Inflation rises in March: Florida has highest inflation in U.S.

Inflation increased for a third straight month in March, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index (CPI). Overall prices were up 3.5% from March 2023 and up from February's 3.2% increase. And nowhere are they rising more than Florida. The Sunshine State has the nation's highest inflation rate, 3.91%, according to an analysis of index data by Moody’s Analytics based on a three-month moving average. More from the Tallahassee Democrat and the Daytona Beach News Journal.

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Florida Icon: Thomas Wilkins

Thomas Wilkins, former resident conductor of The Florida Orchestra and principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra tells us: "A life in classical music reminds me that I play an important role in nurturing not just artists but society. This is not a career — it’s a calling. It’s not about me at all; I’m just a vehicle to get this music out to people and to make their lives better." [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida among top destinations for millennials. Here’s where they moved

A study by HireaHelper earlier this year found the top spots that millennials moved to in 2023. Between unaffordable housing, high rental prices and sizable debt, many millennials lacked the means to move relative to their Gen Z counterparts, the study explains. However, those who did move reportedly did so mainly due to wanting better housing or seizing new job opportunities. [Source: Click Orlando]

Court orders Florida to explain its standing in immigration suit

A federal appeals court is looking at whether Florida could legally challenge Biden administration immigration policies after a district judge sided with the state in a fight spearheaded by Attorney General Ashley Moody and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The order came after the U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled that Texas and Louisiana did not have standing to challenge federal immigration-enforcement policies. The U.S. Supreme Court case involved policies related to arresting migrants. More from the News Service of Florida and CBS Miami.

After losing Medicaid, parents of Florida’s sickest kids are in limbo

Over the last year, Florida has dropped over 1.3 million people, including 460,000 children, from its state Medicaid program after the end of a pandemic-era policy that banned states from removing participants who became ineligible. In March, the state began redetermining eligibility for kids with chronic complex conditions. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Spring is in the air and so is Keeping Florida Beautiful

Spring cleaning isn’t just for dusting and decluttering in your home. It’s also for cleaning up and greening up in your community - and the local affiliates of Keep Florida Beautiful (KFB) invite you, your family, your neighbors and your business to get involved! Needless to say, there are numerous reasons for maintaining a clean, green and beautiful Florida and this responsibility is one that we all share. [Sponsored Report]

Trend Mention

Our Goal is to Make Winter Haven the Coolest Small City in Florida From "authenticity" and "really rare" and "amazing to watch," Downtown Winter Haven is being reimagined - thanks to growth, opportunity, and vision that is being maximized by uncommon collaboration and cohesion. In the nation's third fastest-growing city, and in the second fastest-growing MSA, the once sleepy historic area is spouting new places to live, work, play and visit.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Project Opioid to work with Orlando business leaders to combat drug abuse [Orlando Business Journal]
Project Opioid is ramping up its efforts to find business leaders willing to help fight drug abuse. The local nonprofit hosted an event April 1 at the Orlando Magic's Amway Center with business leaders and human resource executives. Project Opioid, which met with 140 new leaders last year, wants to continue expanding the effort to reach out to community, business and faith leaders.

› Bucking the trends, Miami Angels posted a record 2023, a strong start in ’24 [Refresh Miami]
Jared Schwitzke took the helm of Miami Angels last year amid a steep downturn in venture capital globally. But the angel network, one of the largest in the country, has emerged stronger, logging a record year for investments in 2023 and on track for another one. “Under Jared’s leadership, we’re in the midst of Miami Angels 3.0. We weathered the nuclear winter in the VC market beautifully and beat previous capital deployment records,” said Mark Kingdon, Board Chairman of Miami Angels.

› Tampa firm part of trial to prove Alzheimer’s can be detected in blood tests [Tampa Bay Times]
The most reliable way to to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is through a positron emission tomography or PET scan of the brain, an expensive test not always covered by insurance. Another option is an examination of cerebrospinal fluid, which requires an invasive and sometimes painful spinal tap. But a new clinical study is bringing hope that the disease, the most common form of dementia, could in the future be diagnosed with a simple blood test.

› Visit Jacksonville says it worked with 193 groups for meetings and events in 2023 [Jacksonville Daily Record]
In 2023, Visit Jacksonville worked with 193 groups who hosted a meeting, conference, sporting event or convention in Jacksonville, amounting to 93,141 room nights and more than $34 million of economic impact. The numbers represent a 55% increase in the number of rooms and nearly a $15 million increase in economic impact compared with 2022 statistics.

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› Delray is getting nearly $1 million for crime prevention program [Palm Beach Post]
The $963,000 will go toward a new crime prevention technology initiative and the start of a license plate reader program for the Delray Beach Police Department's Real Time Crime Center. Cameras will be strategically placed throughout the city to help officers observe, detect and prevent crime.

› Brevard commissioners say yes on advancing plan to charge cities for ocean lifeguards [Florida Today]
Lifeguard services at six popular Brevard County beaches could be discontinued unless a funding agreement is reached between the county and these three municipalities after the County Commission voted Tuesday to move forward with charging cities for lifeguard services.

› Concerned about misuse, Disney World changes disability passes [Orlando Sentinel]
Walt Disney World is changing how it handles a program that shortens wait times for theme park visitors with autism or similar developmental disabilities. The adjustment affects the disability access service card, also known as DAS, which has gained popularity in recent years but has been misused. As of May 20, Disney World visitors may request DAS at guest services outlets after which they will be connected to a cast member via virtual chat to determine their eligibility.

› Southwest Broward cities urge Miami-Dade not to build trash incinerator near Miramar [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
As Miami-Dade County tries to figure out where a new trash incinerator should go, several cities in southwest Broward stood united against the new facility being built less than a mile from Broward’s boundary line. “Don’t bring your trash to our backyard,” declared Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam on Tuesday before a crowd at City Hall. Some held signs that read, “Do the right thing! Choose the right site!”