Bill to expand E-Verify law dies in Florida Senate
The E-Verify bill that did not pass during the regular 60-day session would have expanded an existing state law requiring all private businesses in Florida to document a new employee’s status to work legally in the United States. While lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee May 12 for an extended session, they will consider only the budget and related bills after the Florida House and Senate failed to come to an agreement on the state’s budget. More from Central Florida Public Media.
Chamblin Bookmine in Jacksonville named Florida's favorite small business
Among Florida's thousands of small businesses, it seems Jacksonville has the favorite. Iconic local bookseller Chamblin Bookmine was voted Florida’s most popular small business — particularly among those so beloved that customers would drive more than an hour to reach. Closer to a labyrinth than a traditional bookstore, Chamblin’s has over 2 million books packed into its winding aisles. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Orlando’s tourist tax pulled in $40 million in March. Will it continue?
The tax on Orlando area hotel rooms just raked in the second-largest, one-month bonanza ever. But optimism over Orange County’s near-record collection of $40.1 million in March, announced this morning, was tempered a bit by Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks the money generated by the 6% surcharge on hotel room rentals. “On one hand, it’s the second-most ever,” he said. “On the other, it’s a decrease from [March] last year.” More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Local success fuels St. Petersburg architectural firm’s Dubai expansion
A homegrown architectural firm has left an indelible mark on St. Petersburg and the surrounding area. Behar + Peteranecz now hopes to replicate that success in a Middle Eastern metropolis. The company will open a “major” Dubai office in late 2025 or early 2026. Principal Jordan Behar said he is now finalizing paperwork and exploring potential projects in a city known for its grandeur. More from the Catalyst.
Silver Airways receives ‘stalking horse’ $5.775M bid to take the regional carrier out of bankruptcy
The long-term fate of South Florida-based Silver Airways, known for its pink turbo-prop airplanes and flights to popular statewide and island destinations, has taken a favorable turn as a financial firm stepped up with an initial $5.775 million bid that would allow the troubled carrier to exit bankruptcy. The firm is KIA II LLC, an affiliate of Wexford Capital of Connecticut and West Palm Beach, which has a long track record of investing and reorganizing airlines. It’s the same group that provided critical financing last month for Silver to keep operating. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Rain Barrel Village gives visitors a taste of old Florida and a photo op with a giant lobster
A holdover of the once numerous roadside attractions that lined U.S. 1 from Jacksonville to Key West, the Rain Barrel Village is collection of eccentric, colorful buildings serving as a home for artists and art sellers in the Florida Keys. While the rustic outpost might be easy for travelers on the Overseas Highway to pass without notice, the giant lobster out front is not.
» More from the AP.
Recreation Trends
What do you want on a cruise? How private resorts are changing travel.
Growth in cruise ship travel is starting to slow compared to the post-pandemic boom. That trend has cruise lines looking at several ways to keep people coming on board. Some are creating new private resorts. Others are doubling down on super high-end luxury trips. Still others are offering river cruises. How all this unfolds affects South Florida and the Sunshine State, home to the three largest passenger cruise ports in the United States.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.