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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Cruise lines scramble after U.S. bans trips to Cuba
Cruise travel from the U.S. to Cuba began in May 2016 during President Barack Obama’s opening with the island. It has become the most popular form of U.S. leisure travel to the island, bringing 142,721 people in the first four months of the year, a more than 300% increase over the same period last year. For travelers confused about the thicket of federal regulations governing travel to Cuba, cruises offered a simple, one-stop, guaranteed-legal way to travel. That now appears to be over. More from USA Today, the Orlando Sentinel, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Reuters, and the AP.
See also:
» Future in doubt for Tampa-Havana travel with new restrictions from Trump administration
» South Florida travel agents respond to new restrictions on Cuba travel
Are conditions changing to produce more hurricanes this season? Forecasters think so
A closely watched hurricane forecast called Tuesday for a busier Atlantic hurricane season than originally predicted, saying climate conditions may be changing to favor more of the powerful storms. Colorado State University predicted six hurricanes this season, an increase from the five it forecast in April, when it said to expect a slightly below average season. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times.
After ceremonial meeting in Israel, Florida Cabinet gets back to business
After a historic high last week at its ceremonial meeting in Jerusalem, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet got back to routine business at their first meeting on state soil in four months and the first since returning from Israel. They hired a new clemency coordinator, listened to several agency reports, approved minutes and adopted some rules and other business. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
New report shows Florida among states with highest risk of undercounting in 2020 Census
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau gathers information and data on every resident in the United States, but with that comes the possibility of errors. For next year’s 2020 Census, the risks aren’t any different. With the 2020 census count less than a year away, a new report says undercounting certain populations will be likely, despite the best efforts of the U.S. Census Bureau, nonprofits and state and local officials to encourage participation. More from CBS Miami and the AP.
Florida to get a big chunk of federal dollars for hurricane relief. Here’s how it breaks down
The $19.1 billion federal disaster relief package approved by Congress on Monday contains massive amounts of money for hurricane relief for Florida. From Tyndall Air Force Base to agriculture damages, see how the funding breaks down. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Orange-Osceola tax rolls swell with record new construction -- local governments could reap windfall
New construction powered by a steady diet of new subdivisions has ballooned Orange and Osceola counties’ tax rolls to record levels. Orange County’s total market value now tops $206.1 billion, up 9.2% from figures reported a year ago, while Osceola County reached about $28 billion, a 10.7% increase from last year.
› Palm Beach Gardens tech firm to move to West Palm Beach
A high-tech marketing agency plans to move its headquarters from one mixed-use center to another. Levatas LLC will move out of its headquarters at Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens and into the former CityPlace in West Palm Beach, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County said Tuesday. The deal marks the latest office tenant to take retail space at the center.
› Gainesville to weigh GRU rate increases
Elected leaders face another tough decision this week as they try to address what’s left of a $12 million budget shortfall. The Gainesville City Commission on Wednesday is expected to vote on electric-rate increases for the city-owned Gainesville Regional Utilities. The decision will need to be approved again in September when the city votes on its final budget.
› Easter boosts Orange County hotel tax revenue
Tourists traveling to Central Florida on spring sreak and during the Easter holiday helped push the Orange County hotel tax revenue up 6% to about $25.9 million. Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond announced the rise this April compared with the same month in 2018, The 6 percent tax is charged on short-term rentals, which are mostly hotels and motels.
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