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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
State of Florida creates office of opioid recovery to combat growing crisis
Florida wlil expand opioid treatment and recovery services, using more than $205 million coming to the state from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. Gov. DeSantis said $10.2 million will go to a new Office of Opioid Recovery at the Department of Children and Families. The office will include researchers and epidemiologists, who are expected to identify ways to help Floridians in recovery. More from the News Service of Florida.
South Florida mayors back bid to dissolve travel visa backlog
More than a half dozen South and Central Florida mayors have hopped aboard a national travel industry campaign to persuade the U.S. State Department to speed up visa application interviews abroad for international travelers. The U.S. Travel Association, a Washington-based trade group, rounded up signatures from 44 U.S. mayors last week including those from five South Florida cities as well as Miami-Dade County. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
St. Petersburg hires legal team, drafts term agreements for new Rays ballpark
The city of St. Petersburg is looking to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons for inspiration in trying to negotiate an accord with global real estate developer Hines and the Tampa Bay Rays to build a new ballpark and redevelop the 86 acres where Tropicana Field sits. The city’s new legal team, meanwhile, brings the experience of helping to build a home for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
‘Surviving Pulse’ opens Reel Deal Film Festival
“Surviving Pulse,” an unflinching and emotional look at those who survived the 2016 mass shooting at the Orlando nightclub, may be an unusual choice to headline a film festival’s opening gala. But to the Reel Deal Film Festival’s Carolena Saccone, it was an essential one. “What happens after it’s all ‘over’? How can we get mental health to these people?” said Saccone, who runs the March 2-5 festival in New Smyrna Beach. “This film is a conversation starter.” More from the Orlando Sentinel.
After Brevard County Commission rejects grant for Cocoa Beach Air Show, it's back on agenda
Two months after the Brevard County Commission unanimously rejected a proposed $87,852.20 tourism "major events grant" for this year's Cocoa Beach Air Show, a scaled-back grant proposal is on the agenda for consideration at Tuesday's meeting. The new proposal is for a $53,795.80 grant. Funding for the grant would come from revenue generated by Brevard County's 5% tourist development tax on hotel rooms and other short-term rentals. More from Florida Today.
Transportation Trends
One year, 56 red-light cameras, $10 million in tickets
If you drive through a red light at one of Tampa’s 23 monitored traffic intersections, a camera will snap, a police officer will review the footage and you will likely receive a photograph of your car breaking the law, as well as a $158 fine. According to public records, the city’s 56 cameras captured more than 100,600 offenses last year — and at least $10.4 million in revenue, split between the state, the city, hospitals, a Miami-based nonprofit and the camera vendor.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Business Profile
Gainesville set to get new punk, hardcore record store
Former Arrow’s Aim owner Daniel Halal is giving the Gainesville vinyl scene another spin with his new shop Sunshine Records. The new store, co-owned by 38-year-old Halal and James Siboni, bassist for hardcore band Bane, will sell mostly preowned records. Siboni currently owns another store, Tiger Records, in Jacksonville.
» Read more from the Gainesville Sun.
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