Ports, airports invest billions as Florida trade faces headwinds
Florida's logistics, ports, and trade sectors are growing but challenges loom in 2025. Driven by e-commerce, nearshoring, and increased freight volumes, Florida’s logistics market is projected to reach $2.1 trillion. Investments in Florida’s seaports, airports and infrastructure have positioned the state as a key global trade hub, especially benefiting from shifts away from West Coast ports. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
‘Legal morphine’ is for sale in Florida. Will officials act?
Around the state, consumers can walk into smoke shops and gas stations and buy a substance that experts say mimics a powerful opioid. No prescription is required. The products are virtually unregulated: Bills to curb their sale have repeatedly died in Tallahassee. State and federal regulators have done almost nothing to intervene. Scientists say the substance, called 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, poses a public health threat. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
How alligators are breathing life into Florida's Everglades
In recent years, scientific research is adding support to something Florida's Miccosukee Tribe have long known: alligators play vital roles as "guardians of the Everglades" and engineer their environment in ways that protect freshwater ecosystems. Alligators carry around nutrients that feed ecosystem webs, and their ponds and nests provide refuges where plants, fish and frogs live. New data hints that that alligators may also benefit us. [Source: BBC News]
With scores down, Florida schools are paying more attention to math
Florida has a math problem. Fourth graders’ performance in the subject on the Nation’s Report Card has stagnated over the past decade. Eighth graders recently hit a 20-year low on the biannual test, ranking 41st among the states. About half of Florida’s high schoolers taking the Algebra I end-of-course exam, a graduation requirement, scored at the lowest level last year. The state’s average SAT score in math dipped 8 points, with just 26% of SAT takers considered “college ready” in math. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
New plans for restoring Florida springs are almost ready
New Basin Management Action Plans, or BMAPs, are taking shape to help freshwater springs plagued by pollution in the Sunshine State. The new BMAPs are due because of a court ruling issued in 2023, finding FDEP's original BMAPs violated state law. In 24 of Florida's 30 Outstanding Florida Springs identified by state law, levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are high enough to negatively impact water quality. [Source: WUSF]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tupperware stalls to finalize Chapter 11 plan
A bankruptcy judge has approved another extension for Tupperware Brands Corp., allowing the bankrupt company to further delay filing its Chapter 11 reorganization plan. Judge Brendan Shannon’s order extends Tupperware’s exclusive right to file a plan until July 14, and the period to solicit creditor acceptances of that plan until Sept.15. Tupperware filed the motion seeking additional time on April 3, citing the size and complexity of its case.
› 'We would lose a lot of money': Some Bay County locals not so sure about discouraging spring break
Bay County locals are reacting to the spring break comments of Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez. In an April 13 Facebook post, Talamantez says Panama City Beach can no longer be a spring break town. Panama City Beach is known for its beautiful beaches, condos and attractions. There are various local businesses that thrive due to PCB's status as a dominant spring break destination.
› Sarasota County looks to buy $4.8 million space for new Criminal Justice Center
Sarasota County officials are slated to present a plan to county commissioners on Tuesday to buy a parcel downtown that would eventually be the site of a new Criminal Justice Center. The only problem is uncertainty over whether the county can actually build that new center. The project is part of a larger county push to fix a long-standing jail overcrowding problem.
› Partnership between Black-owned app and bank helps Miami renters build credit
Teri Williams, CEO of the Black-owned OneUnited Bank, is well aware of the challenges that many prospective Black homeowners face, including low credit scores. By partnering with the credit reporting app Esusu, OneUnited hopes to see its users build their credit based on their positive rental histories. The app reports consumers’ monthly rental payments to credit bureaus to help them build credit.
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› Collier tourism drops for first time this fiscal year
Collier County tourism experienced declines in February — the first year-over-year drop this season — with tariff, economic and border concerns prompting a 23% decrease in Canadian visitors, usually a top market. February 2025 tourist development tax revenue, the latest data, totaled $6.46 million, resulting in $16.7 million year to date. Occupied room nights decreased by 2.8% year over year to 76.6%, but when adjusted for the extra leap year day in February 2024, it amounted to a 0.6% increase.
› Disappointed, saddened community marks death of Rockledge Hospital at age 84
On April 22, Rockledge will lose a hospital that has been part of the city's landscape since 1941. Orlando Health's decision to close its Rockledge Hospital — announced just four months after purchasing the hospital from Steward Health Care — has been met with anger and sadness from local residents, hospital employees and public officials, as well as fears of a dangerous gap in medical coverage.
› Clay County town celebrates 150 years 'out in the middle of nowhere'
Green Cove Springs, which incorporated in 1874, has been reinventing itself for 150 years. In the early days, cows and pigs freely roamed the streets. Then came the "Saratoga of the South" tourist era in the late 1880s, the military boom from the mid- to late-1930s through World War II and the "Little Detroit" identity in the 1960s and '70s when the Clay County seat was known for its many car dealerships. Since then, Green Cove Springs has been on a self-improvement mission.
› No show dogs: Cybersecurity CEO talks $3B valuation, potential IPO
Tampa-based cybersecurity firm Reliaquest recently announced a $500 million investment from a slew of firms. The milestone both puts the company’s valuation at $3.4 billion and, executives say, position it for an IPO. Entrepreneur Brian Murphy founded Reliaquest in 2007 and the firm has since scaled to 1,200 employees across six offices.