March 28, 2024

Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/11/2022

Walgreens, Florida square off in opioids trial

After inking $2.4 billion in settlements with prescription drug manufacturers, distributors and retailers, the state is set for a courtroom showdown with Walgreens over the pharmacy giant’s role in the opioid epidemic. A long-awaited trial in the case kicked off Monday morning in Pasco County, which is among the areas of Florida that suffered most in the epidemic that former Gov. Rick Scott declared in 2017 as a public health emergency. More from the News Service of Florida.

Brevard County reports record tourism numbers, leading to optimism for rest of 2022

A widely watched indicator of how the Space Coast tourism industry is doing is the monthly report on the collection of Brevard County's 5% tourist development tax on hotel rooms and other short-term rentals. Space Coast Office of Tourism Executive Director Peter Cranis describe the most recent monthly report — data for February that was released Thursday — as "incredible." More from Florida Today.

Magic distribute over $1 million to Central Florida organizations

The Orlando Magic not only closed out the season with a matchup vs. the Miami Heat Sunday at Amway Center, but they also distributed over $1 million to the Central Florida community. The Magic distributed 13 $50,000 grants and four $100,000 focus area grants totaling $1.05 million to 17 organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation during a ceremony Sunday. More from the Orlando Sentinel .

Tampa City Center project gains community support, but questions linger

Mayor Jane Castor’s chief of staff thanked the public recently for holding the city accountable on its decision not to rebid a construction contract for what amounts to a second City Hall in East Tampa. Several Black community leaders, who had previously been critical of that decision, said recently they were encouraged by the construction firm and the city’s efforts to obtain historic levels of minority participation. They weren’t interested in starting the process over, they said, but want to hold Castor to her vow to have historic levels of minority participation on a project that has grown from $10 million to $108 million in cost. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Internationally famous Brazilian steakhouse opens giant restaurant in Coral Gables

Fogo de Chão, the Brazilian churrascaria where roving waiters roam table to table serving sizzling grilled meat from a skewer, is opening a huge new restaurant in Coral Gables. Just a few blocks south of Miracle Mile, the new flagship for the brand will be in The Plaza Coral Gables, a mixed-use development with hotels, residential units, dining and shopping. More from the Miami Herald.

Innovation
UCF group working to revolutionize aviation industry with green emission fuel

 Green-fueled planes could be soaring blue skies in the future as a University of Central Florida research group takes off with experimental fuel and equipment to revolutionize the aviation industry. Earlier this year, the group won a $10 million, five-year NASA grant to create its environmentally friendly, ammonia-based fuel as well as jet engine components capable of running it. The grant came just months after President Joe Biden’s administration set a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. aviation sector by 2050.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Entertainment
The curtain rises on the newest additions at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando

floridaThe Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center has unveiled Steinmetz Hall, an “acoustically perfect” concert hall, and will debut Judson’s, a cabaretstyle space, in May. The venues mark the completion of the $613-million, 700,000-sq.-ft. performing arts facility in downtown Orlando.

» Read more from FloridaTrend.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

In case you missed it:

Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Should Congress ban the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S.?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Need more details
  • What is TikTok?
  • Other (Comment below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.