Florida's Latest News

Here comes the SunRail: The future of commuter trains in Central Florida

Even while it struggles to attract riders, the SunRail commuter train running through Central Florida has expansion plans that could easily cost a billion dollars or more.

The good news is there appears to be plenty of federal, state and private cash available for mass transit systems. And SunRail is part of several studies that have been launched to see if a longer, more frequently run network could qualify for money. Potential sources include:

The $1.2 trillion infrastructure act Congress passed last year. More than $200 billion has been set aside for transit and passenger rail during the next five years.

A proposed penny increase to the sales tax in Orange County that is on the ballot this fall. If passed, some $600 million would be available annually for transportation issues.

‘Nobody is coming to save us’: Florida Dems struggle ahead of August primary

Florida Democrats were publicly optimistic during their three-day convention in Tampa this weekend. They danced late into the night, roared at jokes about Republicans and swapped stories and drinks at various bars.

Privately, however, there was a sense of fatalism among state Democrats, who are heading into the 2022 midterms with an unpopular president, the highest inflation in 40 years and incumbents such as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis raking in millions and seeming unstoppable.

Adding to their problems is a dearth of national donor groups that have limited how much they’re willing to give to candidates after Democrats have suffered multiple defeats in recent election cycles.

Manatee deaths are down from last year, but still above the five-year average

There have been 625 manatee deaths in Florida waters so far this year, down from last year’s record pace, but still well ahead of the five-year average.

During the past winter, wildlife officials undertook a highly unusual supplemental feeding effort that provided lettuce to manatees, which were starving along Florida’s east coast.

The starvation was caused by poor water quality and algae blooms that depleted seagrass beds in prime foraging areas in the Indian River Lagoon.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says about 140 distressed manatees have been rescued over the past year.

During a commission meeting this week, FWC Assistant Executive Director Thomas Eason said over 200,000 pounds of lettuce were given to manatees during this year’s feeding program, which is expected to continue next winter.

Florida ranks 11th on CNBC’s top states for business

Florida is accustomed to getting high marks in surveys and rankings of business-friendliness, but in a new CNBC analysis, the Sunshine State ranks 11th among top states to do business — a respectable showing but not among the upper echelon the state occupies in other rankings.

That’s likely because the CNBC analysis takes into consideration more than just tax and regulation policies. It weighted 10 categories — workforce (16%); infrastructure (15%); cost of doing business (14%); economy (13%); life, health and inclusion (13%); technology and innovation (10%); business friendliness (8%); education (7%); access to capital (2%); cost of living (2%).

Florida ranked above average in most categories, but its score was dragged down by the categories of cost of doing business (30th); life, health and inclusion (39th); business friendliness (39th); and cost of living (27th).