Florida Gulf Coast remains in bullseye of ‘extremely dangerous’ Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton weakened slightly overnight but remained a formidable and growing Category 4 hurricane early Tuesday morning on a path toward a devastating landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Though the storm’s sustained winds had eased somewhat from a near-record 180 mph, it was still packing extremely powerful 155 mph winds, and the slight slackening did not reduce Milton’s biggest threat. It was expected to push up to 15 feet of life-threatening storm surge across a huge swath of the coast. [Source: Miami Herald]
Hurricane Milton shuts Florida airports, alters cruise routes. What travelers should know
Florida travelers will likely face delays and cancellations this week from Hurricane Milton, just two weeks after disruption from Hurricane Helene. Flights and cruise ships already are being affected by the hurricane, which is heading to Florida’s Gulf Coast and forecast to make landfall on Wednesday. [Source: Miami Herald]
Judge weighs blocking Florida meat law
A federal judge said Monday he intends to rule quickly on a request to temporarily halt a new Florida law banning meat that state officials have lambasted as “fake.” Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker held a more than two-hour hearing on the request for a preliminary injunction filed by UPSIDE Foods, Inc., a California-based company that is challenging the constitutionality of the law banning the sale and manufacturing of cultivated meat. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Report: Stadium, arena subsidies not worth it for taxpayers
Professional sports teams and government officials promise tax revenue benefits when taxpayer subsidies are used to build new or renovation stadiums and arenas. But those benefits consistently do not come to fruition, according to a report from the Tax Foundation. The report is consistent with years of economic research showing the same. [Source: The Center Square]
Some of Latin America’s wealthiest families will be in South Florida to discuss investment
South Florida is once again the center of attention for Latin American investors and entrepreneurs, but this time it goes beyond the traditional appeal of its real estate market. Now it is the region’s wealthy families who will meet at a summit to promote business, investment, sustainability, and technological development in Latin American countries while strengthening ties with financial institutions in the United States. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Orange County tourist tax up in August, nearing annual record
Orange County tourist-tax revenues were up slightly in August from a year ago, pushing the fiscal year’s total closer to last year’s record haul. Collections for the month, which tend to be smaller than average because families travel less as the school year starts, brought in $23.1 million, about $1 million more than in 2023. Revenues were down from July’s total by about $3.4 million, a drop that was expected.
› Jacksonville University College of Law expands faculty
Now in its third year of instruction and provisionally accredited by the American Bar Association, the Jacksonville University College of Law expanded its faculty with five professors, a counselor and a law librarian. Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge Scott Makar joins the faculty as an adjunct professor, bringing years of appellate practice experience to the curriculum.
› Tampa denied request to raise historic building flooded by Hurricane Helene
The owner of a historic Davis Islands apartment building isn’t directly saying “I told you so,” but seems to be implying it. In August, Tampa City Council denied the owner’s request to raise the century-old Villa de Leon building seven feet by adding a parking garage under the three-story pink building. They said it was necessary to protect the 22-unit structure at 16 Davis Blvd. from storm flooding.
› Brightline losses reach $420.5M for first half of 2024 amid expansion, debt refinancing
Brightline Trains Florida reported a net loss of $420.5 million for the first half of 2024, largely driven by expenses related to its Orlando expansion and a one-time charge for debt refinancing. The Miami-based transportation company outlined its performance in an unaudited quarterly financial statement report.
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› Orlando among best US places for small businesses
Orlando ranks in the top 10 among the best U.S. cities for small businesses, coming in at No. 4. That’s according to a study from CoworkingCafe, an online global co-working directory. "Orlando’s business scene is as eclectic as its theme parks, with a business application rate of 3,698 per 100,000 residents — the fourth-highest in the nation," said the report.
› Jacksonville listed as a stop on Amtrak's new Floridian line
Amtrak announced last week its Floridian route — a temporary line offering direct, round-trip access between Chicago and Miami this fall. Jacksonville will be one of the featured stops on this new route. The route also includes intermediate stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, Orlando and Tampa.
› United Way bids $804K to bring holistic health care to 2 Escambia schools
The United Way of West Florida was the only nonprofit to submit a full proposal to become the lead agency for the Escambia Children’s Trust Healthy Schools Initiative. The nonprofit and partners submitted a bid of $804,000 to implement the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child program at O.J. Semmes Elementary and Global Learning Academy this academic year.
› FAU extends interim president’s contract with $100,000 bonus, 5% raise. Search goes on
Florida Atlantic University’sinterim president was expected to hold the title for just a matter of months when she took office in January 2023. Nearly two years later, Stacy Volnick not only is still at the university’s helm — her contract has just been extended for a second time, as the school’s politically contentious search for a permanent president drags on.