Florida's Latest News

DeSantis awards $5.5 million for infrastructure in Jacksonville through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund

Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $5.5 million to the City of Jacksonville through the Governor’s Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to construct a rail spur for the mega site at the Cecil Commerce Center, a 600-acre industrial park that will support the manufacturing and logistics industries.

“This new rail track will make an inaccessible area of the industrial park accessible for businesses in important sectors like manufacturing and attract new businesses to Jacksonville from across the country,” saidDeSantis. “This award is an example of the smart investments we’re making in Florida’s communities to strengthen local economies and expand job opportunities.

The rail spur will connect the main rail line with the industrial park, allowing the city to attract businesses to the mega site to fuel economic growth. The project is expected to create 500 new jobs and will support new business development in the region.

Florida Bar launches initiative centered on legal resource education

The Florida Bar announced a new initiative on Tuesday that provides state residents with educational resources on how to hire lawyers, where to find lawyers that meet specific needs, and navigating the legal system.

The “Life’s Legal Moments,” initiative will serve as a public education program that aims to help Floridians understand when and how to access legal counsel.

The program, spearheaded by Florida Bar President Gary Lesser, is designed to offer public guidance when navigating instances that necessitate retaining counsel to evaluate and help pursue legal work.

Here is what scientists are doing to save Florida's coral reef before it's too la

Inside a nondescript warehouse in Orlando, Fla., filled with 300-gallon aquariums, a sophisticated LED lighting system is set on a timer to mimic the sun and moon cycle of Key West, some 300 miles away.

This space, which has been described as a Noah's Ark for coral, is a key part of the strategy to help the survival of the only barrier reef in the continental U.S.

The reef is one of the country's most endangered environmental jewels. It is the third-largest barrier reef in the world and stretches more than 350 miles off the Florida coast from the city of Stuart to Dry Tortugas National Park. It's a diverse ecosystem, a tourist attraction and it helps protect the coast from storm surges, providing billions of dollars in economic benefit.

Redfin: Homebuyers looking to relocate to afforable areas in Florida

Nearly one-quarter of U.S. homebuyers looked to move to a different metro area in the three months ending in October, according to a new report from Redfin.

The technology-powered real estate brokerage said ina recent report that the percentage is on par with the record high of 24.2% set in the third quarter — up from roughly 18% in 2019, before the pandemic ushered in the remote-work era that gave many Americans more flexibility to relocate.

Redfin said in its report that Sacramento, Las Vegas and Miami are the most popular destinations for users looking to relocate, followed by San Diego and Tampa. Popularity is determined by net inflow, which is the number of people looking to move into a metro minus the number of people looking to leave.

Additionally, half of the top 10 migration destinations are in Florida (Cape Coral, North Port-Sarasota and Orlando are all on the list, in addition to Miami and Tampa). That’s despite the fact that the state was hit by Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, in September.