Good Morning! On this day in 1915, Broward County was created and named after former Gov. Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, rather than Everglades County, as originally planned.
As of Monday, about 14 million Florida residents were living in areas of drought, an increase of 18.3% from last week. You can see your area here.
Later today, we will email you on behalf of our partner, Timeplast, with an investment opportunity in groundbreaking sustainable packaging technology. We hope you find it worth exploring.
The most valuable tech you’ve never heard of? Check out today’s sponsor, IotaComm, to find out more.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 80/65° | Ft. Myers ☀️90/64° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 84/64° | Key West 🌤️ 81/75° | Miami 🌤️ 80/73° | Ocala 🌤️ 88/61° | Orlando 🌤️ 86/65° | Pensacola 🌤️ 82/71° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 82/65° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 87/62° | Tampa 🌤️ 90/65°
Have you tried The Flyover podcast yet? Our weekday host, Ayla Brown, has today’s national news ready for you. Click on your favorite platform below to listen or watch—and let us know what you think!
Citrus Growers Could Get $200 Million
A bill passed unanimously by the Florida Senate and awaiting House approval proposes $200 million for citrus growers to support recovery efforts, including tree replanting and grove rehabilitation.
Of that amount, about $190 million would be allocated for field trials focused on grove management, disease-resistant varieties, and therapeutic tools.
The initiative would also fund research into alternative crops like olives, hops, hemp, and muscadine grapes, which are already being tested in parts of the state.
Industry leaders and growers are optimistic that the proposal will gain bipartisan support and help the citrus industry rebuild.
Florida Technology Footprint is Growing
Osceola County officials announced the launch of the Florida Semiconductor Engine at NeoCity, a project to train workers and attract businesses from around the world.
With $500 million in federal investment, the 500-acre NeoCity campus in Kissimmee is leading the state’s effort to manufacture semiconductors.
Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, Haddy, a 3D-printed furniture company, opened its first micro-factory on April 10. The 32,000-square-foot facility is the world’s largest 3D printing hub and is powered by artificial intelligence and robots.
The facility’s north bay houses a fleet of robots—Ada, Bumblebee, Clio, Dali, Edison, and Fibonacci—actively 3D printing furniture using melted materials repurposed from old fishing nets and plastics.
Best Homeowners Insurance in Florida
U.S. News & World Report ranked the best homeowners insurance companies, providing insight into which insurers are best suited to tackle claims in Florida. The rankings are based on factors such as availability, rates, coverage options, company reviews, and consumer surveys.
USAA was ranked the best homeowners insurance company in Florida, consistently earning high customer satisfaction scores while offering ample coverage options. The downside is that it’s only available to members of the military community.
Amica Insurance came in second, offering the lowest sample premium among companies in the report. The company also provides dividend policies. Allstate and Auto-Owners tied for third place. You can see the full list here.
Flying together with our sponsor
Smart Buildings Aren’t Just the Future—They’re Happening Now
The dream of a futuristic smart city—where buildings, traffic, energy use, and air quality are all intelligently connected—sounds like science fiction. But it’s quickly becoming a reality, thanks to advances in the $1.5 trillion Internet of Things (IoT) market.
The challenge? Traditional Wi-Fi networks are too expensive and complex to power this vision at scale.
That’s why massive brands like GigNet and Crayola are tapping into IotaComm’s nationwide wireless network. It’s a lower-cost, more reliable alternative to help bring smarter operations to schools, businesses, and entire communities.
This smart future is not 10 years away—it’s being built right now.
And here’s the best part…
IotaComm is giving early investors a limited opportunity to participate in its growth. Right now, you can earn up to a 50% bonus equity,which provides an attractive way to reduce your average cost basis and help create momentum for new expansion.
➤Cape Canaveral: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifted off from the Space Force Station on Monday, carrying 27 of Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband spacecraft toward low Earth orbit. (See Launch)
➤Tampa: On Monday, Mayor Jane Castor’s State of the City address discussed the city’s growth, major infrastructure upgrades, and resilience after back-to-back hurricanes. (See Details)
➤ St. John’s County: Residents have submitted more than 1200 complaints about the “toxic” smell from the Indianhead Biomass facility—a debris removal service that moved into the area several years ago. (More)
➤New Smyrna Beach: A former city commissioner says an emergency signal is needed on the main highway near Fire Station 52 to stop traffic and allow fire trucks to exit safely. (More)
➤Melbourne Beach: Sebastian Inlet State Park is undergoing an $11 million facelift, including dredging sand from the channel to place on the beach and repairing the north jetty. (More)
➤South Florida: David Knezevich, 37, who was facing federal charges over the murder and disappearance of his estranged wife in Spain, has died in custody while awaiting his trial. (More)
➤ The Orlando Magic’s season ended last night with a 120-89 loss to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Celtics took the series 4-1. (More)
➤ Miami Marlins outfielder Dane Myers pinch-hit a grand slam against the LA Dodgers on Monday night to tie the game. The Marlins ended up losing 6-7 in extra innings. (Watch Video)
➤The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released an emotional behind-the-scenes video of the moment they selected wide receiver Tez Johnson in the 7th round. (Watch Video)
➤ Somalia is suffering from natural disasters, poverty, conflict, and disease, pushing millions toward starvation. With little media coverage, the crisis remains largely unseen. Christian humanitarian group World Concern is on the ground providing vital food, water, and emergency aid. Your donation today can help save families facing desperate conditions.
➤ Israeli-founded companies are projected to add $7.3 billion to Florida’s economy while creating over 26,000 jobs, according to a new study by the United States-Israel Business Alliance based on data from 2024. (More)
➤ Walmart announced it has invested $1.6 billion to upgrade dozens of stores in the past five years and is preparing to upgrade another 34 stores, along with adding two new locations. (More)
➤Lakeland-based Publix will open two new supermarkets in Palm Beach County in early May, with two more stores, including a “prototype store,” in the works. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Beat the heat with Cool Wave Air!This compact, powerful cooler uses advanced evaporative technology to deliver refreshing, cool air wherever you need it. Lightweight, portable, and energy-efficient. Stay cool and comfortable all summer long—anytime, anywhere! (Shop Now)
Cities, schools, and industrial sites will never see all the benefits of cutting-edge AI innovation with Wi-Fi alone—it’s simply too costly. But IotaComm’s Internet of Things (IoT) platform and nationwide wireless network provide the strong, secure, low-cost connectivity to make it possible.
Even major brands like Crayola and GigNet are already partnering with IotaComm to modernize environments—from classrooms to entire regions.
This is a paid advertisement for IotaComm’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.iotacomm.com.
➤ Naples: A newly built Port Royal mansion was sold for a record $85 million. (See Photo)
➤A Tampa Bay area man used the tools he learned in the tech world to teach people computer coding and uplift an entire community. (Watch Video)
➤SeaWorld Orlando will debut Expedition Odyssey on May 9, a new attraction described as an “Arctic flying theater” experience that will simulate flying over Arctic habitats and wildlife. (See Photos)
Flying together with our sponsor
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