As cost of living rises, the ‘unretired’ in Florida return to work
The 401(k) plan is exhausted, savings have shriveled and that monthly Social Security payout doesn’t come close to covering basic monthly expenses. In Florida and elsewhere around the U.S., many retirees are gravitating toward the same solution: They’re “unretiring” and heading back to work. Fort Lauderdale ranks fourth and Hollywood ninth among U.S. cities with the most working seniors, a national survey has found. And other large metropolitan areas in Florida such as Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville aren’t far behind. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida is building the world's largest environmental restoration project
In February 2023, a large digger broke ground on a multi-billion dollar project that has been decades in the making: building a reservoir the size of Manhattan Island. The reservoir, which is part of an historic restoration of the Everglades ecosystem, is intended to help bring a secure, long-term supply of clean drinking water to Florida's residents. [Source: BBC]
Alligators and swamp buggies: How a roadside attraction in Florida staved off extinction
The first major tourist attraction in Central Florida, Gatorland has managed to withstand an unrelenting cascade of upheavals to the state's tourism industry that has sunk the vast majority of its peers. Started in the late 1940s, the family-run park was established years before the creation of high-speed interstates and decades before Walt Disney World catapulted Orlando’s status as a global tourism hotspot. [Source: USA Today]
Florida Health Department advises against eating pythons, but some do anyway. What to know
How do you take your python — deep-fried or sauteÃ?ed in spices and olive oil? Though you might want to think twice for placing your order. The Florida Department of Health has recently penned an advisory of “do not consume python” caught in the state, no matter the snake size because of the risk of unhealthy mercury levels in its meat. More from the Naples Daily News and the Palm Beach Post.
Florida officials predict lower usage for state's TANF program
State officials have released a report that shows Floridians might be less reliant on at least one of the Sunshine State’s social net programs in the upcoming fiscal year. The Social Services Estimating Conference was held in July, and projections indicate one of the lowest uptakes of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in fiscal 2024-2025, with declining numbers forecast until fiscal 2029-2030. [Source: The Center Square]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› ‘Killer Grannies’ have invaded Tampa Bay! Relax, it’s just a movie.
Move over, killer clowns: Killer grannies are here. Relax, they’re just part of a fictional movie being made throughout Tampa Bay. The film started shooting on Aug. 9 and was scheduled to wrap on Aug 18. Locations are in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
› Northeast Florida unemployment rises to post-pandemic high
Jacksonville’s unemployment rose in July to its highest level since the coronavirus pandemic. The jobless rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties rose from 3.6% in June to 3.8% last month, the Florida Department of Commerce reported Aug.16.
› This Michelin-starred restaurant from a world-famous chef is finally opening in Miami
One of South Florida’s most anticipated openings of the year is finally happening: World famous Italian chef Massimo Bottura is ready to open his downtown Miami restaurant. Bottura, whose restaurant Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, earned three Michelin stars, is opening a second location of Torno Subito on the rooftop of Miami food hall Julia & Henry’s on Flagler Street.
› How smart growth is booming on Central Florida's Space Coast
Brevard County, also known as Florida's Space Coast, is seeing steady growth in business activity. The impact from this activity has or will be felt throughout Central Florida, leading to infrastructure and transportation projects that benefit everyone, to tourism improvements that make the area more attractive, and new projects.
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› Mars-bound payload on way to Florida for 1st launch of Blue Origin New Glenn
The Mars-bound twin spacecraft for NASA’s ESCAPADE mission were packed up in California to be shipped out to Florida last week ahead of what would be the first ever launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral. ESCAPADE stands for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, and the mission’s purpose is to orbit Mars and observe plasma and magnetic fields around the planet to help understand what processes strip atoms from Mars’ magnetosphere and upper atmosphere.
› This Pinellas beach town just won a victory in beach access fight
A federal judge has sided with the Pinellas County town of Redington Beach in a long-running legal fight with waterfront property owners about public beach access. U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington issued a 53-page ruling that said the town had adequately shown a history of “customary use” by the public of parts of the beach that are privately owned.
› Amazon opens Port St. Lucie warehouse after two-year delay
Amazon finally has opened its Port St. Lucie warehouse after the retail giant delayed operations in the wake of COVID. The 1.1-million-square-foot warehouse in the Midway Business Park at Midway Road and LTC Parkway in St. Lucie County was supposed to open in 2022 as a fulfillment center employing 500 workers.
› Debby damage total tops $100 million in Sarasota, Manatee; more than 1,000 homes affected
Damage from Tropical Storm Debby has topped $100 million in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Sarasota County officials provided an updated damage assessment calculating $57.9 million in damaged property, including within the city of Sarasota. County staff identified $12.9 million in storm damage classified as major, with $26.1 million in estimated minor damage in unincorporated Sarasota County.