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Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Trend’s Mike Vogel honored with the 2025 Paul C. Tash Award

Florida Trend is proud to announce that South Florida Editor Mike Vogel has won the 2025 Paul C. Tash Journalist of the Year Award. The prestigious award recognizes “a single journalist at the Times Publishing Co. who best exemplifies the integrity, high journalistic standards and service to readers that were trademarks” of Tash, the company’s longest-serving chairman. Vogel is the third recipient of the award, which recognizes work he did in 2024. More from Florida Trend.

Horse racing bill advances, potentially allowing Florida horse tracks to offer other types of gambling

The House Commerce Committee voted 17-9 to approve a wide-ranging gambling bill that includes what is known as "decoupling" for Gulfstream Park in South Florida and Tampa Bay Downs. Under current law, the tracks are required to run races to be able to operate card rooms and, in the case of Gulfstream, slot machines. More from CBS Miami.

Some Florida nonprofit hospitals aren't using their tax breaks the way they're expected

Nonprofit organizations are expected to use their tax breaks to give back to their communities. But a new national study found that many Florida hospitals aren't doing as much as they should. The Lown Institute, a national health care think tank, examined 1,800 hospitals across 20 states to see how they were using the money they saved on taxes from 2020 to 2022. More from WLRN.

National parks layoffs, closures: Any Florida facilities closed?

National parks are facing challenges maintaining restrooms and visitor centers due to staffing shortages. Budget cuts, buyouts, and layoffs have resulted in a significant loss of staff positions within the National Park Service. While some parks have experienced closures, Florida's national parks appear to be operating normally, with specific closures noted for certain amenities within some parks. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Florida cruise lines plan for larger ships, luxury residential offerings

The Florida cruise industry is showing signs of long-term growth and diversification, with major announcements this month from Carnival Corp. & plc, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., and newcomer Crescent Seas. Carnival Cruise Line announced April 7 that its fourth Excel-class ship, Carnival Festivale, will debut in 2027 from Port Canaveral. The fifth ship in the class, Carnival Tropicale, will follow in 2028, with its homeport yet to be determined. More from WFTV.

Event
What is Bern’s Winefest? A look inside the legendary South Tampa event

For 28 years now, one week in early April has been synonymous with one of the area’s most popular dining events. Bern’s Winefest, a fundraising event from the Laxer Family Foundation, is arguably the area’s most well-known charity bash dedicated to all things food and wine in the Tampa Bay area. A number of dinners feature prestigious wines from around the world, including the fundraiser’s keynote event, the Grand Tasting Experience.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Florida Trend Exclusive
Retro renovations

Located just minutes away from St. Augustine, Vilano Beach is gaining more attention nowadays, and a newly renovated 1950s-style hotel adds to its draw. Haley’s Court, with 16 rooms, bills itself as a boutique hotel with modern amenities. Roadside motor inns began to pop up in Vilano Beach in the 1940s and 1950s, with Haley’s Court among them, says co-owner Damon Lee.

» Read more from Florida Trend.