Several Florida utilities’ electric bills are likely to increase in 2023

Florida Power & Electric service work truck on the side of the road – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by YES Market Media Florida businesses and residents will likely get hit with higher electric bills in 2023 as utilities continue to deal with the increased costs of natural gas. Florida Power & Light (FPL), Duke Energy

Researchers warn changes to Florida’s climate threaten oyster reefs

Oyster reefs at sea – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by golfza.357 With temperatures rising throughout the world, freezes and cold weather extremes in the Sunshine State are diminishing–a clear sign that Florida’s climate is slowly shifting from subtropical to tropical. Tropicalization has had a cascading effect on Florida’s ecosystems. Along the Gulf Coast and Tampa

Florida’s rent control initiative is being resisted by landlords

Rent Control Issues – Orlando, FL Skyline – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Sean Pavone Ballots have yet to be printed, but already a group of apartment managers, landlords, and real estate agents in the Sunshine State want to prevent voters from voting on a measure that would implement rent control for a year in

Florida recreational marijuana ballot measure gets pushback from industry

Prescription Marijuana – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Brian Goodman A proposed ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the Sunshine State in 2024 has caused an uproar within the industry, displaying ongoing divides over how adult-use markets should be structured. The initiative was filed recently with the Florida Division of Elections and has secured

Florida medical board moves forward in blocking gender-affirming treatments for minors

Transgender Flag Being Waved – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Ink Drop On Friday, Florida’s medical board voted to start the process of banning gender-affirming medical treatment for minors, a move that comes as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has continued to voice his opposition to such therapies. After a public hearing that lasted over three

According to study, Florida residents must work this many hours per week to afford housing

Neighborhood in Florida with Palm Trees – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by scarp577 A recent study provides some insight into how unaffordable the Sunshine State actually is as rent in Florida continues to rise rapidly. In its “Out of Reach” report, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) breaks down how many hours a person

Veterans can now teach in Florida schools without a degree

Veterans holding books – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Africa Studio The Sunshine State currently has 9,000 teacher vacancies that must be filled before the summer comes to a close and the new 2022 academic year begins. Last week, Florida’s Department of Education announced that military veterans can now fill those empty roles. “Our public

Florida’s lobster miniseason begins soon

Lobster miniseason, Marathon, FL – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Beach Images Summer season means good eating down in the Florida Keys. The 2022 spiny lobster season begins with the two-day recreational miniseason on Wednesday, July 27 at 12:01 a.m. and ends at midnight Thursday night, followed by the regular recreational and commercial lobster season,

South Florida monkeypox cases continue to climb, residents urged to get vaccinated

Blood Sample for Monkeypox Test – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Arif biswas Monkeypox continues to spread across the nation and South Florida at rapid speed. “I’m trying to get an early step on this,” said Adam Northrop, who received the first part of his two-dose Monkeypox vaccine Monday. “I’m hoping it doesn’t become a

What is that smell? Central Florida’s coast is covered in tons of foul seaweed

Stinky Seaweed Covering Florida – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by nomis_h If you’re looking to visit the beach soon, you may encounter a foul stench and sand that is covered in brown seaweed. Sargassum, a type of seaweed, is arriving in record quantities this year on the coast of Central Florida, according to researchers, and