Latest news with #JackRandall
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Big Squeeze: A behind-the-scenes look at reporting the decimation of Florida citrus
Florida once was the cornerstone of the most important meal of the day. How could breakfast be complete without a tall glass of orange juice? And more so, how could a tall glass of orange juice be complete without Florida oranges? Today, however, Florida grows a mere fraction of the oranges it historically once did. TCPalm business reporter Jack Randall wanted to find out why. He spent months talking to experts, and analyzed more than a century's worth of citrus data. I love orange juice (preferably without pulp), and ever since moving to the Treasure Coast, I've taken a liking to grapefruit, too. The Treasure Coast is considered by many to grow the sweetest and juiciest grapefruit in the world. But if you walk through Publix or any other grocery store, you'll more often than not find oranges and grapefruit from California or from another country. If Florida citrus is so great, why are Florida fruits so hard to come by? I spoke with citrus industry professionals and academic researchers. They pointed to the same devastating root cause — citrus greening. It's a highly infectious disease that diminishes crop yields and ultimately kills citrus plants. I combed through some of the first newspaper clippings and academic literature that reported on the bourgeoning agricultural epidemic. It first cropped up 20 years ago in South Florida. The disease — which is carried by an invasive insect — spread county-to-county, then nationwide. I analyzed decades of data from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. I plotted the number of oranges and grapefruit grown in Florida over the past century. You'll notice a dip for 2004-2005. During my research, a newspaper clipping caught my eye. It was one of the first media reports that contextualized the epidemic, with a tone that tried to remain optimistic. 'The apocalypse has not occurred," the Indian River Press Journal reported. "But the disease that results in bitter, misshapen fruit is said to be present in every grove to some extent.' But that article was from 2013. What about now, 20 years after citrus greening was first reported? How much citrus is grown in modern Florida? The answer is staggering — and a lot less than what I imagined. It's not all doom and gloom in the Sunshine State. Gene editing technology already has demonstrated promising results of fruit resisting citrus diseases. Florida grapefruit may one day be cultivated using CRISPR gene-splicing technology at the DNA level. Jack Randall is TCPalm's economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at or 904-466-4755. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: The Big Squeeze: A behind-the-scenes look at Florida's citrus decline
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Car crash along I-95 in Indian River County kills 1, injures 2
SEBASTIAN — One person was killed July 4 in a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred along Interstate 95, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. The wreck, which occurred near the Brevard-Indian River County border at northbound Mile Marker 159 north of County Road 512, was reported at 7:10 p.m. First responders arrived at 7:22 p.m., FHP said. FHP did not release any details about what happened in the crash. Deputies from the Indian River County Sheriff's Office who responded to the scene located one occupant of the unspecified vehicle who was pronounced dead at the scene, said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a sheriff's office spokesperson. Two passengers were transported to the Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne with severe or life-threatening injuries. The identities of the deceased and injured occupants of the vehicle were not released. A spokesperson for Florida Highway Patrol was not available for comment. There have been 948 vehicular crashes in Indian River County in 2025, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Seven have been fatal. In 2024, there were 2,163 crashes in the county, according to the department. Twenty were fatal. This story will be updated as new information becomes available. Jack Randall is TCPalm's economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at or 904-466-4755. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vehicle crash on I-95 in Indian River County kills 1, injures 2
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Renters competing for each housing unit in "unaffordable" Port St. Lucie rental market
PORT ST. LUCIE — Renters are jockeying just to live here. There are nine renters competing for each available housing unit, according to an analysis by RentCafe, a nationwide apartment-search website. The city's rental market is the sixth-most competitive in Florida, RentCafe found, despite the rental market last year experiencing the largest percent increase in new apartments in the U.S. The high competition in the Port St. Lucie rental market stems from a variety of factors, RentCafe determined: Apartments don't stay long on the market High occupancy rate A high share of residents renew their leases Multiple renters apply for the same vacant unit A relatively low supply of new apartments Last year, there were 12 renters, on average, competing for each unit, according to RentCafe. The city's immense growth has done little to make housing more affordable, with housing developments typically consisting of single-family homes and luxury apartments. The city has "very little naturally occurring affordable units, if any," according to the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment — a collaborative countywide report funded by St. Lucie County, Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce. There are 37,401 renter households in St. Lucie County, according to the 2024 Annual Report from University of Florida's Shimberg Center for Housing Studies. But there are only 1,384 total low-income housing units among seven affordable-housing complexes, according to HudHousingNetwork, an affordable-housing-search website. Affordable housing: Huge growth in Port St. Lucie has failed to make housing more affordable New restaurants: 13 restaurants in the Heart of Tradition in Port St. Lucie The median rent in 2024 for all housing units in Port St. Lucie was $2,575, which was 29% greater than the national average, according to a report by St. Lucie County. Housing costs in St. Lucie County are are among the highest in Florida, the report said. "This has forced large segments of middle class and working class families to either live here un-affordably or live in other counties." Jack Randall is TCPalm's economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at or 904-466-4755. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida real estate: Port St. Lucie affordable housing in short supply
