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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Some Florida minimum wage workers stack the coins, while others lose out
The first minimum wage increase to $10 per hour in 2021 benefited approximately 600,000 workers in Florida, according to Florida Policy Institute’s CEO Sadaf Knight. When the $15 minimum wage is fully in effect in 2026, Knight said it’s going to benefit more than one in four Floridians. “It benefits workers in industries like retail and food service,” she explained. “Industries that are heavily concentrated in Florida, and especially here in Central Florida.” But industries like hospitality, retail and food services tend to see more cases of wage theft. More from WMFE.
Oil suppliers got best of Florida’s gas-tax ‘holiday,’ experts say
Florida’s one-month gas tax holiday ended Monday without consumers ever seeing the full 25-cents-per-gallon break Gov. Ron DeSantis promised at the beginning of October. The holiday did provide relief to the petroleum suppliers because they’re the ones who pay the tax to the state and then collect the money from the gas stations and convenience stores across Florida. “It failed to meet its intended purpose if the goal was to provide relief to Florida taxpayers,” said Esteban Santis, an analyst at the Florida Policy Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that studies policy and budget decisions. More from the Orlando Sentineland the Gainesville Sun.
Mermaid-shaped artificial reef sculptures to be installed Tuesday in waters off of Hollywood
The Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency and the Ocean Rescue Alliance have teamed up to install 20 artificial reef structures in the waters off of Hollywood on Tuesday. The structures, some in the form of mermaid sculptures, others more mound shaped and imbued with various nooks and hideaways, will be carried by barge to an artificial reef site a half-mile off Hollywood Beach, in about 40 feet of water, then lowered by crane. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy makes 4th ever liftoff from Space Coast today
SpaceX and the Space Force cut through the heavy fog and served up a pair of double sonic booms on the Space Coast today for the 4th ever liftoff of the current title holder for most powerful rocket available for launch. A SpaceX Falcon Heavy blasted off from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A at 9:41 a.m. on the USSF-44 mission to place its payload of mostly classified satellites into geosynchronous orbit. The rumble at launch cracked across the launch complex as the 5.1 million pounds of thrust could be heard, but not seen with a blanket of fog enveloping the pad and the rest of KSC. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
From ship front desk assistant to steering Royal Caribbean, CEO talks about the journey
Michael Bayley steered Royal Caribbean through the worst of the challenging and devastating global pandemic. Hailing from the United Kingdom, Bayley, was 22 when he left his Wales home in 1981 to travel to Miami to work at the front desk of one of Royal Caribbean’s original ships. Now 64 and the chief executive of one of the world’s largest cruise lines, he’s never looked back. More from the Miami Herald.
Supporting innovation and job growth
With the launch of a game-changing new industry-acceleration space at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Volusia County civic leaders Cici and Hyatt Brown are promoting innovation, creating high-paying jobs and bolstering Florida’s advanced technology workforce to benefit future generations. The Cici and Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology, supported by the couple’s remarkably generous $25 million gift, which was matched by Governor Ron DeSantis and the State of Florida, firmly establishes Daytona Beach as a key player in the rapidly growing commercial space arena. [Sponsored report]
Commentary
The time invested in yourself and your financial future matters most
According to the UBS 2022 Own Your Worth report, Women on purpose: Values, money, and the pursuit of more intentional lives, 80% of women surveyed reported that the events of the past two years have made them reassess what’s most important in their lives. Because of this, seven in 10 women want to make more of a difference personally, as well as in the world around them through their lifestyle and investment choices.
» More from Florida Trend.
Arts Business
Miami unveils collection of nearly 5,000 NFTs designed by 56 Miami artists
Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez announced a partnership with Time magazine, Mastercard and Salesforce to launch an NFT initiative for the city to drive revenue to local businesses and non-profits. The city will unveil a collection of nearly 5,000 NFTs designed by 56 Miami artists.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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