Florida lawmakers are one step closer to passing protections for state parks
The Senate will vote on a bill that would prohibit things like pickleball courts and more lodging from being built. When you visit a Florida state park, will you see nature preserves and wildlife, or will there be newly built golf courses and hotels? The question comes as the push to protect nine Florida state parks is nearing its final hurdle. More from WFLA.
Jacksonville tourism defies national trends, expects growth
Jacksonville’s hospitality industry is defying national headwinds, with visitation and hotel revenues continuing to outpace expectations — and more growth is on the horizon. “Visitation and hotel revenues in Jacksonville continue to surpass our expectations,” said Michael Corrigan, President & CEO of Visit Jacksonville. “We project 2025 to align with recent years' positive trends and seasonality.” More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Sarasota County's jail has been overpopulated for 20 years. Voters will decide its future
The jail population has steadily increased since 1995, at a slightly higher rate than Sarasota County’s overall population. The county has grown by about 60% from its permanent resident population thirty years ago. Meanwhile, the jail's ADP has increased by about 78% over that time. Law enforcement officials are now sounding the alarm that the county facility is reaching a breaking point, underscoring the pressing need for a new jail. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Orlando Health to provide $10M to other health providers with closing of Rockledge Hospital
Orlando Health has agreed to provide $10 million over the next seven years to help cover the added costs to other local health care providers related to its April 22 closing of Rockledge Hospital. Orlando Health also said it would return the land the hospital sits on, off U.S. 1, to the city of Rockledge after tearing down the hospital building. More from Florida Today.
How 10,000 businesses blossomed in Coral Gables
Coral Gables was born from a blueprint and founder George Merrick’s dream of a master-planned city that fused beauty, function and commerce. At its eastern edge, he envisioned a vibrant business district serving residents’ daily needs and leisure. The city’s earliest businesses emerged to support its own growth. Locally quarried coral rock fueled a construction boom. Within a year of incorporation, Coral Gables boasted over 4,000 structures, including homes, commercial buildings, schools, hospitals and hotels. More from the Miami Today.
Profile
Meet the man behind Taco Wizard, Tampa Bay’s most talked about pop-up restaurant
The night chef Michael Roberts decided to have a little fun with fried chicken, fans in the know showed up early. A long line of people snaked around the building at Small Bar, the temporary wine bar and pop-up space attached to St. Petersburg’s Bandit Coffee Co., which was also Roberts’ makeshift kitchen for the evening. Local diners know Roberts as the man behind Taco Wizard, a taco-centric pop-up restaurant that has garnered a solid following the past few years.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Tech Trends
AI’s growing role
Artificial intelligence is being used to reduce costs, help diagnose life-threatening conditions and fuel medical research — including on AI itself — at Florida hospitals. The technology also poses technical and ethical challenges for providers who are navigating its fast-growing use and availability. Health care professionals across the state shared with FLORIDA TREND how they use AI, how they don’t (at least, not yet), and the benefits they’re seeing.
» Read more from Florida Trend.