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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida gets tourism boost in third quarter
U.S. travelers to Florida during the third quarter of this year easily exceeded numbers from the same period in 2020, as COVID-19 vaccinations were widely available and cruise ships were back on the seas. More important for the state’s tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida, the estimated total of 32.517 million tourists between July 1 and Sept. 30 bested --- by just over 0.3 percent --- the overall number of visitors in the third quarter of 2019 before the pandemic began. More from the News Service of Florida.
Courts, local government ease COVID restrictions in Florida
A local government and courts in Florida are easing up on COVID-19 restrictions as the state's virus caseload has declined in recent weeks. Starting Monday, wearing face masks and social distancing became optional in Florida's courthouses. In an order, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady cited the fact that almost 70% of eligible Florida residents were fully vaccinated and the number of cases in the state has dropped sharply. More from the AP.
Florida cities sue state over ‘anti-riot’ law
Seven South Florida cities, as well as Tallahassee and Gainesville, are filing a lawsuit in state court on Tuesday challenging what they say is the executive branch’s “commandeering” of local budget authority in the so-called “anti-riot” law that passed earlier this year. As a hammer against local governments that attempt to rein in law enforcement, lawmakers included a new provision in state law that gives the governor and Cabinet veto power over city and county budgets. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
‘The only move’ for Orlando restaurants is to raise prices as costs skyrocket
The cost of eating out in October at full-service restaurants was up 5.9% in October compared with a year ago, and prices at limited-service eateries like fast food spots were up 7.1%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. Menu prices are rising at small restaurants and large chains, including Orlando’s MX Taco and Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa as well as the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Gulf Power customers face storm costs
First came Hurricane Michael. Then Sally. Then Zeta. And for customers of Northwest Florida’s Gulf Power, the barrage of storms during the past few years could mean they will pay extra on their bills through 2024 to cover costs of restoring electricity. The utility filed documents Friday at the state Public Service Commission that detail proposals for recouping costs related to Hurricane Sally and Hurricane Zeta, which caused power outages and damage in the Panhandle in 2020. More from the News Service of Florida.
Florida History
'Old Florida is alive' at The Hotel Jacaranda in Avon Park
Stepping into The Hotel Jacaranda in Avon Park is like stepping back in time. "Old Florida is alive at The Hotel Jac. I think we wrote the definition of that," laughed Jamie Bateman, who serves as the executive director of the South Florida State College foundation that owns the hotel. Many residents call The Hotel Jacaranda the jewel of downtown Avon Park. After two years of construction, the hotel opened in 1926. South Florida State College purchased the hotel in the late 1980’s.
» More from WTVT.
Out of the Box
Florida Tech and Heinz collaborate to grow space tomatoes for 'Marz Edition' ketchup
With travel to Mars on the horizon, the time has come for space ice cream to step aside and make room for the flavor of new era of planetary travel: tomato ketchup, the "Marz Edition." Heinz, a company synonymous with ketchup, successfully funded and collaborated with biologists at Florida Tech's Aldrin Space Institute to grow tomatoes in Mars-like conditions here on the Space Coast to show once and for all that even on faraway worlds humans can have the perfect condiment.
» Read more from Florida Today.
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