Florida Legislature passes new congressional map. What happens now?

The Florida Legislature approved a new congressional map intended to maximize Republicans' advantage in the state as part of the national redistricting battle that launched ahead of this year's midterms. Florida's new districts are certain to face lawsuits, especially because the state constitution prohibits redistricting for explicitly partisan purposes. [Source: AP]

Three surprising things you might not know about hurricanes

Hurricanes can push and pull wildlife in ways that benefit nature in the long run. They also can nourish and cleanse the Everglades, a system desperately in need of freshwater flow. And they can be crucial to South Florida’s water supply, as we’re seeing in this year of drought. Ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season, here are three things you may not know about how these massive, destructive storms affect our world. [Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel]

AARP lobbies for data center bill to protect Floridians from rising utility costs

AARP leaders are backing a bill that would require AI data center companies to pay for their own utilities instead of passing costs to customers. The group warns that consumers are getting stuck paying for the large-scale data centers, as some people’s utility bills have skyrocketed 30%-50% in the past five years. “Everyday households should not be asked to subsidize the private infrastructure costs of data centers,” said Jenn Jones, AARP’s Vice President of Financial Security and Livable Communities. [Source: Florida Politics]

Why Spirit Airlines matters to Florida flight prices

Financial uncertainty surrounding Spirit Airlines could have an outsized impact on Florida travelers, where the airline plays a major role in keeping fares low on many popular routes. Industry analysts say any major disruption to Spirit’s operations could lead to higher ticket prices, particularly in leisure-heavy markets such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Caribbean routes where the airline has historically offered some of the lowest fares. The airline’s financial situation has drawn renewed attention ahead of a court hearing involving creditor negotiations, according to travel industry commentary shared this week. Source: WFTV]

Certain Floridians die more often of cancer and disease. Will AI make it worse?

A report released Tuesday by The Commonwealth Fund shows racial and ethnic health disparities exist in every state. In Florida, though, those disparities result in differences in who went without a dental visit, a flu shot, a colon cancer screening and who ended up in an avoidable emergency department visit. And they affect health outcomes such as death rates, hospital readmissions — and even loss of teeth. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami ranks as a top metro area for women-owned businesses [Miami Herald]
South Florida is one of the 10 best places in the country for women entrepreneurs to start a business, according to a new study. Miami ranks sixth on CoworkingCafe’s list of large metropolitan areas for female-owned businesses. CoworkingCafe, a national directory for coworking workspaces. The company did the study as a way of identifying which metropolitan areas have the best economic conditions for woman entrepreneurs to launch a business.

› Tallahassee sends plans for hotel, vertiport back to drawing board [Tallahassee Democrat]
Don't expect to see a luxury hotel or air taxis anytime soon at the newly christened Bobby Bowden Tallahassee International Airport. The city of Tallahassee is going back to the drawing board after it received a lackluster response from developers interested in building the airport's first hotel site and a vertiport, which would have been part of a larger statewide effort underway in other cities.

› South Florida is becoming a mission-critical hub for defense innovation [Refresh Miami]
There was a time, not so long ago, when the most high-stakes defense strategy in Miami involved choosing the right SPF or scouting a table at Joe’s Stone Crab before the rush. But look around today, and you’ll find that the Capital of Capital has traded in a few of our linen guayaberas for tactical vests. As if the recent eMerge Americas programming wasn’t clear enough, it’s now fair to say that South Florida has become a mission-critical node in the U.S. national security ecosystem.

› Liquidity, rates, and growth shape Orlando banking strategy [Capital Analytics]
With nearly 3 million residents and roughly 725 new neighbors arriving every week, the Greater Orlando region is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the nation — and that momentum is reshaping how businesses and the Orlando banking community think about capital.

More stories ...

› Fall start due for Miami Beach Blue Zones strategy [Miami Today]
Miami Beach leaders continue to talk with potential sponsors to make the city a Blue Zone region where people live longer and healthier, with a strategy plan to officially kick off in November. As previously reported by Miami Today, Miami Beach Commissioner Tanya Katzoff Bhatt has been leading the initiative and says the city is looking to expand beyond its eminent nightlife and entertainment scene.

› Sales jump 43% year over year at Charlotte, Lee eco-friendly community [Business Observer]
Babcock Ranch, the solar community that straddles Lee and Charlotte counties, set a sales record the first quarter this year as plans develop to improve connectivity. The developers behind the sprawling 17,068-acre self-sustained master planned community say the community saw 359 home sales in the quarter, a 43.6% jump from last year. It also made up 30% of the annual goal of 1,200 sales. In March alone 138 homes sold, “the busiest month since the town’s 2017 debut,” according to statement.

› Naples, airport authority enter dispute over state law [Gulfshore Business]
Naples City Council voted to move forward with a formal dispute process involving the Naples Airport Authority following recent changes to its governing structure under state law. The change comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 4005 on April 6, shifting the makeup of the Airport Authority Board of Commissioners from City Council appointments to a board elected by Collier County voters.

› Equestrian site's plans in Wellington draw attention in horse country [Palm Beach Post]
There are few stickier subjects in Wellington than horse manure. A plan to make changes to the Littlewood Equestrian Center brought a new round of them to light. The land's owner, Agricultural Blending Co., asked the village to eliminate limitations how the 49 acres off 50th Street South can be used that date to in 2005 and to change its designation of 49 acres to equestrian commercial recreation from equestrian residential. Some residents of Wellington's 9,000-acre equestrian preserve objected to the changes.

State education partnership allows Florida parents to invest in college early