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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida to remove Airbnb from ‘banned companies’ list after Israel reversal
State officials will recommend next month that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet remove Airbnb from the Florida’s list of “scrutinized companies,” a list of corporations that are banned from entering into agreements with state agencies or local governments. DeSantis has already said he supports removing Airbnb from the list, mentioning it multiple times during his high-profile trip to Israel this week. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the Miami Herald, and WUSF.
Miami Yacht Show cites success, staying downtown
Though there was one major unexpected expense, the Miami Yacht Show’s first year downtown was successful, directors of Miami’s Downtown Development Authority heard Friday. The show, which had been held on Miami Beach for 30 years, generated $484 million in direct economic impact in February, when it moved to the former Miami Herald site, now owned by the Genting Group. More from Miami Today.
Plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam products could be on the way out at Orlando parks and venues
The days of single-use plastics like bags and straws, as well as Styrofoam food containers at popular Orlando parks and venues, could be numbered as officials are taking aim at banning their use by the city and its contractors. That means the millions who attend large-scale events at the Amway Center, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Camping World Stadium, as well as celebrations like Come Out With Pride could be using alternative, more eco-friendly materials later this year. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida has most bicycle deaths in the nation
Florida is the deadliest state in the country for bicyclists, according to the latest figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 783 bicyclists were killed in the United States with Florida taking the lead with 125 deaths. As the end of Bike Safety Month nears, AAA is reminding riders and drivers to share the road. More from WJXT.
JTA considers fare hikes as June public meetings set
The cost to ride one of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s 308 buses, the St. Johns River Ferry and its other transit services could go up next year after the idea was floated to its board workshop Tuesday afternoon. The authority’s first fare increase in seven years has no start date yet. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Florida History
The birthplace of the Miami sound
Several months before Mack Emerman opened Criteria Recording Studio in a North Miami warehouse district tucked off Biscayne Boulevard, a writer ventured in a Miami Herald column dated Feb. 2, 1958 : “I don’t think Emerman is going to get rich. But he deserves praise for offering the young musicians in the area a chance at a wider audience.” In 1958, Emerman turned his Criteria Recording Co. into international music gold.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Entertainment
Mapping the spots of movies and TV shows filmed in South Florida
If you’ve ever wondered where movies have been filmed in South Florida, there’s an interactive map that points the way. The Miami-Dade County Movie & TV Map Tour, which can be found at the Filmiami website, highlights 99 productions that have descended on the region in the past 100 years.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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