Florida News That Impacts You – January 10th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida. Gas prices continued lower through the weekend.
- Brightline has confirmed they’re on track to complete the Orlando expansion this year and offered a first look at their Orlando station which will be located at Orlando International Airport. Once completed, Brightline will have operations ranging from Orlando to Port Miami. Future expansion plans include extending service to Tampa Bay.
- Florida’s gas prices are unchanged over the past day. The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded is currently $3.29. The average price per gallon in Palm Beach County remains $3.46, which is the highest price in the state.
- Florida Democrat Party Chairman Manny Diaz has resigned his post. The resignation is the result of the worst performance by Democrats in Florida in the state’s history in November’s elections. This included Republicans winning all statewide races, gaining four congressional seats and holding a supermajority in the state legislature.
- Opening arguments in Florida’s case against the Biden administration pertaining to the state’s claims the administration has failed to enforce federal immigration laws were heard on Monday. The state is arguing that by essentially catching and releasing illegal immigrants, local communities and the state are unconstitutionally burdened.
- FAU’s Dr. Ken Johnson, an economist from FAU’s College of Business, has produced research suggesting a key issue overlooked in Florida’s housing affordability debate are potentially onerous rules by landlords and mandates issued by HOAs have unnecessarily driven up the costs of housing statewide. According to the research, housing costs are driven greater than 7% higher than necessary by these factors.