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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Gulf and Florida waters are rising faster than other parts of the U.S. Expect more flooding as a result.
Sea levels have risen faster in the Gulf of Mexico and the Southeast coast than other parts of the U.S. in the last decade, according to two new studies. The data shows a rapid rise in areas such as Pensacola, Cedar Key and Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, as well as accelerated rises on the east coast, from Miami up to Cape Hatteras. The recent spike may be a temporary acceleration, say the reports, but scientists can’t say when it would slow down. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
State cuts ties with contractor after predawn emergency alert sent ‘in error’
The state of Florida has decided to cut ties with the contracted software company that mistakenly sent out a test emergency alert before sunrise Thursday morning, resulting in many Florida residents receiving an unwanted wakeup call. Florida residents received a test emergency alert at about 4:45 a.m., causing their phones to emit a loud, sharp noise and display a notification that a test was being conducted. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Gainesville leaders give final OK to large-scale solar farm project
The Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously to approve a solar contract with Origis Energy on Thursday, a step toward creating a large-scale solar farm project in Archer. City leaders initially approved a contract amendment to the FL Solar 6 project, a 75-megawatt solar plant about 15 miles west of downtown Gainesville in February. Shortly after, the city was forced to explain its decision during a Florida Joint Legislative Auditing Committee hearing that broadly discussed its overall financial outlook and $1.7 billion debt. More from the Gainesvlle Sun.
Sarasota firm was the brains behind worldwide product design award winner
A Sarasota-based design firm is celebrating a red dot. While not the direct winner of the 2023 Red Dot award, the company, Robrady, was behind the design that won the award. A partnership with Texas-based AYRO Inc., an electric delivery vehicle manufacturer, landed the 2023 title for product design on the 2023 AYRO Vanish vehicle. More from the Business Observer.
TIAA remains quiet on bank buyout
TIAA filed an application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in March to separate its trust business from the regular banking business of its Jacksonville-based bank, TIAA FSB. However, nearly six months after announcing an agreement to sell the bank to a group of investment funds, TIAA has not publicly filed the application to approve the sale and the company is not giving any more details. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Business Beat - Week of April 21st
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Profile
Meet Tampa Bay’s ‘Johnny Appleseed,’ who has planted 30,000 trees
A mysterious phenomenon occurred all around Tampa Bay in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When the sun went down and the streets were empty, someone clandestinely planted trees in parks, thoroughfare and empty lots. “People had no idea where they were coming from,” William Moriaty laughed. Moriaty eventually admitted he was the culprit leading a group of volunteers in the rogue plantings. In 1983, he went legit by forming the Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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