Eastern Atlantic tropical storms are forming in June. That’s not normal.
Tropical waves rolling off the coast of Africa in June typically don’t have enough fuel to become anything more than a blip on a radar. Not this year. Tropical Storm Bret has formed in the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center announced at 5 p.m. Monday. It is expected to approach the Lesser Antilles on Thursday and Friday as a possible hurricane, bringing a risk of flooding from heavy rainfall, hurricane-force winds, and dangerous storm surge and waves, the NHC said. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.
Florida led nation in people removed from Medicaid rolls after pandemic enrollment freeze
More than 1 million people have been dropped from Medicaid in the past couple months as some states moved swiftly to halt health care coverage following the end of the coronavirus pandemic — with Florida leading the nation. Already, about 1.5 million people have been removed from Medicaid in more than two dozen states that started the process in April or May, according to publicly available reports and data. More from the AP and the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Passing the baton
Related Group founder Jorge Pérez has overseen every detail of a vast real estate empire over the past 40 years. Now, sons Jon Paul and Nick are guiding the company through a generational shift. Millennials in 2019 replaced Boomers as the largest generation and are now in their prime spending years. As Boomers retire nationally at the pace of 10,000 a day, there’s a noticeable shift in leadership and responsibility to Millennials such as Pérez and his older brother and boss, Jon Paul, 38. [Source: Florida Trend]
Scallop season starts July 1: Here's what you need to know
From July to September the tasty shell-food delicacy lures tourist to this lesser-known part of Florida. This region, which stretches east from the Panhandle's Panama City along the Gulf Coast, is known for its shallow and wide bays that give shelter to scallops, oysters and other fragile sea life. Florida banned commercial harvesting in the region in the 1990's. The three-month season is for recreational scallop harvesters only. [Source: WTSP]
In South Florida, black professionals are hard to find in real estate
South Florida is one of the nation’s most demographically diverse regions, but the Miami metro area’s commercial real estate industry represents only a fragment of its cultural variety. Latino developers, brokers and lenders play an important role in Miami’s real estate scene. And women long ago cracked the glass ceiling, while slowly attaining more prominence within the industry. But Black brokers, developers and other professionals are notably absent from the region’s commercial real estate industry. [Source: Commercial Observer]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Disney firefighters’ new contract isn’t settled after all
After Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked board took over Walt Disney World’s governing district earlier this year, firefighters at the theme park were among the few employees who publicly welcomed them. But now a new district administrator has reopened negotiations on a contract approved last month by the unionized firefighters that promised substantial pay raises and more personnel. Board spokesperson Alexei Woltornist said negotiations with the union were continuing, without explaining why they were reopened with a contract already approved by the firefighters and first responders.
› Fanatics deal to buy PointsBet operations gets competition from DraftKings
A month after agreeing to sell its U.S. operations to Fanatics Inc., Australia-based gaming company PointsBet Holdings Ltd. received a higher offer. Boston-based DraftKings Inc., a competitor of PointsBet, offered to buy those operations for $195 million, both companies announced June 16. PointsBet announced May 15 it agreed to sell its U.S. business for $150 million to Fanatics Betting and Gaming.
› Tampa becomes the latest Florida city to unveil a climate action plan
Approximately two years in the making, Tampa officials on Friday unveiled a 156-page “Climate Action and Equity Plan,” becoming the latest local government in Florida to lay out a path to transition to renewable energy and increase the city’s resilience to the effects of climate change.
› North Florida leaders working to tackle gun violence crisis
In February, Gainesville commissioners declared gun violence a public health crisis in the city. Since then, city leaders have taken proactive steps to help curb the amount of crimes being committed, though numbers continue to increase. Mayor Harvey Ward said there have been five gun deaths in Gainesville in 2023, putting the city at about the same rate it was at this point last year.
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› Space Florida, Israel Innovation Authority Funded $20 Million into Research and Development Projects over a Decade
Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, and the Israel Innovation Authority, an independent publicly funded agency dedicated to fostering innovation ecosystems, announced the award recipients of the tenth round of funding from the Space Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership Program. The program, with $2 million available in funding, has supported the research, development, and commercialization of aerospace and related technology projects for the benefit of Florida’s and Israel’s economy over the past 10 years.
› Blane McCarthy sworn in as Jacksonville Bar Association president
Blane McCarthy was sworn in as president of the Jacksonville Bar Association on June 15 at the group’s membership luncheon and awards ceremony at the Marriott Jacksonville Downtown. McCarthy is a certified circuit civil mediator with the Jacksonville office of Miles Mediation & Arbitration. He also is a board-certified civil trial lawyer.
› Tri-Rail begins testing trains into downtown Miami
The first round of testing for Tri-Rails trains in downtown Miami kicked off Monday. This milestone brings West Palm Beach one step closer to offering direct train service all the way to Downtown Miami. During this initial phase, the test trains will not be available to passengers. Instead, they will be limited to railroad staff and contractors, including a qualified engineer from Brightline. To conduct the tests, Tri-Rail has been granted permission by the Florida East Coast Railway to utilize its tracks.
› Enmity grows over red snapper between NE Florida fishing businesses, feds
Although federal regulators say they need more data before allowing regular fishing for red snapper in the South Atlantic, recreational anglers and the businesses they support question whether federal efforts will end up killing the businesses that depend on the fishery. “As a for-hire operator, I feel like we’re being punished,” said Robert Johnson of Jody Lynn Charters in St. Augustine. “I feel like the for-hire sector is going to end up going down with the ship.”