Things To Do In SW Florida

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s citrus industry limped to the end of the 2023-2024 growing season, with farmers hoping newly planted and recovering trees can avoid hurricane damage this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday released a final report about the 2023-2024 season and slightly boosted estimates of orange production from a June report. Overall citrus numbers were up 11.4 percent from the 2022-2023 season — but 2022-2023 had the lowest production in nearly 100 years.

Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, expressed optimism about the industry, while acknowledging the industry’s ongoing recovery from 2022’s Hurricane Ian requires “favorable weather conditions.”

“We just really need to make it through this year,” Joyner said. “Let these trees recover, and let’s get a good harvest and something we can start building some momentum on.”

The industry has been in a hyper-recovery mode since Hurricane Ian caused massive damage to groves as it swept across the state. Growers have expressed a need for two or three seasons for impacted trees to recover and new plantings to take hold. read more

Marcos Cabello | Bankrate.com (TNS)

When unexpected expenses arise, having an emergency fund can provide peace of mind and financial stability. However, Bankrate’s 2024 Annual Emergency Savings Report found that the majority of U.S. adults (56 percent) do not have enough emergency savings to cover even three months of expenses.

So, how much emergency savings should you have? For some, following the standard advice of three to six months of living expenses might be sufficient. Others, however, may prefer to save more or less than that amount, depending on factors such as income, cost of living and household size. That savings can go into a money market or high-yield savings account, where it can grow with interest and have some liquidity.

Thus, the answer may vary depending on individual circumstances, but one thing is clear: having some emergency savings is crucial. Knowing you have a safety net can help alleviate some worry, as Bankrate’s Money and Mental Health Survey found that 47% of Americans say money negatively impacts their mental health, at least occasionally. read more

Alex Brown | Stateline.org (TNS)

For decades, states have relied on gas taxes to provide much of the money to maintain roads and bridges. But as cars become more fuel efficient, and some Americans switch to electric vehicles, state leaders say the gas tax won’t pay the bills for much longer.

At the same time, many cities have seen their streets crowded with delivery trucks from Amazon and other companies, as consumers increasingly opt to have products delivered to their homes. In a few states, lawmakers think fees on those deliveries could be part of their road-funding solution.

“If you’re going to be creating wear and tear on our roads, you should help pay to maintain them,” said Colorado state Rep. Cathy Kipp, a Democrat who chairs the Energy and Environment Committee.

In July 2022, Colorado became the first state with a retail delivery fee, a charge on all vehicle deliveries to consumers within the state. The fee, which currently stands at 29 cents per delivery, provides funding for highways, bridges, tunnels, electric vehicle charging stations and projects to reduce air pollution and to electrify vehicle fleets and transit systems. It has brought in more than $160 million. read more