Saharan dust helping keep tropics quiet for now but busiest months are still ahead
Tropical activity in the Atlantic basin — which consists of the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico — continues to be quiet, thanks in part to wind shear and Saharan dust. Despite this period of quiet, forecasters are warning the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is still expected to be extremely active and everyone should be prepared before a storm is on the horizon. [Source: TC Palm]
‘Adding a city:’ Millions more could flock to Florida. Here’s when to expect it
To be precise, Florida is set to see well over 300,000 people move in annually through 2026 — just under 900 people per day on average. “These increases are analogous to adding a city slightly smaller than Orlando, but larger than St. Petersburg every year,” the DEC report reads. By these estimates, Florida will reach 24 million residents by 2027; 25 million residents by 2031; and 26 million residents by 2036. [Source: Click Orlando]
Florida sees surge in COVID-19 cases, but how dangerous is the virus today?
Florida reported 3,000 deaths from COVID this year. But that’s a drop from last year: Florida reported 8,000 deaths in 2023. As for vaccinations, the amount of Floridians receiving COVID protection has fallen dramatically since its peak in 2021 with 15 million people receiving at least one shot, Florida data shows. In 2023, those numbers fell to 1.9 million. [Source: WFIT]
Why so many insurance companies are dropping Florida homeowners
Although the peak of hurricane season is over a month away, many Florida homeowners are struggling with their insurance. Floridians are receiving notices left and right that their homeowner’s insurance is suddenly unaffordable — or worse, they’re being dropped altogether. There’s no question about whether it’s happening; the question now is why.[Source: WOFL]
New Florida law protects consumers from one kind of moving scam. Here’s what to know.
Moving scams are rampant across Florida. But a new law that took effect this month aims to change that. Nearly half of all moving scam-related complaints submitted to the Federal Department of Transportation in 2023 came out of Florida. The agency dubbed the state as the No. 1 in the country at risk of moving fraud that same year. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tampa Bay is having a terrible mango season. Here’s why.
Across Tampa Bay, mango growers who last year saw fruit littering streets, piling up in donation boxes and filling freezers to the brim are seeing the opposite now. There’s a few reasons for the poor harvest, said Jeff Wasielewski, who works at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
› Winter Haven looks to keep tax rate steady, but it could mean higher taxes for some in 2025
Winter Haven officials will seek to hold the city's tax rate steady heading into next fiscal year, but this could still lead to an uptick in property taxes for some homeowners. City commissioners voted Monday night to advertise a proposed millage rate of 6.59, or $659 per a $100,000 of assessed property value. This will allow the city to collect an estimated $2.7 million of additional in revenue next year.
› Orlando company bought for more than $1 billion
Richmond, Virginia-based Owens & Minor Inc. acquired an Orlando firm for $1.36 billion in cash. The medical device company (NYSE: OMI) announced on July 23 an agreement to acquire home-based care business Rotech Healthcare Holdings Inc. in a deal that is set to close by the end of this year.
› Urban Forest will add 1,025 trees in Miami
Miami’s green canopy may grow by over 1,000 trees in areas with the least shade coverage as almost $2 million in federal funding will help establish an urban forest project in the city. The city commission is set to accept a $1,999,999.82 grant today (7/25) from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create the Miami Urban Forest and Green Workforce Project.
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› Bonita Springs-based Herc reports 2Q results, misses analysts' estimates
Bonita Springs-based Herc Rentals (HRI) reported second-quarter financial results Tuesday, disappointing analysts with its earnings per share (EPS) figure. Higher headcount because of acquisitions, delivery costs and high insurance rates played a role, the company said. Revenue beat estimates, and Herc reaffirmed some full-year forecasts.
› Developer seeks to annex 1,000 acres into city of Orlando
A developer has applied to annex 1,000 acres of land in unincorporated Orange County into the city of Orlando. Orlando city records show Rio Real Properties Orlando LLC, an entity tied to Ontario, Canada-based developer DG Group, is seeking to have roughly 1,000 acres it owns along Bunkhouse Road brought into the city limits.
› Florida fishermen’s lawsuit claims US fishery management councils are unconstitutional
Apair of fishermen from the U.S. state of Florida are suing the U.S. Department of Commerce, challenging the constitutionality of fishery management councils after the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) cut quotas for gag grouper by over 80 percent.
› A popular discount store is closing locations in Florida. See how many and where
Big Lots, a discount home goods retailer, will shrink in Florida by 11 stores, nearly a third of the 40 that are closing nationwide this year, according to the Ohio-based chain’s filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company — which sells furnishings, rugs, appliances, patio and gardening goods, household cleaners, groceries and toys — blamed the downturn on several factors.