Realtors back property tax cut measure<\/p>\n
The Florida Realtors trade group is getting behind Amendment 3, the major property tax cut on the November ballot, putting $10 million to support the measure. The move by the Realtors means Amendment 3 will get considerable backing, amid a heavy pushback from a variety of groups opposed to the measure. Many local government officials, especially from rural areas and small towns, have spoken out against the amendment, saying it would undercut their ability to provide basic services. More from the News Service of Florida<\/a> and WLRN<\/a>.<\/p>\n Florida Trend Exclusive JEA, Jacksonville’s municipal utility, has faced mounting scrutiny this year over allegations of a toxic workplace culture, sparking a city council investigation and public debate over the leadership of CEO Vickie Cavey. The allegations first surfaced in March when then-Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico said he had received complaints from employees alleging a workplace environment marked by toxicity and racism since Cavey took over as CEO in 2024. [Source: Florida Trend<\/a>]<\/p>\n Mail voting is popular in Florida, despite federal scrutiny<\/p>\n Since 2018, at least a quarter of Florida voters have cast their ballots by mail. The state is home to outsize populations of seniors and those with disabilities, many of whom prefer to receive ballots at home. In this year\u2019s August primary, over a million Floridians voted by mail \u2014 accounting for 37% of all ballots cast. Documented cases of fraud in mail-in voting are extremely rare. Post-2020 election audits and lawsuits found no evidence of widespread fraud. [Source: Tampa Bay Times<\/a>]<\/p>\n Florida attorney general announces lawsuit against Netflix<\/p>\n Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a lawsuit against Netflix on Wednesday, alleging the streaming company tracked children and families, then used their data to build an advertising business despite promises of an ad-free, privacy-focused service. The lawsuit, filed by Uthmeier\u2019s office, alleges Netflix recorded billions of behavioral events, including the devices Floridians use, where they use them and what they watch, pause, rewind, search for, skip or stop watching. More from WPEC<\/a> and Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n More than 247,000 Florida kids have lost food stamps<\/p>\n Fewer Floridians are on SNAP now than at any point in nearly 17 years, with enrollment numbers plummeting after President Donald Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect. Since last year, 247,000 fewer kids are receiving benefits in the state, a Tampa Bay Times analysis of previously-unreported data has found. In total, enrollment is down by about 647,000 people, a 22% drop in just a year. [Source: Tampa Bay Times<\/a>]<\/p>\n Florida real estate still draws demand; Navigating it takes local expertise<\/p>\n Home prices are higher. Mortgage rates have added to monthly costs. Insurance and property taxes are weighing more heavily on household budgets. At the same time, people, income, businesses and investment continue to flow into the state. That combination is creating a market with real opportunity, but it requires more information, more context and more careful decision-making. The August 2026 edition of Florida Realtors’ The Economists Report helps explain why. [Sponsored report<\/a>]<\/p>\n ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:<\/p>\n \u203a Nearly 200 apartments could rise in Palm Beach County\u2019s Ag Reserve<\/a> [South Florida Sun Sentinel] \u203a EverBank CEO sees bigger Jax role after merger<\/a> [Jacksonville Business Journal] \u203a Florida considers $30 million Clearwater land deal<\/a> [St. Pete Catalyst] \u203a Stoke Space eyes Florida launch with new funding, Nova rocket upgrade<\/a> [Florida Today] More stories …<\/p>\n \u203a Forbes says Jaguars value jumps 44% to $8.05 billion<\/a> [Jacksonville Daily Record] \u203a Florida restaurant shorted workers an average of $23,600 per person, feds say<\/a> [Tampa Bay Times]
On the hot seat<\/p>\n
A project for new apartments in West Boynton is advancing with the county after the developer made several modifications. West Boynton Ranches could bring 198 apartments on a plot of land directly south of Boynton Beach Boulevard and to the west of Lyons Road. Fifty of the apartments would be considered workforce housing. If the project receives final approval, these apartments would be some of the first built in the county\u2019s Agricultural Reserve, which mainly features farms, nurseries, warehouses and single-family home communities.<\/p>\n
EverBank\u2019s proposed $3.9 billion merger with WaFd Inc. would expand the bank\u2019s reach westward, but its next phase of growth could also bring a much bigger footprint in Florida. Jacksonville will continue to serve as the base for EverBank\u2019s national and direct banking operations, CEO Greg Seibly told the Business Journal, as the bank considers growing from 10 Florida financial centers to as many as 20 over the next three to five years.<\/p>\n
Florida is considering purchasing nearly 28 acres at Mandalay Point, at the northern tip of Clearwater Beach, through its Florida Forever program. The property sits across Dunedin Pass from Caladesi Island State Park and includes beach, dunes, coastal grassland and mangroves.<\/p>\n
Another major rocket company is moving closer to launching from Florida: Stoke Space announced new funding and progress toward another fully-reusable rocket. While Stoke\u2019s medium-lift Nova Pathfinder rocket is targeted to launch sometime in 2027 from the newly renovated historic Launch Complex 14 in Cape Canaveral, the company also secured funding to support the development of its next step-up, a larger rocket dubbed Nova Block 2.<\/p>\n
The Jacksonville Jaguars franchise soared in value over the past year to $8.05 billion, Forbes magazine said Sept. 9 in its annual ranking of NFL team values. That was a 44% increase from 2025, when the value rose 22% to $5.6 billion, according to the magazine. Forbes reported that every other NFL team increased in value as well. Another estimate of NFL team values released by CNBC on Sept. 9 valued the Jaguars at $9.35 billion, up 42% from last year.<\/p>\n
A Pompano Beach restaurant not only paid workers less than the minimum wage, but didn\u2019t properly pay employees who worked overtime, the U.S. Department of Labor said. The agency said Thursday that it recovered $732,976 from Lucky King LLC, the owner of Miyako Japanese Buffet, 1157 S. Federal Hwy. That\u2019s money owed to 31 employees \u2014 an average of $23,644.39 per worker.<\/p>\n