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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Busiest part of hurricane season begins but Atlantic Ocean calm for now
The sporadic sputtering of tropical waves peppering the Atlantic as they roll westward from Africa to the Caribbean is the telltale sign of August, but for now, forecast models remain cold to development. Nevertheless, it’s the time of year when subtle shifts – a change in day or location – can alter the outlook in a hurry. It’s the time of year we pay closer attention to these disturbances that might otherwise go overlooked in June and July. More from WPLG and Florida Today.
Florida gas prices reach new 2023 peak
Gas prices in Florida are again on the decline following an 18-cent surge in the average cost per gallon last week. Motorists across the Sunshine State have paid more for gas for four consecutive weeks through Friday, when the price hit $3.84 per gallon —12 cents more than the previously yearly high in April. By Sunday, pump prices averaged $3.83 per gallon. Just over a month earlier, on Independence Day, gas here was 57 cents cheaper per gallon. More from Florida Politics.
Brightline doubles down on tech-fueled offerings to improve South Florida mobility
Spending some time with Brightline chief technology and digital innovation officer Kevin T. McAuliffe made it clear that the company is running much more than trains up and down Florida’s east coast. Rather, Brightline can be seen as a tech company – innovating on the platforms that keep the trains moving just as much as getting us from point A to point B. More from Refresh Miami.
Tampa Bay area emerges as a luxury hotel haven
The Tampa Bay area is enjoying a hotel boom. In the last few years, several upper-end hotels have opened, adding almost 5,000 rooms to one of the country’s most popular destinations. The bay area’s hotel market “is performing significantly better than virtually any other in America right now,” said Lou Plasencia, CEO of the hotel brokerage and consulting firm The Plasencia Group. “This area has improved in almost every sector — corporate travel, business travel, leisure travel. We really are the envy of virtually every market in the nation.” More from the Tampa Bay Times.
SpaceX launch sets turnaround record from Cape Canaveral
SpaceX shot up a rocket Sunday night from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station that set a record for the company’s quickest turnaround ever from a single launch pad. The time between liftoffs was only three days, 21 hours and 41 minutes, besting SpaceX’s previous record from Feb. 7-12, 2023 that had a turnaround of five days, three hours and 38 minutes. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Profile
Entrepreneur overcame serious mistakes to build a promising career
Vince Serrano's life has taken several turns, from growing up in a low-income household to a prison stint for drug charges. He's used his past as inspiration to become an entrepreneur and recording artist. Serrano hopes to grow his Youngest in the Yacht club to become a go-to platform for music industry events.
» More from the Business Observer.
Innovation
Miami professor develops ‘bright’ Lightguard tool to help protect against armed threats
Like many Americans, University of Miami clinical research professor Brian Arwari has been troubled by the increased frequency of mass shootings, particularly when children get gunned down at schools. The 49-year-old Italian American father felt compelled to use his skills as a scientist to try to figure out something that would improve students’ safety on campuses.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.
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