March 28, 2024

Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/26/2018

Checks finally going out to homeowners in citrus canker cases

After a 15-year legal battle, checks soon will be on the way to Broward and Palm Beach county homeowners who lost trees in the state’s failed fight against citrus canker. Last week, the state of Florida turned over $52 million to lawyers representing 85,000 households in successful class-action lawsuits over the state’s destruction of their citrus trees. The money, minus legal fees, will be distributed to households whose healthy trees were destroyed because they were too close to infected ones. More from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

DeSoto County rejects new Mosaic phosphate mine

The world’s largest phosphate company, Mosaic Co., lost its bid to open a new mine on 18,000 acres of land .The DeSoto County Commission voted 4-1 Wednesday to reject Mosaic’s request to change the zoning on its property from agricultural to mining. Opponents has been concerned about the impact a phosphate mine might have on Horse Creek, a major tributary of the Peace River, which supplies water for two counties. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Bank merger: Drummond Community and Peoples State

Chiefland-based Drummond Community Bank has announced that it is merging with Lake City-based Peoples State Bank. Drummond also has locations in Marion, Alachua, Levy, Citrus, Lafayette, Columbia, Dixie and Gilchrist counties. The combined operation will have more than $550M in deposits. More from the Gainesville Sun.

Tampa's Channelside Bay Plaza to be remade as 'Sparkman Wharf'

The developers of Tampa's $3 billion Water Street project have dropped the veil on their plans for their makeover of the under-performing Channelside Bay Plaza mixed-use shopping center. "Sparkman Wharf," named for former U.S. Rep. Stephen M. Sparkman, will include about 180,000 square feet of loft-style office space, 65,000 square feet of ground-level retail, plus a 1-acre outdoor space with a lawn, outdoor dining and beer garden. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Indian River Lagoon Partnership to fund septic-to-sewer project

Four Florida agencies have joined together to provide $2.4 million for the West Wabasso septic-to-sewer project in Indian River County. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the St. Johns River Water Management District, Indian River County and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program are behind a new project to improve water quality. The project includes the conversion of approximately 54 properties currently on septic to the new sewer system. More in this news release.

Environmental Trend
Disney announces plan to eliminate plastic straws, stirrers

Mark HowardThe Walt Disney Co. has announced it will stop using single-use plastic straws and plastic stirrers at all of its locations. Disney officials said that the policy will be in place by mid-2019 and is part of the company’s “long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.” The plan will eliminate more than 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers annually.

» Read more at the AP.

 

More Theme Park News
Carnival Graveyard (Rust in Pieces) set for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights

Carnival GraveyardCarnival Graveyard (Rust in Pieces) is the latest original house set for Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. The house will revolve around decayed rides and games, an aged tunnel of love, guard dogs, oh, and armed-but-creative carnies.

» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

In case you missed it:

Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Should Congress ban the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S.?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Need more details
  • What is TikTok?
  • Other (Comment below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.