Florida real estate industry boosts state to the top of national list

People often joke that the only industry in South Florida is real estate development. And a recent report from the National Association of Realtors seems to confirm that punchline, at least in part. In Florida, the real estate industry accounted for a larger share of the state’s economy than it did anywhere else in the country last year, the report says. More than a quarter of Florida’s gross domestic product came from the real estate industry in 2025. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida’s $9.6B hurricane fund in ‘dire need’ of reset, exec says

With the start of the 2026 hurricane season around the corner, one property insurance CEO says Florida’s political leadership isn't taking advantage of a key resource that could ensure stability of the market in the aftermath of a major hurricane. The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund has been in “dire need of a recalibration” for years, according to John Rollins, founder and CEO of Patriot Select Insurance, a new residential carrier that started in St. Petersburg last year. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]

Is ship's deadly outbreak sending chills down Florida's cruise industry?

In the state containing the three busiest cruise ports in the world, a deadly virus outbreak onboard an Atlantic-sailing cruise undoubtedly sent shivers throughout Florida's industry worth tens of billions annually. Hantavirus, caused by contact with rodent droppings, has been confirmed as the cause of two deaths and suspected in a third death among 147 passengers and crew traveling onboard the vessel, MV Hondius. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

Requests for vote-by-mail ballots lag ahead of August primary

About three months ahead of crucial midterm elections, requests for vote-by-mail ballots are substantially lagging 2024 totals, three local supervisors of elections said Wednesday. Under a Florida law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021, requests for such ballots expire at the end of a presidential election cycle and a new request must be submitted to vote by mail in subsequent elections. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

As sargassum floods Florida beaches, researchers uncover new use as food-grade ingredient

As record-breaking amounts of sargassum seaweed drift toward Florida’s shores, researchers at Florida International University are exploring how the coastal nuisance could become a valuable ingredient in everyday foods. New findings published in Food Hydrocolloids show that sargassum can serve as a promising source of alginate, a widely used food additive. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University. [Source: Miami's Community News]

A new chapter for conservation leadership in Florida

The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, among the state's largest conservation non-profits, is stepping into a new era of leadership with the appointment of Nick Wiley as Executive Director. "We are excited to welcome Nick Wiley to the Foundation at such an important time for our organization," shared Board Chair Laura Russell. "He has a remarkable depth of experience, a strong sense of purpose and a clear appreciation for the role this foundation can play in supporting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and our other partners across the state. We are looking forward to all that his leadership will mean for our future." [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Central Florida tourism industry trains workers to spot human trafficking [WFTV]
Central Florida draws more than 75 million travelers each year, but law enforcement leaders say that steady flow of visitors also makes the region a target for human trafficking. Now, new efforts are underway to stop it, with tourism and hospitality leaders learning how to recognize the warning signs. A 2024 USF report estimates more than 700,000 Floridians have been victims of human trafficking, forced into labor or commercial sex. Training programs are now focusing on industries considered most at risk.

› West Palm drone company CEO says firm has dozens of acquisitions in the works [South Florida Business Journal]
Ondas Inc. has already inked five acquisitions in 2026 – and that's just a fraction of the deals it has in the works. The company, a provider of autonomous drone systems and wireless data networks, has a pipeline of 25 merger and acquisitions, "many of them in advanced stages of activity," CEO Eric Brock said in a May 4 letter to stockholders. To complete those deals, Ondas needs money.

› Hertz turns to eBay as it expands retail sales options [Business Observer]
The Hertz Corp. has found a new place to sell its cars: eBay. The Estero car rental giant announced Tuesday it had launched a Hertz Car Sales showroom with access to more than 8,000 vehicle listings on the website. The vehicles will be available through The eBay Vehicle Selling Center, which offers a secure purchase program that Hertz says allows for “a seamless end-to-end transaction experience, including payment, financing, registration, ownership transfer, transport and up to $100,000 vehicle purchase protection.”

› Built by hand: Gullah Geechee labor and the making of Jacksonville [Jacksonville Today]
Before Jacksonville became a modern city, it was built, literally, by the hands, skill, and resilience of Gullah Geechee people. They were descendants of West and Central African people forcibly brought to the Southeastern coast of the U.S. and who retained many of their indigenous African traditions through architecture, food, culture, religion and occupations. From the riverfront docks and turpentine camps to rail lines, hospitals and small businesses, their labor powered the city’s growth and shaped its cultural identity.

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› Southwest adds, expands dozens of Florida routes as Spirit leaves [Florida Today]
Spirit Airlines may be gone, but other airlines are picking up the slack. Just days after JetBlue Airways announced 11 new and expanded Florida routes to help fill the gaps after Spirit's abrupt closure on May 2, Southwest Airlines announced a major expansion to its service at Orlando International Airport, starting this year.

› Publix appears to reverse controversial open-carry policy at stores [WGCU]
Just months after Publix sparked controversy by implementing a policy allowing customers to openly carry firearms in its stores, the Lakeland-based grocery store chain appears to have reversed course. New signs posted at Publix stores now state: “Publix kindly asks that only law enforcement openly carry firearms in our stores.” The message appears near the bottom of a broader list of store rules, alongside more routine policies like no pets and no soliciting.

› Fort Myers receives funds from state opioid settlement [Gulfshore Business]
Fort Myers received $232,981 in fiscal year 2026 from Florida’s $3 billion-plus settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors. Fort Myers City Council, at its May 4 meeting, acknowledged receipt of the funds, which are designated for opioid prevention, treatment and recovery efforts under the state’s settlement plan. The largest portion of Fort Myers’ 2026 distribution, $108,247, came from a settlement with Walmart.

› Florida trophy ranch, ideal for outdoorsy retreats, hits the market for $42M [Orlando Sentinel]
What was once a tangerine farm is now one of the finest trophy ranches in the region. “There’s nothing that compares. There are very few properties in the southeastern United States that can compare to it in scale, grandness, and physical attributes. It’s just almost irreplaceable,” said listing agent John Evans with MoonBeam Land Company. Phillips Ranch in Flagler County is on the market for $42 million and has something for just about anyone who likes the outdoors. The property is about 1½ hours north of Orlando.

Rising gas prices impact school transportation budgets in Central Florida