Will federal cuts and state budget battle put Florida’s hurricane readiness in peril?
Florida’s traditional preparations for hurricane season are being blown off course by a budget stalemate in Tallahassee – and sharp cuts in Washington, D.C. A dispute between GOP state House and Senate leaders means the typical sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness items won’t be held at the onset of hurricane season as it usually does. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 till Nov. 30. And the winnowing of the federal workforce has hit some agencies important to hurricane forecasting and response. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
John Thrasher, former FSU president and Florida House speaker, dies at 81
John Thrasher, the former president of Florida State University and a longtime state lawmaker, died Friday morning, his family said in a statement. He was 81. Thrasher led Florida State University as president for about six years before retiring in 2021. In Tallahassee, Thrasher served in the Florida House from 1992 to 2000, the last two years as House speaker. He also previously spent five years in the Florida Senate. More from Florida Trend and the Tampa Bay Times.
How a Miami Gardens therapist turned her pandemic hobby into a catering business
After spending several years in college with a focus on social work, Syerra Donaldson never imagined she would be serving jerk chicken and lobster tails to customers from her North Miami Beach condo in December 2020. But with more free time than ever during the pandemic, the trained therapist began cooking frequently in 2020 and posting her dishes on social media. Nearly five years later, Donaldson, 30, has parlayed her affinity for cooking into a catering company and a win on the Food Network show “Supermarket Stakeout.” More from Miami Herald.
Market reports show leasing slowdown in Jacksonville industrial real estate
As substantial construction deliveries of new warehousing and industrial space were made in Q1 of 2025, local brokerages are reporting slowdowns in leasing and year-over-year increases in vacancies in Jacksonville’s industrial real estate market. Colliers, in particular, points to tariffs and economic uncertainty as the main concerns putting the brakes on leasing decisions in the first quarter of this year. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Cape Coral shelves discussion of new rental fees
Cape Coral City Council at a May 28 committee meeting shelved discussions about raising rental fees on owners to $600 per unit per year and using the money to fund tourist development projects. The idea was met with opposition from residents, real estate professionals and vacation rental companies, who said the fees might cause landlords to raise rents and stifle short-term vacation rental business. More from Gulfshore Business.
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Business Beat - Week of May 30th
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Event
FOX Weather to present “Hurricane HQ: Eye On The Season” live from Treasure Island
FOX Weather, FOX News Media’s free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, will present a live special called Hurricane HQ: Eye on the Season on Sunday, June 1 from 12-3 PM/ET. Timed to the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, FOX Weather meteorologist Ian Oliver will host the live three hour special from Caddy’s Treasure Island, a beachfront restaurant that was impacted by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
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