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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
NASA moving towards Artemis II liftoff, but program's future remains uncertain
At Kennedy Space Center, teams are upgrading ground systems that are crucial to successfully launching the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. If the Artemis II mission goes off without a hitch, NASA's plan to launch Artemis III about a year later, in December 2025, could still be in jeopardy. For that mission, up to four astronauts will travel to lunar orbit in an Orion capsule. The rest hinges on SpaceX's success with its Starship program. More from Florida Today.
National Hurricane Center tracking 2 systems showing potential for development
The tropics are no longer quiet. The National Hurricane Center is tracking two systems showing potential for development over the coming days. Both disturbances are located in the eastern Atlantic. Chances increased to 30 percent for development over the next seven days of the tropical wave moving off the coast of Africa, according to the latest advisory. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Hungry for higher-end dining? Boca Raton’s new Restaurant Row to open by end of year
Four new dining spots are well underway in Boca Raton as part of a project called Restaurant Row, which should be fully completed by the end of this year. “You can go down to Miami, you can go up to Atlantic, even down to Las Olas, and you can get these higher-end restaurants, and we felt there was a bit of a void that we were seeing, especially in East Boca, but certainly for Central Boca,” said Evan Rosenblatt, the senior vice president for construction and development at PEBB Enterprises, the company overseeing the project. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Rent increases are cooling in Tampa Bay, after nearly doubling since 2019
After three long years of drastic hikes, the cost of rent is finally slowing down in Tampa Bay. Since this time last year, the average rent in Tampa Bay has risen only 4.3%, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis of Zillow data. That’s a marked improvement from the pandemic, when rents increased more than 25% in a year, amid heavy population growth. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Red Lobster heads in right direction, key shareholder says
The tide at Red Lobster is rising, with key shareholder Thai Union saying its losses at the Orlando-based company have fallen significantly. The Thailand-based seafood supplier reported that its share of loss from operations in Red Lobster decreased by 66% in the second quarter compared with the same time last year. Converted from Thai currency, the loss in the quarter this year was about $2.7 million, improved from a loss of about $8 million last year. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Miami luxe condo buyers walk through digital world to see and feel finished high-rises
Albert Prada was interested in buying a home in LOFTY Brickell, a new 44-story luxury condo building along the Miami River near the city’s financial district. He was on the fence, though, because he wanted a view of Biscayne Bay to ensure his place would lure plenty of short-term renters. Through virtual reality technology, Prada was able to take a “virtual” walk-through of the unit, while the high-rise was under construction, see the modern interior — and sure enough a clear look at the bay.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Business Profile
Backyard tree-swing company in Jacksonville grows, with big boost up from Southern Living
After moving from Tanzania to Orange Park, Zac West looked around at the big Florida live oaks shading his property and thought: A tree swing would be perfect for his daughter Zara, whom he and his wife Hannah had adopted in Tanzania before she was a year old. He built two, nothing fancy, but everyone seemed to enjoy them. And when the coronavirus pandemic hit and so much of the world shut down, West set up his tools outside under the trees, consulted YouTube videos, made a website of his own and began making swings — much fancier than before, with routed edges and holes and top-quality hand-spliced rope.
» Read more from the Florida Times-Union.
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