Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 9/19/2018

Florida will have $223 million extra to spend next year

Unemployment is down, job growth is above the national average and the population is growing, but the best news --as far as lawmakers are concerned --is that the state will have $223 million extra to spend next year. But Florida TaxWatch says in order for the surplus to exist, $392 million has to come out of trust funds designated to fund programs like affordable housing. More from WJXT.

AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson to step aside after nearly 20 years

Mike Jackson is stepping down after almost two decades leading AutoNation, the nation's largest dealership chain. Jackson, 69, steered AutoNation through the economic crisis and shares have increased fourfold since he took over in 1999, though he will relinquish his role as CEO next year with auto sales waning across the industry. More from the AP and CNBC.

Hialeah-based company: New tariffs putting our ‘families at risk of financial ruin’

Kevin Feig is staring at a 25 percent price hike on nearly every automotive part his Hialeah-based company sells. That prospect took the soft-spoken businessman before an August meeting of the U.S. International Trade Commission to advocate for the company that his father, Steve Feig, founded more than 40 years ago in East Hialeah. More from the Miami Herald.

'Minnie Van' Disney drivers dispute joining Teamsters union

Some drivers who transport Walt Disney World visitors around the theme park resort after being summoned by a Lyft app want to put the brakes on joining a union. A half-dozen of the drivers last month filed statements with the National Labor Relations Board saying they never sought union representation and are happy with their working conditions. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

ServisFirst expanding again in Florida

One of Birmingham, Alabama’s largest banks is expanding its presence in Florida once again. Florida has been a popular market of late for Birmingham banks expanding their footprints, including banks like National Bank of Commerce. More from the Birmingham Business Journal.

Agriculture
Double Harvest Potential Makes Florida Hops Twice as Nice

In traditional production areas such as Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, hops are only able to be harvested once a year, typically during late summer and early fall months. However, given Florida’s unique environment, hops can still be planted in late summer and then harvested well into late November and early December.

» More from Growing Produce.

Out of the Box
Robo-Jellyfish

Jellyfish float through the ocean like drones of the sea. Their simple nature makes them a natural muse for robot engineers building devices that can squeeze through tight spaces, check the ocean’s health, and eventually, explore the human body. This week, a team at Florida Atlantic University unveiled a new eight-inch wide robo-jellyfish built to monitor marine life and harsh underwater habitats.