Hurricane potential takes brief pause before ramp-up at end of August, forecasters say
Colorado State University experts in a new forecast Tuesday afternoon predicted that there will be a normal amount of hurricane activity in the Atlantic in the next two weeks, though they still believe overall the season will be “an extremely active one.” CSU’s experts said the environment of the Atlantic toward the end of August will be more favorable for tropical cyclones to form. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
5 questions for Florida’s general election
The primary election is over, but the battle for the future of Florida is just getting started. Republicans and Democrats will slug it out over the next 11 weeks up and down the ballot, from the main attraction showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris to putting legal pot and abortion rights in the state constitution. There’s no shortage of storylines as eyes turn to Nov. 5. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
See also:
» Florida Senate Primary Results 2024
» Florida House Primary Results 2024
Opinion: Florida’s nursing homes urgently need more nurses. Here’s how to make that happen.
The new federal minimum staffing requirements on nursing homes, requiring them to increase their care to 3.48 daily hours per resident, brings new urgency to the need for innovative health care talent solutions in Florida, which is ground zero in the nationwide shortage of qualified nursing staff amid a rapidly aging population. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Are changes coming to Florida’s state park system?
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ environmental agency is considering plans to turn some of Florida’s vaunted park space into areas that feature more recreational amenities — including more lodges, golfing, pickleball courts and disc golf courses, according to a news release sent by the state this week. But details were scarce late Tuesday. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida is leading destination in U.S. for fun, study shows
Florida is the leading destination for fun in the US, according to a new study. To determine the most fun states in America, WalletHub said it compared the 50 states across two categories: entertainment and recreation and nightlife. See why WalletHub ranked Florida as No. 1 for fun. More from WOFL and Florida's Voice.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› West Palm Beach private credit firm leads $415M loan to publicly traded media company
A South Florida private credit firm was among the leading lenders for a $415 million loan to a publicly traded media company. West Palm Beach-based Comvest Credit Partners announced Aug. 20 that it jointly arranged the multimillion-dollar financing alongside Montreal-based Sagard for Canadian media company WildBrain Ltd.
› SpaceX rolls out new booster for Cape Canaveral launch
SpaceX launches lately have been pushing the record envelope for booster reflight, but a Starlink launch Tuesday morning rolled out a brand new first stage. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 of the company’s internet satellites lifted off at 9:20 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.
› 137 companies in Southwest Florida ranked among fastest-growing in U.S.
Seven companies on the west coast of Florida that saw more than 2,000% growth made it onto the top 200 of the Inc. 5000 for 2024. The business magazine recently released its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies, based on growth over the last three years.
› Visit Orlando responds to interim audit: ‘No misuse of any funds’
Visit Orlando’s top executive defended the tourism marketing giant’s work and financial practices from what she described as “some inaccurate inferences” in a critical comptroller’s memo last week to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and county commissioners. “There has been no misuse of any funds,” Visit Orlando President & CEO Casandra Matej said in a rebuttal memo to Comptroller Phil Diamond.
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› Wakulla County oyster farmers say they're losing business
"It's a challenge but it's fun, look around you get to be outside." Jack Davis owns Gulf Springs Sea Farm with his family He says business had been slow for him and other farmers because the market dropped. "Right now I'm sitting on probably 10,000 15,000 oysters that I've been ready to sell for for months now." Davis says local oyster farmers have had to compete with out-of-state oysters being bought by businesses here.
› How will parking work at the new Tampa Bay Rays stadium? Good question
Getting over a bridge to Tropicana Field is the hard part for people traveling from outside of Pinellas County. Parking, compared to other stadiums, is almost always a breeze. Acres of surface parking lots surrounding the dome make it easy to get in and out of Tampa Bay Rays games. Those lots will soon become construction sites as crews break ground next year.
› Ballard Partners teams up with top firms in U.K., Japan
Ballard Partners announced the formation of exclusive strategic alliances with KyodoPR in Japan and SABI Strategy Group in the United Kingdom. “We are honored and excited to partner with KyodoPR and SABI Strategy Group, both of whom are impressive and leading firms in their countries,” said Brian Ballard, President and Founder of Ballard Partners.
› Orlando Health bid draws objection
A real-estate firm has objected to a proposed $439 million deal that would lead to the health system Orlando Health buying three hospitals in Brevard and Indian River counties as part of the bankruptcy of hospital operator Steward Health Care. Medical Properties Trust, Inc., which owns the hospital properties and leases them to Steward, argued in a court document Monday that Steward had not properly followed bidding procedures.