Florida House, Senate budgets disagree on prisons, health care, home hardening

With differences on issues such as funding prisons, a health-care plan and home-hardening grants, Senate and House budget committees approved spending plans that top $115 billion. Both proposals would be lower than the state’s $119.1 billion budget in the current year. House Appropriations Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, called the House proposal “austere,” putting “us in a good position for three to five years down the road.” More from the News Service of Florida and the Orlando Sentinel.

Business Beat - Week of February 2nd

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

Florida jobless claims down slightly

The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 5,681 initial unemployment claims were filed last week in Florida, down from a revised count of 5,803 during the week that ended Jan. 20. The state has averaged 6,166 claims a week since the start of the year, slightly up from the weekly average of 5,774 in all of 2023. [Source: News Service of Florida]

DeSantis deploys state and national guard to Texas during border feud with feds

Florida National Guard and State Guard members will be sent to Texas to assist with placing razor wire along the southern border and stopping illegal immigration, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. The Supreme Court ruled last week that the federal government had the power to remove razor wire and other barriers the Texas government erected at the border, but Texas National Guard continued placing the wire last week. More from WFTS and the Florida Times-Union]

Officials: Expect more than 111 rocket launches this year from Florida's Space Coast

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez predicts more than 111 rockets will launch into orbit this year from Florida's Space Coast — an unprecedented total that would obliterate last year's mark by a 54% margin, at minimum. "Our track record is undeniable. And it's signaling to the aerospace industry that in Florida, you can meet your aerospace objectives," Nuñez said. [Source: Florida Today]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› A break for renters? South Florida sees signs of rental prices dropping [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Rents are not likely to drastically rise in the near future as the South Florida rental market is starting a gradual cooldown. One sign of that: The average rent in the Miami-metropolitan area, which accounts for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, took a 0.11% dip in December. While that may only amount to a whopping $3 in savings (perhaps enough to buy a coffee), it’s a change from rental prices skyrocketing.

› Why JPMorgan Chase’s CEO sees Jacksonville as ‘a market for more growth’ [Jacksonville Daily Record]
A little more than a decade ago, JPMorgan Chase & Co. was a big employer in Jacksonville after taking over the mortgage operations center formerly run by Washington Mutual Bank. However, the company, which operates branches under the Chase Bank brand, didn’t have a consumer banking operation. JPMorgan Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon saw that as an opportunity.

› Return to Puerto Rico? Central Florida group pushing heritage tourism [Orlando Sentinel]
After its founding in 1972 in Puerto Rico, El Mesón Sándwiches has exploded across Central Florida with four locations that cater to the large Puerto Rican community here. Now, in an effort to give back to the community that supports it, the restaurant is partnering with a media company to foster the island’s pioneering promotion of heritage tourism.

› Facing doctor shortage, BayCare to train hundreds more in Tampa Bay [Tampa Bay Times]
With Florida facing a shortage of doctors, Tampa Bay’s largest health care system plans to bring hundreds more to the region for training, hospital officials announced Thursday. BayCare Health System, which runs 16 hospitals, will launch at least seven multi-year residency programs to train young physicians at seven medical centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties, said Sowmya Viswanathan, BayCare’s chief physician executive.

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› Shad Khan’s soccer club rises in financial rankings [Jacksonville Daily Record]
The Jacksonville Jaguars rank as one of the 50 most valuable sports franchises in the world, and Shad Khan’s other major league sports team is now ranked as one of the most valuable soccer clubs. Fulham FC ranked 26th in the Deloitte Football Money League, an annual list of global soccer teams that produce the most revenue.

› Federal funding to help tired I-4 truckers find place to rest [Orlando Sentinel]
Long-distance truckers will soon find it easier to park their big rigs off Interstate 4 and take a break, thanks to $180 million in federal funding dedicated toward filling a dearth of truck parking spots along the thoroughfare. “This is great news,” said Alix Miller, president and chief executive officer for the Florida Trucking Association in Tallahassee. “Truck drivers spend an average of 56 minutes every day looking for a place to park and rest. That’s not only a safety issue, but that’s time lost in freight moving forward.”

› Hialeah turns to developers, attorneys to help tackle its affordable housing crisis [Miami Herald]
Solving the affordable housing crisis seems like a Gordian knot. But in Hialeah, a newly created Affordable Housing Task Force is beginning to look for land while discussing how to reduce construction prices and reach agreements with real estate developers to obtain quotas for units at low prices. “There is a need for housing but construction prices are very high,” said Hialeah City Council President Jesus Tundidor.

› A new national music festival is coming to Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
Tampa Bay loves a music festival, and a new one is coming to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa this spring. The Breakaway Music Festival showcases artists and DJs in the dance music genre with headliners Illenium, Kaskade, Zedd and Sofi Tukker (DJ set). It’s happening April 26-27.