Russian war’s impact on Florida economy most likely to stem from energy prices, experts say

If there is to be fallout for Florida's economy from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the main consequences are already being felt in the form of rising prices at the gasoline pump. But the degree to which the warfare might affect the region’s bread-and-butter tourism and other consumer service industries is hard to calculate at this point. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Publix sales jump to $48 billion in 2021, topping 2020

Publix’s sales grew to $48 billion last year, improving over 2020 when grocery business soared amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Lakeland-based chain of nearly 1,300 stores reported sales for the fiscal year ending Dec. 25 were up 7% from $44.9 billion in 2020. Comparable store sales increased 5.4%. Net earnings were $4.4 billion, up 11.1% from $4 billion in 2020. The employee-owned company increased its stock price Tuesday from $66.40 to $68.80. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida approves 24-hour-a-day alligator hunting

A 24-hour-a-day alligator hunt won preliminary approval from the Florida wildlife commission Wednesday, in the latest expansion of hunting on an animal that used to be on the endangered species list. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to extend the hours during hunting season on public lands from 17 to 24 hours. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentiniel]

House passes measure targeting sea level rise

The Florida House almost unanimously passed a proposal Wednesday to bolster efforts against sea-level rise. The bill (HB 7053), sponsored by Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera, R-Coral Gables, would establish a new resiliency office directly under Gov. Ron DeSantis. Also it would require the development of a resilience action plan for the state highway system, require a prioritized list of resilience projects that would include costs and timelines and create a database that would identify such things as medical centers, utilities, emergency operation centers and airports that would be threatened by rising sea levels. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Simpson proposes added $331M for Florida agriculture as he eyes commissioner job

Republican Senate President Wilton Simpson wants to be the next Florida agriculture commissioner, and he is using his power over the $105 billion state budget to give the agency a gift: $331 million in new spending. But it also comes with a catch: It can’t be spent until after the election. The money — $300 million for land acquisition, plus aerial drones, agriculture promotion and new jobs — must be held in reserve and not used by Nikki Fried, the current agriculture commissioner who is a Democrat running for governor. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Bill permitting development on Florida seagrass beds, manatees’ food source, stalls in Legislature [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Environmental advocates are encouraged that a bill to open Florida’s seagrass beds to development — which could be devastating for the dwindling manatee population — has only a slim chance of passing the Legislature this session. “We would be destroying what little seagrass we have left in the state,” said David Cullen, a lobbyist for Sierra Club Florida. “It just makes no sense at all.”

› Alan Ginsburg’s foundation gives $40 million to Nemours, Holocaust Museum, UCF [Orlando Sentinel]
A $40 million gift from the charitable foundation of local developer and philanthropist Alan Ginsburg will help correct longstanding health inequities for disadvantaged children, build a world-class Holocaust museum in Orlando and promote inclusion, civil discourse and civic engagement at the University of Central Florida.

› Spring breakers return to South Beach as City Hall tries to avoid repeat of 2021 chaos [Miami Herald]
It’s been almost a year since spring break crowds got so out of control that Miami Beach declared a state of emergency, imposed an 8 p.m. curfew and shut down the major causeways leading into the island city. The raucous street party last March led to international TV coverage of clashes between police and tourists, a parody on “Saturday Night Live” and protests from residents outside City Hall.

› Gasparilla Festival of the Arts returns to Tampa for first time since 2020 [Tampa Bay Times]
In 2020, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts was one of the last big local events to happen before the pandemic forced everyone into lockdown. Looking back, it feels like a dream — people enjoying themselves and the art, with little idea that it would be two full years before the festival would look like that again.

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› Miami sidetracks funds to restore Miami Marine Stadium [Miami Today]
The Miami City Commission has put off reauthorizing bond funding to restore historic Miami Marine Stadium for several months. The commission was to vote Feb. 24 to reauthorize issuance of bonds to help pay for long-awaited restoration. Instead, Commissioner Joe Carollo successfully deferred the vote after a lengthy explanation of why he wants to wait on restoration, which the commission originally approved in 2016.

› $3 billion Tampa project earns top environmental certification [Business Observer]
One of the biggest projects in Tampa’s history has received a top environmental certification. Water Street Tampa has attained LEED Silver Certification, given for how public space between buildings is used and how the public will interact with that space, for its neighborhood development plan.

› Jacksonville Beach company is helping keep retailers, suppliers in sync  [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Travis Mariea is doing his best to move product inventory as smoothly as possible for his clients, who want to put merchandise into the hands of customers but do not have a traditional logistics staff. He acknowledges that even with significant strides for his business, Flxpoint Inc., he has work to do. “We run warehouse logistics for brands,” he said.

› Original owner of Beach Bistro bringing famous menu items to Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
A month after selling his iconic Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island, and local restaurateur Sean Murphy is already ordering equipment for another, similar fine-dining establishment in the booming Rosemary District north of downtown Sarasota. The restaurant, tentatively called BLVD Bistro, will be on the first floor of the 18-story BLVD Sarasota condominium tower offering panoramic waterfront and city views.