Back at it: Legislators return to pass a budget
The state’s budget expires in 27 days and legislators are back in town to make sure there’s a spending plan in place July 1 to avoid a government shutdown. Leadership unveiled budget “allocations” Monday night that show how the Legislature will spend about $50 billion in general revenue, or state funds, across various government agencies. Most of the money will go to two areas: education and health care with the former receiving more than $22 billion and the latter about $17.5 billion. More from the Florida Phoenix.
Hurricane center eyes potential system off US Southeast coast
The National Hurricane Center continued Tuesday to forecast a potential system that could develop into the season’s first tropical or subtropical storm off the Southeast coast of the United States this week. The NHC, which first began tracking the system on Monday, said a nontropical area of low pressure is expected to form in the next couple of days along a frontal boundary that’s pushing its way north over the Florida peninsula this week. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Orlando among next cities for Waymo's self-driving car testing as company expands
The self-driving taxi service operated by Google’s parent company plans to start testing its technology in Orlando. Waymo, a fast-growing autonomous driving technology company owned by Alphabet, Inc., announced on social media that Orlando will be included in its next set of cities where the service will prepare to launch. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
'State of the Air' report: Jacksonville metro area declines in air quality
Air quality has declined in the Jacksonville metropolitan area after three years in a row of being named one of the cleanest in the nation. Nationwide, the report found that 46% of the U.S. population live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution. About 42.5 million people live in areas with failing grades for all three measures, according to the association. More from the Florida Times-Union.
A plan for warehouses, fitness center and more advances in Palm Beach County’s Agricultural Reserve
Proposals to redevelop land in the Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve have been met with concerns about disrupting the area with traffic, chipping away at the county’s Ag Reserve or possibly harming the equine industry. The most recent plan is technically two proposals: Park West North and Park West South. Both Park West North and South were approved to move forward by the county commissioners but not without mixed reactions. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Florida History
From two-lane outpost to Broward boomtown. Take a look at Miramar in 1950s and ’60s
If Miramar was a car, it would be one of those high-performance models that goes from 0 to 60 in no time. Founded in 1955 with less than 200 people, the Southwest Broward city now claims about 140,000 residents and counting. And the city is booming with a diverse population, and lots of commerce and culture.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Entertainment
Massive lazy river, giant sombrero in Royal Caribbean’s new party plans
Royal Caribbean is big on superlatives. The company already has the world’s largest cruise ship. Now the cruise line is building a new private resort in Mexico that will herald in a few more titles. Perfect Day Mexico is now under construction at the port of Costa Maya, which the Miami-based cruise line bought in 2024. It has a planned opening for fall 2027, and it will be more than twice as large as Royal Caribbean’s existing “Perfect Day” concept found on its private Bahamas island Coca Cay.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.