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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Is a space industry bubble burst looming?
The space industry could be facing a shake-up as venture capital money threatens to dry up amid fears of a looming recession. Space-focused startups have been on a mostly upward trajectory for years, bolstered in part by venture capital funding that keeps young companies afloat as they build their businesses. The parts of the industry that are expected to be hardest hit include those focused on far-future concepts like asteroid mining and startups working to innovate new rocket concepts that take a large amount of upfront funding. More from Axios.
People needing an abortion will travel to Florida. A economist looks at how many and the costs
Melanie Guldi, associate professor of economics at the University of Central Florida, reflects on how Florida's new abortion law might affect the state economy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019 Florida had 71,914 abortions preformed in the state, with 2,256 preformed to nonresidents. The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration reports there have been 33,382 abortions in the state so far this year, with 2,372 preformed to nonresidents. More from WUSF.
Summer slowdown? Why Southwest Florida's hotels could see less business than last year
Summer might not be as sunny as last year for Southwest Florida's tourism industry. For many hoteliers, the outlook isn't as bright for various reasons, from higher gas prices to inflation. The bar is also high. The industry experienced a particularly strong summer last year, in part due to "revenge travel," as Americans looked to make up for the trips and vacations they lost out on in 2020, due to COVID-related travel restrictions and concerns. Revenge travel could be waning. More from the Marco Eagle.
Jimmy Patronis’ Office returns $20M in unclaimed property in June
Unclaimed property is typically a financial asset, such as an uncashed check, life insurance benefit or a valuable item or items left in a safety deposit box that are unclaimed or abandoned by the owner. A business or government entity can hold the property for five years while trying to locate the owner, then send it to Patronis’ Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property, which sets up a database for owners to file a claim for the property. More from Florida Politics.
When can you claim up to $10,000 for storm-hardening home upgrades? Not before peak of hurricane season
Homeowners planning to apply for up to $10,000 in state funding for hurricane-resistant home improvements will likely have to wait until the current hurricane season ends. That’s the bad news. The good news is that impact-resistant windows and new roofs will be eligible for funding for applications approved before the program’s $115 million budget runs out. The My Safe Florida Home program, revived by the state Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, will help fund an array of upgrades by reimbursing homeowners $2 for every $1 they spend up, up to $5,000. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
In Memoriam
The shuffleboard king helped the sport spread from Seminole
The king of shuffleboard wasn’t much of a player. He could play, he just had other things to do: inventing and perfecting shuffleboard cues for his family business, Allen R. Shuffleboard Company in Seminole, or traveling around the world introducing shuffleboard, or watching as shuffleboard became cool again. Allen died June 18 of congestive heart failure. He was 93 and leaves a legacy of invention, kindness and a sport in the midst of a thriving revival.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Entertainment
Old, weird Florida: Sunshine State roadside attractions that are still worth a visit
The arrival of Walt Disney World in 1971 and the interstate road system pretty much put an end to the golden era of Florida roadside tourist attractions, when the state's main north-sound roadways were lined with mom-and-pop gator wrestling stands, concrete dinosaurs and Wild West shootouts. But not all of them have been driven into the history books.
» Read more from the Florida Times-Union.
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