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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida wages are the highest they have been in last 20 years
Florida workers have seen an increase in their wages in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed the average salary in the state closer to the national average, as a new report assembled by state economists shows. Florida — which relies heavily on the tourism and hospitality industries — has routinely seen a noticeable gap between the average annual wage and the national average. For many years, the average worker in the state earned about 87% of the national average. More from Florida Politics.
Florida gas prices have shot up 16 cents a gallon. Will they go higher? How things look
Gas prices in Florida are on the rise. In Florida, gas prices increased 16 cents a gallon from last week to this week, according to AAA. Will the trend continue? “Gas prices are facing renewed upward pressure, after crude oil and gasoline futures shot up late last week,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. “This could contribute to higher prices at the pump this week or next. How much higher remains to be seen.” More from the Miami Herald.
Port Canaveral shatters records for cruise passenger counts
Port Canaveral officials were expecting to have a busy winter holiday season, and it turns out they were right. The port set records for both one-day and one-month passenger counts in December. The port had 734,485 passengers on its multiday cruise ships in December, compared with 698,595 in December 2022. More from Florida Today.
Florida Bankers' new CEO Kathy Kraninger says change is coming for the 136-year-old association
Florida Bankers Association CEO Kathy Kraninger said she wants to bring a new touch to one of the state’s oldest trade associations. Kraninger succeeded longtime Florida Bankers Association CEO Alex Sanchez in October, which makes her one of only four executives to hold that title since the association’s founding in 1888. She remarked that she and her predecessor are “not the same people.” More from the Orlando Business Journal.
WWE’s Sonya Deville is featured in a movie being made in Pinellas County
Daria Berenato, best known as WWE wrestler Sonya Deville, is featured in a movie filming in Pinellas County this week. She plays a police officer in “DNA Secrets” produced by David Yates, the former Clearwater Marine Aquarium CEO who helmed the two “Dolphin Tale” movies. According to Yates, “DNA Secrets” follows an antique store owner who “opens a Pandora’s Box” by gifting DNA kits to relatives. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Out of the Box
50 peacocks might be missing from a Tampa neighborhood. Why?
For decades, most neighbors have embraced the peacocks of suburban Wellswood. They name the colorful birds, feed them and welcome them on their properties, where tree branches serve as beds. But in recent months, Wellswood residents say the peacock population has dwindled substantially, possibly cut in half. How many have disappeared is up for debate and there’s no official tally. Residents think between 20 to 50 birds are gone.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Profile
Longtime manatee researcher knows hundreds of sea cows by name
“There’s Lily,” said Wayne Hartley, gesturing underneath the water’s surface within Blue Spring run from atop his signature red canoe that displays the label, “manatee research.” In the 80 years he’s been alive, the manatee specialist has spent 44 of them among the sea cows in Blue Spring State Park, which thousands of tourists flock to see each year. Hartley began working as a park ranger and park service specialist, arriving at the Volusia County park in 1980 before transitioning into working for the Save the Manatee Club about 14 years ago.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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