The spring break battle over Florida’s tourism image
Florida’s vital tourism industry has outgrown its rowdy spring break image amid an increase of post-pandemic visitors who just want to relax without nearby all-night ragers. Increases in visits to the state — which hit 143.3 million in 2025, up from its 74 million figure during the pandemic — along with shifting travel trends, have made Florida a year-round destination. Now, the state is fighting to avoid images of unruly crowds that frequently go viral. [Source: Politico]
Florida Forever is on the verge of getting little funding this year
After several years of being funded in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Florida's main land preservation program floundered this year in the state legislature. The state Senate allocated only $35 million to Florida Forever. And the House zeroed out funding completely. However, this could change when lawmakers get back in Tallahassee in April to finalize the state budget in a special session. Gov. DeSantis had proposed spending $115 million. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
Florida Easter spending likely to set record this year
Shoppers are projected to spend a record amount of money during the Easter season and that spending will end up putting a little extra in the Easter baskets for Florida retailers. “Easter is a time for family, fun and festivities, and Florida shoppers are hopping at the chance to make the holiday special,” said Scott Shalley, President and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. “Florida retailers are ready with unique gift ideas to fill your loved ones’ baskets.” [Source: Florida Politics]
Florida restaurants under fire for selling imported shrimp as local catch
A new study found that mislabeled shrimp is costing the U.S. seafood industry millions of dollars. Researchers report that some restaurants are misrepresenting imported, farm-raised shrimp as local, wild-caught seafood. The practice negatively impacts local fishermen and causes customers to pay higher prices for products they are not actually receiving. According to the study, Florida is among the states with the highest levels of shrimp mislabeling in the country. [Source: WFTV]
Florida voters wanted AI restrictions. But power, policy and politics doomed legislation.
An overwhelming majority of voters want Florida to impose restrictions on artificial intelligence, concerned about its rapid expansion and unanswered questions about the potential risks to society, especially children. Though polling showed almost nine out of 10 favored a proposed law, it failed — thanks to a web of personalities, policy, politics and power. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida election supervisors say beware of third party registration cards
Florida supervisors of elections are alerting voters that unofficial voter registration cards, sent by a third-party organization, may arrive in mailboxes in the coming days. Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley says that while he supports the goal of registering voters, much of the information used by the third-party group is inaccurate or outdated. "Some of these targeted mailings will be to the name of a pet or the name of a child in the household," Earley said.
› Jacksonville-based IQ Fiber continues eastern U.S. expansion
Jacksonville-based IQ Fiber announced it has expanded to Delaware, the fifth state in which the internet service provider will do business. In a March 30 release, IQ Fiber said it had begun providing fiber-optic service to Kent County in Delaware, where it plans to invest more than $150 million over the next 18 to 24 months.
› Spirit takes to I-95 billboards to reaffirm message: We’re your hometown airline
Embattled Spirit Airlines, which is preparing to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings this summer, has taken to Interstate 95 to help defend its self-proclaimed turf as South Florida’s “TRUE Hometown Airline.” The longtime budget carrier is relying on a traditional medium to deliver the message: billboards located at three I-95 exits — Sunrise and Davie boulevards in Fort Lauderdale and Stirling Road south of the airport. The company said it wants to highlight itself as a decades-long corporate citizen in South Florida after a “New York-based competitor” recently made “noise in the market.”
› Can the Rays build a Tampa stadium in 3 years?
The Tampa Bay Rays, under new ownership, are gunning to have a stadium in Tampa ready by opening day 2029. The plan to have the public pay for half of it has not been put to paper. Designs on a fixed roof for the potential $2.3 billion stadium are still in flux. No official debates have been waged, or votes tallied. All that’s in place is a 180-day timeline on a non-binding agreement to negotiate a deal with Hillsborough College to build a stadium on its Dale Mabry campus.
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› Should Florida city put a giant sewage lift station in a downtown park?
Imagine the streets of downtown Fort Lauderdale flowing with raw sewage. That’s what happens when a sewage lift station fails. And the lift station now serving Flagler Village could very well fail if a new one needed to keep pace with the next development boom does not get built, city officials say. But where to put it? City commissioners are now wrangling over that very question, wondering whether a new park being planned for the heart of downtown’s trendy Flagler Village is really the best spot.
› India-based Infosys buying Optimum Healthcare IT in $465 million deal
India-based technology and consulting firm Infosys said March 25 it agreed to buy Jacksonville Beach-based Optimum Healthcare IT for up to $465 million. Optimum, founded in 2012, provides digital and consulting services to the health care industry and had $276 million in revenue last year, Infosys said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
› Full office, big plans: Simpro Group’s Miami growth story is just getting started
Nearly six months into his tenure as CEO of Simpro Group, Fred Voccola is moving at a pace that reflects urgency and ambition: hiring dozens of employees, outgrowing office space almost immediately, and positioning Miami as a hub for applied artificial intelligence in the trades. Voccola, who officially took the helm of Simpro Group in October 2025 after a decade leading Kaseya, said the company’s early months under his leadership have already exceeded expectations, particularly in hiring at its new global headquarters in Miami.
› Florida court shuts down online gift card business over ‘unfair, deceptive’ conduct, imposes over $800K in civil fines
A Northeast Florida gift card company and its owner have been permanently banned from doing business in Florida. The decision, which was sparked by dozens of consumer complaints, was handed down against Gift Card Deal Marketplace Inc., which operated as giftcarddeal.com, and its owner, after a judge found the company was cheating customers.