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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
To infinity and beyond: How space impacts Florida's economy
As NASA sets its sights on the lunar surface with its Artemis mission, the commercial space world is eagerly awaiting a new lunar boom. The Space Coast saw more than 50 launches this year, and is on pace to set yet another record. Jim Gregory is the Dean of the College of Engineering at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He explains how space is impacting our lives down on Earth. More from WUSF and WMFE.
See also:
» SpaceX aims for its 50th Space Coast launch this year
Orange County tourism taxes keep dropping. Here's what to know
For the fifth month in a row, Orange County has brought in fewer tourist development tax dollars on hotel and other rental stays compared with last year. TDT revenue collected during the month of August was down around 5.6% compared to this time last year. Visit Orlando predicts hotel bookings for the remainder of the year, including for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, will be lower than last year as well. More from WMFE. Orlando Sentinel.
2 more Mayport littoral combat ships retired as fleet keeps shrinking
Naval Station Mayport’s littoral combat ship fleet is smaller than it has been in years following the decommissioning of two vessels Friday, raising to four the number retired since August. Four other Mayport-based LCS are scheduled to be taken out of service in 2025 and made available for sale to foreign navies. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Florida wants to more than double size of Mosaic’s ‘radioactive roads’ plan
Citing advice from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ state transportation agency, fertilizer giant Mosaic wants to more than double the size of its controversial proposal to test radioactive phosphate manufacturing waste as an ingredient in road building, according to documents filed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
More brand-name luxury coming to Pompano Beach as Waldorf Astoria signs with beachfront project
First a Ritz Carlton. Now, a Waldorf Astoria. The founders and leaders of Pompano Beach, incorporated in 1908, probably never imagined over the years that their northern Broward County city would become a destination for such iconic luxury brands. But it’s happening in the wake of an agreement announced Tuesday by Waldorf Astoria and the South Florida-based developers Related Group and Merrimac Ventures, which are building a 92-unit beachfront condominium tower. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Miami-Dade County putting seagliders into water transit mix
Water transit plans for Miami-Dade County are flowing forward on several fronts. The Transportation Planning Organization last week authorized its executive director to prepare for another study examining a waterborne transportation network, while the organization’s vice chairman is asking the county to focus in part on including a new technology, seagliders, in any water transit planning.
» More from Miami Today.
Business Profile
Lady Fines
At Tampa’s Hotel Alba, model Caitlyn Cooks confidently strutted across the pool deck practicing her runway walk. Her fellow models — women from Florida with amputations, spinal cord injuries, down syndrome or colon cancer — cheered along from the sidelines that Friday afternoon. The models represented Lady Fines, a local fashion company designing accessible clothing for women with disabilities. The brand debuted its first collection at Tampa Bay Fashion Week later that night.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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