SHARE:
Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Tax break could help Disney, others move lucrative streaming productions to Florida
The chairman of Florida’s Republican Party is moving a tax break through the state Senate that aims to make the Sunshine State a production hub of streaming content for the Walt Disney Co. or another entertainment giant. State Sen. Joe Gruters is pushing a bill that would extend a state tax incentive program to television or streaming projects that involve an investment of more than $500 million over three years. It’s unclear whether the tax break is intended to benefit a particular company or what could be in the works. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Crystal Cruises lays off 238 employees, closes Miami office
Crystal Cruises, the luxury cruise operator whose ships were pursued through Bahamian waters by federal agents over unpaid bills, has laid off all 238 of its Miami-based employees and intends to wind down its operations. According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act filing with the state of Florida, the company started to lay off top executives, managers and staff members in Miami on Jan. 21, and intended to complete the task by last Friday. The layoffs are permanent. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
‘What we have in Florida is inadequate:’ State’s COVID monitoring system leaves public blind to new variants
Two years into the pandemic, Florida’s monitoring system for COVID has left the public blind to the arrival of highly contagious variants. Florida sends only a tiny fraction of all positive COVID tests to labs for genetic sequencing to learn their strain of coronavirus — only 1% over the entire pandemic. Some states, such as Washington, are sequencing up to 20% of all cases. With so few samples sequenced in Florida, health officials lack the ability to track variants and their prevalence across the state until cases surge. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida's faux no-fault fix: The saga continues
Over the years, there have been many attempts to fix, sunset or even repeal Florida’s no-fault system. The result has consistently been the same: Florida remains the most fraud-prone state in the nation with motorists paying some of the highest insurance premiums around. Last year, legislators finally succeeded, passing a bill to repeal PIP (personal injury protection) while mandating bodily injury coverage. This bill was vetoed by the governor. Now we are into 2022, and the no-fault insurance repeal re-emerges. [Source: Property Casualty]
Florida Atlantic Coast seaports enjoy record volumes, advance enhancements
Record containerized cargo activity and advancement of infrastructure enhancements highlight achievements at seaports of Florida’s Atlantic Coast. As the Florida Ports Council continues to tout the open-for-business capabilities of Sunshine State ports, including in providing efficient alternatives to congested supply chains via the U.S. West Coast, Florida Atlantic seaports are handling more cargo than ever while several are at last enjoying a return of cruise business that had metaphorically run aground due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [Source: American Journal of Transportation]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Keys Fisheries and economic health depend on Everglades restoration
In a state renowned for idyllic vacations, Florida Bay – spanning more than 1,000 square miles between the tip of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys – is the cream of the crop. With islands stretching between turquoise water brimming with manatees, dolphins, and coral reefs, tourists flock here in droves, and they are vital to South Florida’s economy. But there’s trouble in paradise.
› 64th annual Daytona 500 sells out less than a week before race
The Daytona International Speedway will see a sold-out crowd this weekend for the 64th annual Daytona 500. Sunday’s race is “a complete sellout,” according to the speedway. Speedway officials said in June 2021 the “anticipation” for the race and events is high following a year with limited capacity, masks and social distancing guidelines in place.
› Metro Orlando rents rise the fastest in the Sun Belt, sparking frustration and fear
Rent in metro Orlando rose faster over the past year than any other city in America’s Sun Belt, according to CoStar, a real estate analyst. An influx of residents combined with a red-hot housing market is pushing demand for apartment and house rentals to previously unseen levels. It’s a trend that’s worrying affordable housing advocates, demoralizing renters and leaving many out in the cold.
› Miami prepares for Presidents Day Weekend tourists. But will they come?
Everyone, it seems, suddenly wants to check out Miami. And as the big Presidents Day weekend approaches, marking the traditional thick of Greater Miami’s tourism season, things appear to be ebullient. For the first time since the pandemic struck in March 2020, two of Miami’s flagship Presidents Day weekend events will be back in full swing.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
