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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Red tide and blue-green algae are threatening Florida's waters again
It's not just tourists who invade Florida in the summer. The colorfully named, obnoxious -- and sometimes deadly -- microorganisms known as red tide and blue green algae also take advantage of the change in temperature to proliferate. And it causes major problems. Both types of algae bloom are starting to make their presence known along some of southwestern Florida's most beautiful shorelines. Whether they're moving in for the summer or just teasing remains to be seen. More from CNN., WBBH, and the Fort Myers News-Press.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Laura Kelley of the Central Florida Expressway Authority talks expressway projects
When COVID-19 hit last year, the Central Florida Expressway Authority took advantage of the slower traffic to accelerate a number of projects, ranging from lighting improvements to the reconstruction of interchanges. The toll agency is also in the early stages of planning new corridors, including the Lake/Orange Expressway, which will connect SR 429 in west Orange County to a busy section of US 27 in south Lake County near Lake Louisa Park. More from Florida Trend.
Florida elections supervisors scramble to comply with controversial, costly, confusing voting law
Florida’s polarizing new election law wraps up county supervisors in burdensome and contradictory red tape, more duties and responsibilities that will cause unforeseen financial costs, and financial penalties for noncompliance, elections officials said. And, they added, it will make it harder for people to vote by mail and get those votes tabulated by the deadline set down in state elections law. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
2021 Florida Grower Citrus Show brings industry back together
On May 12-13, citrus growers, researchers, and industry stakeholders gathered in-person for the first time in more than a year for the Florida Grower Citrus Show in Ft. Pierce. For the majority of people, it was the first major event they’ve attended since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown last year. While COVID-19 safety protocols limited attendance, and things looked a little different in the education space and trade show floor because of those safety measures, the consensus was one of appreciation to the show organizers for being the first willing to step out and host such an event since the pandemic. More from Growing Produce.
Winter Park to try buying post office after string of failed negotiations
Winter Park commissioners still want to buy a post office site despite multiple failed attempts over the last decade to negotiate with the federal government over the two-acre property near Central Park. Commissioners directed City Manager Randy Knight on Monday to keep pursuing a deal that would satisfy the U.S. Postal Service with a replacement for its retail and distribution facility. That deal could run between $12 -$15 million — about triple the $4.8 million value of the current site — because the city would be on the hook for constructing a new post office. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
What’s it like to ride Dunedin’s driverless shuttle? Futuristic and fun.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is partnering with Beep, a private company from Orlando, to bring us AVA, or Autonomous Vehicle Advantage. Did you get that? Beep-boop-beep, the future! Driverless shuttle programs launched in Tampa and St. Petersburg last fall. The goal is to assess how the shuttles might become part of Tampa Bay’s transportation landscape.
» More from the Tampa Bay Tiimes.
Transportation
PortMiami is moving ahead with $280 million in projects
Amid uncertainty over when the cruise industry will rebound from COVID-19, work is underway on expanding and upgrading cruise facilities at PortMiami. Last year, Miami-Dade County officials approved nearly $280 million in construction contracts for two new cruise terminal projects. At the west end of Dodge Island, contractor Suffolk is building a 100,000-sq.-ft. terminal for Virgin Voyages. The terminal will be home to Virgin’s Scarlet Lady, an adults-only ship with a tattoo parlor and nightclub, among other amenities.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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