March 28, 2024

Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/1/2019

Ron DeSantis proposes $91.3 billion budget

Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing a boost in per-student spending, an overhaul in how the state rewards teachers, improvements to the state’s aging transportation network and more money to save the Everglades. DeSantis unveiled his $91.3 billion budget proposal on Friday. Dubbed “Bold Vision for a Brighter Future”, DeSantis said his budget is basically to “keep it in line with last year.” More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Orlando Sentinel.

Beluga caviar, straight from the farm in Florida

Mark Zaslavsky, a Ukrainian emigre and an owner of Sturgeon Aquafarms, a Florida-based caviar aquaculture facility that counts the rare and prized beluga variety amongst its offerings, first got into the caviar business as an importer. But when the former Soviet regime began to crumble, Zaslavsky worried about Russia’s wild caviar supply. More from Forbes.

Gainesville Regional Airport sets travel record

The number of passengers using Gainesville Regional Airport set a new record in 2018, breaking the previous record set in 2017, the airport reported Thursday. A prime reason for the increase is greater passenger awareness of the ease of using the Gainesville airport compared with the cost in time and money to travel to Orlando, Jacksonville or Tampa for flights, said spokeswoman Erin Porter. More from the Gainesville Sun.

Company that partners with Universal, Disney benefits program expands in Orlando

An Aventura e-commerce company will more than triple its Orlando footprint to accommodate plans to hire 100 people by the end of the year. Entertainment Benefits Group has purchased a 144,000-square-foot building west of Florida Mall, representing a major jump from its current 40,000-square-foot facility. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida bans company for selling millions of fake social media followers

Florida’s new attorney general, Ashley Moody, is targeting companies that sell fake followers on social media. Moody announced a settlement Thursday with Devumi, a company formerly based on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach that sold hundreds of millions of fake followers, known as bots, to an estimated 200,000 customers nationwide. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

2019 Economic Outlook
Downtown redevelopment remains a priority in Northeast Florida

 Jim O'Leary, President/CEO of Haskell tells us, “I anticipate a steady economy in 2019, even slight expansion. However, in 2020 things may change. In recent months, President Trump’s cut in the corporate tax rate and regulation reform have contributed to considerable manufacturing expansion. But trade volatility and tariffs between the world’s largest economies will certainly have a cooling effect over time." Read more here.

 

Out of the Box
Welcome to St. Petersburg’s Tiny Town. Population: one cool artist dude

florida Tiny Town is made up of 11 art pieces created by artist Dan Painter, of St. Petersburg. The structures include a drive-in, radio station, fishing pier, seafood restaurant, auto garage, motel, Officer’s Club, bathhouse, gas station, barbershop, bank and salvage yard.

» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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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

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