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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida's hotel industry to benefit from uptick in cruise traffic
The number of cruise passengers in South Florida grew in 2019 continuing a five-year upward trend. That means a boost for hotel development and room rates, too. The uptick in activity will draw more foreign investors, development and an increase in room rates for the industry, said JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group Investment Sales Managing Director Gregory Rumpel. [Source: Miami Herald]
Millions of roses travel through Florida for Valentine's Day
With Valentine's Day right around the corner, millions of flowers are set to travel through Florida. The Society of American Florists estimates people buy 198 million roses each Valentine's Day. They come from South America and make their way to couples through the state. [Source: WCJB]
What are the safest/least safe cities in Florida?
The four cities rated safest in the report were all oceanside communities: Satellite Beach, Key Biscayne, Marco Island and North Palm Beach. Lake City and Palatka were among the four cities with the most crime per capita in the state. Florida’s overall rate of 33.24 crimes per 1,000 people is just a notch above the national rate. [Source: WJXT]
Working to make artichokes grow in Florida’s cool season
Chances are any artichokes you eat from the United States come from California, but researchers are testing new varieties in Hastings that tolerate North Florida climate. The cool nights in California are suited to growing artichokes as an annual or perennial crop and constitute 99% of the artichoke market. Researchers at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Hastings Agricultural Center are testing artichoke varieties adapted for growing in Northeast Florida’s cool season. [Source: News4Jax]
No-fault auto insurance may survive Florida lawmakers’ attempt at repeal
Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system might avoid repeal for another year as lawmakers fight over whether to slap “bad faith” litigation issues in the proposal. The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee voted to end the no-fault system, which requires motorists to carry personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage. The bill would require motorists to carry bodily-injury coverage. But a short time later, the Senate version did not come up as scheduled. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› New Port Richey boutique owner is moving on up
Sometimes an idea sprouts from an unlikely vantage, a serendipitous mishap that leads to a creative vision. As Lisa Langford tells it, that’s the start of Lis’s Pieces, an artisan boutique on Grand Boulevard in New Port Richey that she opened about a year ago and is in the midst of expanding.
› Seeing more job growth, Sarasota staffing firm expands to new market
Sarasota based HH Staffing has opened an office in Fort Myers, in a move to to address employment demands in the Southwest Florida market. The new office will be HH Staffing’s fifth office in the state, joining Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and the corporate office, in Sarasota, according to a statement. HH Staffing was founded in 1988.
› Weather forecast iffy for SpaceX Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral
Weather conditions for Saturday's SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral are teetering just on the edge of favorable, Air Force forecasters said Wednesday. Forecasters are expecting 60% "go" conditions for the 10:46 a.m. liftoff from Launch Complex 40 with another batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites. The launch window closes at 11:02 a.m.
› Hard Rock Stadium faces cap on county funding
More than $100 million in taxes to reward privately funded upgrades to Hard Rock Stadium could be capped as Miami-Dade today (2/13) considers barring future additions to the deal. A commission OK would bring a final vote March 3.
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