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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Christmas trees might be a little ugly, but they’re better for the planet
Imported Christmas trees, which make up the bulk of sales, are often shipped to Florida from North Carolina in refrigerated trucks. That high transportation cost falls on consumers and cuts into profit margins for sellers. Native Florida pines aren’t just easier on people’s wallets, they’re also better for the planet, forestry managers say. Florida’s longleaf pine forests had nearly disappeared by the 1990s due to clear-cutting for development and farmland. In recent years, state foresters have worked to restore native longleaf ecosystems. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida teachers file federal suit against anti-pronoun law in schools
Three Florida educators filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday over a new state law that prevents transgender or nonbinary public K-12 teachers from using their pronouns. Under a provision of the law, which took effect in July, teachers may not “provide to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.” The law defines sex as based on someone’s reproductive organs at birth. More from the Gainesville Sunand Reuters.
With 1.3 million pound gift, Publix doubles produce donation to food banks
Publix is closing out the year with a second announcement of a major produce donation. The latest donation, announced Monday, is 1.3 million pounds of fresh produce the Lakeland-based grocery giant is purchasing and delivering to 32 Feeding America partner food banks this holiday season. The announcement, according to a statement, follows another 1.3 million pounds of produce Publix donated at Thanksgiving. More from the Business Observer.
Negotiations for renovated Jaguars stadium described as puzzle with 15 moving pieces
A new long-term lease, a relocation contingency and agreements on parking revenue and a minimum number of home games are part of a lengthy list of elements under consideration for a complex deal between the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars on a renovated stadium for the NFL team, a lead adviser for Mayor Donna Deegan told the City Council. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Neighborhood stunned by controversial shutdown of Fort Lauderdale park
Locks went up on Fort Lauderdale’s popular Dottie Mancini Park last Thursday, sparking an angry outcry from the surrounding neighborhood and beyond. At first, some blamed the city, thinking Fort Lauderdale had closed the park. But it wasn’t Fort Lauderdale. It was Broward Health, the owner of the land. More than 25 years ago, the city made a deal with Broward Health to lease the land for $1 a year to give people a neighborhood park with a playground, walking path and picnic tables. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Travel Trends
Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest ship caters to Gen-X crowd
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship Norwegian Viva has some serious Gen-X appeal. Cruise lines have juggled the tastes of mixed generations on board for decades, but contemporary lines like NCL have to cater to the latest generation making vacation decisions, and a good chunk of that clientele call themselves children of the 80s.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Rising executives: Taxing gig
Taxfyle started out as a consumer app that matched people who needed to get their taxes done with tax professionals. The Miami-based company still does that, but about four years ago began marketing the product to CPA firms, now the bigger part of the business.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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