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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Floridians are eager to travel to Europe, but European visitors to Florida will have to wait
Floridians are booking trips to Europe, after last week's announcement that tourists are being welcomed back by the European Union starting this summer. However, it could be a while before visitors from Europe and elsewhere return to the Sunshine State. Crossing the Atlantic will be easier starting next month. Don’t expect to see the surge in outbound traffic translate into visits to Florida right away. The U.S. remains closed to most international visitors, including Canadians. according to Visit Florida, 3.6 million people from Canada visited Florida in 2019.[Source: WUSF]
Hurricane 2021: Seven hurricane myths that need to go away
Tape your windows before a hurricane. That advice echoes across Florida every storm season. And every year, it’s wrong. “That does not help nothing,” said Pasco County Emergency Management Director Andrew Fossa. “The only thing that is going to do is hold bigger pieces of glass together as it flies through the air.” Taping up windows may be the most common misconception about getting ready for a hurricane in Florida. It’s hardly the only one. Such myths have long clouded the judgement of Floridians in the face of the the Sunshine State’s greatest danger: hurricane season. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Gas prices fall in Florida as more drivers expected to hit the road for Memorial Day
Florida gas prices are dropping down as the number of drivers on the roads is expected to go way up by Memorial Day weekend. More than 2 million Floridians are preparing to drive 50 miles or more during Memorial Day, according to a forecast by AAA, the Auto Club Group. Incidentally, the price at the pump has lessened in the last week, but it is unclear what prices drivers will find for themselves during the holiday weekend. State averages are at about $2.87 — 2 cents less than last week, AAA reported. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
New Florida law requires social media companies to explain censorship or face fines
A new law in Florida designed to power check Silicon Valley requires technology companies to explain their processes when censoring social media posts and gives Floridians the recourse to seek legal action against platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “social media platforms” bill, Senate Bill 7072, into law at Florida International University in Miami on Monday while surrounded by Florida politicians and activists with ties to Venezuela and Cuba. Presenters at the event lambasted social media companies for censoring posts with conspiracy theories, comparing “Big Tech” to the authoritarian regime of Venezuela. More from Click Orlandoand NBC Miami
As Florida waits, cruise lines line up Alaska sailings as early as July with expected CDC approval
Cruise lines have been rolling out their itineraries to try to squeeze in a few months of the traditional summer season of sailing Alaska, but the companies still await final approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and one president’s signature. The announcements include plans to sail with fully vaccinated passengers from Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America and Princess Cruises. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Orlando's new south terminal blends high-tech systems with Florida ambience
Carl Langford, who was mayor of Orlando from 1967 to 1980 and was instrumental in securing the land where Orlando International Airport now stands, once remarked that airports should be designed “for people, not for airplanes.” More than four decades later, officials at OIA have kept that approach in mind with the design and building of a south terminal complex that’s nearly finished.
› Tampa Bay Rays minority owners sue Sternberg, say he secretly negotiated Montreal deal
A group of minority owners of the Tampa Bay Rays have filed a lawsuit against Stuart Sternberg, the principal owner, alleging he has been engaged in a “relentless scheme” to take over control of the team and began secretly negotiating to sell an interest in the Rays to Montreal investors in 2014 — years before it was publicly disclosed.
› Christy Budnick named global CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
HSF Affiliates named Christy Budnick, president and CEO of Jacksonville-based Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, as its global CEO on May 24. HSF Affiliates operates and manages the global network of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate brokerage franchises.
› Famed Miami developer plans to create more than 1,000 Miami jobs with new food ‘empire’
A major Miami developer is hoping to launch the future of American food from Coconut Grove — creating as many as 1,000 jobs in the process. Sam Nazarian, whose sbe hospitality group is responsible for the SLS Hotels and Residences and Katsuya restaurant, plans to hire hundreds of workers over the next few years to build out what he is calling a new food group “empire,” C3, from a space in the revamped CocoWalk development.
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