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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Severe weather leaves damage throughout the Florida panhandle
Severe thunderstorms and apparent tornadoes ripped across the Florida Panhandle early on Tuesday, downing power lines and trees and damaging buildings. Gusty winds left fences damaged and roadways impassable, according to the authorities in Panama City, Fla., where the storm moved through on Tuesday. In some areas, it brought hail about the size of baseballs. More from the New York Times, WFLX, NBC Miami, and Pensacola News Journal.
See also:
» Tornado warnings disrupt Legislature’s opening day, DeSantis speech
Janitorial company lays off 438 Florida employees
GDI Integrated Facilities Services, a Montreal janitorial and cleaning services company, is cutting 1,867 employees in the United States, including 438 across Florida, after its contract to work at some Amazon warehouses was canceled. The company wrote in a letter to several states to meet federal WARN notice requirements that it was eliminating all employees doing work at 27 Amazon warehouses in 10 states. More from the Business Observer.
Tampa company’s $3B deal faces challenge from competitor
A Pennsylvania manufacturer attempted to break up a $3-billion deal combining two large public companies from Florida’s Gulf Coast. In December, Tampa-based global door manufacturer Masonite International Corp. announced it reached an agreement to buy door, garage and window company PGT Innovations. The sale would boost Masonite’s profile as one of the nation’s top door and window manufacturers and combine their revenues to a total of $4 billion. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Jacksonville ranks as a top city to start a new business
It's no secret that Jacksonville's population is growing, but a recent report shows the local business landscape has a similar trajectory. The study from The Credit Review, a personal finance website, shows Florida is the best state to start a small business, and Jacksonville is the best metro area for businesses in Florida. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Orange County tourist tax collections fell in November, 7th year-over-year decrease in 8 months
Tourist development tax collections for Orange County fell again in November year-over-year, marking the seventh decrease in revenue in the last eight months, according to the Orange County comptroller and Visit Orlando. The county collected $29,685,100 in tourist taxes in November, a decrease of 4% compared to November 2022. More from Click Orlando.
Out of the Box
Tampa will get 12 new public pianos in 2024. Here’s how.
Tampa Tunes is a nonprofit public charity focused on promoting arts and culture. Founder Joshua Holton's goal for 2024 is to permanently install a dozen pianos across the city — one for each month of the year. Each will be free for the public to use.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Profile
Florida teen transforms trash into art for ocean conservation
A Florida teen is turning the tide on ocean pollution by transforming beach trash into captivating art pieces. Ryan Moralevitz’s dedication to cleaning up waterways has garnered attention, leading to a significant showcase on Carnival Cruise Line in Port Tampa Bay. Initiated under the banner of “The Fishes Wishes,” his organization began with a simple donation and has evolved into a powerful force for ocean conservation.
» Read more from WSVN.
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