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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida sports tourism is growing and could benefit from more planning
When you think of sports tourism, you might think about taking a trip to the Olympics, or maybe Taylor Swift and crew making the rounds of NFL stadiums lately. But sports tourism is much more than that. It's everything from making a kayak trip to traveling with your family to a kids' soccer tournament. And it can all have a real impact on the environment. That's why Brooke Hansen, an associate professor at the University of South Florida's Muma College of Business, is specializing in Sports Tourism and sustainability. Hansen says this booming industry in Florida needs to be managed — soon. More from WUSF.
Hurricane debris, shifting sandbars make Suwannee River's McGriff Pass nearly impassable
Down along the Suwannee River in Dixie County people are having a hard time getting to the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Idalia pushed a bunch of sand and debris into McGriff Pass making the 3.5-mile channel connecting the river with the Gulf of Mexico nearly impassable. Now, six weeks after Idalia slammed into the Big Bend with 125-mph winds, residents of Suwannee, a village of 300 dependent on recreational fishing and boating, have taken to social media to say they are in dire straits. More from the Gainesville Sun.
Pensacola looks to partner with Conservation Florida to find funding for Bay Bluffs Park
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves is looking to partner with Conservation Florida to preserve Bay Bluffs Park and find funding opportunities to restore public access to the park. During his weekly press conference Tuesday, Reeves said he has a meeting with Conservation Florida on Oct. 19 to discuss the issue. Conservation Florida is a non-profit dedicated to preserving land throughout the state. More from the Pensacola News Journal.
Miami Worldcenter developer sent back to drawing board
The final two phases of a block-sized multiple tower development are under review for the heart of the evolving Miami Worldcenter, in the Park West neighborhood. The city’s Urban Development Review Board voted to recommend approval of the latest phases of the massive project but with a condition that the developer consider a redesign of the final phases. More from Miami Today.
Brevard commissioners reverse course on using tourism tax dollars for cultural events
The Brevard County Commission reversed course Tuesday on an earlier move to slash the use of tourism tax dollars to support cultural events in the county. The 3-2 vote Tuesday restores $530,000 in funding for a cultural grant program for the 2023-24 budget year that began Oct. 1 and to fully fund a Brevard Cultural Alliance contract at $202,000 for that budget year. Those actions â?• which were not on Tuesday's County Commission agenda — reverse previous votes by commissioners to defund the cultural grant program. More from Florida Today.
Florida Health
Tackling cancer
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan knows a thing or two about breast cancer. The former First Coast News TV anchor was first diagnosed at the age of 38 in 1999 after finding a small lump during a breast self-check. A biopsy determined that she had triple negative breast cancer, and that led to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Deegan developed the idea of The DONNA Foundation in 2003 based on a desire to help raise funds for those living with cancer.
» More from Florida Trend.
Retail Trends
Secrets at your supermarket? What Florida grocery stores will do for you — if you ask
You might think it’s just “what you see is what you get” at the supermarket. But not everything is like that. Several grocery stores in South Florida will allow you to customize a purchase. But you have to ask for what you want because supermarkets are not ones to shout out what’s possible. Like: special cuts from the butcher, a deviation at the deli, a cooked dinner from the fishmonger.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.
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