With financial incentives gone, advocates seek other ways to attract film, TV work to Florida
Film industry advocates are seeking to regroup after Florida's failure to restore financial incentives to attract productions to the state, coupled with the Florida Legislature eliminating the state's Office of Film and Entertainment as a separate agency. When Florida offered either grants or tax rebates to the entertainment industry, Florida was considered one of the top three states for film, television, video and commercial production [Source: Florida Today]
Hurricane Beryl, now an ‘extremely dangerous’ Category 4 storm, heads for the Caribbean
As expected, Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane Sunday but it happened several hours earlier than expected. Now, Beryl barrels toward the Caribbean. Meteorologists say Beryl poses no immediate threat to Florida. It’s too soon to tell where the storm might make landfall. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.
Burmese pythons in Florida are moving north
Burmese pythons – nonvenomous, but large enough to eat alligators and household pets – are moving north across Florida from the Everglades toward Georgia, taking out hundreds of native species and dominating the region. The pythons, which can live up to 20 years and grow as long as 23 feet, reproduce quickly. Florida has started statewide hunts to control the population. [Source: USA Today]
Florida’s Dengue travel cases exceed this year’s expectations, state data show
Travel-related cases of dengue for the month of June have exceeded what was expected for the entire year, according to the Florida Department of Health. “The dengue cases concern me,” said Steve Harrison, manager of Orange County Mosquito Control. “I don’t think the public needs to be over-concerned right now, but dengue is on my radar.” [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
South Florida is a top destination for the Fourth of July holiday
A high cost of living and ominous hurricane forecast this summer are not scaring away tourists on this coming Fourth of July. Miami is one of the most popular places in the United States to celebrate the country’s birthday, and Fort Lauderdale is holding its own too, according to travel forecasts. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Teach for America is coming to Tampa Bay. Here’s what you need to know.
This fall, Tampa Bay will receive its first cohort of 35 freshly trained educators from Teach for America — the organization’s first expansion since 2016 into a new U.S. region. The hand-picked teachers undoubtedly will fill much-needed positions in schools. Yet even as the organization has experienced some success in raising test scores, it has drawn critics who say the program’s historically high turnover rate harms school stability.
› ACC motion to pause Florida State case in Leon County rejected by appeals court
The first domino in the Atlantic Coast Conference's (ACC) appeal of Leon Circuit John Cooper's rulings in the lawsuit vs. Florida State University has fallen. And it wasn't in the ACC's favor. On Friday, Florida's First District Court of Appeals denied the conference motion to stay the case in Florida, allowing proceedings to continue through the court of appeals as the ACC looks to fight the decisions made in Leon County Court.
› Miami International Airport will soon have places where weary travelers can take a nap
Passengers at Miami International Airport will soon be able to take proper naps - in beds - without leaving the terminal. Two sleeping centers will be ready for use by ticketed travelers by the end of this year, Duilio Sanguineti, founder and CEO of Hotelzo LLC, said in an interview with the Herald on Friday. Hotelzo LLC, the holding company of Wait N Rest, was awarded a contract last week by Miami-Dade County.
› ‘Lab-grown’ meat maker hosts Miami tasting party as Florida ban goes into effect
As Florida’s ban on “lab-grown” meat is set to go into effect this week, one manufacturer hosted a last hurrah — at least for now — with a cultivated meat-tasting party in Miami. California-based Upside Foods hosted dozens of guests Thursday evening at a rooftop reception in the city’s Wynwood neighborhood, known for its street art, breweries, nightclubs and trendy restaurants.
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› New bridges will help keep NASA’s rocket parts rolling in Florida
Focused on becoming The Gateway to the Universe, infrastructure enhancements are critical to NASA's fast-paced launch schedule and the expansion of Florida’s Space Coast. As larger and heavier payloads are needed for modern spacecraft, construction on two bridges is being completed while safely accommodating more than 12,000 commuters to the Kennedy Space Center, almost daily rocket launches, boat traffic and local wildlife from its location in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
› Florida Tech touts $1.6 billion annual economic impact, plans to boost student housing
The Melbourne-based Florida Institute of Technology annually generates $1.6 billion in economic impact across the Sunshine State, including alumni earnings and spending by the university and students, a newly released analysis determined. "I knew that number would be big. It's bigger than I expected," President John Nicklow said.
› GRU Authority votes not to raise rates, approves budget with slashed government transfer
The Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority board voted unanimously to approve the utility’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a move that will keep rates at the same level for customers moving into 2025 while slashing millions from the general government’s budget.
› $15M Sarasota reputation management company forecasts record growth
An online reputation management company celebrating a decade in business had its best sales year yet in 2023 and is on track to top that in 2024, according to a statement. NetReputation hit $15 million in sales in 2023, and the company is forecasting $19 million in 2024, the statement says. It was founded in Sarasota in 2014 and had $1.4 million in revenue after its first year.