Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

Disney CEO Bob Iger dismissed as “preposterous” arguments by Gov. Ron DeSantis that the company is “sexualizing children” or experiencing a drop in attendance at its Florida resorts because of a long-running fight with the governor.

Numbers released Wednesday confirmed that Florida’s 2022-2023 citrus season was the worst in nearly a century, as growers tried to recover from an early-season hurricane that exacerbated industry struggles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday issued a final report that showed a huge dropoff in production from the 2021-2022 season. The industry would have to go back to the 1929-1930 season to find comparable numbers.

The Florida insurance market took a hit, as Farmers Insurance said it will end residential, auto and umbrella policies in the state.

Growers are getting more anxious while continuing to wait for federal assistance approved after Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole uprooted trees and flooded fields last fall.

Florida directed two flights of migrants from Texas to Sacramento in the last week. Gov. Ron DeSantis says it was to help Texas combat a border crisis.

Describing the relocations as “voluntary,” the state Division of Emergency Management confirmed Tuesday that Florida directed two flights that transported migrants from Texas to California.

Taking lessons from Hurricane Ian, forecasters say they must do more to communicate the risks of approaching storms.

Key components of a Florida tax package (HB 7063) include a 14-day period in which sales taxes would be lifted on hurricane supplies, common household items and pet supplies, along with a separate three-month effort encouraging people to be more physically active, dubbed “Freedom Summer.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a forecast that said Florida growers this season are on pace to fill 15.65 million boxes of oranges, which would be the lowest total since the 1934-1935 season.

Michael Corrigan, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville, says local tourism groups could suffer if the Legislature cuts funding to Visit Florida.