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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida's electricity bills rank among nation's lowest
The most recent data from the Federal Energy Information Administration places Florida’s electricity rates at the lower end of the scale nationwide. For residential consumers in March 2023, the price per kilowatt hour for electricity in Florida was 14.76 cents. In March 2022, prices sat at 13.50 cents — an increase of 1.26 cents over the year. In the South Atlantic region, Florida’s residential prices came in sixth place out of nine states, beaten by North Carolina at 12.97 cents per kWh, Georgia at 13.57 cents per kWh, West Virginia at 14.20 cents per kWh, South Carolina at 14.26 cents per kWh, and Virginia at 14.74 cents per kWh. More from the Center Square.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida environment: Farm team
Nicolette Mariano, one of just three oyster farmers on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, says it’s by luck that she is hanging on in the risky business she loves. But like most farmers, she knows risk and luck are just part of the deal. “Hurricane Ian saved us. We have more oysters than we know what to do with,” Mariano says of her nearly seven-acre lease in waters just south of the Sebastian Inlet in the Indian River Lagoon. But before Ian smashed Southwest Florida, crossed the state and eventually poured a silver lining of much-needed rain onto Mariano’s oysters, prospects looked grim. More from Florida Trend.
Arts center residential towers shouldn’t go on Orlando city land, critics say
A plan to expand downtown Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts includes adding two residential towers totaling as many as 350 units, drawing concerns about putting private housing on city-owned land. The new details came to light as leaders of the nonprofit performing arts center pursue funding to build phase three of its nine-acre campus, which sits on publicly-owned land. Phase 3 will include an outdoor performance auditorium, a 750-seat theater, an elevated park, a cafe, a restaurant, and more. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
The inside story of how, when Messi’s No. 10 Inter Miami jersey will hit the market
Lionel Messi’s No. 10 Inter Miami jersey is about to become one of the most sought-after shirts in sports history. Factories in Vietnam, Norway, Italy and Miamisburg, Ohio, (yes, Miamisburg) are bracing for the onslaught of orders. From the moment the Argentine soccer icon announced on June 7 his plans to join Miami’s MLS franchise, Embelex Team Sports doubled its staff and began working around the clock at those four locations to add Messi’s name and number to whatever Inter Miami pink and black Adidas jerseys it could get its hands on. More from the Miami Herald.
Is $1.8 billion expressway the answer to south Hillsborough traffic woes?
Relief for commuter traffic congestion in southern Hillsborough County may come from the air, not from the ground. And it still could be decades away. The idea is to extend the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway for 10 miles from its current eastern end in Brandon to Big Bend Road in Riverview. The elevated highway would be built above the median of U.S. 301. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Entertainment
Pictures: First look at Minion Land at Universal Studios
We’re getting closer to having free rein in Minion Land, the new, very, very yellow area of Universal Studios theme park. Several storefronts have entered a “soft opening” phase, including the banana-happy Minion Cafe. Not ready yet is Villain-Con Minion Blast, the centerpiece attraction that Universal Orlando says will open sometime this summer. All of this spins off the little overall-wearing, goggle-equipped, big-eyed beings first seen in the 2010 film “Despicable Me.” The park opened Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, a simulator attraction in 2012.
» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel and see a slideshow here.
Out of the Box
Burger King unveils new Fries n’ Rings in South Florida
Have you ever ordered onion rings at Burger King and — by sheer luck — gotten a few fries as well? Or maybe it was the other way around. You’re almost done scoffing down the fries and find they were sitting on top of an onion ring, like some sort of delish buried treasure. #FastFoodFortunate. Well, now the Miami-based company is test-launching a new side dish that will make that fried phenomenon a repeated reality.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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