Florida solar industry on edge as Congress slashes support for clean energy
As lawmakers in Washington worked to hammer out the parts of the “big beautiful bill” to curtail clean energy programs, Florida’s solar industry held its breath. Companies paused new investments. Small business owners rallied on Capitol Hill in hopes of staving off the worst. But this weekend, the U.S. Senate unveiled new language that sparked panic. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Hurricane center ups odds system could develop near Florida
The National Hurricane Center on Tuesday increased the odds a low pressure system expected to form later this week near Florida could develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm. The NHC gave it a 30% chance to develop in the next seven days, up from the 20% forecast given since the NHC began keeping tabs on the weather patterns on Sunday. If it were to develop into a named system, it could become Tropical Storm Chantal. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
The stalled American Dream Miami mega-mall could get a break on county tax subsidies
Last-minute legislation up for a vote Tuesday would allow the stalled American Dream Miami mega-mall to ask for subsidies from property taxes. A proposal by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez would water down a subsidy ban that was imposed seven years ago when the county approved plans for the retail theme park near Hialeah. Construction never began, and the development process is so stalled that developer Triple Five is now in court with both a once-allied developer and the county itself over delays. More from the Miami Herald.
Southwest Florida tourism season shows mixed signals in 2025
Southwest Florida tourism season experienced ebbs and flows during its peak, as the region continued recovering from hurricanes amid economic uncertainty. Data from Southwest Florida’s 2024-25 tourist season tells conflicting tales. Passenger counts from the two major airports show signs of both economic uncertainty and economic growth. Bed tax numbers were up year over year. But they also went down year over year, depending on the month and whether it was in Lee, Collier or Charlotte counties. More from Gulfshore Business.
Florida supermarket chain to use AI-powered pricing
Sedano’s Supermarkets, a Hialeah-based Hispanic grocery chain, is turning to artificial intelligence to help modernize its pricing and promotions strategy, joining a growing number of grocers across the U.S. looking to automate operational decisions and improve profit margins. The specialized grocery chain has partnered with Relex Solutions, a supply chain and retail planning company from Helsinki, Finland, to implement AI-powered tools across its 32 Florida stores. More from the South Florida Business Journal.
Out of the Box
Local bookstore provides book vending machine to Gainesville Regional Airport
In a small extension to its plan to expand in a major way, the Gainesville/Alachua County Regional Airport Authority board helped install a self-service vending machine that offers a unique product: books. The machine was unveiled by The Lynx bookstore co-founders Lauren Groff and Clay Kallman, a married couple who view the vending machine as a passion project. The hope is that the vending machine will provide book readers and frequent flyers another way to enjoy their flight experience.
» More from the Gainesville Sun.
Travel Trends
Regent Cruises’ new massive luxury suite starts at $25,000 a night
How much would cruise passengers be willing to spend for a night in the largest suite on a brand-new luxury ship? Regent Seven Seas Cruises is betting that its ultra-wealthy guests would drop $25,000 for a single night in the Skyview Regent Suite. That price tag affords guests 8,794 square feet of space in a sprawling two-level suite on the Seven Seas Prestige, the ultra-luxury cruise line’s newest and largest vessel as well as the first in its class.
» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.