March 28, 2024

Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/16/2020

Florida businesses: Are you ready for California’s new privacy law?

A big change in data privacy protection is ramping up in California, and many Florida businesses will soon feel its effects. Beginning this month, large businesses around the country that operate in California must disclose to their Golden State customers who ask for it any data the companies collect about them. Those customers can then request that the information be deleted or demand that it not be sold. Companies that fail to comply could face significant fees and penalties. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Tourists can help rebuild storm-ravaged town in Florida

Officials in a Florida Panhandle beach town are hoping tourists want to do more than frolic in the surf and lay in the sun. They’re hoping tourists will help rebuild a neighboring beach town devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Officials in Panama City Beach on Tuesday introduced a program that allows tourists during their visit to help build homes and plant sea oats in the sand dunes of neighboring Mexico Beach, which was demolished by the category 5 storm. More from WJXT.

Florida Trend Exclusive
2020 Economic Outlook: Southwest Florida - Red tide, higher ed, transportation

Perspectives on the year ahead from business leaders in each of Florida's major regions, along with key growth-related statistics and a roundup of issues and news. The new St. Petersburg Pier, pictured right, is nearly complete. The $92-million project, featuring a slick modern design, various restaurants and an abundance of public art, is scheduled to open by spring. More from Florida Trend.

Trucking accident rates put Florida under road safety microscope

Trucking accidents are all too common — and the state of Florida ranks in the top five worst states for fatal truck crashes. While Texas and California nabbed the top two spots, indicating the highest numbers of trucking collisions (perhaps due to their size and populations), Florida came in third. More from the Apopka Voice.

Florida’s fireworks rules could change this year

Floridians would no longer have to lie about buying fireworks to scare birds away from their crops when they celebrate the Fourth of July and New Year's under a bill approved by a Senate committee Wednesday. Fireworks that explode or fire off into the air are illegal in Florida unless they’re used to scare birds away from farms and fish hatcheries. But the law is often ignored, and fireworks dealers simply have customers sign a document that says they’re using fireworks for those purposes. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and WFTS.

Transportation
A moped rental company just landed in Miami. Will people choose it over Uber or Lyft?

 Will Miami riders rent a moped for $0.29 a minute (plus a $1 fee) over taking a Lyft or Uber? One New York-based company thinks they will — and has bet 750 of its vehicles on it. Revel launched its mopeds in Miami the last week of December. With the cooperation of the Miami Parking Authority, and thanks to its year-round sun, Miami was a natural fit to add to Revel’s early roster of rollout cities, which also include Washington, D.C., and Oakland, California.

» More from the Miami Herald.

 

Entertainment
What to see, eat, buy at Epcot International Festival of the Arts

floridaIt’s year 4 of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, and the event is falling into its groove. Disney World has created a midwinter experience where folks can browse art, eat (and photograph) attractively designed foods, listen to Broadway singers, walk right into oversized masterpieces, participate in group murals and more.

» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Florida Trend Video Pick

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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