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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
‘Freedom Week’ in Florida comes with lots of sales tax breaks. Find out how you can save
Florida is about to find out how much a week of sales-tax “freedom” translates into capitalism. Starting Thursday, in what lawmakers dubbed “Freedom Week,” people will receive sales-tax breaks when they make a wide range of purchases that could help spur them to be more active after being limited by the coronavirus pandemic. More from the News Service of Florida.
Fort Lauderdale hotels offering COVID vaccines — and perks — hoping to lure visitors
Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront hotels find themselves in an odd predicament this summer: International visitors and cruise passengers aren’t coming and a trickle of guests from other parts of the U.S. are arriving maskless. In a move to lure travelers and promote safety among workers, five oceanfront hotels are holding pop-up COVID vaccination clinics this week. The hotels are offering grocery coupons, days off and vacation packages for employees and free overnight stays for guests to return for their second dose. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoes repeal of no-fault auto insurance in Florida
Pointing to possible negative impacts for the insurance market and drivers, Gov. Ron DeSantis late Tuesday vetoed a long-sought effort by legislators to end the state’s no-fault auto insurance system. The bill was one of four DeSantis vetoed Tuesday. He signed 94 others, including measures to impose new use-of-force training requirements for law enforcement officers (HB 7051); allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns at churches or other religious institutions that share properties with schools (HB 259); and overturn votes by Key West residents that restricted cruise ship operations (HB 1194). More from the News Service of Florida.
Revalize tech company evolves out of company acquisitions, plots headquarters in Jacksonville
The unveiling of a new technology company is leading to the birth of a new corporate headquarters calling Jacksonville home. Jim Contardi, CEO of Revalize, announced Tuesday the firm will have its headquarters at 8800 W. Baymeadows Way and expand the facilities there. “We see Jacksonville as the perfect location to call headquarters for Revalize,” Contardi said. “We already have a footprint of about 70 employees here in Jacksonville." More from the Florida Times-Union.
Want to take a class with SoftBank’s top executives? Check out this course
Global venture giant SoftBank is tapping top executives from its mostly Miami-based International Group for a new course aimed at students enrolled at Miami’s three primary colleges and beyond. The SoftBank Operator School is designed to give students from Florida International University, the University of Miami, and Miami Dade College an understanding of how tech startups work and career paths they can provide. More from the Miami Herald.
Event
Kennedy Space Center plans program marking 10th anniversary of Atlantis’ last launch
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will play host to a gathering of astronauts to mark the 10th anniversary of the final launch of space shuttle Atlantis. Most of the last Atlantis crew, the final trip of the U.S. shuttle program, will be in attendance at the Brevard County attraction July 8, including Commander Chris Ferguson, Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus. Pilot Doug Hurley was also on the flight, which launched from the Florida coast July 8, 2011.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Doody calls: Tampa Bay dog services scoop up a niche in a nasty business
The fastest professional pooper scooper in the country lives in Tampa Bay. The champion’s name is Cheresee Rehart, and she took first place in the Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists’ two-minute “Turd Herding Contest” in 2019. Rehart and her mentee, Kristin Carson, are two of the hundreds of professional pooper scoopers across the United States. Both are local business owners who started dog waste removal companies in Tampa Bay.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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