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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida flights face worst delays in years thanks to private jets and space launches
For much of the pandemic, many U.S. travelers experienced delay-free flights as air traffic plummeted. With leisure travel roaring back, the skies are jamming up, nowhere more so than in Florida. Thanks to private jet flights, space launches and severe weather, the Sunshine State is seeing its worst gridlock in years. Airline officials and federal regulators are meeting this week in an undisclosed location to address the problem. More from Bloomberg.
Denny’s buys Orlando Keke’s Breakfast Cafe chain for $82.5 million
Denny’s has reached an agreement to purchase Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, a 52-restaurant chain that started in Orlando, for $82.5 million. Keke’s got its start in 2006 when it opened as Florida Waffle Shop on Conroy Road in Orlando. The business changed names in 2010 after its trademark application was turned down due to another restaurant with a similar name, co-owner Kevin Mahen said at the time. Keke’s came from a combination of his and his brother and co-owner Keith Mahen’s names. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
State expands alligator hunting hours
Alligators in Florida will be targeted around-the-clock when the next hunting season begins in August. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a final rule change Tuesday that will extend what had largely been nighttime hunting — between 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. — to 24 hours during the season. Supporters said the change will help hunters better schedule trips and potentially allow more young and senior hunters to participate, as they might be more comfortable hunting during the day. More from the News Service of Florida.
NASA, Boeing to give another go this month to Starliner launch to space station
Boeing is set to complete a goal years in the making this month gunning to launch its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station. The uncrewed flight dubbed Orbital Test Flight-2 is targeting liftoff atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday, May 19 at 6:54 p.m. The rocket and payload are set to roll out to Space Launch Complex-41 today and a launch readiness review is coming up on May 11. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Miami area wage gains below national average
Compensation costs for private industry workers in the Miami region rose 4.3% in the first quarter of this year from the first quarter of 2021, far above the 3.4% 12-month gain registered in the first quarter 2021, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week. Wages and salaries alone rose 4.6% over the 12-month period in the Miami region. More from Miami Today.
Event
Find your Old Florida treasure at Floridania Fest in Gulfport
Florida nostalgia lovers, rejoice. And maybe say a prayer for your pocketbook. After a multi-year hiatus, Floridania Fest returns to Tampa Bay on May 21. Thousands of historic Sunshine State souvenirs, artwork and collectables will be for sale at the Gulfport Casino, from postcards and felt pennants to orange blossom perfume and alligator skin handbags.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Entertainment Trends
Movie studio jumps first hurdle on way to Fort Lauderdale
The old Wingate incinerator site is on its way to becoming home to a $150 million movie studio — unless another investor can come up with a better plan for the city-owned land in the next few weeks. On Tuesday night, all five Fort Lauderdale commissioners gave a developer’s unsolicited proposal to transform the 61-acre parcel into a full-service movie studio complex a thumbs up. The proposal calls for a 50-year lease with a 50-year renewal option and a rent payment of $1 a year.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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