerge Americas report shows

Last year, $5.8 billion flowed into South Florida companies across 426 deals, up from 2021’s $5.3 billion. In 2022, the Miami metro area ranked 7th in the nation. Florida also had a very good year with $8.1 billion logged across 703 deals. That was up from $7.1 billion in 2021. Florida’s results tied for No. 6 in the nation. [Source: Refresh Miami]

Black fraternities and sororities are feeling relief after major changes to a Florida higher ed bill

An important higher education reform bill has started moving in the Florida Senate, but with a major change: it no longer bans majors and minors in subjects like gender studies, intersectionality, and critical race theory. After concerns raised by Black Greek letter groups, lawmakers have also amended the bill to protect more student groups from similar bans, but the proposal is still under fire. [Source: WUSF]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

Here's how Sunshine Corridor may help fund current SunRail operations [Orlando Business Journal]

John McReynolds, senior vice president of external affairs at Universal Orlando Resort, said during a March 14 Seminole County Commission meeting that the proposed 17-mile rail corridor shared by Orlando commuter rail system SunRail and Miami-based intercity train Brightline likely would boost ridership and provide funds for the existing operation of SunRail.

› Plan to boost fund for people in Florida prisons rights past wrongs, advocates say [Orlando Sentinel]
Prison advocates say the diversion of funds from the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund went on for far too long, harming incarcerated people.

› St. Augustine senator's bill tightens home defect lawsuits [WJCT]
A bill sponsored by a St. Augustine lawmaker would shorten the time for residents to file lawsuits about construction defects in their homes.

› Florida universities told to hand over more records, this time on union talks [Tampa Bay Times]
Faculty leaders fear it will lead to restrictions on collective bargaining as the state targets higher education.

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› Tampa, Florida is one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places [Time]
Florida’s city du jour is eager to earn permanent status on travelers’ lists of sunny, accessible escapes worthy of a weekend stay, as a cutting-edge, multi-billion-dollar landmark development project redefines its downtown.

› Miami-Dade plans to plant more trees to help planet, low-income communities [WPLG]
Residents of all faiths, races, and income recently packed the pews at St. James Catholic Church in northwest Miami-Dade County, but not for a prayer service. They were all members of PACT: People Acting for Community Together, demanding county leaders move swiftly to protect Miami-Dade’s most vulnerable neighborhoods from the impending killer heat fueled by our ever-warming planet.

› Florida Agritourism Association plants the seeds for industry’s growth [The Observer News]
What started as a mission to host her son’s wedding reception at her family’s farm in Plant City has become so much more for a Hillsborough County woman who today is chairwoman of the Florida Agritourism Association.