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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Comeback season for Florida citrus winding down
There were high expectations (relatively speaking) heading into the 2018-2019 Florida citrus season. It was to be a comeback year for the industry. Turns out, it has been to a degree. Despite the latest forecast figures from the USDA that shows the all-Florida orange crop estimate losing 1 million boxes of Valencias from last month’s report, the overall count stands at 71.4 million boxes, which is more than 26 million boxes better than last season. More from Growing Produce.
Trump puts spotlight back on Interstate 4 region as America’s preeminent political battleground
The region stretching from Daytona Beach to the communities ringing Tampa Bay has been described as the ultimate battleground in the ultimate battleground state. When Air Force One touches down Tuesday in Orlando for the official kickoff of President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign it will put the national spotlight back on Florida and particularly the Interstate 4 corridor, maybe the hardest fought political ground in America. More from the St. Augustine Record.
Florida Humanities Council loses state funding
Since 1973, the Florida Humanities Council has brought history programs, authors, and Smithsonian exhibits to communities across the state. It receives most of its funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, but the state has chipped in money since the early 2000s. Last year, the council received $500,000, about 25% of its total budget. That funding is going away when the new state budget goes into effect July 1, and the council isn’t sure why. More from WUSF.
Orlando-based Dynamic Attractions to build 9 attractions for Chinese firm
A company in China has hired an Orlando firm to build rides for some of its newest theme parks. Jialong Parks, which has parks under development in five cities in China, signed a letter of intent to hire Dynamic Attractions, the company has announced. Dynamic Attractions has worked with more than 50 theme park operators around the world, including attractions at Universal Studios along with Disney and Six Flags theme parks. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
After 30 years backstage, new Ruth Eckerd Hall CEO Susan Crockett steps into the spotlight
Susan Crockett is the venue’s first homegrown leader in three decades, rising from assistant house manager to CEO over a span of 31 years. It’s a high-profile job that, for the longest time, she didn’t want. Yet when Zev Buffman retired last fall, sparking a global search to replace him, Crockett threw her hat in the ring. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Business Profile
Harbor Docks
On July 4, Harbor Docks will officially reach 40 years in business. What started as one little cottage and six picnic tables has become a Destin landmark for food, family, events and more. Charles Morgan founded Harbor Docks in 1979 , five years before Destin would become an incorporated municipality. Throughout the years, the cottage expanded significantly, with the addition of two buildings and a seafood market.
» More from the Northwest Florida Daily News.
Florida Attractions
Beach with the longest pier in Florida breaking tourism records
For a fifth consecutive year, Navarre Beach likely will attract a record number of tourists this summer, if the off-season is any indication. Between the shoulder months of October 2018 and April 2019, tourist development tax collections reached more than $1.5 million, more than double the amount during the same period in 2014-2015.
» Read more from the Star.
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