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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Hurricane forecasters just unveiled their newest prediction model. Just what can it do?
A new hurricane model is in play at the National Hurricane Center, and it’s kicking off a new generation of modeling meant to improve storm track and intensity predictions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the launch of the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System on Thursday. The model, which became operational in late June, has been shown to improve forecasting by 10 to 15%. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Business Beat - Week of July 14th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Florida Policy CEO says sales tax holidays aren't as helpful as you think
With inflation and all the other expenses families are dealing with, how much do these sales tax holidays actually help consumers? Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute, says "They're not as effective as you think they might be. When we do the research and look at who utilizes the sales tax and what kind of relief they provide, they don't actually promote economic growth or increase purchases by consumers, or provide targeted tax relief the way that we might expect." [Source: WFIT]
Where are the safest places to live in Florida? The answer may not surprise you
When you're deciding where to live, there are a lot of things to consider. Do you like the climate? Are the schools good? How's the local economy? Is there decent pizza nearby? But one of the most important things to look at is: Is it safe? While no place will ever be completely safe from crime or natural disasters, some places may be a safer bet than others. [Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal]
Group of friends shatter state record by capturing Florida’s longest python
A group of friends in Florida has made history by capturing the longest python ever measured in the state. This remarkable feat becomes even more astonishing as some of the individuals had never gone python hunting before. The record-breaking python, measuring 19 feet in length and weighing 125 pounds, was wrestled to the ground by the intrepid hunters in a captivating showdown. More from WSVNand WDBJ.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Central Florida utilities struggled to address, pinpoint source of toxic chemical in tap water
Resolving who is at fault for 1,4-dioxane in drinking water has been a long time in coming. The chemical was documented by state investigators as contaminating the ground beneath the Siemens factory in 2001. Sanford, Lake Mary and Seminole County found the chemical in their drinking water in 2013 and 2014. The investigation into the fate of the Siemens factory’s 1,4-dioxane and how the chemical got into drinking water has been plodding at times, marked with unfulfilled assurances, detoured by lapses in institutional memory, and, according to state records, now hints at contention
› 5 South Florida startups selected for the Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund - and win $150K grants
Google for Startups announced that five South Florida startups are recipients of grants from their Latino Founders Fund. In total, Google for Startups announced 46 U.S. recipients of this year’s Google for Startups Black and Latino Founders Funds. The startups get $150,000 in equity-free cash to help fuel their business. They also receive sales and fundraising training, technical support from Google mentors, up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits and mental health coaching from a team of Black and Latino therapists.
› Could life and low rent change for St. Petersburg marina’s residents?
Among the residents in this gated, waterfront community are a retired judge and Trader Joe’s employee. Engineers, pilots and a dance teacher. A gig worker with three jobs and an executive working from home. Retirees living their dream, families raising children and young adults just starting out. They are the residents of the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. Among the 660 slips where commercial and recreational boats dot the postcard-worthy waterfront, more than 100 people live aboard their vessels.
› Wells Fargo closes Orlando business division, laying off more than 100 people
Wells Fargo is closing a facility in Orlando, laying off more than 100 people in the process, according to a notice sent to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The notice, filed Tuesday, said the bank will be closing a unit at 11050 Lake Underhill Rd., thus terminating 103 positions within its consumer and small business banking division. This action is anticipated to be permanent, the notice said.
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