‘Broke’ Florida insurance companies moved money; watchdog organization asks how?
It started with a shocking report revealing Florida insurers were shifting millions to their executives, shareholders, and out-of-state operations all while claiming to be losing money. Now, the nation’s largest watchdog organization for insurance policy holders is asking: how could Florida’s insurance regulators allow it to happen? More from WFLA.
Florida manufacturing legislation takes a step forward
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development advanced a bill aiming to boost Florida’s manufacturing sector and help grow sustainability in the industry. The measure seeks to expand market exposure for manufactured goods and products and to build a partnership between the industry and the state to promote products efficiently. More from Florida Politics.
South Florida homes take longer to sell than other major metros
The amount of time it took to sell a home in South Florida last year was longer than 49 other major metros across the U.S., a recent report stated. It took a median of 69 days in 2024 to sell a home in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area. In contrast, the median number of days a home stayed on the market across the U.S. was 37 days. More from the South Florida Business Journal.
A lunar lander made it to the moon. One St. Petersburg firm hitched a ride
St. Petersburg’s Lonestar Data Holdings, a space technology startup that launched in 2021, wants to store data on the moon for its clients, which range from the state of Florida and the Isle of Man (a British island territory) to Bethesda Softworks, a game manufacturer. The surface of the moon, founder Chris Stott reasons, is far out of reach from natural disasters, war, attacks on underseas cables and malware strikes. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
$72M federal grant helped Port Canaveral get through 16-month shutdown of cruise industry
Perhaps no local business sector was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as much the cruise industry. Cruise operations were shut down at Port Canaveral for 16½ months, ending on July 31, 2021, when Carnival's Mardi Gras was the first multiday cruise ship to resume sailing from there. The port has rebounded, and projects a $70.15 million profit on $210.92 million in revenue for the current budget year. More from Florida Today.
Entertainment
Tampa rapper Doechii named 2025 Woman of the Year by Billboard
The rising Tampa rapper Doechii has earned the title of Billboard’s 2025 Woman of the Year, landing her in the same company as Taylor Swift, SZA, Lady Gaga and as last year’s honoree, Karol G. The news arrives just one month after Doechii won the Grammy for best rap album, only the third woman to win in that category. She gave a shout-out to Tampa during her acceptance speech.
Out of the Box
'Hot Ones" brings the heat to these new Firehouse Subs sandwiches
Ready to take on the subs of death? Jacksonville-based Firehouse Subs and the popular YouTube show ‘Hot Ones’ have teamed up to create two fiery new subs to test your heat tolerance. And for the truly adventurous, there's the "Last Dab" pickle, soaked in the show's hottest hot sauce.
» Read more from the Florida Times-Unionand Food & Wine.