Tropical Storm Elsa, back over water, takes aim at Florida
The conditions in southern Florida have begun to deteriorate as Tropical Storm Elsa took aim at the Florida Keys early Tuesday, prompting a hurricane watch for portions of the west coast of state, according to the National Hurricane Center. In addition to damaging winds and heavy rains, the Miami-based center said the peninsula was in danger of life-threatening storm surges, flooding and isolated tornadoes. A hurricane watch was issued for the west-central and Big Bend coast of Florida from Egmont Key to the Steinhatchee River. More from the AP and the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida's college and universities athletes have already started earning money through new law
A new Florida law lets college and university athletes profit from the use of their name, image or likeness. Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said the legislation comes with a requirement that student athletes get financial literacy training. And he said it gives young athletes the chance to build entrepreneurial skills. [Source: WUSF News]
For teens, finding a summer job was nigh impossible. Things have changed
Faced with an unprecedented labor shortage sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida restaurants are increasingly turning to high school and college students to take shifts. It’s a trend seen nationwide — where the unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds stands at 9.6%, the lowest it’s been since 1953 — but one that is now especially noticeable in the hospitality-heavy Miami metro area. [Source: Miiami Herald]
Florida rises and shines among states with most solar energy
With enormous fields of solar panels spreading across Florida, the Sunshine State this year has overtaken North Carolina and now leads Southeastern states in harnessing the sun’s energy. That ranking by the Southern Alliance of Clean Energy, or SACE, a leading, nonprofit group advocating for ending the use of coal and natural gas to generate electricity, reflects a steep rise in Florida’s solar energy in recent years. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Ransomware breach at Florida IT firm hits 200 businesses
Hundreds of American businesses were hit Friday by an unusually sophisticated ransomware attack that hijacked widely used technology management software from a Miami-based supplier called Kaseya. The attackers changed a Kaseya tool called VSA, used by companies that manage technology at smaller businesses. They then encrypted the files of those providers' customers simultaneously. Security firm Huntress said it was tracking eight managed service providers that had been used to infect some 200 clients. [Source: Reuters]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida lawsuit challenges new Seminole gambling compact
One of Florida’s oldest parimutuel companies, owner of Miami’s Magic City Casino and the Bonita Springs Poker Room, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Florida gaming compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, alleging that the sports betting component is a based on “legal fiction” that violates federal law.
› Sarasota electronic controls company acquires European company
Helios Technologies is set to acquire NEM S.r.l., an innovative hydraulic solutions company. Helios is a global leader in highly engineered motion control and electronic controls technology for diverse end markets. NEM provides customized material handling, construction, industrial vehicle and agricultural applications to its global customer base, predominantly in Europe and Asia.
› Lawmakers say Surfside collapse will bring proposals for state-level changes
Two state lawmakers representing coastal communities of Northeast Florida say they expect the Surfside condo tower collapse will bring proposed changes in regulations but they want to see what an investigation determines caused the building to come down.
› Universal’s Epic Universe could make thrill rides easier to stomach with new device
A patent application for a system that aims to reduce motion sickness on rides could benefit guests at Universal Orlando’s planned Epic Universe theme park, an expert said. “I think it’s going to tie into some of the experiences you’ll see at the new Universal park that’s coming,” said Dennis Speigel, founder and CEO of International Theme Park Services.
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› Rare colony of seabirds returns to South Florida for nesting season
Last year bird lovers were shocked when a colony of federally protected seabirds summered in Deerfield Beach, which they attributed to an empty beach because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the threatened least terns have returned to Broward again to seek a safe space to birth their chicks. This time, they’ve taken up roughly a football field-sized patch of beach just south in Pompano Beach.
› Breakthrough Theatre will reopen in new location
The Breakthrough Theatre, an early casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, is “coming back and coming back strong,” owner Wade Hair announced Saturday in a live Facebook video. The Winter Park community theater, which closed in the spring of 2020 after 11 years on Fairbanks Avenue, has found a new location and is planning to open its 13th season of plays and musicals in September. But, Hair said, it’s going to take thousands of dollars to make it happen.
› Mana buys in downtown again with plans to expand Flagler District project and tech hub
Moishe Mana is expanding his footprint in the Flagler District, downtown’s envisioned tech hub. The Israeli-born developer and billionaire bought a parking lot at 49 NW First Street, across from the Miami-Dade County Courthouse and a single-story building with a handful of eateries, according to a statement provided to the Miami Herald. The approximately $12.4 million sale closed on Friday. Mana is ironing out details for a new project on the site.
› Lakeland City Commissioners to vote on broadband deal Tuesday
Lakeland officials have a choice to make about establishing a connection that could bring a new high-speed internet provider to the city. City commissioners will vote on a contract with Orlando-based Summit Broadband Inc. that will create create a private-public partnership for broadband service. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.