As tourism grows, Airbnb's tax payments to Florida nearly double year over year
Airbnb collected nearly $90 million in tax dollars from Florida visitors last year, roughly double what the room-sharing and renting platform paid to the Sunshine State and its counties the year before. One of the main reasons for the spike? How much tourism continues to grow in the state. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Orlando Sentinel, the Miami Herald.
Want to be a director of cannabis, make $120K, no drug test required? Florida has the job for you
Florida’s new agriculture commissioner is looking for someone passionate about cannabis to fill a job that pays up to $120,000 a year. And don’t sweat a drug test — it isn’t required. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is creating a “director of cannabis” position that will focus on developing Florida’s hemp industry and implementing rules on edibles for medical marijuana patients. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Shark attacks down worldwide and ‘nosedive’ in Florida waters, researchers say
Shark attacks, still rare despite movie plot lines and one fatal attack this year off Cape Cod, declined dramatically worldwide in 2018 and plummeted by nearly half in Florida waters, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File, an annual report released Monday morning. More from the Florida Museum and the Miami Herald.
Will BP money get tapped to pay for Hurricane Michael?
Calls are growing to use BP oil spill money to bolster Hurricane Michael recovery efforts, potentially reducing the financial burden on local and state budgets. Created by the Legislature, the non-profit agency Triumph Gulf Coast was created to distribute to Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton counties three-quarters of the $2 billion the state will get over the next 12 years through the BP settlement. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida strawberry production showing signs of improvement
Florida's strawberry growers are predicting that production will pick up in the next few weeks after a period of tighter supplies. There has been rain in the early part of the season, but growers believe there could be several factors that have affected overall volume across the state. [Source: Fresh Plaza]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Judge Laurel Lee to replace Mike Ertel as Florida secretary of state
Gov. Ron DeSantis wasted no time in choosing a new Florida secretary of state, naming Hillsborough Circuit Court Judge Laurel Lee to the job Monday just days after Michael Ertel resigned when blackface photos of him surfaced
› Red tide caused worst Sarasota tourism decline since 9/11
Sarasota area leaders heard more details Monday about how devastating red tide has been, with the county’s top tourism promoter telling the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation that the region has experienced the worst tourism decline in more than a decade.
› Owners of Olive Garden sue chicken industry, accuse it of conspiring to raise prices
Darden Restaurants filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday accusing Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride and other companies of a “conspiracy” to increase the cost of chicken meat. Darden, which is seeking unspecified damages, is following several other major food companies that have sued the chicken-producing industry in recent years.
› Tampa startup Knack — it’s like Uber for college tutors — attracts new investor
Educational tutoring startup Knack on Monday announced a $125,000 partnership with the Washington D.C.-based Village Capital investment fund and the nonprofit educational testing and assessment service ETS.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Creative RV to ride travel trailer popularity into Jacksonville RV MegaShow
Creative RV, among the six Northeast Florida RV dealers taking part next month’s 2019 Jacksonville RV MegaShow is enjoying its current niche — specializing in towable recreational vehicles.
› Domino's is paying to fix South Florida roads so your pizza will be delivered unharmed
You’ve probably seen those commercials where Domino’s promises to repair potholes so that your pizza delivery will arrive safe and fresh. “Bad roads shouldn’t happen to good pizza,” the gimmicky ad says. Well, Miami-Dade County, which has its share of bad roads, is next on the pizza company’s repair to-do list.
› Venezuela consul in Miami abandons Maduro amid global push to turn diplomats
Venezuela’s consular officer in Miami — a diplomat with more than 18 years of experience — became the latest foreign service officer to throw her support behind interim President Juan Guaidó, as leader Nicolás Maduro sees himself increasingly isolated at home and abroad.
› Water district: End federal oversight of Everglades restoration
An update is expected this week in a legal dispute over Everglades restoration. The South Florida Water Management District wants an end to federal oversight of the restoration, but environmental groups and others are opposed to the move. A federal judge has given the water management district until Wednesday to respond to opposition.