The 2026 Florida governor’s race is already taking shape. Here’s who could run.
The 2024 elections are still months from being decided. But for some in Florida, 2026 is already here. With Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis set to be termed out of office in Jan. 2027, the field of potential gubernatorial candidates is taking shape, with some of Florida’s most powerful figures jockeying for position. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Business Beat - Week of May 24th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Too fast for the FAA? Companies moving forward to develop flying cars and electric planes, but Florida airspace is just not ready
Already, eVTOL makers in Florida are taking orders for small aircraft designed for personal travel. But as of now, there is no place for anyone to fly or land their high-end aircraft. While South Florida’s international airports do have a few ideas about where they might operate, it’s up to the FAA to devise a rulebook that would govern the airspace. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
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» Sky high ambitions
Rules for driving golf carts continue to evolve in Florida
In response to the growing number of golf cart communities in the state, Florida has passed different laws enacting stricter regulations for golf cart drivers around the state. Under this legislation, there are rules determining both who can drive golf carts and where they can be driven. [Source: Florida Today]
Is milk safe? What Florida should know about bird flu in cows
The COVID-19 pandemic may be in the rearview, but could another virus soon derail life as we know it? Public health officials are monitoring a virulent strain of bird flu, which has recently infected dairy cattle in at least nine states. Florida has yet to report a case. Scientists fear that the virus could mutate in cows and find a way to easily spread person-to-person, triggering a new pandemic. Lots of things must go wrong, though, for that to happen. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› NASA retargets for June 1 launch of Boeing’s Starliner
NASA has carved out more time to talk through problems with its attempt to send up astronauts on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, which is now targeting June 1 if mission managers give the go for launch. The new date is just a placeholder, though, as NASA has yet to sign off on issues that were found during a launch attempt earlier this month.
› Water temps soar in Florida Keys. Can coral reefs stand another bout of extreme heat?
Florida’s coral reefs experienced the deadliest bleaching event in history last summer, a toll largely caused by record hot coastal waters. Now, water temperatures in the Florida Keys are already approaching the coral danger zone — earlier and hotter than last year. It was enough for federal scientists to issue the earliest ever coral bleaching watch, an indicator that the already struggling South Florida reef tract could facie another round of severe heat stress in the months ahead.
› A medical mystery: Why does Central Florida see so many leprosy cases?
Leprosy remains rare in the United States. But Florida, which often reports the most cases of any state, has seen an uptick in patients. The epicenter is east of Orlando. Brevard County reported a staggering 13% of the nation’s 159 leprosy cases in 2020, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis of state and federal data.
› Manatee County tries to figure out how to adjust to almost 70,000 more people by 2035
Manatee County staff is working with a consultant to prepare updates to the county's comprehensive plan, and they presented a progress update to commissioners this week. The group is evaluating a series of different elements, including future land use, conservation, coastal management, transportation, housing, historical and cultural elements, recreation and open space, public facilities, capital improvements, intergovernmental coordination, public school facilities, and property rights.
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› As Florida insurance costs surge, Tampa mayor suggests a cap on corporate profits
Florida insurance companies are returning to profitability after raising homeowners’ rates to record highs, and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor thinks state regulators should apply more scrutiny to how they manage those excess funds. She expressed a common view that more should be done to rein in corporate excess and prioritize policyholders on the list of who benefits from financial returns.
› Red Lobster could shut down another 120 restaurants, cut up to 8,400 jobs
Another 120 lower-performing Red Lobster restaurants are being eyeballed for possible closure if the company can’t get better terms from its landlords, which would mean cutting up to another 8,400 jobs across the nation, based on it having 60-70 employees per restaurant.
› West Palm Beach startup Max Retail raises $15M to solve the excess inventory problem
Max Retail, a West Palm Beach-based marketplace for independent retailers’ excess stock, aims to solve a big problem for small retailers. Independent retailers across the country suffer from an average of about 22% of excess stock that will cost them $50,000 to $200,000 in losses each year if left unsold. Most of these SMBs lack the resources or expertise to access the ecommerce marketplaces used by large brands.
› North Port imposes burn ban as 'moderate drought' conditions grip region
The city of North Port enacted a burn ban Tuesday, prohibiting outdoor campfires, land clearing burning and pile burns and bringing the city in line with a similar ban enacted earlier this month in unincorporated Sarasota County and the cities of Sarasota and Venice. Sarasota County and most of Manatee and Charlotte counties are experiencing ‘“moderate drought” conditions, according to the latest information from the U.S. Drought Monitor.