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Capital Report: September 1, 2023

The city of Perry Florida was hit hard by Hurricane Idalia. The storm knocked out power, damaged homes, and smashed buildings. Wednesday evening after the winds and rains had cleared, community members realized recovery would be just as hard. But Regan McCarthy reports as neighbors gathered in the rural Big Bend town, the overall spirit was one of hope and togetherness.

Recovery efforts are underway for areas across central and north Florida. In Wakulla County, crews have been working to restore power and clear roadways. The county welcomed students back to school on Friday. Adrian Andrews tells us, Wakulla is still feeling the effect of Idalia’s Wednesday landfall.

Clearwater Beach and its businesses were not immune to the massive storm surge Hurricane Idalia brought to Florida's west coast.

As WUSF's Nancy Guan reports, merchants dependent on tourists hope to make the most of what is usually a busy Labor Day Weekend.

As Hurricane Idalia headed out of Florida, Governor DeSantis visited the areas most impacted by the storm. Tom Flanigan has that.

In Florida, there is a very direct connection between hurricanes and property insurance, mostly because of the uncertainty of the state’s insurance market. WMFE’s Talia Blake sought some answers from Mark Freidlander with The Insurance Information Institute.

The day Hurricane Idalia hit Tallahassee, Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis posted a photo of a split tree in the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion to her social media. As Margie Menzel reports, arborists and historians are taking an interest in the fate of that live oak.

Despite the storm, it seems Labor Day travelers will still be visiting Florida in droves over the weekend.

A racially motivated shooting in Jacksonville and a major hurricane have challenged Florida this week. As WFSU’s Lynn Hatter reports the state’s governor is running for president and was put to the ultimate national test as he faced two crises that, as political scientists and watchers say, have the potential to make or break candidates.