DeSantis expects Canadians will keep coming to Florida, despite political tensions
Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t worried that political tensions between Canada and the United States will hurt tourism in Florida. “I am seeing a lot of Canadian license plates,” he said Wednesday, shrugging off reports that some Canadians are rethinking U.S. travel plans in response to President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Canada is Florida’s top source of international tourists with 3.3 million making the trip in 2024, representing about 2% of Florida’s total visitors. [Source: Orlanddo Sentinel]
Hundreds of state positions have remained vacant for years
A recent legislative hearing at first hinted it would explore a hollowing out of state government: state offices short on thousands of workers, unable to deliver taxpayer paid services to Floridians. But scratching at the surface suggested there was more at play. As state Rep. Vicki Lopez recently found out after an examination of the length of scores of job vacancies, a roll call in state offices may actually awaken hordes of paper people – workers who exist only as a line item in the state budget. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Florida Chamber seeks nominations for ‘Coolest Thing Made in Florida’
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is searching for the “Coolest Thing Made in Florida,” and it’s asking businesses, workers and the public to lend a hand. The newly announced competition will be held throughout the year. Nominations of companies that manufacture products in Florida are open now through May 31. Once nominations close, the 32 selected nominees will duke it out in a bracket-style competition ending with the announcement of the undisputed “Coolest Thing” on Oct. 28. [Source: Florida Politics]
Subtropical salmon: How an enormous fish farm in South Florida hopes to change the seafood industry
Salmon farms normally occur in the fjords of Norway or Chile, not on the hot, humid flats next to the Everglades. But Atlantic Sapphire, a new type of on-land salmon farm, is betting on South Florida as the perfect spot for a cold-water fish farm. It also just might represent the future of aquaculture in a world altered by climate change, pollution and population growth. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Can fired federal workers collect unemployment benefits in Florida?
Floridians who worked for federal agencies are unexpectedly finding themselves out of a job and wondering if the state's unemployment benefits are available to them. Florida federal employees who lose their jobs can apply for unemployment benefits under the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees program, which is administered by the states and the same as regular unemployment insurance benefits. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Kissimmee suddenly flooded with hotel proposals for downtown sites
After years of trying to land a hotel for its downtown business district, Kissimmee now has its choice of projects and developers. The city has received three unsolicited proposals from developers looking to enter a public-private partnership after commissioners voted in December to negotiate a deal with the Kissimmee Place Development Group for two sites.
› Fort Myers-based NeoGenomics reports mixed results for the fourth quarter
Fort Myers-based NeoGenomics reported mixed results for the fourth quarter. The company had higher-than-anticipated earnings (after adjustments). Revenue, however, fell slightly short of Wall Street's expectations. The miss likely contributed to a negative market reaction, with company shares falling by more than 20% in afternoon trading Tuesday.
› Siesta Beach ranked No. 1 beach in U.S. by Tripadvisor for 2025
At the height of tourist season, with spring break right around the corner, Sarasota County's most famous attraction — Siesta Beach — has earned another national honor, with Tripadvisor naming it the No. 1 beach in the U.S. Siesta Beach ranked No. 4 in the world, following Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece; Banana Beach in Phuket, Thailand; and Eagle Beach in Aruba.
› South Florida company on list of world's most innovative businesses
A South Florida company is among the most innovative businesses in the world, according to LexisNexis. The professional services business revealed its 2025 Top 100 Global Innovators list, a round up of large and small ventures making transformative moves in their industries. Plantation-based Magic Leap was the only Florida-based business on the list.
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› West Atlantic Avenue’s renaissance: Will Delray Beach’s growth reach its dormant side?
The stark divide along Delray Beach’s most popular strip — Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to the beach and Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to Interstate 95 — has been there for decades. Emanuel Dupree Jackson is ready for that to change. “It’s always been like that. It doesn’t have to be,” the lifelong Delray Beach resident said.
› City of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water
City of Fort Myers won’t be joining other local governments in removing fluoride from its drinking water. City Council member Fred Burson said he wanted to bring up the issue Feb. 18 because city of Naples and Collier and Lee counties removed fluoride in the past year. The city began adding fluoride to the water in 1980. Council members showed no interest in removing fluoride.
› Pensacola JazzFest canceled due to state cuts, drops in donations
Roll over Basie and Bechet! And tell Norm Vickers the news. The 2025 Pensacola JazzFest has been cancelled due to a lack of funding, decrease in donations and other factors, Jazz Pensacola's president Derrick Fishback said in a press release. The festival, produced by Jazz Pensacola, formerly Jazz Society of Pensacola, was scheduled for April 5-6 in Seville Square.
› North Carolina internet company bringing fiber optic internet to Pinellas
Business news is about to get to inboxes even faster for many readers based in Pinellas County and around the state. Lumos, a fiber internet and Wi-Fi provider based out of High Point, North Carolina, recently announced its first expansion into the Florida market. Osceola, Escambia, Citrus, Lee, Pinellas and Charlotte counties will soon have 7,500 miles of fiber optic internet built into their infrastructure.