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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida produce growers say new NAFTA does little to help them
Congress is expected to soon consider approval of the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The deal was brokered between the three nations as a more modern replacement to the North American Free Trade Agreement — better known as NAFTA. However, many of Florida’s fruit and veggie farmers say the agreement isn’t what it should be and they’re running out of time before ratification. More from Fresh Plaza and WTXL.
Florida’s largest pot dispensary coming to Daytona Beach
Medical marijuana patients in Volusia County soon could have another outlet for treatment in the area’s burgeoning medical-cannabis industry. And it just might be the largest in Florida. Trulieve, Inc., Florida’s largest medical-cannabis firm, has leased a 6,060-square foot building on West International Speedway Boulevard with plans to transform it into what would be the state’s largest medical marijuana dispensary More from the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Seminole Hard Rock seeks 1,200 new workers for guitar-hotel expansion
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood is seeking more than 1,200 new workers for its expanded resort and 450-foot guitar-shaped hotel. A job fair is set for June 4, according to a statement from the resort, which said it is looking for full- and part-time workers in practically every facet of the casino, food and hospitality sectors. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Sharks popping up all around Florida for summer beach season
There are sharks off Florida’s coast. That’s not news, but with Memorial Day weekend’s traditional summer season kickoff, there are now thousands more people venturing to Florida’s beaches, so that means more shark sightings. Meanwhile, the nonprofit OCEARCH that tags sharks and tracks them on its website shows many of its nicknamed great white sharks spending time off Florida’s coast. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
JEA predicts huge rate increases over next decade
JEA customers face the potential for steep, double-digit increases in electric and water rates over the next decade if JEA clings to a “status quo” approach in the face of changes in the utility industry, according to a dire outlook given to the JEA board on Tuesday. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Arts and Culture
Latest Florida Prize brings in artists from around the state
For the sixth year, the Orlando Museum of Art has selected 10 artists statewide for the Florida Prize for Contemporary Art exhibition. The artists are emerging or mid-career, giving viewers a chance to catch these rising stars before they become household names. One artist will be selected by a panel of judges to receive the $20,000 Florida Prize.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Pepper the friendly robot standing by to pep up your visit to the bank
Don’t be afraid, but a robot is being deployed to serve you at one of the world’s largest banks. Its name is Pepper. It’s a humanoid robot with a tablet for a chest and wheels that let it get around on its own. It’s shiny and cute. It has arms and it has hands that it can tighten into a fist. But it doesn’t want to hurt you or take anyone’s job, say officials of HSBC Bank, where Pepper is being put to work.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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