10 legislative issues to watch
Florida lawmakers next week will start the annual legislative session, which will include considering hundreds of bills. From the state budget to condominium reform to hurricane-assistance and numerous education issues, here are 10 issues to watch during the upcoming 60-day session. More from the News Service of Florida.
Gas prices are up again in Miami and across Florida
Gas prices continue on a yo-yo from week to week. Three weeks ago, prices were down in South Florida. Two weeks, ago, up. A week ago, down by double digits. Now they are up again. Prices at the pump on Monday, Feb. 24, rose an average of 6 cents in Florida and more than 4 cents in the Miami area. Nationally, gas is down a couple of cents per gallon. More from the Miami Herald.
Pensacola has become a Mardi Gras destination. Here's how it got there
Saying that all Pensacola’s Mardi Gras is a good time would an understatement. It offers a time for connection, community philanthropy and has become a point of Pensacola’s pride. Its reputation for its roaring Carnival season has steadily grown float by float, making Pensacola a Mardi Gras destination. Many have risen to the occasion to make it that way, ensuring its traditions are here to stay. More from the Pensacola News Journal.
Fort Myers’ Alico Inc. has $20 million in land sales pending
As it transitions out of citrus, Alico Inc. is transforming into a land company and already has deals in place for some of its properties. The move away from one of its traditional lines of business has led to 170 layoffs, this after citrus production dropped 13% in the fourth quarter of last year. The company says the sale of several properties will, in part, help fund the business until 2027. More from the Business Observer.
Orlando Family Stage took a risk. Now, leaders say, it’s paying off.
Thank goodness for good ol’ Charlie Brown. A few years ago, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced entertainment venues to close, Orlando Family Stage took a risk. It was a gamble that resulted in a couple of years of six-figure budget deficits. But the theater is now seeing its gamble pay off, as it regains its financial footing. And that’s in part, thanks to Charles M. Schulz’s lovable “blockhead” of a cartoon creation. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
In Memoriam
From guayabera vendor to top of Miami’s fashion world: George Feldenkreis dies at 89
The garment that grew George Feldenkreis' ultimate legacy? The humble guayabera, the summery national shirt of Cuban and Latin culture — the fabric of the homeland his family left behind. The comfy piece of clothing that Feldenkreis sold would, 32 years later in 1999, lead to his acquisition of the global Perry Ellis fashion brand and the company’s rebranding as the family-run Perry Ellis International at its Doral headquarters.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Startup hub
Central Florida tech firms have a new “one-stop shop” for growth in downtown Orlando. Officials and business leaders celebrated the opening of Tech Hub Orlando, a multifaceted resource for startups and established companies, bringing together prominent entrepreneurial incubators and specialists to provide a broad spectrum of services.
» Read more from Florida Trend.