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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Gonzalo expected to become season’s first hurricane
Tropical Storm Gonzalo, which formed in the open Atlantic Wednesday morning, is expected to become the season’s first hurricane. Gonzalo, the seventh named storm of the year, breaks a record for the earliest g-named storm by two days. The previous record holder was Gert, which formed on July 24, 2005. Gonzalo is about 1,250 miles east of the southern Windward Islands, and moving west-northwest at 12 mph. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Orlando Sentinel.
Social distancing surges again in Florida as COVID-19 cases rise and new shutdowns loom, data shows
When Florida began its reopening in May, tracking data from cellphones showed what you would expect: People began moving and socializing in a quest for normalcy. Then coronavirus made a comeback as new cases surged and Florida emerged as one of the nation’s hot spots. Now, that same cellphone data shows Floridians beginning to recoil at the alarming headlines and threats of new shutdowns. Social distancing, at least for the moment, is back. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Is offshore fish farming in Florida’s future? A test project in the Gulf could supply answer
A boat traveling southwest from Sarasota into the Gulf of Mexico for a little over two hours will reach a spot where the ocean is 130 feet deep and the sandy sea floor holds no corals, seagrass or shipwrecks. For almost three years it’s been the proposed site for anchoring a submerged mesh cage — one about the size of 20 backyard swimming pools — to raise a fast-growing native fish called the almaco jack. More from the Miami Herald.
Florida charter jet business stalls, then climbs
When COVID-19 hit, the charter jet industry, along with most other businesses, went into a nose dive. People were sheltering in place and hardly anyone was traveling for business. Now many private jet companies — especially in Florida — are on an upward trajectory. More from Florida Weekly.
Water park discussion overshadows North Port budget talks
Debate over the availability of slides, splash pad and lazy river at the North Port Aquatic Center overshadowed budget talks Tuesday afternoon, after City Commissioner Chris Hanks brought up social media criticism about how quickly the attraction’s COVID-19 capacity is reached. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Out of the Box
Miami’s oldest comic-book store was on the verge of closing due to COVID. Enter Batman.
In May, the future seemed bleak for A&M Comics and Books, the oldest comic book store in Florida. No new comics had been published since March 25 — the first such stoppage of the industry since World War II. Sales at the store had plunged 80 percent. And even though the shop remained open by appointment, there were few takers. Enter Batman.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Transportation Trends
Florida moves ahead with more electric-vehicle plans
Florida is moving ahead with plans to dramatically expand its network of electric vehicle charging stations along major interstates and highways. State spending is driving the expansion — even during the pandemic — thanks in part to tens of millions of dollars in criminal and civil penalties from automaker Volkswagen caught cheating on environmental tests.
» Read more from the AP.
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