Florida residents and businesses likely will get hit with higher electric bills in 2023 as utilities continue to struggle with increased costs of natural gas.

Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. filed petitions Friday at the state Public Service Commission that detailed expected costs in 2023.

Joe Dunne and Tony Thomas are hoping for a workout boom in Milton.

“The name really started as a joke,” Dunne said of The Country Gym Bar & Grill, opening soon at 5198 Willing St. “If somebody’s wife is calling to find out why he isn’t home, he can tell her ‘Baby, I’m at the gym.’ We’ve even bought novelty glasses shaped like barbells.”

Angry at a ratings agency that raised the possibility of downgrading 17 Florida property insurers, state leaders could be poised to look for an alternative.

The Joint Legislative Budget Commission next week is expected to consider a proposal to spend $1.5 million to hire a consultant that would look at options for property insurers to get adequate financial ratings.

The paperwork adds up. This is the stark reality many small businesses face when they don’t yet have the time, tools, or know-how to keep up with their financial records.

Unfortunately, this is also one of the reasons many of those small businesses don’t make it.

Businesses across the United States have been hurting amid economic pressures such as inflation and supply chain issues. The Sunshine State’s businesses are no exception.

A recent study found that, as of April 2022, 44.7% of Florida businesses are experiencing domestic supplier delays and 26.1% are seeing delivery or shipping delays to their customers.

Milton residents will soon have more restaurant options.

Branch Properties, an Atlanta based real estate investment and development firm, announced two restaurants have joined Merganser Commons at Dogwood Estates, a Publix Super Markets-anchored development in Milton.

There are only a few days left of the 2022 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday.

Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the sales tax holiday began on Mon., July 25, and extends through Sun., August 7.

Stephen Wise has worn many hats over the years. He has been a screenwriter, actor, film director, author, producer, and even a programming director for a convention.

Despite all that Wise has done over the years, the thing that he is probably most known for is something that never got made.

Baptist Health Care has welcomed Dennis C. Szurkus, Jr., M.D., MBA, FACOG, CPE, as vice president and chief medical officer.

Dr. Szurkus is responsible for directing the office of medical affairs, clinical performance, physician leadership development and leading the clinical direction for BHC.

For most people, juggling two jobs, multiple podcasts, and a home life seems daunting. For Dawn Funk, the owner of Dawn’s Cookies and Funk Wellness; however, it is all part of God’s plan.

Funk, who moved with her family to the Navarre area last August, began her career as a teacher and professor in Dayton, Ohio.