Florida May revenue lands $742M above estimates

Florida continued to soar over revenue estimates in May, pulling in $741.8 million more than state economists expected, a report shows. In total, the state received $4.27 billion in May, which reflects economic activity in April, well above the $3.5 billion estimate. It’s the fourth straight month revenues have come in at least $475 million over the estimate. For the first five months of 2022, Florida has $2.86 billion more than state economists expected, and has collected 98.3% of the entire fiscal year estimate, with the month of June still to count. [Source: Florida Politics]

99% of Florida residents at ‘high’ risk of COVID-19

Florida’s COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations remained stable at “high” levels for the third week in a row. The state recorded 10,640 cases each day last week, on average. By Friday, Florida hospitals had 3,457 confirmed COVID-19 patients, up 4% from the week before. Test positivity hit 22.7% in the past week, the highest rate since January. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Roe’s end could mean more pregnant women behind bars. Are Florida’s prisons prepared?

Prison reform activists worry the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established a federal right to abortion, could lead to more pregnant people behind bars — a scenario some lawmakers in Florida have been trying to curb for years. Horrific accounts of women being raped and impregnated by guards and giving birth alone in their cells paint a scary picture of what life can be like for pregnant incarcerated people in Florida. With Roe protections gone, and recent efforts by Florida legislators to further restrict abortion, activists fear a post-Roe world would mean more women criminalized and placed in institutions with a bad reputation of caring for them. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Listeria outbreak linked to Florida ice cream

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak of Listeria infections linked to a Florida brand of ice cream, the agency said Saturday. Big Olaf Creamery is voluntarily contacting retailers to recommend against selling its ice cream products until further notice. The CDC says consumers who have the ice cream at home should throw it away and clean areas, containers and utensils that may have touched the product. The ice cream brand is based in Sarasota and is only sold in Florida. [Source: WFLX]

Florida springs protection rule is overdue and underwhelming, critics say

Legislators left no doubt how they felt when they passed one of the first bills in the 2016 session. Florida was failing to take care of its most treasured springs. One part of the sweeping new law ordered the Department of Environmental Protection to create rules to stop local governments and big businesses from pumping too much freshwater out of the Floridan Aquifer, depriving 30 “Outstanding Florida Springs” of their lifeblood. “Action is urgently needed,” the bill said. Six years later, the state has taken little action on that point. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› The future of Opa-locka Hialeah Flea Market site? A logistics and e-commerce hub [Miami Herald]
From flea market to e-market. That sums up the dramatic change envisioned by the developers of the Opa-locka Hialeah Flea Market after it closes later this year. Instead of knock-offs and second-hand goods, the business plan of the future is aimed at capitalizing on the booming business in e-commerce and online purchases.  

› National lifeguard shortage strains Tampa Bay beaches, pools [Tampa Bay Times]
Zoe Baumeister grabbed a personal flotation device and sprinted into the surf at Clearwater Beach, dolphin-diving through the waves. When she reached a swimmer needing help, Baumeister, 12, waved her hand and two other girls plunged into the water. Together they carried the swimmer back to shore, completing a water rescue drill that was part of a junior lifeguard camp organized by lifeguards with Clearwater Fire and Rescue. The lifeguards hope the camp fuels the kids’ desire to join their ranks one day, even as the nation grapples with decreasing interest from the public and a shortage of applications for the job.

› Miami gets $5M from Enterprise Florida for World Cup prep [Orlando Sentinel]
Enterprise Florida will provide $5 million to help Miami host games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. Gordon Bailey, chairman of the Enterprise Florida Finance & Compensation Committee, said the money will go to the Florida Sports Foundation to help the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau prepare for the games. FIFA announced on June 15 that 16 North American cities would host matches. Miami is one of 11 sites chosen in the United States, along with three in Mexico and two in Canada.

› Jacksonville port invests ahead of volume rebound [Automotive Logistics]
The US port of Jacksonville in Florida is working on long-term strategic improvements to support finished vehicle processing as it readies itself for a return of volumes. That includes the investment of $210m to expand and relocate processing facilities for its customer Toyota. The port authority, Jaxport, signed a deal earlier this year with Southeast Toyota Distributors to move operations from two separate locations into on 88-acre (35.6 hectare) property on the Blount Island Marine Terminal.

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› American Airlines wants to restart Miami flights to five cities in Cuba [Miami Herald]
American Airlines, the biggest flier from Miami International Airport, asked the U.S. Department of Transportation this week for clearance to resume flights to five destinations in Cuba, outside Havana where it already flies six daily flights from here. The move could broadly open commercial air travel to the island, after strict limitations had been imposed in December 2019 by the former Trump administration to squash Cuban tourism. The Biden administration lifted those limits on June 2.

› Florida Boxing Hall of Fame founder’s memorabilia to be auctioned [Tampa Bay Times]
Walter Flansburg had a passion for sharing his passion for professional boxing, first as a photographer for the sport’s magazines, and later as president of the National Boxing Association and founder of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. “He just loved boxing,” said his widow Kathy Flansburg. He died in February at 77, but Flansburg will posthumously share his passion one last time when about 2,000 pieces of his boxing memorabilia are auctioned on July 23.

› Orlando International Film Festival kicks off next weekend [Orlando Sentinel]
The third-annual Orlando International Film Festival (OIFF Lions Club) is set to hit the Orange County Convention Center next week, kicking off July 9 with Youth Day and running through July 15. This year’s event will feature more than 300 films from over 40 countries, making it one of the biggest festivals of the year and a can’t-miss for local film fans.

› No longer cheap haven, Little Havana residents stressed by soaring rents and inflation [Miami Herald]
Although much remains the same in the unique texture of Little Havana, one important thing has changed. Apartment rents are soaring, becoming a challenge to tenants like Maybelyn Rodríguez Laureano. When she moved in three years ago, she paid $2,100 a month, then $2,300 last year and now — after a 33% jump — it’s $2,800 monthly for her apartment.