In Florida, census undercount likely cost an additional congressional seat

Florida was one of six states that had significant undercounts of their populations in the 2020 Census, which could short-change them of federal funding in the current decade, according to figures from a survey the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday. In Florida, and Texas, undercounts appear to have cost them congressional seats too. [Source: AP]

Business Beat - Week of May 20th

Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

Florida jobless claims averaging below 5,000

Florida is averaging just under 5,000 first-time unemployment claims a week over the past month, which is below the average from the period before the COVID-19 pandemic crashed the economy. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 4,776 initial jobless claims were filed in Florida last week, up from a revised count of 4,475 during the week that ended May 7. The estimate put a rolling average over four weeks at 4,928 claims. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Florida Department of Citrus - production is up a bit, but "Nowhere near where we once were"

The May citrus report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that Florida orange production will hit more than 40 million boxes this growing season. That is 2 million more boxes than last month’s projected harvest, but it’s still a far cry from Florida’s citrus hay-day. According to the report Florida’s All Orange production is up 5 percent from April and Valencia orange production is up 10 percent, but Grapefruit production is down 6 percent. [Source: WQCS]

Florida now warns publishers against ‘critical race theory’ in social studies books

Amid controversy over how it rejected math books, the Florida Department of Education is seeking proposals from textbook companies to provide social studies materials while again making clear that its definition of “critical race theory” should not be included. The department is accepting bids from companies through June 10 to provide social studies books for five years starting in 2023. The department has posted to its website a 29-page document for what is expected to be included in the books — and what’s expected to be left out. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› 'The world is changing': Crypto convention takes over Palm Beach County [WPBF]
Is South Florida turning into the next big tech hub? Ever since the pandemic, Miami has become the buzz location for those interested in tech, and now that trend is extending outside Miami into Palm Beach County. Permissionless is a major crypto convention taking place this week at the Palm Beach Convention Center. More than 6,000 people registered for the event.

› Jacksonville International Airport to expand with new $300 million concourse [Florida Times-Union]
A new $300 million concourse at Jacksonville International Airport got cleared for take-off Thursday by the aviation authority's board when it approved next year's budget. Construction on the project will start in October with work on upgrades to the existing traveler checkpoint area and then continue in phases with the new six-gate concourse slated for completion in July 2025, authority officials told the board.

› St. Petersburg pastors endorse Sugar Hill to redevelop Tropicana Field [Tampa Bay Times]
A group of Black pastors from south St. Petersburg has endorsed Sugar Hill Community Partners to redevelop Tropicana Field’s 86 acres, a choice that flies counter to the plan picked by former mayor Rick Kriseman last year. The group gathered just south of the ballpark at noon Thursday to announce their endorsement of Sugar Hill, a group led by San Francisco developers JMA Ventures.

› Brightline train makes 1st test appearance at Orlando airport station [Orlando Sentinel]
As Brightline continues work to complete the 170 miles of track from South Florida to Orlando, one of its new trains made its first test appearance at the nearly complete station at Orlando International Airport. The train known as Bright Blue 2, which arrived to Orlando in February, made the trip from the company’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility south of the airport on Tuesday over to the station known as the Intermodal Terminal Facility that connect passengers to Terminal C at Orlando International Airport.

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› Ex-Florida Rock CEO Ted Baker dies at 87 [Jacksonville Daily Record]
As Patriot Transportation Holding Inc. and FRP Holdings Inc. reported quarterly earnings, they both announced the death of former Florida Rock Industries Inc. CEO Edward L. “Ted” Baker at age 87. The two companies said in separate news releases their creation was the “brainchild” of Baker when he was running Florida Rock, a Jacksonville-based construction materials company.

› Gainesville City Commission meeting canceled as three members recover from COVID [Gainesville Sun]
The Gainesville City Commission meeting on Thursday has been canceled after at least three commissioners recover from COVID-19. Mayor Lauren Poe and Commissioner David Arreola tested positive for coronavirus Friday, while Commissioner Harvey Ward announced he was positive on Saturday. All three have had COVID vaccinations, they said.

› Inter Miami to host European heavyweight FC Barcelona in summer exhibition [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
One of the world’s most popular soccer teams is coming back to South Florida, with Inter Miami opening its doors for a summer showdown against FC Barcelona. Inter Miami announced on Thursday morning that it will welcome European power FC Barcelona to Drv Pnk Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on July 19 as part of the Spanish club’s preseason tour in the United States.

› Tiny home community could become first of its kind in Brevard [Florida Today]
Tucked away in a former trailer park just west of I-95 in Cocoa, developers are unveiling the first of what they believe could be a solution to the shortage of housing inventory that is helping to drive real estate prices to new heights. The solution? A community of tiny houses. The developers said they are building the little houses in the hopes the concept will take hold and flourish, spurring more tiny home parks across Brevard.